Jeff Lyon won the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism in 1987, for ''

The Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN radio and WGN tel ...

''.

Background

Lyon was born in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

in 1945. He studied at the Francis W. Parker High School and graduated with a BSJ from the Medill School of Journalism at

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

. He is married to Bonita Brodt who is a feature writer for the ''Tribune''. The couple has one daughter and live in

Journalism

Lyon first worked at ''

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'' and then moved back to Chicago to begin work at both worked at Chicago’s American and Chicago Today for eight years. Following that he began work at the ''Tribune'' as well as its Sunday magazine. In 1976 he became a

columnist A columnist is a person who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Column (periodical), Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs. They take the ...

for that journal and then five years later a feature writer. Lyon held the role of Deputy Editor at the ''Tribune'' and Director of the science writing program at Chicago’s Columbia College.

Awards and acclaim

Lyon won the Pulitzer Prize, together with Peter Gorner, for The Chicago Tribune “for he seven part ‘Altered Fates, The Promise of Gene Therapy’ 1986series on the promises of gene therapy, which examined the implications of this revolutionary medical treatment.” According to ''Tribune'' Editor James D. Squires, the Altered Fates series “is an outstanding example of the kind of excellence in journalism symbolized by the Pulitzer Prize. In 1986, the Tribune had a number of outstanding reporting efforts we think worthy of the Pulitzer, but theirs was indeed our best. All of us are proud and grateful that it was so recognized.” Lyon was the recipient of the 1984 National Headliner Award for a Tribune series on the care of congenitally handicapped newborns. Thereafter he expanded this work and wrote a book based on it, called, ''Playing God in the Nursery''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyon, Jeff American male journalists American photographers 1945 births Living people Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism winners Medill School of Journalism alumni Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) alumni