Lois Wille

Distinguished Alumnae Award Recipient, 1986

Medill BSJ 1953; MSJ 1954

 Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago journalist Wille launched her journalism career in 1957 at the Chicago Daily News, where she focused on urban issues and state and local politics. She was awarded the first of two Pulitzer Prizes in 1963 for Public Service for a series of critical stories that called attention to the issue of providing birth control services in the public health programs in its area. She won her second Pulitzer in 1989 for editorials on local issues while she was an associate editorial page editor at the Chicago Tribune. Her articles led to important changes in health care, housing, the juvenile court system and numerous other antiquated and corrupt institutions in Chicago. After 18 years as a Daily News reporter, she became the paper’s national correspondent. Prior to joining the Chicago Tribune, she was the editorial page editor at the Chicago Sun-Times and spent one year in the same position at the Chicago Daily News. She retired in 1991 as the Chicago Tribune’s editorial page editor. Wille was a member of the inaugural class of the Medill Hall of Achievement in 1997.