Matt Watson

“We won’t save our business through short-term revenue solutions that alienate and fail to engage our audience.”

These are the winners of the 48th Annual Peter Lisagor Awards - Chicago Headline Club The Chicago Headline Club congratulates all the winners of the 48th annual Peter Lisagor Awards for exemplary journalism. The awards were handed out May 9, 2025 at a gathering of more than 200 members...

Congrats to all my winning Chicago Public Media fam @wbez.org and @chicago.suntimes.com and to all the other esteemed colleagues at local news org who celebrated together last night headlineclub.org/2025/05/10/t...

The front page of the Chicago Sun-Times, featuring the pope waving under the words "DA POPE!" Subheadline says, "Chicagoan Robert Prevost, known to many on the South Side as 'Father Bob' and now to millions as Pope Leo XIV, becomes first American pontiff. The best coverage of Chicago's pope, pages 2-10."

Today's front page.

Chicago high school cheers White Sox fan Pope Leo XIV — 'He's one of us' While Robert Francis Prevost didn’t attend St. Rita of Cascia High School in Ashburn, his connection to the school runs deep. In the 1980s, he was a substitute and summer school teacher at the school ...

The Sun-Times got this gem: "The Rev. Robert Prevost (from left corner) ... at a 2005 White Sox World Series game at U.S. Cellular Field" chicago.suntimes.com/religion/202...

THE NBA IS BETTER WHEN THE PISTONS ARE GOOD

A Community of Magic: An Ode to DBB An unforgettable evening 20 years in the making with the Detroit Bad Boys community

“When a loved one, someone who you deeply respect, admire, and care about, goes through cancer, you don’t half-ass it. You do everything you can to help them.”

I’m glad I got to learn about these Pistons fans’ beautiful friendship at DBB

www.detroitbadboys.com/2025/4/18/24...

Chicago, come meet the newsrooms of the Sun-Times and WBEZ *TONIGHT* in Uptown! 🎉
We want to hear from you.
What do you like? Dislike? What do you need? What are your stories?
5 p.m. tonight at 935 W. Wilson Ave.

www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-the-s...

Hell yeah!

The Sun-Times is losing some amazing journalists. They wouldn't want us to stop. The bad news: 35 staffers — including 23 in the newsroom — took a Chicago Public Media buyout and most are leaving today. But their sacrifice will help ensure the newspaper's future.

The bad news: 35 staffers — including 23 in the newsroom — took a Chicago Public Media buyout and most are leaving today, @neilsteinberg.bsky.social writes. But their sacrifice will help ensure the newspaper’s future.

Yes, that’s Miss Huang on campus: Sarah Bock juggles ‘Severance’ role, classes at Northwestern The freshman, who's getting recognized now in the college dining hall, promises a jaw-dropping season finale that premieres March 21.

So ... I interviewed Sarah Bock, aka Miss Huang on #Severance. The 18-year-old is currently studying theater at Northwestern University. Here is my story for @chicago.suntimes.com.

chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-t...

chicago sun-times, block club, injustice watch, illinois answers project, wttw, wbez, south side weekly, the TRiiBE: all great places to spend/donate your money to get good, insightful reporting and commentary. in case you were wondering

The ebook's also currently that price at Nook/Apple/Google/Payhip/etc, per sources

As I was grabbing Kindle and Apple Books versions (gotta collect ‘em all) to complement my physical copy, I just realized you narrate the audiobook, as well — hope you don’t mind joining me on my commute this week.

Agreed, it’s very fun. I love movies that are both complex yet straightforward at the same time. It feels like too many movies try to be bigger than they need to be.

The @chicagoreader.com could use some love

Heat, Thief and Ernest Goes to Camp.

✅

I'll have more to say once the dust has cleared and we can tell what's left of the Reader, but Dan's hard work is already missed.

I can't say how we got to where layoffs were necessary. I don't know. But any donation you can make will help us get through the crunch. donorbox.org/supportchica...

YouTube video by David Imel How AI Stole the ✨ Sparkles ✨ Emoji

It’s such a fascinating trend. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend @davidimel.com’s video about it youtu.be/g-pG79LOtMw?...

Taking a moment to try and think of a team that has ever had a better Bad Season than Michigan just did. Best possible final two games, #1 recruit, still the reigning champ, etc

Hey hey! @wbez.org is here and so is Vocalo’s holiday playlist. Let’s goooohohoooo !

This is who Chicagoans listened to the most in 2024, according to Spotify Taylor Swift snagged the top-streamed artist spot once again, but Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" resounded as Chicago's No. 1 song.

Here's who's on Chicago's Spotify Wrapped: trib.al/v36O1k0

Who's on yours? Reply with your top artist and your response will be automatically added to the story👇

Right up there with Willie Burton

Remember Nuzzel? A similar news-aggregating tool now exists for Bluesky The creator of Sill says "the death of the link" has had disastrous consequences for journalism, art, and the web. His free social media tool entered public beta on Friday.

Holy shit I am so excited about this. And it works!!!

one thing about living in chicago nobody ever talks about is that it’s the greatest city and your life is substantially better here than anywhere else

anyway, here's a starter pack of verified chicago journalists and newsrooms.

if i missed anyone, please let me know. if you want help self-verifying by using your domain as your handle, DM me.

a man and a woman are sitting next to each other in a room and looking at each other . Alt: While other people talk nearby, a woman dissociates.

Partners of longtime twitter addicts hearing us talk about bluesky

Hello new Bluesky followers! Get connected with the Sun-Times and our journalists with our starter pack and feed. go.bsky.app/3WGJP7h

48 hours aboard Amtrak’s new direct train from Chicago to Miami The Sun-Times sent a reporter and photographer on the first run of the Floridian from Chicago to Miami — on one condition. We have to ride the whole way in coach.

This is by far the best thing I've ever written.

Hope you'll give it a read (to make up for the harassment and microwaved food): chicago.suntimes.com/transportati...