Astead Herndon, political reporter for The New York Times, 2025 Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence Distinguished Journalist Award recipient.
Stephanie Wade (center, with center cofounders Carol Marin and Don Moseley), 2025 Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.
CHICAGO — Astead Herndon, political reporter at The New York Times and host of “The Run Up” podcast, will be honored with the Distinguished Journalist Award from DePaul University’s Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence. Stephanie Wade, a 2016 DePaul alumna, will receive the Distinguished Alumna Award.
Center cofounders Carol Marin and Don Moseley and Director Lisa Parker will present the awards at a luncheon on April 24.
From the south suburbs of Chicago to the nation’s capital
Herndon’s podcast "The Run Up" debuted ahead of the 2022 midterm election. It was named a finalist for the Toner Prizes and Livingston Awards as well as The Economist’s list of best podcasts of 2022. As host of the show, Herndon provided a comprehensive guide to the American political sphere during recent elections.
“Astead is the whole package when it comes to journalism: smart, committed, totally tuned in and above all, willing and able to listen to the many disparate voices that make up our politics and our world,” said Marin.
Herndon covered the 2018 midterm elections and 2020 presidential election for The New York Times. In 2020, he was named to Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 media list. He contributed to the New York Times’ package that was named a 2021 Pulitzer Prize finalist. He grew up less than an hour away from Chicago in Flossmoor, Illinois.
“I am humbled to receive this award,” said Herndon. “Growing up, I knew DePaul as a place that invested in people of all backgrounds and served as a vital resource for communities being underserved by other political and educational institutions. Throughout my career, I have sought to do reporting that highlights similar gaps in our politics and electoral process, and I appreciate DePaul for recognizing my work with this honor.”
Previous recipients of the Distinguished Journalist Award include “PBS News Hour” anchor Judy Woodruff; “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker; Chicago news anchor Ron Magers; Lester Holt of “NBC Nightly News;” Jane Pauley of “CBS Sunday Morning;” and Dean Baquet of The New York Times.
Fearless journalism
Wade was an investigative reporter in Indianapolis and worked in her hometown of Toledo, Ohio. She returned to Chicago in 2021 to join ABC7.
"It is a profound honor to be chosen for this award,” said Wade. “Since graduating from DePaul in 2016, my one and only goal was to return to Chicago to do what I love, in the city I love. I continue to learn and grow every single day as a reporter at ABC7 Chicago, and I am extremely grateful and humbled by this recognition."
While at DePaul, Wade served as vice president of DePaul’s Society of Professional Journalists chapter. She now serves on the College of Communication Dean’s Advisory Council.
“The first time I saw Stephanie reporting, she was jumping out of a plane at the Air and Water show,” said Parker. “We really do push our journalism students to be fearless, and Stephanie certainly took that instruction to heart.”
The 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, Lisa 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.