Amy Walter, political analyst and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, will be honored with the Distinguished Journalist Award from DePaul University's Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence. Haley BeMiller, a 2014 DePaul alumna, will receive the Distinguished Alumna Award, and former professional lecturer Rick Brown will receive the Distinguished Mentor Award.
The Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence promotes the ideals of journalism by preparing a new generation of journalists for careers in investigative reporting. Each spring, the center honors journalists whose work embodies the highest principles of journalism, including truth, accuracy, fairness and context.
Center co-founders Carol Marin and Don Moseley will present the awards with Lisa Parker, the center's director, at an April luncheon.
Decades of political insight
As a political analyst and journalist, Walter has provided accurate and nuanced analysis of the issues that have shaped the political environment for over 25 years.
“What an honor this is for a Chicagoland kid, who grew up watching Carol Marin on my TV every night, to receive this prestigious award from the institution this icon of Chicago journalism helped to create," Walter said. “In this time of deep institutional disruption and distrust, DePaul is providing the next generation of journalists the tools they'll need to help redefine and reshape the future for news gathering, analysis and dissemination."
Walter has provided election night coverage and analysis since 1998, including as a member of CNN's Emmy Award winning 2006 election night team. She is a regular contributor to PBS NewsHour's “Politics Monday" segment, NBC's “Meet the Press" and CNN's “Inside Politics" and has been named to Washingtonian's list of the Most Powerful Women in Washington.
“In a time when serious, thoughtful, fair and careful journalism has never been more critical, Amy Walter is one of the finest voices in American political reporting today," Marin said. “Whether you read her column in the Cook Political Report or watch her on the PBS NewsHour, she is the true north when it comes to covering government and politics."
Journalistic excellence across the Midwest
During her time at DePaul, Haley BeMiller, a 2014 graduate, wrote for The DePaulia and served as their nation and world editor in her senior year. After graduation, she covered the Illinois General Assembly as well as state government and politics in Wisconsin before becoming a local government and politics reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. Writing for the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer and its sister papers in Ohio, BeMiller has worked to provide context to politicians' claims and shared how policies will directly impact people's lives.
“From Chicago to Springfield, Green Bay to the state of Ohio, Haley continues to establish herself as one of the top young reporters in the nation and we are thrilled to recognize her as this year's Distinguished Alumna," Moseley said.
BeMiller writes a weekly newsletter called The Scoop and hosts the podcast Ohio Politics Explained, which was named top podcast by the Society of Professional Journalists Ohio in 2024 and the
Press Club of Cleveland in 2025. She won
best government and political reporting for her coverage of Ohio's August 2023 special election the same year and was named a Livingston Award finalist in 2021.
“My time at DePaul, living in my favorite city, was life-changing," BeMiller said. “I'm honored to be recognized by the place that taught me how to navigate a changing media landscape, ask tough questions and hold the powerful accountable. What we do is so important right now, and I'm grateful DePaul continues to shape new generations of journalists."
A legacy of dedication and care
During his 15 years as a professional lecturer with DePaul's journalism program, Brown had a remarkable influence on his students. In the classroom and as the faculty advisor of Good Day DePaul, his unwavering guidance helped students grow into journalists who have gone on to thrive in newsrooms across the country. His guidance is shaped by extensive experience as a field producer and bureau manager for CBS Chicago, a newscast producer and news director at WITI-TV in Milwaukee, and a freelance field producer for NBC Network News for nearly 20 years.
“Rick Brown's name at the top of a student's syllabus is a gift that keeps giving, many years after class ends," Parker said. “Reporters and producers across the country keep him on speed-dial for advice, often when they are on deadline. I should know: he taught me in 1987 and I still lean on him today!"
With direct feedback on both schoolwork and career, he boasts a high job placement rate for students pursuing broadcast journalism after graduation. His former students and colleagues admire his dedication and care for his students' personal and professional success. Upon his retirement in 2025, alumni created a
farewell video sharing his influence on their lives and careers.
"This award is special. I have tremendous respect for Carol Marin, Don Moseley, and Lisa Parker. It means a lot to be honored by journalists with their dedication and integrity," Brown said.
About Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence
The Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence promotes the highest ideals of journalism by preparing a new generation of journalists for careers in investigative reporting. Launched in 2016 by Carol Marin, Don Moseley and DePaul University's College of Communication, the center is a bridge between the academic and professional world. Lisa Parker joined the center as director in the fall 2024. Prior to joining the center, Parker was with NBC5 Chicago, where she ran the consumer investigative unit for 27 years. For more information about the center, visit http://bit.ly/CJIEDPU.
Republished from the DePaul Newsroom