Contact:
Robert Reed (312) 453-0631
Robert Herguth (312) 821-9030

CHICAGO—The Better Government Association was recently recognized in journalism competitions for its news stories and online presence over the past year.

The Radio Television Digital News Association awarded the BGA a prestigious Edward R. Murrow award – named for the late pioneering TV newsman – for regional excellence on the web. The BGA’s web site, the main vehicle for BGA investigative stories along with various media partners, is www.bettergov.org.

Meanwhile, the BGA has been nominated in the online category for a Chicago Bar Association Herman Kogan Media Award, one of the most noteworthy prizes in local journalism, for two stories that focused on alarming financial problems facing municipalities.

The stories were:

  • “Next Up: Illinois Municipal Bankruptcy?“, which revealed how debt-burdened local governments throughout the state are exploring the contentious option of going to court to cut, reorganize and dump their financial obligations.
  • “Suburban Pension Peril“, which exposed how financial resources in dozens of Chicago-area police and fire pension funds are drying up, putting retirement incomes at risk, as well as the fiscal health of numerous municipalities.

The stories, both published in 2014 by the Chicago Sun-Times, were written and reported by the BGA’s Andrew Schroedter and Patrick Rehkamp.

News of these contests follows word that the BGA’s investigative reporting team and media partners have been nominated by the Chicago Headline Club for 23 Peter Lisagor awards, honoring the best work by local journalists in 2014.

“Awards and nominations are not just an affirmation of the good work done by BGA staff, they reflect the important work we do as an organization in shining a light on government and holding public officials accountable,” said BGA President and CEO Andy Shaw.

The Better Government Association is a Chicago-based nonprofit, nonpartisan watchdog group that works for integrity, transparency and accountability in government by exposing corruption and inefficiency; identifying and advocating effective public policy; and engaging and mobilizing the public to achieve authentic and responsible reform.