News

Susan Klusmeier
Journalism News
Susan Klusmeier (BS '01, journalism) was named vice provost for academic success at the University of Kansas. Klusmeier, who has taught at KU and other institutions, will also be named a courtesy assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies in the School of… Read More
Brant Houston
Journalism News
Pictured is Professor Brant Houston with fellow Pulitzer juror Ginger Thompson, a senior reporter at ProPublica. (Photo credit: Copyright Pulitzer Prizes/Jose R. Lopez.)    Brant Houston, Knight Chair Professor in Investigative and Enterprise Reporting in the Department of Journalism, was a… Read More
Blue ribbon
Journalism News
Update: Congratulations to the winners, announced on May 15! Winners are noted in bold below. Congratulations to the following journalism alumni who have been nominated for 2019 Peter Lisagor Awards for their work across print, radio, television and digital media. Winners will be announced in May… Read More
Cheryl W. Thompson
Journalism News
Cheryl W. Thompson (BS ’82, LAS; MS ’84, journalism), an investigative correspondent for NPR and a 22-year veteran of The Washington Post, was re-elected for a second term as president of Investigative Reporters and Editors. In 2018, Thompson became the first African American president of IRE. “… Read More
Connor Ciecko
Journalism News
With all the instructional changes on campus this semester due to COVID-19, Good Morning, Illini, a student lifestyle show, has had to adapt our format to continue to produce content for our campus audience and to continue to grow in our skills as journalists and TV personalities. The task of… Read More
adopted bunnies
Journalism News
March 31, 2020 For the past three and half years, my life at the University of Illinois has been characterized by complaining about waking up early and pretending to be upset about spending hours with my favorite professors and friends in these classes. On a typical day, my first alarm would go… Read More
Greg Hall + home composite
Journalism News
While practicing social distancing, I have been reflecting on my last four years at the University of Illinois. It makes me sad that I will never again have the opportunity to walk the halls of Gregory Hall as a student. But, even in such unfortunate times, I am thankful to have fond memories of my… Read More
Cheryl Whitlow Thompson
Journalism News
Cheryl W. Thompson (BS ’82, LAS; MS ’84, journalism), an investigative correspondent for NPR in Washington, D.C., and a 22-year veteran of The Washington Post, was re-elected for a second term as president of Investigative Reporters and Editors, a 6,100-member organization dedicated to improving… Read More
Eugene Windchy
Journalism News
Eugene Windchy (BS '52, journalism) has published the fourth edition of Twelve American Wars: Nine of Them Avoidable. Previously he has written Tonkin Gulf, described as "superb investigative reporting" by the New York Times, and The End of Darwinism. Windchy resides in Centreville, Virginia.
Professor Nancy Benson with student
Journalism News
Professor Nancy Benson officially retired in December 2019, becoming professor emerita of journalism, and leaving behind quite a legacy at the College of Media. She didn’t start out as a professor; in fact, she didn’t even know she wanted to teach. Benson’s career began primarily in broadcast… Read More
Tina Akouris
Journalism News
Tina Akouris (BS '94, journalism) won a Beck Award at the Chicago Tribune for Outstanding Professional Performance on Friday, Feb. 7. She is a member of the Chicago Tribune's suburban digital team and is a digital news editor.
Eric Meyer
Journalism News
Associate Professor of journalism Eric Meyer's weekly newspaper Marion County Record in Marion, Kansas, won a near-record 30 awards from the Kansas Press Association for 2019. He is editor, publisher, and co-owner of the paper. Meyer swept first, second, and third in column and editorial writing;… Read More
Brant Houston
Journalism News
Nonprofit newsrooms are providing a significant new source for news as many newspapers face cuts and closures, says University of Illinois journalism professor Brant Houston, a co-founder of the Institute for Nonprofit News, which now includes more than 200 members. (Photo by L. Brian Stauffer… Read More
Breen book
Journalism News
Justin Breen (BS '99, journalism), founder and CEO of BrEpic, has written a new book that will launch on May 19—Epic Business: 30 Secrets to Build Your Business Exponentially and Give You the Freedom to Live the Life You Want!  “I am so thankful every day for BrEpic’s success, and I can’t wait to… Read More
Students in JOUR 460
Journalism News
In JOUR 460: Extended Realities and Immersive Technologies, a new journalism course that launched last fall, students learned how new technologies can help solve real-world problems, as well as entertain others. Besides gaining an understanding of the history and application of virtual reality,… Read More
Journalism News
Stu Werner (BS '85, journalism) has joined the Multiplatform Desk at the Washington Post after 18 years at the Chicago Tribune.
Niani Scott
Journalism News
When Niani Scott, junior in journalism, saw some of her peers’ social media posts about the Forbes Under 30 Summit, the event piqued her interest: She’d have the opportunity to build upon her network, practice pitching skills, and learn from A-list guest speakers, such as professional athlete… Read More
Punkin Chunkin
Journalism News
When Associate Professor Charles “Stretch” Ledford first stumbled onto the idea, it seemed absurd: Punkin Chunkin.  “It was interesting to find a project that hit multiple areas,” Ledford said. “Agriculture, engineering, and economy—and sheer weirdness—were just perks.” He decided Punkin Chunkin… Read More
Air book cover
Journalism News
Brian R. Bland (BS '63, journalism; MS '64, radio and TV) has been published in Air: A Radio Anthology, a collection of essays about the early days of radio. Bland's memoir recalls his first paid broadcast job at WLRW-FM in Champaign in 1963. Air was published in 2019 by the book division of… Read More
Chicago Reader
Journalism News
Charlie Meyerson's (BS '77, MS '78, journalism) less-than-three-years-old free email news briefing, "Chicago Public Square," was named Chicago's best blog in the Chicago Reader's Best of Chicago poll. More than 30,000 people voted in more than 300 categories of the poll. Winners will be honored at… Read More