Peter Lisagor
Encyclopedia
Peter Lisagor was Washington bureau chief of the Chicago Daily News
from 1959 to 1976 and was one of the most respected and best-known journalists in the United States. Lisagor gained nationwide recognition from his syndicated column and appearances on such public-affairs broadcasts as Meet the Press
, Face the Nation
, Washington Week in Review, and Agronsky & Company.
Lisagor was born in Keystone, West Virginia and moved to Chicago at age 14, where he attended Marshall High School
. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in political science.
Lisagor began his career in journalism in 1939 as a sportswriter for the Daily News. During World War II
he was a sergeant in the Army
, serving as a correspondent and London editor for the service newspaper, Stars and Stripes
. He returned to the Daily News after the war.
In 1948 Lisagor was selected for a Nieman Fellowship
at Harvard University. He was a recipient of the Newspaper Guild
's Page One award, the George Foster Peabody Broadcasting award
, the William Allen White award and the Edward Weintal Prize for diplomatic reporting. He served as president of the White House Correspondents Association, the Gridiron Club
, the Overseas Writers Association, and the State Department Correspondents Association.
Lisagor died in 1976 of complications from cancer of the lung and larynx. He is interred at Arlington National Cemetery
.
In 1977, the United States' largest chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
, the Chicago Headline Club, established the Peter Lisagor Awards "to inspire Chicago-area journalists to follow his outstanding example and to recognize truly superior contributions to journalism." The competition's categories range from in-depth reporting and public service to business, commentary and feature reporting.
Chicago Daily News
The Chicago Daily News was an afternoon daily newspaper published between 1876 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The Daily News was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty in 1875 and began publishing early the next year...
from 1959 to 1976 and was one of the most respected and best-known journalists in the United States. Lisagor gained nationwide recognition from his syndicated column and appearances on such public-affairs broadcasts as Meet the Press
Meet the Press
Meet the Press is a weekly American television news/interview program produced by NBC. It is the longest-running television series in American broadcasting history, despite bearing little resemblance to the original format of the program seen in its television debut on November 6, 1947. It has been...
, Face the Nation
Face the Nation
Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer is an American Sunday-morning political interview show which premiered on the CBS television network on November 7, 1954. It is one of the longest-running news programs in the history of television...
, Washington Week in Review, and Agronsky & Company.
Lisagor was born in Keystone, West Virginia and moved to Chicago at age 14, where he attended Marshall High School
John Marshall Metropolitan High School
John Marshall Metropolitan High School is a public 4-year high school located on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It serves the students of the East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, North Lawndale and Humboldt Park neighborhoods. Marshall's principal is Kenyatta Butler...
. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in political science.
Lisagor began his career in journalism in 1939 as a sportswriter for the Daily News. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was a sergeant in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, serving as a correspondent and London editor for the service newspaper, Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes (newspaper)
Stars and Stripes is a news source that operates from inside the United States Department of Defense but is editorially separate from it. The First Amendment protection which Stars and Stripes enjoys is safeguarded by Congress to whom an independent ombudsman, who serves the readers' interests,...
. He returned to the Daily News after the war.
In 1948 Lisagor was selected for a Nieman Fellowship
Nieman Fellowship
The Nieman Fellowship is an award given to mid-career journalists by The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. This award allows winners time to reflect on their careers and focus on honing their skills....
at Harvard University. He was a recipient of the Newspaper Guild
Newspaper Guild
The Newspaper Guild-CWA is a labor union founded by newspaper journalists in 1933 who noticed that unionized printers and truck drivers were making more money than they did...
's Page One award, the George Foster Peabody Broadcasting award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
, the William Allen White award and the Edward Weintal Prize for diplomatic reporting. He served as president of the White House Correspondents Association, the Gridiron Club
Gridiron Club
The Gridiron Club and Foundation, founded in 1885, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious journalistic organizations in Washington, D.C. Its 65 active members represent major newspapers, news services, news magazines and broadcast networks. Membership is by invitation only and has...
, the Overseas Writers Association, and the State Department Correspondents Association.
Lisagor died in 1976 of complications from cancer of the lung and larynx. He is interred at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
In 1977, the United States' largest chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
Society of Professional Journalists
The Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
, the Chicago Headline Club, established the Peter Lisagor Awards "to inspire Chicago-area journalists to follow his outstanding example and to recognize truly superior contributions to journalism." The competition's categories range from in-depth reporting and public service to business, commentary and feature reporting.