2023

• Carlos Ballesteros, Reporter, Injustice Watch
• Jodi Cohen, Senior Investigative Reporter, ProPublica
• Melissa Sanchez, reporter, ProPublica
• Tiffany Walden, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The TRiiBE
• Jamie Nesbitt Golden, Reporter, Block Club Chicago (Uplifting Voices Award)
• Craig Dellimore, Political Editor, WBBM Newsradio (Ripple Effect Award)
• Jorge Martinez, Contributing Reporter, Cicero Independiente (New! People's Choice Emerging Media Maker Award)
• Sylvia Snowden, producer and host, CANT TV (New! People's Choice Established Media Maker Award)

Click here to watch a playback of the full ceremony, as well as individual videos of the winners' speeches along with introductions by past winners.

2022

• Bob Black, Photojournalist, formerly Chicago Sun-Times & Chicago Defender
• Maya Dukmasova, Senior Reporter, Injustice Watch
• Jacqueline Serrato, Barrio Journalist & Editor-in-Chief, South Side Weekly
• María Inés Zamudio, Reporter, WBEZ
• Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, Chicago Urban Historian & CEO of Chicago Mahogany Tours (Uplifting Voices Award)
• Michelle Duster, Author, Professor and Public Historian (Ripple Effect Award)

Click here to watch a playback of the full ceremony, as well as individual videos of the winners' speeches along with introductions by past winners.

2021

• Brandis Friedman, WTTW
• Michael Puente, WBEZ
• Maureen O'Donnell, The Chicago Sun-Times
• Karen Hawkins, The Chicago Reader & Rebellious Magazine
• Tonika Lewis-Johnson, The Folded Map Project (Uplifting Voices Award)
• Jamie Kalven, Invisible Institute (Ripple Effect Award)

Click here to watch the full ceremony.

Note: The awards were postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019

• Deborah Douglas, Managing Editor, MLK 50: Justice Through Journalism
• Britt Julious, Freelance writer and editor
• Jerome McDonnell, Reporter and former host of Worldview, WBEZ
• Annie Sweeney, Reporter, Chicago Tribune
• Jeff McCarter, Founder & Executive Director of Free Spirit Media (Uplifting Voices Award)
• Nikole Hannah-Jones, Creator of 1619 Project, The New York Times (NEW Ripple Effect Award)

Click here to watch the full ceremony via CAN TV. Click here to see a photo gallery from the evening.

2018

• Kathy Chaney, Asst. Audience Engagement Editor, Chicago Sun-Times
• Michael Spencer Green, Photojournalist, The Associated Press
• Dahleen Glanton, Columnist, Chicago Tribune
• Odette Yousef, Reporter, 91.5 WBEZ Chicago
• Kevin Coval, Poet, Author, Activist and Educator (Uplifting Voices Award winner)

Watch the full ceremony here.

2017

• Cate Cahan, Editor, Chicago Public Radio/WBEZ
• Steve Mills, Reporter, Chicago Tribune
• Carlos Javier Ortiz, Photographer and filmmaker
• Univision Chicago Newsroom
• Terry Mazany (Uplifting Voices Award winner)
• Yam G-Jun (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

Watch the full ceremony here.

2016

• Lolly Bowean, Reporter, Chicago Tribune
• Richard Steele, Program Host & Correspondent, Chicago Public Radio/WBEZ
• Sarah Karp, Reporter, Chicago Public Radio/WBEZ
• Cecilia Vaisman, Reporter, National Public Radio
• Aurie Pennick (Uplifting Voices Award winner)
• Khloe Richardson (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

Watch the full ceremony here.

2015

• Maudlyne Ihejirika, Reporter & Journalist, Chicago Sun-Times
• Monica Eng, Producer, Chicago Public Radio/WBEZ
• Sharon Cohen, Reporter, The Associated Press
• Darryl Holliday, Reporter & Producer, DNAInfo and The Illustrated Press
• Adele Simmons (Uplifting Voices Award winner)
• Columbia Links, Columbia College Chicago (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

2014

• Steve Bogira, Reporter & Blogger, Chicago Reader
• Alejandro Escalona, Web Manager, Telemundo
• Steve James, Producer, Kartemquin Films
• Gordon Quinn, Producer, Kartemquin Films
• Katie Kather (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)
• Fred & Nikki Will Stein (Uplifting Voices Award winners)

2013

• Megan Cottrell, Reporter, Chicago Reporter
• Fernando Diaz, Managing Editor, Hoy Chicago
• Dave Hoekstra, Reporter, Chicago Sun-Times
• Lorne Clarkson (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

2012

• Mick Dumke, Reporter, Chicago Reader
• Maria Hinojosa, Anchor, PBS and Latino USA on National Public Radio
• Chip Mitchell, Reporter, WBEZ Chicago Public Radio
• Daniel Castro (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

2011

• Linda Lenz, Founder and Publisher, Catalyst Chicago
• Kari Lydersen, Freelance reporter
• Antonio Olivo, Reporter, Chicago Tribune
• Devin Katayama (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

2010

• Kate Grossman, Deputy Editorial Page Editor, Chicago Sun-Times
• Natalie Moore, Public Affairs Reporter, Chicago Public Radio
• Progress Illinois
• Mitchell Wenkus (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

2009

• David Jackson, Chicago Tribune
• Alden Loury, Editor and Publisher, The Chicago Reporter
• Scott Simon, National Public Radio
• Thom Clark, Community Media Workshop
• Hsin Yin Sung (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

2008

• Tom McNamee, Chicago Sun-Times
• Radio Arte, 90.5 FM
• Dawn Turner Trice, Chicago Tribune
• Karla DiBenedetto (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

2007

• Mary Helt Gavin, Publisher, The Evanston Roundtable
• Stephen Franklin, Labor and Workplace Reporter, The Chicago Tribune
• WRTO 1200 AM, La Tremenda (Univision Radio Network)
• Lilia Markarova (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

2006

• Mark Brown, columnist, Chicago Sun-Times
• Renee Ferguson, reporter, WMAQ-TV/NBC5
• Mary Johns and the Editorial Team, Residents’ Journal
• Sean Patrick Fahey (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

2005

• Tracy Baim, Windy City Media
• John Conroy, Chicago Reader
• Mary Schmich, Chicago Tribune
• James Weinstein, In These Times
• Angela Caputo (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

2004

• Alex Kotlowitz, Journalist and Author
• Linda Lutton, Daily Southtown
• Phil Ponce, Chicago Tonight, WTTW
• Suree Towfighnia (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

2003

• Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune & WGN
• Jorge Mota, Channel 44, Telemundo
• Tom Weinberg, Image Union, WTTW
• Geena Gintzig & Meghan Just (Studs Terkel Community Media Scholarship winner)

2002

• Shirley Jahad, WBEZ-FM
• Phil Kadner, Daily Southtown
• Curtis Lawrence, Chicago Sun-Times
• WVON-AM 1450

2001

• Cornelia Grumman, Chicago Tribune
• Martha Irvine, The Associated Press
• Salim Muwakkil, In These Times and Chicago Tribune

2000

• Lee Bey, Chicago Sun-Times
• Ira Glass, WBEZ
• Teresa Puente, Chicago Tribune

1999

• Jon Anderson, Chicago Tribune
• John H. White, Chicago Sun-Times
• Laura Washington, The Chicago Reporter
• Harry Porterfield, WLS Channel 7 News

1998

• Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune
• Ben Hollis, Wild Chicago
• Chinta Strausberg, Chicago Daily Defender

1997

• Don Terry, New York Times
• Mary Mitchell, Chicago Sun-Times
• John McDermott, The Chicago Reporter

1996

• Ray Suarez, National Public Radio
• Achy Obejas, Chicago Tribune
• Carol Marin, NBC Channel 5 News

1995

• Vernon Jarrett, Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times
• Charles Nicodemus, Chicago Sun-Times
• Ben Joravsky, Chicago Reader

1994

• W. Newman, Chicago Daily News and Sun-Times
• David Moberg, In These Times
• Cheryl Corley, National Public Radio