Elizabeth Brackett

Elizabeth Brackett (born December 11, 1941) is a Chicago-based correspondent and host for WTTW-TV's Chicago Tonight program, a correspondent for PBS' The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and an author. She is also a World Champion Triathlete; she took the title in 2009 held in Sydney Australia [1]

Early life and education

Brackett attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois and earned an undergraduate degree from Indiana University. She also holds a master's degree on social work from Our Lady of the Lake College.[2]

Social work career

After graduating from Our Lady of the Lake College, Brackett worked part time as a social worker at the YMCA in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago.[3] She also worked for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as a social worker and also as a community organizer in Uptown.[4]

Political career

In 1972, Brackett was a delegate to the Democratic presidential convention in Miami, along with Jesse Jackson and William "Bill" Singer. In 1975, Brackett served as a fundraiser and advance director for Singer's unsuccessful bid to be mayor of Chicago. In 1976, she unsuccessfully ran for a seat as a committeeman in Chicago's 43rd ward.[5]

Journalism career

In 1977, Brackett took a job as a researcher on the assignment desk of WBBM-TV in Chicago. In 1979, she joined WGN-TV in Chicago. She later became a reporter at WLS-TV in Chicago. She then joined the forerunner to PBS' The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, based from Chicago, in 1984.[6]

Brackett won a national Emmy award in 1987 for her reporting on the U.S. farm crisis. [7] The following year, she won a national Peabody Award for her coverage of the 1988 presidential election.[8] She also has won three Midwest Emmy awards and two Peter Lisagor awards as well.[9]

In 1991, Brackett began appearing occasionally on WTTW's Chicago Tonight public-affairs program.[10]

In 1994, Brackett was hired full-time as a correspondent for Chicago Tonight. Under the agreement, she was permitted to contribute to what would eventually become PBS' The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.[11]

From 2000 until 2001, Brackett, along with journalist and comedian Aaron Freeman, co-hosted a science-themed spin-off of Chicago Tonight called Chicago Tomorrow. [12]

Writing career

In 2009, a book Brackett wrote, titled Pay to Play, How Rod Blagojevich Turned Political Corruption Into a National Sideshow was published. The book is about the former Illinois governor. [13]

Personal

Brackett married Peter Martinez on September 27, 1998.[14] A previous marriage ended in divorce. She has two children from her first marriage: Elisabeth (born circa 1967) and Jon (born circa 1970).[15]

Brackett lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.triathlon.org/results/result/2009_dextro_energy_triathlon_-_itu_world_championship_grand_final_gold_coas/4853/
  2. ↑ Herguth, Bob (September 15, 1991). "Elizabeth Brackett". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 26.
  3. ↑ Herguth, Bob (September 15, 1991). "Elizabeth Brackett". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 26.
  4. ↑ Brackett, Elizabeth. "Elizabeth Brackett". Huffington Post.
  5. ↑ Herguth, Bob (September 15, 1991). "Elizabeth Brackett". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 26.
  6. ↑ Herguth, Bob (September 15, 1991). "Elizabeth Brackett". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 26.
  7. ↑ Hammond, Leslie (May 5, 1999). "Journalist Brackett to speak at YWCA awards dinner". Daily Herald. p. 1.
  8. ↑ Herguth, Bob (September 15, 1991). "Elizabeth Brackett". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 26.
  9. ↑ Brackett, Elizabeth. "Elizabeth Brackett". Huffington Post.
  10. ↑ Feder, Robert (June 5, 1991). "Anchor Drury signs 'last phase' contract". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 37.
  11. ↑ Feder, Robert (January 26, 1994). "Five Ways Radio Turns Off Women". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 45.
  12. ↑ Johnson, Steve (July 18, 2001). "Some holes are appearing in Network Chicago". Chicago Tribune. p. 1.
  13. ↑ Zorn, Eric (April 28, 2009). "Blagojevich bio serves up meaty morsels". Chicago Tribune. p. 1.
  14. ↑ Sneed, Michael (September 24, 1998). "Sneed". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 4.
  15. ↑ Herguth, Bob (September 15, 1991). "Elizabeth Brackett". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 26.