SPJ honors Les Brownlee, pioneer black journalist
Columbia professor given Lifetime Achievement Award by Chicago Headline Club
By Angela Caputo
Assistant Editor

Dwayne M. Thomas / Chronicle Les Brownlee rallies journalists to pursue civic journalism during his acceptance speech. The awards ceremony was held at the Chicago Athletic Association, 12 S. Michigan Ave.

More than 300 local journalists joined the Chiacgo Headline Club Friday Oct. 4 in honoring Journalism Department faculty member Les Brownlee for his achievement in Chicago media. The event also kicked off the first annual Les Brownlee Series.

The Chicago Headline Club, a chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, granted Lifetime Achievement Awards for the first time to honor excellence in local journalism.

“We want to recognize not just the media superstars, but also the unsung heroes for their work in the profession and also their work in the community,” said Molly McDonough, president of the Headline Club.

Brownlee, the first African-American inducted into the Society of Professional Journalists, was honored along with six others for their contributions to local media. More than 50 journalists were nominated for the award.

“He has spent so many years giving back to the field of journalism. It’s high time we give something back to him,” said Columbia’s director of Broadcast Journalism, Lillian Williams.

Columbia’s Director of Multicultural Affairs Art Burton said too few black professionals are given such honors. “It’s a milestone for him to be recognized,” Burton said.

“Whenever we honor pioneers in our profession it is significant because all of us, in some way, have walked through the doors they have broken down for us,” said Sabrina Miller, a city hall reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

“To have your peers stand up and say publicly you have done outstanding work, giving your profession an honorable name, is overwhelming, and flattering at least,” said Christine Tatum, Chicago Tribune technology reporter. Tatum is the Headline Club member who is coordinating the Les Brownlee series.

Brownlee said he considers the award an honor but added, “I was always surprised when I won an award. I’ve always thought, ‘Are you sure I’m the guy you want?’”

Few people have challenged society with tenacity like Brownlee’s. He overcame the adversity of segregation, fighting to attend white schools so he would receive a quality education.

“I have lived a fairy tale,” the 87-year-old said. “I went to a good [high school] because I was living in a caddy shack and eating out of a garbage can.” He later earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree at Northwestern University, from which he graduated at the top of his class.

Since beginning his career as a professional journalist in the late 1940s, Brownlee has been a champion in breaking down racial barriers.

As a rookie in 1950, he joined the Chicago Daily News as its first African-American reporter. In 1964, Brownlee became the first on-air black reporter for WLS-TV. Brownlee won an Emmy for his WLS-TV editorials in 1975.

“I can’t imagine what it must have been like to break barriers in the newsroom. Les did it over and over again,” Tatum said. “To have the wherewithal and the stamina is incredible.”

After 30 years of functioning in multiple capacities in media, Brownlee began a teaching career at Columbia. “As I began to realize the importance of giving, I decided to teach,” Brownlee said. “I alone may have made some contributions, but do you realize how many of my students have made a difference? I have taught hundreds of teachers.” Brownlee’s mantra to his students is this: “You can achieve, but you have got to believe you can do it.”

NBC-5 reporter Anita Padilla, a Columbia graduate, said she flourished using this advice and attributes her early career success to Brownlee. “He inspired me to believe in myself,” Padilla said.

“The Les Brownlee series is an unprecedented celebration and it starts tonight,” Tatum said. The month-long professional development sequence is designed to provide more instruction to journalists.

“We want the series to incorporate quality professional development with a component of play and fun,” McDonough said. Series events will occur throughout the month of October and include workshops, seminars and cultural tours.

Arthur C. Nielsen Jr., of A.C. Nielsen Co. and Nielsen Media Research, a close personal friend to Brownlee, helped fund the series.

“Arthur Nielsen really wanted to find a way to honor his friend,” McDonough said.

“I would not be here tonight if it were not for Art Nielsen,” Brownlee said.