Skip to main content

WTTW’s digital series URBAN NATURE and arts special MAKING A NEW AMERICAN NUTCRACKER win Peter Lisagor Awards

URBAN NATURE is the first digital series in WTTW history to be recognized

For immediate release
Chicago, IL - May 24, 2018

WTTW public media is pleased to announce that two of its productions have been honored by the Chicago Headline Club at its 41st annual Peter Lisagor Awards on Friday, May 11 at the Union League Club of Chicago.

Notably, one of them, URBAN NATURE, is the first digital series in WTTW history to garner an award of any kind. In the category of Best Use of Features Video, writer/producer Dan Protess picked up the award for WTTW’s 16-episode digital series following University of Chicago evolutionary biologist Marcus Kronforst on an exploration of overlooked ecosys­tems in Chicago, New York and San Francisco. URBAN NATURE was made possible, in part, by the support of a generous group of individual, corporate, and foundation funders.

Also, in the category of Best News Specialty/Arts/Culture/Entertainment News – Feature or Series, the multi-platform special MAKING A NEW AMERICAN NUTCRACKER was honored. The film traced the production of the recent Chicago-centric Nutcracker at the Joffrey Ballet. The winners were writer/producer Daniel Andries, writer Liz Reeves, associate producers Tom Orland and Kaitlynn Scannell, and executive producer Dan Soles. The film and its website were made possible through the generosity of The Grainger Foundation of Lake Forest, Illinois.

“We are thrilled that the quality of our work has been recognized with these prestigious awards by the Chicago Headline Club,” said Chief Television Officer Dan Soles. “It is truly an honor to be included in this group of winners representing the very best of local journalism.”

About the Peter Lisagor Awards
The Chicago Headline Club created the awards in honor of Peter Lisagor (1915-1976), the award-winning Chicago Daily News Washington bureau chief, who showed skill and wit as a print reporter and broadcast news analyst.

About WTTW
WTTW is the PBS member station in Chicago, committed to creating and presenting unique media content across distinct television and digital channels – WTTW11, WTTW Prime, WTTW Create/WTTW World, WTTW PBS Kids 24/7, wttw.com and the PBS/WTTW video app. Recognized for award-winning journalism and local productions such as Chicago Tonight, Chicago River Tour, Check, Please!, digital-first series Urban Nature and Foodphiles and national productions 10 That Changed America, Soundstage, and Nature Cat, WTTW presents the very best in public affairs, arts and culture, nature and science, history and documentary, and children’s public media content. Connect with WTTW on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.