Forest Park Review opinion columnist Bill Dwyer took home the first place prize at the Chicago Headline Club’s annual Lisagor Awards last Friday in the category honoring columns/commentary for a non-daily paper.
The Lisagors, named for legendary Chicago Daily News political reporter Peter Lisagor, honor exemplary print, radio and television journalism in the Chicago area. Nominees were judged by journalists from Miami, Indianapolis and Seattle.
Dwyer, whose column appears in the Review once per month, was specifically honored for three columns: “Subpoenas no ‘glorified FOIA,'” which ran on August 17, 2005, “Home Rule: Stepping into political adulthood,” which appeared Sept. 21, 2005, and “Soliciting vendors not “wicked,” just stupid,” Oct. 26, 2005.
“Dwyer’s columns are thoroughly reported and tough as nails. I doubt there are many village staffers who look forward to being in his sights. Bonus points for a writing in a style that doesn’t assume readers are political insiders, yet doesn’t talk down to them,” said judges at the award banquet held at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza in Chicago.
“Bill’s columns are sometimes controversial, but they’re always thought provoking, engaging and entertaining. Each of his columns is sure to bring its topic to the forefront of public debate in Forest Park for the week,” said Review editor Seth Stern.
“Obviously, I’m very pleased and honored to be singled out by my peers,” said Dwyer. “But I’m also really pleased that the Review, which was named the second best small weekly in the nation recently after having won five state first place awards last September, continues to be recognized as a superior newspaper. People in Forest Park deserve a quality paper that works hard to discuss important issues, and I’m really proud to play a part in that effort.”
Dwyer is a Forest Park resident and a reporter for Wednesday Journal, one of the Review’s sister papers.
