- This event has passed.
Join us for Beyond the Byline and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting
May 15, 2025 @ 3:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Join us for Beyond the Byline: Featuring the 21st Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting on Thursday, May 15th, from 3:30-8:30 P.M. at Venue SIX10 in downtown Chicago.This event will feature a thought-provoking panel, an engaging conversation with journalist Jelani Cobb, Dean of Columbia Journalism School, the lauded Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting and will culminate in a reception.
The annual Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting highlight the imperative impact and importance of investigative reporting in Illinois. Judged by a panel of journalists and media educators, the awards were launched two decades ago by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, thanks in large part to the late Richard Driehaus’ vested belief in the power of journalism as a cornerstone of democracy, in addition to his long-standing collaboration with awards partner, the Better Government Association.
We hope you’ll be able to join us for this unforgettable evening. Tickets are available now for a $50 donation per person. As a thank you, community and news partners, and BGA supporters who donate $1,000 or more annually will receive complimentary tickets.
Program
3:30 – 4:00 PM: Registration
4:00 – 5:00 PM: Panel Discussion on Defining Impact in Journalism
5:00 – 5:30 PM: Break
5:30 – 7:15 PM: A Conversation with Jelani Cobb + the Driehaus Foundation Awards
7:15 – 8:30 PM: Happy Hour + Closing Reception
A Conversation with Jelani Cobb
Jelani Cobb is the Dean of Columbia Journalism School, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and a Peabody Award-winning journalist. A staff writer at The New Yorker since 2015, he is a leading voice on race, politics, and history.
His work includes the PBS Frontline documentary Whose Vote Counts? and books such as The Matter of Black Lives and The Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress. He has been a political analyst for MSNBC since 2019 and is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Defining Impact: A Conversation on Change and Resilience in Journalism
Ruby Bailey,
Illiniois Answer’s Editor-in-Chief
Jamie Kalven,
Founder of the Invisible Institute
Mackenzie Warren,
Director at the Medill Local News Accelerator
Join Illinois Answer’s Editor in Chief Ruby Bailey and Jamie Kalven, Founder of the Invisible Institute, for an engaging conversation on impact and resilience in journalism, moderated by Mackenzie Warren, Director at the Medill Local News Accelerator.
They will explore how we measure influence when challenging systemic issues deeply embedded in our societal code and government, while also acknowledging the human element that drives journalists to pursue long, arduous journeys toward justice.
The discussion will bridge conventional metrics with the heartfelt realities of reporting, inviting civically minded audiences to both amplify journalistic work and actively participate in shaping a more accountable society.
2025 FINALISTS
Large Newsroom
The finalists for the Large Newsroom (newsrooms with editorial staffs of more than 10) category are:
- Block Club Chicago; “CTA in Crisis” by Manny Ramos
- CBS WBBM-TV; “Failure to Protect: A Domestic Violence Investigation” by Marissa Perlman, Michele Youngerman, Tim Viste, Jeff Harris, Elliott Ramos, Scott Wilson, Alfredo Roman, Jeff Renfroe and Aaron Cooper
- Chicago Tribune; “Medical Misconduct” by Lisa Schencker and Emily Hoerner
- NBC Chicago and Telemundo Chicago; “Dismissed: How Sex Crimes Disappear” by Bennett Haeberle, Jorge DeSantiago, Lisa Capitanini, Katy Smyser, Lucia Walinchus, Nathan Halder, Casey Mitchell, Rich Moy, Matt Stefanski, Connor Dore, Abra Richardson, Lauren Stauffer and Sally Ramirez
Small Newsroom Category
The finalists for the Small Newsroom (newsrooms with editorial staffs of less than 10) category are:
- Capitol News Illinois, “The Sonya Massey Shooting” by Beth Hundsdorfer
- Invisible Institute, “A History of Misconduct” by Farrah Anderson, Sam Stecklow and Dean Olsen
- Cicero Independiente, “The Inside Story On A Billion-Dollar Chemical Company’s Fight To Keep Its Secrets From The Public” by Cicero Independiente staff and MuckRock staff
- Borderless Magazine and Investigative Project on Race and Equity, “Investigating Chicago’s Migrant Shelters” by Mauricio Peña, Katrina Pham, Emeline Posner and Nissa Rhee
Please contact us at YourImpact@bettergov.org with any questions.
From Last Year’s Event
