Advanced Reporting students from the Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence (CJIE) recently won two 2026 Crystal Pillar Awards from the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Both awards were for excellence in the College Student Production category. For Hard News Report, the students took the top honor for “Teen Deaths on E-Scooters,” by Isabella Russomanno, Peyton Hopp, Sarah Hendry, Lindsay Freiberger, Annie Koziel, Marie Kane, Khadija Mujahid, Kathryn Byrnes, Riley Moulton, and Diego Yepez.
The win in the Public Affairs/Community Service category was for “Battle Over Illinois Homeschool Act,” by Sabrina Castle, Nupur Bosmiya, Francesca Corona, Jake Cox, Laura Vazquez David, LiLi Jarvenpa, Sofia Joseph, Rose O’Keeffe, Kiersten Riedford, Alana Scacher, Bing Wang, and Matthew Warakomski.
The awards were announced during the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ October 24th ceremony and the Advanced Reporting students were thrilled to be in attendance to accept the awards. “This is such an incredible accomplishment for our students,” said Lexa Murphy, dean of the College of Communication. “It's exciting see their work being recognized at this level and to know that their reporting brings important issues to light.”
CJIE’s Advanced Reporting students produce investigative pieces throughout the year that are published on NBC5 Chicago's news website. Through this partnership, students gain experience in investigative reporting along with the the opportunity to report on important stories that matter to Chicagoans. “Our students took on tough issues this year, including sports gambling, data centers, and teen deaths on e-scooters, explains CJIE Director Lisa Parker. “Their efforts, to me, are the real prize here.”
Current public relations and advertising graduate student Mariana Monetero (BFA ’26) also won a 2026 Crystal Pillar Award in the Fiction-Short Form Category for her work “The Show Must Go On.”
Housed in the College of Communication, the Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence offers training, teaching and professional outreach to help students journalists learn how to navigate the world of investigative reporting. Learn more about the Center at go.depaul.edu/cjie.