Awards & Recognition, events

NINA Celebrates 60 Years of Excellence in Journalism

Rick Nagel

For six decades, Northern Illinois University and the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association have celebrated journalism and journalism education in a region that extends from Kankakee to Rockford, from Moline to Chicago and all parts in between.

On Thursday, Oct. 27, you’ll have the chance to join that celebration in a stylish, meaningful and important tribute to this partnership of educational excellence and journalistic integrity during a banquet and ceremony in the beautiful Altgeld Hall building on the NIU campus in DeKalb.

Sponsored by Northern Illinois University’s Department of Communication and through the efforts of the NINA Board, the event will honor some of the top news professionals of our generation while recognizing the extraordinary and vital work being done today.

The event is open not just to working journalists but to anyone who cares about or is a stakeholder in the Fourth Estate — students, teachers, high school advisers, freelance writers, communications professionals, public relations strategists, civic leaders and elected officials.

This is a chance to rub elbows with people who make the news and people who report the news.

But it’s more than just a networking opportunity. In this age, when the media is under siege and truth is argued at every turn, this event is a chance to stand in support of fairness, accuracy, quality and integrity, Democracy and freedom of the press.

Our keynote speaker is a proud Northern Illinois University graduate and winner of the 2021 award for Chicago Journalist of the Year. Kelly Bauer, breaking news editor of Block Club Chicago, will inspire us and reignite our passion for the journalism profession.

More about the ceremony and program will be highlighted on the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association website and in upcoming e-blasts and news releases. What we’re asking you to do now is save the date and make your RSVP no later than Friday, Oct. 14.

The cost is $40 per person and includes a book-fair reception, dinner, multi-media presentation, recognition of dignitaries, keynote speaker and awards ceremony. The cash bar and book fair begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m. and Bauer’s keynote speech at 7:30 p.m.

Please RSVP as soon as you can to Shelley Hendricks at shendricks@niu.edu or call 815-752-4239.

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Published by Rick Nagel

Rick Nagel is a man in whose mouth butter never melted. No, wait — that’s S.J. Perelman. Let’s start again. Nagel is a longtime (read “old”) Chicago-area journalist and former govie who is now enjoying retirement. He has held many highfalutin titles: managing editor of Press-Republican Newspapers, editor in chief of Press Publications, editor-publisher of The Beacon-News, and vice president of editorial of Sun-Times News Media, to name a few. Nagel was one of the first Midwest editors of AOL’s “Patch” and served as outreach coordinator for Kane County, IL, where he created Kane County Connects. He never will be confused with the world's most interesting man, but he has led an eclectic and happy life. You can contact him any time at ricknagel23@gmail.com.