Shaw Media reporters and photojournalists received dozens of honors at the Illinois Press Association “Best of the Press” awards ceremony recently held in Bloomington, where work published or posted in 2023 was recognized. Here’s all the winners from Shaw Media publications across northern Illinois.
Editorial Awards
First Place
- General Excellence, Division D – NewsTribune, La Salle.
- Community Service, Division D – Camden Lazenby, Daily Chronicle, DeKalb. “Sycamore overtaxed residents nearly $120K without City Council approval, records show.”
- News Reporting Single Story, Division D – Megann Horstead, Camden Lazenby, Kelsey Rettke, Daily Chronicle. “Remembering a tragedy: NIU, DeKalb marks 15 years since 2008 mass shooting”
- Freedom of Information Award, Division D – Megann Horstead, Daily Chronicle. “Inside secret contracts used to entice Facebook, Amazon and other mega business to DeKalb”
- Sports News, NonDaily Division – Kevin Hieronymus, Bureau County Republican. “Rich Krier.”
Second Place
- Patrick Coburn Award of Excellence – Daily Chronicle, DeKalb.
- Localized National Story, Division D – Megann Horstead, Camden Lazenby, Daily Chronicle. “Survivors, witnesses of 2008 NIU mass shooting react to Illinois gun ban”:
- Government Beat Reporting, Division D – Camden Lazenby, Daily Chronicle. “Sycamore overtaxed residents nearly $120K without City Council approval, records show”:
- Sports Feature, NonDaily Division – Kevin Hieronymus, Bureau County Republican. “Volley for a cure is personal.”
- Feature Writing, Personality Profile, Division C – David Petesch, Kane County Chronicle. “Cattle Catcher.”
- Sports Column, NonDaily Division – Kevin Hieronymus, Bureau County Republican. “Hieronymus’ Hypothesis.”
- Knight Chair Award for Best Investigative/Enterprise Reporting, Division B – Megann Horstead, Daily Chronicle. “Inside secret contracts used to entice Facebook, Amazon and other mega business to DeKalb”
Third Place
- Community Service, Division D – Tom Collins, NewsTribune. “A DUI costs how much?”
- News Reporting, Series, Division D – Felix Sarver, Jessie Molloy, Herald-News. “Stabbing death of Plainfield Township boy draws national attention, called hate crime.”
- Localized National Story, Division D – Kelsey Rettke, Daily Chronicle. “‘Be the One’ to help combat veteran suicide in DeKalb County.”
- Sports News, NonDaily Division – Kevin Hieronymus, Bureau County Republican. “Lady Bruins win state softball championship”
Fourth Place
- Feature Writing, Division D – Kelsey Rettke, Daily Chronicle. “‘Be the One’ to help combat veteran suicide in DeKalb County.”
Photography Awards
[ See Shaw Media’s winning photographs ]
First Place
- Feature Photo, Division B – Sandy Bressner, LaGrange Suburban Life. “Beaming”
- Feature Photo, Division D – Scott Anderson, The Times. “STEM family night”
- Feature Photo, Division E – Greg Shaver, Northwest Herald. “Sunflower kiss”:
- Portrait/Personality, Division D – Mark Busch, Daily Chronicle. “Bubble birthday”
- Sports Photo, Division B – Gary E. Duncan Sr., Kendall County Record. “Hats Off”
- Sports Photo, Division D – Mark Busch, Daily Chronicle. “Football hurdle”
- Sports Photo, Division E – Greg Shaver, Northwest Herald. “Snow soccer”
- Sports Photo, Portrait/Personality, Division B – Sandy Bressner, Kendall County Record. “Linemen”
Second Place
- General News Photo, Division D – Mark Busch, Daily Chronicle. “Gazing goat”
- Feature Photo, Division B – Sandy Bressner, Downers Grove Suburban Life. “Wheels up”
- Feature Photo, Division D – Mark Busch, Daily Chronicle. “Sack race.”
- Sports Photo, Division D – Mark Busch, Daily Chronicle. “Storm dayz”:
Third Place
- Feature Photo, Division D – Scott Anderson, NewsTribune. “Surviving the drought.”
- Online Photo Series/Gallery, NonDaily Division – Sandy Bressner, Kane County Chronicle. “Class of 2023″
- Online Photo Series/Gallery, Daily Division – Gary Middendorf, Herald-News. “Lockport Canal Days.”
Fourth Place
- Sports Photo, Division B – Scott Anderson, Kendall County Record. “Winners”:
- Online Photo Series/Gallery, Daily Division – Gary Middendorf, Herald-News. “Plainfield Vigil for Wadea Al-Fayoume.”
Advertising and Niche Media Awards
First Place
- Best Community Focus Section, Division G – Julie Barichello, Suburban Life. “Lemont Homer Glen Community Guide”
- Best Niche Publication, Division H – Julie Barichello and Kelley White, Kane County Chronicle. “KC Magazine”
Second Place
- Best Community Focus Section, Division G – Julie Barichello, Morris Herald-News. “Grundy County Community Guide”
- Best Community Focus Section, Division H – Julie Barichello, Kane County Chronicle. “St. Charles Community Guide”
- Best Community Focus Section, Division I – Julie Barichello, Northwest Herald. “McHenry Community Guide”
- Best Niche Publication, Division H – Julie Barichello, The Times. “Starved Rock Country Magazine”
Third Place
- Best Niche Publication, Division I – Julie Barichello and Kelley White, Northwest Herald. “Neighborhood Tourist”
Fourth Place
- Best Community Focus Section, Division I – Julie Barichello, The Herald-News. “New Lenox Community Guide”
- Best Niche Publication, Division I – Julie Barichello, The Herald-News. “Heritage Corridor I&M Canal Travel Guide”
