Chicago Sun-Times wins top prize from Illinois Press Association

The Chicago Sun-Times has won the Stuart R. Paddock Memorial Sweepstakes Trophy from the Illinois Press Association.

The trophy is won by the newspaper in the large daily category that wins the most points for awards across a variety of categories. The award was announced at the press association’s annual convention in Normal.

Contributing to the Sun-Times’ victory was a first place win in “News Reporting – Single Story” for “Can a cop killer go home again?”, according to the press association. The article by staff reporter Stefano Esposito tells the story of a Hegewisch man who kills a cop from the neighborhood, serves his time, returns home to coach Little League and the resulting ripple effects.

The judges praised the story for its “thorough reporting.”

The runner-up for the Paddock Trophy was the Journal Star in Peoria, followed by the Herald & Review in Decatur.