(EDITORS NOTE: This weekend, we saw great, dogged journalism being celebrated with the movie “Spotlight” winning the Oscar for best picture. We continue the celebration by highlighting our Studs Terkel Award winners, four phenomenal journalists and one amazing supporter of the craft. Join us as we highlight some of the best Chicago journalism has to offer.
~ Susy Schultz)
Lolly Bowean 
Lolly Bowean is a veteran journalist who goes above and beyond in her work to find stories from people that others might ignore. She describers herself on Muck Rack as: “Writer. Chicago Tribune Reporter. News Enthusiast. Story Teller. Self-Appointed Community Helper. Live Music Lover. Listener.”
As a general assignment reporter, Bowean is there for breaking news, yet she still works hard to focus on urban affairs, youth culture, housing, and race relations. Like her story last week about Sandra Edwards and Kiya Powell, two of many people struggling with the Catch-22 voucher system at the Chicago Housing Authority.
But she also covers the joys and struggles of Chicago’s unique African-American community, which includes, stories such as the rich opening to her story about daddy-daughter dances.
“As the mellow sounds of soul music played, Willie Bailey grabbed his 7-year-olddaughter’s hand and twirled her in a circle. He pulled her close, placed a hand on her shoulder, and the two bopped back and forth in a two-step, laughing and giggling.”
From the death of Nelson Mandela, to the election of President Barack Obama and the last gathering of the original Tuskegee airman, Bowean has been there.
Here are a few of our favorites:
“Young activists getting results – in Chicago, across the nation” (Sept. 2015)
A new generation of civil right activists from Chicago’s South Side are fighting for change here and across the nation. Read story here.
Where are first graduates of Urban Prep? (Aug. 2014)
A piece about young black men from the first graduating class at Urban Prep High School and their journeys through college, featuring Public Narrative’s own Deontae Moore, social media and marketing manager. Read story here.
Study: Even for college-educated blacks, road to full-time work is rocky (Feb. 2015)
Despite completing college, the road to employment is filled with disparity for blacks. Read story here.
Distrust of Chicago cops helps drive Emanuel’s low approval on crime (Feb. 2016)
Here she explains how distrust in CPD has impacted a low approval rating for Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Read story here.