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Regional Editor Allison Petty (from left), reporter Jaylyn Cook and Digital Editor John Reidy discuss a story at the Herald & Review on Jan. 18. (Jim Bowling, Herald & Review)
Each year, Editor & Publisher honors “Newspapers That Do It Right” nationally. And most years, Illinois figures prominently on the list. This year was no different.
Three central Illinois newspapers were among those honored in the trade journal’s March 2019 edition.
The Herald & Review of Decatur and the News-Gazette of Champaign were among the “10 Newspapers That Do It Right,” while the Journal Star of Peoria was among 12 newspapers receiving Honorable Mention.
“This year’s list of 10 Newspapers That Do It Right recognizes some of the most diverse ideas out there today,” E&P reporters Nu Yang and Evelyn Mateos wrote. “From an augmented reality app to a video studio, some of these publications are thinking outside the box, experimenting with strategies and revenue ideas to engage with their audiences.
“On the other hand, some of them, despite operating with limited staff and resources, are being recognized for doing hard-hitting investigative journalism that produced results and changes in their communities.
“Our 10 newspapers, along with the ones listed in our honorable mentions, show that journalism continues to thrive, thanks to bright ideas and bright people. We hope they inspire others to keep up the great work.”
Editor Chris Coates talks about his vision for the newspaper during an open house at the Herald & Review. A tour was also given to show the process of producing news from digital to print. (Clay Jackson, Herald & Review)
Herald & Review
The Decatur newsroom is being recognized for its use of government documents and public records to create substantive journalism.
"This award is an incredible honor," said Allison Petty, regional editor. "Everyone in this newsroom works hard to ensure we are providing a strong news organization for the community we live in, and it’s gratifying to see that passion recognized on a national level."
The magazine pointed to the Herald & Review's coverage about the shortcomings of the medical system at the Macon County Jail, a shortage of court reporters in the region and other watchdog reporting for the award.
"Playing detective has paid off for the reporters at the Herald & Review," Editor & Publisher wrote. "By scouring through documents of local elected bodies, reporters were able to connect dots and discovered trends that led to important stories."
The magazine said "this aggressive approach to a simple strategy has delivered big results."
Other honorees include Kansas City Star in Missouri; Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington; Columbus Dispatch in Ohio; and Wilmington StarNews in North Carolina. Previous "Do It Right" winners include the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Houston Chronicle, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Newsday and Boston Herald.
"I am very proud that the Herald & Review was named one of the '10 Newspapers That Do It Right,'" Publisher Michelle Pazar said. "This award doesn't group newspapers by circulation or staff size, so it is even more of an honor that we rose to the top of a very crowded and talented field."
Last year, the Herald & Review's strong digital growth and focus on public service journalism won an honorable mention in the "Do It Right" edition. Petty in April also was named to the magazine's "25 Under 35” list of rising stars in the media industry.
The newspaper also in 2018 won top honors for public service and investigative journalism from Illinois Associated Press Managing Editors and was one of 10 newsrooms from across America selected for the Total Newsroom Training program from Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening investigative journalism.
“I'm so proud of what our team in Decatur does each day," said Chris Coates, the Central Illinois editor. "They're doing such important work. This recognition really speaks to the commitment of the journalists here and the kind of local reporting we're doing. It matters."
In the submission for the award, Coates wrote, "The very best newspapers deliver on three fronts: Sense of urgency, sense of surprise and sense of place. That means agility on breaking news, but also a keen understanding about the importance of depth and analysis on big stories."
Said Pazar, "Under the leadership of Editor Chris Coates, our newsroom has become more dynamic, more digitally connected and more involved with the community. Chris is one of the most driven and passionate people I have had the pleasure of working with. He challenges all of us to bring our 'A' game every day."
"The mantra that 'local journalism matters' is more than a slogan; it's the guiding force behind everything the Herald & Review does," Pazar said. "We are constantly tapping into new audiences and informing our readers through digital initiatives, community events and watchdog reporting. While this award is well-deserved, it's not why our reporters, editors, photographers, delivery staff and advertising sales people show up to work every day. They do it for our readers."
Pictured (from left): producer Ed Bond, sports columnist Loren Tate, beat writer Scott Richey, reporter Julie Wurth, reporter Mary Schenk, and radio news director Carol Vorel in the WDWS-AM radio studio inside News-Gazette Media.
News-Gazette
For the second time in four years, The News-Gazette was named by Editor & Publisher as one of "10 Newspapers That Do It Right." The magazine honored News-Gazette Media for its newsroom-wide podcast project.
"These publications are thinking outside the box," the magazine wrote. "We hope they inspire others to keep up the great work."
Several News-Gazette Media veteran print and radio reporters introduced podcasts in 2018, including Carol Vorel ("Cold Cases"), Scott Richey ("Inside Illini Basketball"), Mary Schenk ("Legally Speaking"), Loren Tate ("Tatelines: Unedited"), Julie Wurth ("Campus Conversation") and producer Ed Bond.
In 2016, The News-Gazette's "50 Ways To Engage Our Readers" project led to a "10 Newspapers That Do It Right" honor.
In 2015 and 2017, Editor & Publisher named The News-Gazette honorable mention in its "10 Newspapers That Do It Right" issues for the newpaper's drone videos and "High School Confidential" series, respectively.
"We're blessed with an innovative staff that will try anything to reacher a greater audience," said Jim Rossow, News-Gazette Media vice president-news. "These podcasts are doing just that. The plan is to expand our offerings in 2019."
The 10 newpapers recognized by Editor & Publisher range in circulation size, from the Kansas City Star (100.000 daily) to the Ledger Dispatch in Jackson. Calif. (5,000 on Tuesday and Thursdays).
Journal Star
In the year leading up to the Illinois Bicentennial (Dec. 3, 2018), nearly two-dozen members of the Illinois Press Association and the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors produced a weekly series of articles featuring key moments, figures, industries and events that help make Illinois unique.
This statewide project was created and coordinated by Dennis Anderson, executive editor of the Journal Star in Peoria, and produced and shared by 21 newspapers in Illinois and published by more than 110 newspapers statewide, as well as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
This project was not only a readership initiative, but it provided newspapers sponsorship and advertising opportunities as well.
“Illinois newspapers have been chronicling our state’s history throughout the past 200 years, so it makes sense that we share this series of stories celebrating the Bicentennial,” Anderson said. “And it’s great that so many newspapers wanted to get involved to tell the stories that are important to all of Illinois and unique to their community.”
The SJ-R’s editorial engagement editor, Kate Schott, and Diane Dungey, senior deputy managing editor of the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, assisted Anderson with the project, and “both have been vital to this happening,” Anderson said.
In addition to the SJ-R, other newspapers contributing articles included the Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, the Belleville News-Democrat, the Pantagraph of Bloomington, the Southern Illinoisan of Carbondale, the News-Gazette of Champaign, the Chicago Defender, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Decatur Herald & Review, The Paper from Dwight, the Galesburg Register-Mail, the Hancock Journal Pilot, the Jacksonville Journal-Courier, the Lebanon Advertiser, County Journal of Percy, the Journal Star of Peoria, the Rock Island Argus, the Rock River Times, the Rockford Register Star and Sauk Valley Media of Sterling/Dixon.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 26, 2026 Media Contact Information: Cartwheel Emily Paisner (888) 500-2067 emily.paisner@cartwheelcare.org
$1 million grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois will help Cartwheel scale access to care in rural and underserved communities through 2028
CHICAGO — August 26, 2026 — Cartwheel Care, a telehealth mental health provider for K-12 schools, today announced plans to expand access to care for up to 100,000 students across Illinois, supported by a $1 million grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL). The additional funding builds on an existing partnership between Cartwheel and BCBSIL, following a year of strong engagement and clinical outcomes. Cartwheel currently serves 40 Illinois school districts, and the grant will help expand services further into rural and underserved communities across the state through 2028. Mental health needs among Illinois students remain high. According to data from Lurie Children’s Hospital, approximately 50% of Illinois youth (ages 2–17) have experienced worsening mental health symptoms in recent years. At the same time, access to care has not kept pace: more than 80 of Illinois’ 102 counties have no practicing child psychiatrist, and the shortage is most acute in rural areas, where families often wait months for an appointment or travel significant distances for care. Cartwheel’s telehealth model is designed to remove the access barriers rural families face, like long waitlists and the need to travel to see a provider. By partnering with schools, Cartwheel provides licensed, Illinois-based clinicians with no waitlist, accepts all major insurance plans including Medicaid, and reaches kids and families where they already are, without requiring them to find or travel to an outside provider. “Every student experiences mental health challenges differently, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting them,” said Dr. Juliana Chen, chief medical officer at Cartwheel. “Our goal is to meet students and families where they are, with practical support that helps them build skills, strengthen relationships, and feel more confident navigating challenges at school and at home. BCBSIL’s support is what allows us to bring that care to more Illinois communities.” “Supporting the health and well-being of Illinois youth is critical to building stronger communities,” said Brian Snell, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. “The results we’ve seen through our partnership with Cartwheel demonstrate the impact that timely, accessible mental health services can have for students and families. This investment will help bring those services to even more communities across our state.” To date, four Illinois districts have received Cartwheel’s services through this grant: Steger SD 194 in Cook County and Will County, Troy CCSD 30-C in Will County, Mattoon CUSD 2 in Coles County, and Wolf Branch SD #113 in St. Clair County. In the first year of the program, more than 200 students were referred for care and completed more than 1,000 telehealth sessions. Appointments were scheduled in the same week with no waitlist. Sixty-eight percent of students served were covered by Medicaid or uninsured. Overall, 73% of students showed meaningful improvement in anxiety and depression symptoms on standard clinical screeners (GAD-7/PHQ-9). Additional districts where Cartwheel services are launching this fall include Litchfield CUSD #12, Panhandle CUSD #2, Leyden High School District #212, and Regional Office of Education #40. With the support of this grant, Cartwheel expects to expand into another 30 to 50 school districts, bringing access to care to a total of 100,000 students across Illinois. “Before this partnership, getting a student connected to care could take months,” said Jeffrey Peterson, director of student services & records at Troy CCSD 30-C. “Now our counselors can refer a student, know they’ll be seen within days, and are seeing real improvements as a result.” Through the grant, Cartwheel provides individual and family therapy, parent guidance, psychiatric evaluation and medication management, and specialized care programs for challenges like school avoidance, social media use, and intense emotions and behavior challenges. As reported in Illinois Policy, in 2025 about 25% of Illinois students missed at least 10% of the school year and this was more severe among low-income students, with 35.1% in that group chronically absent. Cartwheel’s school avoidance program delivers evidence-based care designed specifically for students struggling with school avoidance. In partnership with Cartwheel, Peoria Public Schools saw a 62% reduction in absences per student, along with decreases in suspensions and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Illinois school districts that want to learn more about this opportunity for the upcoming school year should visit: www.cartwheel.org/illinois. About Cartwheel Cartwheel is the nation’s largest and most trusted telehealth provider for K-12 schools, students, and families. Cartwheel partners with 350 school districts across 15 states to deliver comprehensive mental health services to students, families, and school staff. Founded in 2022 by educators and clinicians, Cartwheel combines evidence-based clinical care with technology to ensure every child has access to high-quality mental health support. Cartwheel accepts all major insurance plans including Medicaid and provides care at no cost to uninsured families. For more information visit: www.cartwheel.org. About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the largest health insurer in Illinois, serving nine million members and operating in all 102 Illinois counties. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Learn more at bcbsil.com and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 24, 2026 Media Contact Information: Mather Institute Cindy Droog, president, Sabo PR (616) 717-8654 cindy@sabo-pr.com
Free online tool by Mather Institute supports local planning, partnership and investments
EVANSTON, Illinois – Chicago has a new tool to help understand where neighborhood conditions support social wellness among older adults – and where thoughtful investment and partnership may expand opportunities. Mather Institute launched a first-of-its-kind free Social Wellness Map, which scores the 77 community areas in Chicago on social wellness – a measure of feeling connected with others and with a community – for adults 55 and better. Previous research shows strong social ties are one of the most important predictors of a happy and long life, and that neighborhoods and communities shape how people interact, support one another and build shared identity. Mather Institute developed the map in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago. Designed as a planning and advocacy resource, the interactive map can help policymakers, community organizations, funders, planners and service providers explore local patterns, identify assets and consider where new investments may have the greatest benefit for older adults. “Social wellness is a crucial, yet often overlooked, part of healthy aging,” said Cate O’Brien, MPH, Ph.D., chief transformation officer at Mather Institute. “Because every community contains diverse histories, people and experiences, the map is intended to inform – not replace – local knowledge. The most useful next step is conversation. When organizations bring this data together with resident voices, they can better understand what is already working and what could be most beneficial to older adults and their communities.” The map is based on a new survey of more than 4,000 Chicago residents age 55 and better, combined with public data on community conditions, including walkability, economic factors and access to gathering places such as libraries, churches and community centers. Factors such as crime, lack of local businesses and poverty can hinder social wellness, but don’t tell the whole story. Users can view a side-by-side comparison of communities to explore how social wellness relates to health, happiness, income and other factors. Key findings include:
“Community leaders often have deep local knowledge, but need data to support the case for programs, funding and partnerships,” said Jennifer L. Smith, Ph.D., vice president of Mather Institute. “The Social Wellness Map offers another lens for understanding older adults’ experiences and for turning local insight into action.” High social wellness scores were not confined to one part of Chicago or to its wealthiest areas, suggesting that other factors such as neighborhood identity, belonging and longstanding social ties are also important to connection. Chatham emerged as a notable example, with a social wellness score of 8.14 out of 10, illustrating social wellness reflects aspects of community life beyond economic and safety indicators alone. Beverly received the highest community connectability score: 100 out of 100. Beverly is notable for its low crime rates, a strong family culture and several longstanding community gathering places. Jefferson Park stood out for having community conditions that support connection such as accessible transit, retail activity and established cultural gathering places. The map is free to use and does not require user registration. It can be explored at: https://www.matherinstitute.com/social-wellness-map/
About Mather and Mather Institute
Based in Evanston, Illinois, Mather is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1941 that is dedicated to a vision of changing the way society views aging. Mather creates Ways to Age Well℠ through programs, places and residences for today’s older adults. These include developing and operating communities that support older adults in pursuing wellness and fulfillment; sparking creativity and connections for older adults in Chicagoland and beyond; and through Mather Institute, conducting research and incubating innovation to help all live and age well.
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