Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Les Brownlee Memorial Scholarship, a $5,000 award for undergraduate journalism students in Illinois and the Chicago area, the Chicago Headline Club and the Chicago Headline Club Foundation announced Friday.
The scholarship honors the legacy of Les Brownlee, a pioneering journalist who broke barriers as the first African American member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the first Black president of the Chicago Headline Club. Brownlee’s career began at Ebony magazine and the Chicago Defender and in 1950, he became the first Black reporter hired by the Chicago Daily News. He later transitioned to broadcasting, working at WBBM-AM and WLS-TV, where he won an Emmy Award in 1975 for editorial writing.
“The Les Brownlee Scholarship is a prime example of our commitment to support and develop the next generation of journalists,” said Molly McDonough, president of the Chicago Headline Club Foundation. “In a challenging time for journalism, we remain proud and honored to offer this scholarship to aid deserving students achieve their academic and professional goals.”
The scholarship is open to current undergraduate journalism students enrolled in colleges and universities throughout Illinois and the Chicago metropolitan area. Applicants will be evaluated based on their academic record, journalistic experience, submitted perform samples, demonstrated financial need, and a cover letter articulating their passion for the field.
The application deadline is April 6, 2026. The recipient will be recognized at the annual Peter Lisagor Awards for Distinguished Journalism banquet on May 8, 2026.
Brownlee continued to shape the field after his broadcast career, spending more than 20 years as a full-time faculty member at Columbia College Chicago, mentoring countless students. He is also remembered for coining the phrase “Eyewitness News” during his time at WLS-TV and is a member of the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame.
The Chicago Headline Club Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supports journalism education and professional development in the Chicago area. The Chicago Headline Club itself serves as the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, offering discounted student memberships.
