Best News Column or Commentary at a
Major Daily Newspaper
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| John Fountain with the legendary journalist Harry Porterfield, also honored at Friday's Lisagor dinner with the "Lifetime Achievement Award." |
John
W. Fountain was awarded the prestigious Peter Lisagor Award for best news
column or commentary at a daily newspaper with a circulation of more than
250,000. He received the honor Friday May 5, at the awards dinner of the 39th
Annual Lisagor for a series of columns on “ChiRaq,” written in 2015.
It
was Fountain’s third Lisagor awarded by the Chicago Headline Club each year and
his fifth time being named a finalist since his weekly column began appearing
in the Chicago Sun-Times in 2010.
The
Chicago Headline Club is one of the largest Society of Professional Journalists
chapters in the country. More than 300 people attended the event held at the
Union League Club of Chicago. The awards, which recognize the best of Chicago
journalism, are named for Peter Lisagor, the Chicago Daily News’ Washington
bureau chief from 1959 to 1976.
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| Where is Fountain's Lisagor in this photo? It's a famous spot not far from his office on Michigan Avenue. Hint: The skyline is reflected in this great Chicago landmark. |
“I
am humbled and grateful,” Fountain said. “It is a great honor to be recognized
by your peers, and encouraging to know that your voice is being heard. It is
truly humbling to be honored among some of the best in journalism.”
History of Fountain’s
Lisagor honors:
May 2011 –Won:
Daily newspaper, circulation more than 250,000.
For a series of columns published in the Chicago Sun-Times.
2013—Finalist: “Black-on-black victims could fill our
stadiums; We must face hard truths and stop making excuses; When will all this
bloodshed end?”
2014—Won: Lisagor Award Daily Newspaper: Best News Column or
Commentary Daily Newspaper, News Service or Bureau, circulation more than
250,000—“One: The Most Important Number – Examining the toll of murder.” A series of five columns by Fountain that
looked beyond the number of murders and explored the impact violence has on
families, communities, loved ones and others. “One. One bullet. One gun. One
hot summer’s night. One death. One city. One dream. One.”
2015—Finalist for ONLINE:
BEST FEATURE STORY OR SERIES: For “The Sweet Season, a series of online stories and website
created by Fountain, chronicling the journey of a team of Little League
baseball players in an impoverished south suburb.
2016—Won in category of Daily Newspaper: Best News
Column or Commentary Daily Newspaper, News Service or Bureau, circulation more
than 250,000 for "ChiRaq." A
series of columns, including a tale of two cities and the impact on those who
live in Chicago’s crime besieged neighborhoods.
Note: While a national
correspondent for the New York Times, Fountain, in 2003, was a Lisagor finalist
in feature writing and sports writing. He has also won numerous other
journalism awards. For more on Fountain’s writing, visit his website: www.johnwfountain.com
For More Information, Contact:
Monica Fountain
(708) 580-6408
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| John W. Fountain with wife Monica at the Lisagor Award dinner at the Chicago Union League. |