Welcome to the Chicago Journalists Association

Working journalists of any period have always developed a fellowship based on their common experiences.

This has been so even under the pressure of gathering, writing, editing and illustrating the news of the day. Competition to do the best job first forges unique, often life-long bonds.

Time may curtain the fatigue, dreariness and frustration that fall to every newsperson, but the passing years do not erase the zest for adventure that sets this occupation apart from all others.

The Chicago Journalists Association exists to provide a place for journalists of yesterday and today to gather together after deadline hours for comradeship. CJA presents after-work programs that focus on timely topics such as cameras in the courtroom; an annual awards dinner that recognizes outstanding journalists both international and local; and annual scholarships that encourage promising young Chicagoans to pursue careers in journalism and communications.

Applications Are Open for CJA’s $1,250 Journalism Scholarship

The Chicago Journalists Association is pleased to announce that applications are being accepted now through August 1st for its 2013 Charitable Fund Scholarship to an aspiring young journalist. Competition for this year’s $1,250 award is open to Chicago-area graduating high school seniors accepted to college or to undergraduate college students enrolled in courses that will lead to careers in journalism and communications. This includes majors in such programs as political science, economics and the liberal arts that would lead to media careers.

Financial need, professional potential and commitment to the field of journalism determine each year’s winner. Samples of work, letters of recommendation from teachers and transcripts of grades are required of all candidates. The winner of the 2013 CJA scholarship will be announced at CJA’s annual awards dinner on Friday, September 27.

The Chicago Journalists Association, formerly the Chicago Press Veterans Association, has awarded scholarships to deserving students for decades. The scholarship may be used to cover immediate expenses or be applied to student loans already incurred. Please forward the description and application for the 2013 scholarship to any aspiring Chicago-area journalist you may know.

1,001 Afternoons in Chicago - Discounted tickets

In 1921 then-Chicago journalist Ben Hecht, later to be known as the "Shakespeare of Hollywood," wrote a daily column called 1,001 Afternoons in Chicago which was essentially a series of short story masterpieces.

ACM is partnering with Strawdog theater company to create a live radio play, with new music by Seth Boustead and Amos Gillespie, based on 6 of the best of these stories.

Tuesday, May 21 7:00 PM Architectural Artifacts 4325 N. Ravenswood Ave.
$20 at the door, $12 online, $8 students and seniors
Music by Seth Boustead and Amos Gillespie. Francesco Milioto - Musical Artistic Director Anderson Lawfer - Theatrical Direction Stories by Ben Hecht Adaptation and narration by Strawdog Theater

Click here for more ticket information!

Documenting Violence Against Women: Justice Begins with Truth

Join Steve Edwards, from the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago, as he moderates a discussion among journalists, advocates for survivors, and criminal justice leaders, on a discussion about violence against women, its news coverage, and the potential for increased data access to impact the public discussion.

Date and Time: Tuesday, May 28th from 5:30 to 7:30pm

Location: Union League Club of Chicago (Co-sponsor of event)
Panel Moderator: Steve Edwards, Institute of Politics, U of C (Confirmed)

Chicago Journalists Association's 73rd Annual Awards Dinner

CHICAGO-- CJA is proud to announce the 2012 honorees for the Daniel Pearl Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Chicago Jounalist of the Year Award. The recipients are:


Adela NavarroBill Kurtis
Left: Allen Rafalson, President CJA with John Conroy and Adela Navarro Bella,  Right: Bill Kurtis and Allen Rafalson, President CJA

The Awards Dinner, held on October 5, 2012 in Chicago, evening included the presentation of the Sarah Boyden Awards and the CJA journalism scholarships for 2012. Bill Moller of WGN-AM served as Master of Ceremonies.
Click for more photos!

Sarah Brown Boyden Awards

Sarah Brown BoydenSarah Brown Boyden was a campus reporter for the Chicago Evening American while attending Northwestern University in the 1920s. She eventually joined the the newspaper's staff, moving to the Chicago Daily News in the early 30s where she worked on the society pages. Her last job was at the Chicago Sun, which became the Sun-Times after a merger with the Chicago Daily Times in 1948. She died in 1989 at the age of 86.

The Boyden award was initially funded by her friends and family. Each year, Chicago-area journalists vie for the coveted awards established in her honor.

73rd CJA Annual Awards Dinner: Sarah Brown Boyden Awards

Photo left: Sarah Brown Boyden (1902-1989)  Credit: James Hadley

A Letter from the President | Allen Rafalson

Remembering Jimmy Damon

Paul McGrathA lot of wonderful tributes have been written about my longtime friend, the kid from Memphis who came to the Midwest in the late 1960s and transformed himself from a country singer to a popular cabaret crooner. His dazzling baritone voice made him a fan favorite in Chicago and elsewhere.

I first met him at the Cousin's Club after leaving my job as a magazine editor and launching my career as a public relations consultant. It was the beginning of our inseparable friendship. The club, located on East Erie Street, no longer exists but its former owner, Howard Borde, has fond memories about the young man he hired. “ I watched him hundreds of times and he never gave a bad performance. He was always ‘on’, even when he was off,” he said.

He started his rapid climb to stardom after spending four years at the club refining his presentation. Jimmy Damon was now in demand and it was no longer unusual to see him perform at the city’s most popular night spots such as Mister Kelly’s, the Empire Room at the Palmer House and the Playboy Club. He performed on cruise ships and on national radio and TV shows, including the “Tonight Show.” with Johnny Carson. He hobnobbed with the rich and famous. He stood tall as he robustly sang at his “Jimmy Damon My Way” concerts; the national anthem at baseball and football games, civic and charitable events. The city named a street after him.

Mayor Harold Washington once went to see him sing at Navy Pier and left with a big smile, according to an article written by Sun-Times reporter David Hoekstra. He said, “Entertainers like Jimmy Damon have helped maintain Chicago’s image as a swingin ’town.” True.

Jimmy always reminded everyone he was the first entertainer Frank Sinatra allowed to sing the lyrics to his music. He built his act around Sinatra, but never imitated him. As a matter of fact, he never sounded like someone else. And when his old fans were rapidly disappearing he enchanted new audiences, young adults who idolized him.

There was nothing we won’t do for each other. Jimmy would frequently contact me to publicize his many appearances and I would call upon him to perform at numerous patriotic gatherings and charitable events throughout the years. He sang the national anthem at our organization’s annual dinners for the past 11 years. It is difficult for me to imagine a dinner without Jimmy at my side. When there was a paying job to be had, I always recommended Jimmy.He would do the same for me, which brings up one humorous event I will never forget.

Years ago, he was requested to meet with the new management of a hotel near the Florida Everglades. He recommended my public relations agency, so I tagged along. We met with the owners who were not quite sure they required our expertise. That was unexpected. Jimmy suggested we get into one of their speedboats while they make a final decision .We headed for the swamps, laughing as we dodged those large crocodiles swimming around us. In retrospect, it’s an experience I would not like to repeat. We were not hired.

He passed away April 27 on his 75th birthday at Rush University Medical Center’s Horizon Hospice from a rare heart disease, “cardiac amyloidosis.” Several days later, I saw Jimmy for the last time at a funeral home in Bridgeport. He was still singing. The family had arranged his music to be heard by the hundreds who came to pay their respects, among them many cabaret singers. I spoke with his widow, Marilyn, and daughters Dana and Alexa and looked at a slide film depicting his musical history Jimmy Demopoulos was born to sing.

As a child, he sang at the Kiwanis Clubs and church events .He watched with awe as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash frequently performed at his father’s popular New York Café in Memphis. And as a teenager, he later shared the stage with Presley and other well-known country singers and signed with a recording company. I was told there was guitarist at Jimmy’s bedside. She accompanied him as he calmly sang the lyrics to “Blue Moon.” He lived the way he died…singing. Goodbye, my friend. Rest in peace.

CJA Newsletter

2012 CJA newsletterIt's online!  Read the CJA Newsletter right here!  Click on the image to the left to open or download the newsletter.

In an effort to lower our costs, we no longer will print and mail the newsletter to members. Instead, we will publish online so that you can download and print at home or the office.

Hope you enjoy it; please feel free to contribute articles and news for the next issue,  send them to the Editor, Dan Friedlander danfriedlander@comcast.net or to Allen Rafalson at rafalson@comcast.net .

Classifieds: A new section for CJA members!

Post a personal message to the CJA membership in the new Classifieds section! Contact Allen Rafalson to submit your post! (Read more!)

Note: The Chicago Journalists Association was formerly the Chicago Press Veterans Association