Laura S. Washington
Journalist
Laura
S. Washington brings more than two decades of experience as a nonprofit
professional and multimedia journalist who specializes in African-American
affairs, local and national politics, race and racism, and social justice.
She is currently a columnist for the Chicago
Sun-Times, contributing editor for In
These Times and political analyst at ABC 7, Chicago’s network affiliate.
From 2003 to 2009, she served as the Ida B. Wells-Barnett University Professor
at DePaul University. She is also the former editor and publisher of The Chicago Reporter, a nationally
recognized investigative monthly specializing in racial issues and urban
affairs. She served as deputy press secretary to Harold Washington, Chicago’s
first black mayor. Washington received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from
the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, and she is a
founding inductee to the Medill School of Journalism Hall of Achievement.
Washington has received more than two dozen awards, including two Emmys, the
Peter Lisagor Award for outstanding journalism and the Studs Terkel Award for
Community Journalism. Newsweek Magazine
named Washington one of the nation’s “100 People to Watch” in the 21st century.
Newsweek said: “her style of
investigative journalism has made (The Chicago Reporter) a powerful and
award-winning voice.”
Her reporting, analysis and commentary have been widely featured in the
national media, including Time and Newsweek magazines, the New York Times, National Public Radio,
PBS and the BBC.
