DEKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois News Association is pleased to announce the addition of journalists Madhu Krishnamurthy and Julie Mann to its board of directors.
Mann is the public information officer for Kane County Government and Krishnamurthy is diversity editor and assistant city editor for the Daily Herald.
“I am pleased to welcome Julie and Madhu to our board,” said John Lampinen, NINA president. “Julie’s broadcast experience and Madhu’s association work and diversified news coverage will be great assets to our board. I am confident they will strengthen our efforts to advocate for journalism in northern Illinois.”
Mann has worked over three decades as an award-winning journalist in the city of Chicago and suburbs as an anchor and managing editor of WBBM Newsradio. In 2021, she accepted her position with Kane Country Government, where she serves as liaison for local and national media on behalf of the county and promotes awareness of the county’s mission programs, policies and initiatives.
She is a graduate of Drake University and St. Charles High School, where she was honored as Alumni of the Year in 2015. She was named one of the 10 Most Powerful Women in Chicago Journalism in 2014, 2017, and 2019.
At the Daily Herald, Krishnamurthy previously was an education writer, covering suburban K-12 school districts, community colleges and universities. In her 22 years with the Daily Herald, she has covered stories on a variety of issues and topics, including human interest, local government, health, politics, religion and diversity. She joined the Daily Herald in 2000, covering the northwest, north and western suburbs.
She chairs the Editorial Diversity Committee, whose goals are to broaden employees’ understanding of the various cultures represented within and reflect the diversity of the communities the Daily Herald Media Group serves through its news products. Madhu has done extensive work covering issues facing the Muslim, Arab, Black, Latino and Hindu communities in the suburbs.
Krishnamurthy is past president of the Chicago Headline Club, the largest chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and an adjunct faculty member of Columbia College Chicago. She received the University of Central Oklahoma’s 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award.
NINA recently changed its name and adopted a new vision statement to reflect the organization’s growth and goals for the future – “We aim to be the leading advocate in northern Illinois for reliable and factual local journalism – teaching what it is, celebrating its achievements, spreading its virtues and defending its role in society.”
NINA board officers include John Lampinen, president; Cristi Kempf, first vice president; Jim Killam, second vice president; Dan Campana, treasurer; Pat Szpekowski, immediate past president; Jason Akst, executive secretary; and Shelley Hendricks, communication coordinator. NINA board members include Sharon Boehlefeld, Margarita Mendoza, Rick Nagel, Roger Ruthart and Penny Wiegert.
About NINA
Founded in 1962 to promote the newspapers of Northern Illinois, NINA develops programs and workshops to enhance the profession and recognizes journalistic achievements through a prestigious annual contest.
NINA’s ties with Northern Illinois University extend to its beginnings when it was founded by Dr. Donald Grubb, long-time chairman of the university’s journalism department.
NINA remains affiliated with the Communication Department, which now houses NIU’s journalism programs. Members are located throughout Northern Illinois and include individuals, newspapers, magazines, online publications, radio and television.
For membership information, contact Shelley Hendricks at shendricks@niu.edu.
NINA’s Coverage Area
- Contact: Shelley Hendricks at shendricks@niu.edu or 815-753-4239.
Northern Illinois News Association 