Top Cole Awards Presented to Intelligencer, Prairie Press
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Date PostedJune 6, 2025
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CategoryNews
The Illinois Association of School Boards and the Illinois Press Association have announced the recipients of the Robert M. Cole Award for best school board coverage. The awards for the calendar year 2024 were presented at the Illinois Press Association convention and “Best of the Press” event in June 2025.
First place in the Non-Daily Division was awarded to Robby Tucker of The Paris Press for comprehensive coverage of a board of education experiencing a financial crisis, excellence in reporting and explaining, and enterprise in staying with the story.
Other entries receiving honors were David Petesch of the Kendall County Record in second place; David Porter of The County Chronicle (Tuscola) in third place; and Will Brumleve of the Ford County Chronicle in fourth place in the non-daily category.
In the Daily Division, the winner of the Robert M. Cole Award was Billy Woods of the Edwardsville Intelligencer for coverage that included policy and procedure, not just on board action, with well-detailed explanations.
Second place in the Daily Division went to Jeff D’Alessio of the News-Gazette, Champaign; third place to Erik Hall and Jill Moon of the Alton Telegraph; and fourth place to Russell Lissau and Christopher Placek of the Daily Herald Media Group.
The Robert M. Cole Award, named for the first full-time executive director of the Illinois Association of School Boards, recognizes outstanding coverage of education issues that emphasize the community’s connection with its local public school district. Judges evaluate entries for contribution to public understanding of local school governance and support for effective dialogue that helps the community and school board define major public policy issues. Judging criteria also include enterprise, depth of reporting, and clarity of writing.
First place in the Non-Daily Division was awarded to Robby Tucker of The Paris Press for comprehensive coverage of a board of education experiencing a financial crisis, excellence in reporting and explaining, and enterprise in staying with the story.
Other entries receiving honors were David Petesch of the Kendall County Record in second place; David Porter of The County Chronicle (Tuscola) in third place; and Will Brumleve of the Ford County Chronicle in fourth place in the non-daily category.
In the Daily Division, the winner of the Robert M. Cole Award was Billy Woods of the Edwardsville Intelligencer for coverage that included policy and procedure, not just on board action, with well-detailed explanations.
Second place in the Daily Division went to Jeff D’Alessio of the News-Gazette, Champaign; third place to Erik Hall and Jill Moon of the Alton Telegraph; and fourth place to Russell Lissau and Christopher Placek of the Daily Herald Media Group.
The Robert M. Cole Award, named for the first full-time executive director of the Illinois Association of School Boards, recognizes outstanding coverage of education issues that emphasize the community’s connection with its local public school district. Judges evaluate entries for contribution to public understanding of local school governance and support for effective dialogue that helps the community and school board define major public policy issues. Judging criteria also include enterprise, depth of reporting, and clarity of writing.
