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JULY/AUGUST 2017
THE “REAL” HEROES: LEGAL JOURNALISTS AND THE CHICAGO CUBS
2017 Herman Kogan Awards
By Anne Ellis, CBA Record Associate Editor
T
his year’s Kogan Media Awards
featured heroes both on and off the
field: All ears were on the speak-
ers and award winners, but all eyes kept
glancing at the Chicago Cubs World Series
Trophy, which was on display at the cer-
emony celebrating 28 years of outstanding
legal journalism in Chicago.
The awards, named in honor of legend-
ary journalist Herman Kogan, recognize
outstanding legal and public affairs report-
ing. With Incoming President Thomas
R. Mulroy presiding, the awards were
presented by Dennis Culloton, Chair of
the Kogan Awards Committee, at a lun-
cheon at the Standard Club on May 9. The
committee selected winners from among
dozens of entries in print, broadcast, and
online media categories (see the winning
entries, listed nearby).
Keynote Messages
In keeping with the theme of legal journal-
ists as heroes playing a championship role
in our society, Judge Mulroy introduced
the keynote speakers: media personalities
David Kaplan of ESPN and Comcast
SportsNet, and Scott Simon of NPR.
Forsaking the traditional speaker’s podium,
raconteurs Kaplan and Simon sat side-by-
side and traded stories about the Chicago
Cubs as heroes of the 2016 World Series.
Both have written books about the team
–Kaplan’s “The Plan,” a behind-the-curtain
look at the buildup to the World Series
win, and Simon’s “My Cubs: A Love Story.”
Citing the diehard superstition of a true
Cubs fan, Simon said he waited to write
his book until after the Cubs had actually
won the series. He ribbed Kaplan, who
started writing his account a year ago. But
Kaplan said he had to start early because
he wanted to document “how they got
there –and no one knew if ‘this would be
the year.’” As Kaplan sees it, “TomRicketts
is the real hero of the Cubs’ story –he took
all the hits five years ago to set up the team
for long-term, sustained success.” Ricketts,
he says, “has the mind of a businessman,
but the heart and soul of a fan.”
Simon and Kaplan traded predictions
for the 2017 baseball season, with both
Kogan Award Winners
–TimNovak, Chris Fusco, Mick Dumke, Brett Chase, Chicago Sun-Times, Print - Features and Series Category,
“Beyond the Rubble: Life After The CHA Upheaval”
–Steve Schmadeke,
Chicago Tribune,
Print–Legal Beat Reporting Category,“Tale Of An Interrogation?”
–Better Government Association Staff,
BGA,
Online Category,“BGA Forces Release of Mayor Rahm Emanuel
Private Emails, Garners Landmark Policy Shift”
–Phil Rogers, Marion Brooks, Michelle Relerford, Katy Smyser, Courtney Copenhagen, Richard Moy, Zach
Christman, Julio Martinez,
NBC5 Chicago,
“Code Of Silence”
Meritorious Awards
–Steve Mills, Todd Lighty,
Chicago Tribune,
Print–Features and Series Category, “Police Officers’ Question-
able Testimony”
–Roy Strom,
Chicago Lawyer,
Print–Features and Series Category, “To Catch A Spoofer: ‘Spoofing’ is the
Financial Crime of the Moment”
–Kari Lydersen,
BGA,
Online Category,“Feisty Law Firm Fights For Rauner’s Agenda”
–Frank Main,
Chicago Sun-Times,
Print–Legal Beat Category,“Cops Turned Blind Eye to Rapes”
–Ben Bradley,
WGN-TV,
Broadcast Category, “Already In Prison, Drew Peterson’s Murder-For-Hire Defense
Cost Taxpayers Over $260K”
agreeing, “Relax! The wins will come!”
The ceremony ended, giving Cubs fans
the opportunity to pose with the World
Series trophy, and all to shake the hands of
the off-the-field heroes, the Kogan Award
winners.