For immediate release
Chicago, IL - May 9, 2026
The Chicago Headline Club has announced that WTTW has won 17 Peter Lisagor Awards for 2025, out of 35 nominations. The winners were selected by an independent chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists from across more than 100 categories including newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and digital media.
WTTW was recognized for:
Best Feature or Human Interest Single Story
Chicago Stories: Legendary Blizzards
Eddie Griffin, Alex Dawson, Lauren R. Drell, Michael Buhrow, Eric Seals, Anthony Fleming III, Anna Chadwick Gardner, Shelley Spencer
Best Use of Feature Video
Touring Chicago’s Lakefront with Geoffrey Baer
Geoffrey Baer, Michael West, Brendan Brown, Joe Winston, Brendan Walsh, Shelley Spencer
Best Illustration or Graphics
WTTW News Explains
Justin Younger, Natalie Younger, Greg Bodfish, Alex Blanchette
Best Social or Short Form Video
Chicago Stories: Architecture Gems – The Marshall Field and Company Building
Sean Keenehan, Wayne Kumingo, Tim Boyd, Maureen Waller, Anne Gleason, Anna Gardner, Meredith Francis, Heidi Zersen
Best Headline from a Print/Online Publication
"Ragweed vs. Goldenrod: One of Them Makes you Sneeze, the Other is the Bee's Knees"
Patty Wetli
Best Community Reporting – Video
The State of Our City: A WTTW News Town Hall
Brandis Friedman, Shelby Hawkins, Crystin Immel, Jay Smith
Best Arts and Entertainment Reporting – Video
Chicago Stories: Iconic Foods
Daniel Andries, Monica Eng, Bianca Lozano, Brian Clark, Tim Boyd, Anthony Fleming III, Anna Chadwick Gardner, Shelley Spencer
Best Health Reporting Single Story/Episode – Video
“Northwestern University Lab Helps Shape the Future of Medical Monitoring”
Paul Caine
Best Reporting on Race and Diversity – Video
Chicago Tonight: “SNAP Benefit Cuts”
Brandis Friedman, Nick Blumberg, Bridgette Adu-Wadier, Shelby Hawkins, Crystin Immel
Best Science and Technology Reporting (small print/online)
Patty Wetli on Science and Nature
Patty Wetli
Best Science and Technology Reporting – Video
“Northwestern University Lab Helps Shape the Future of Medical Monitoring”
Paul Caine
Best Reporting on Crime and Justice – Video
Chicago Stories: Inside the Tylenol Murders
Peter Marks, Ian Bertorelli, Bill Ward, Tim Boyd, Brendan Walsh, Anthony Fleming III, Anna Chadwick Gardner, Shelley Spencer
Best Education Reporting – Video
“‘A Tsunami Coming from Washington’ – Chicago, Illinois Leaders Respond to Education Department Layoffs”
Matt Masterson, Brandis Friedman, Bridgette Adu-Wadier, Crystin Immel
Best Business Reporting – Video
Chicago Stories: Marshall Field's
Heidi Zersen, Marcy Marzuki, David Fortney, Brendan Walsh, Anthony Fleming III, Anna Chadwick Gardner, Shelley Spencer
Best Feature Reporting Single Story/Episode (small and medium print/online)
“Take Note! Stationery Shops Enjoying Revived Interest in Analog Communication, Fueled by Social Media and Celebrities”
Patty Wetli, Nicole Cardos
Best Feature Reporting Single Story/Episode – Video
Touring Chicago’s Lakefront with Geoffrey Baer
Geoffrey Baer, Michael West, Brendan Brown, Joe Winston, Brendan Walsh, Shelley Spencer
Best Feature Reporting Series – Video
WTTW News Explains
Jay Smith, Abena Bediako, Patty Wetli, Justin Younger, Natalie Younger, Greg Bodfish, Alex Blanchette
The Chicago Headline Club established the Peter Lisagor Awards in 1977 to inspire Chicago-area journalists to follow his outstanding example and to recognize truly superior contributions to journalism.
WTTW is the PBS member station in Chicago, committed to creating and presenting unique media content across distinct television and digital channels – WTTW, WTTW Prime, WTTW Create, WTTW PBS Kids 24/7, wttw.com, and the PBS/WTTW video app. Recognized for award-winning journalism and local productions – such as Chicago Stories, Firsthand, Chicago Tonight, Touring Chicago’s Lakefront, and Chicago Works – WTTW presents the very best in public affairs, arts and culture, nature and science, history and documentary, and children’s public media content. Connect with WTTW on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
