Beyond the Byline and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting

Join us for Beyond the Byline: Featuring the 22nd Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting on Thursday, May 7, from 3:30–8:30 p.m. at Venue SIX10 in downtown Chicago.

The event will feature a community-centered storytelling panel elevating the sources, experts and lived experiences that informed Illinois Answers Project investigations; an engaging conversation with Errin Haines, editor-at-large at The 19th; the presentation of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting; and a reception.

Now in their 22nd year, the Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting recognize the essential role investigative journalism plays in strengthening democracy in Illinois. Judged by a panel of journalists and media educators, the awards were established by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, inspired by the late Richard Driehaus’ deep belief in the power of journalism and his longstanding partnership with the Better Government Association.

We hope you’ll join us for this unforgettable evening. Tickets are available now for a $50 donation per person. As a thank you, community and news partners—and BGA supporters who donate $1,000 or more annually—will receive complimentary tickets.

Program

3:00 – 3:30 PM: Registration

3:30 – 4:30 PM: Panel 

4:30 – 5:00 PM: Break

5:00 – 6:45 PM: Featured Guest Conversation + the Driehaus Foundation Awards

6:45 – 8:00 PM: Happy Hour + Closing Reception

Special Guest

Errin Haines is an award-winning journalist and a leading voice at the intersection of race, politics, and gender in America. 

She is the editor-at-large and a founding mother of The 19th, an independent nonprofit newsroom that aims to elevate the voices of women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community in American journalism and democracy, and an MSNBC political contributor. Haines is also the 24th president of the National Association of Black Journalists, the oldest and largest advocacy organization for journalists of color. 

Prior to joining The 19th, Haines worked at The Associated Press, the Washington Post, the Orlando Sentinel, the Los Angeles Times and the Atlanta Daily World. Her work has been featured in publications including TIME, POLITICO, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Haines’ coverage spans the White House, Congress, campaigns, and grassroots movements—with a sharp focus on how policy impacts Black women and marginalized communities.

Haines’ expertise on issues of race, gender and politics make her a sought-after thought leader in her industry. She has served as a leader, mentor, and advocate for newsroom equity throughout her career. Haines was a visiting professor at the Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Princeton University, teaching classes on Black women and democracy. 

Haines is currently writing a book on Black political leadership in Atlanta and the legacy of the city’s Black mayors. Whether in print, on air, or on stage, she is known for telling the truth with empathy, urgency, and unmatched clarity.