WHEREAS, Joel Weisman, life-long Chicagoan, esteemed Emmy Award-winning senior editor and host chair of "The Week in Review," one of the longest running Chicago television show history, is retiring after forty-four years with WTTW-Channel 11; and
WHEREAS, Joel Weisman's final appearance on "The Week in Review" is scheduled to air on January 19, 2018; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago City Council has been informed of his retirement by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Joel Weisman began his journalism career as a reporter for the legendary City News Bureau of Chicago following his graduation from the University of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, in addition, Joel Weisman, a practicing attorney with a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, worked for the Gary Post-Tribune, and served as political editor and investigative reporter for the Chicago American (Chicago Today) before the newspaper ended its run in 1974; and
WHEREAS, Joel Weisman continued his journalism career as a reporter/columnist and metropolitan editor for the Chicago Sun-Times; and
WHEREAS, after joining WTTW-Channel 11, Joel Weisman served as political editor and commentator on the station's first nightly news program, "The Public News Center;" and
WHEREAS, Joel Weisman served as Midwest correspondent for The Washington Post; and delivered commentary and news analysis for WGN-TV in Chicago for thirteen years, and
WHEREAS, while at WGN-TV, Joel Weisman directed election coverage with a team of reporters known as the "Joel Patrol;" and
WHEREAS, over the course of five decades Joel Weisman was honored by his peers on numerous occasions, and has won multiple awards, including Emmys, Peter Lisagor, Jacob Scher and Associated Press awards; and
WHEREAS, Joel Weisman is a member of the Chicago Television Academy's prestigious Silver Circle recognizing outstanding individuals who have devoted twenty-five years or more to the television industry and has twice been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for his investigative reporting; and
WHEREAS, Joel Weisman conceived the idea of a locally-based PBS news and affairs talk show over coffee at the Palmer House Hotel with the late John Callaway and William J. McCarter, who was then president and CEO of WTTW; and
WHEREAS, the thirty-minute weekly program modeled after William J. McCarter's "Washington Week in Review," premiered on WTTW on Jan. 20, 1978; and
WHEREAS, Joel Weisman leaves behind a remarkable legacy in Chicago journalism for his expert news reporting, interviewing and personal connectivity with Chicagoland viewers; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council assembled this thirteenth day of December, 2017, do hereby thank Joel Weisman for his many contributions to Chicago and congratulate him on his retirement from the news profession and wish him the very best as he begins the next phase of his life; and
Edward M. Burke Alderman, 14th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Joel Weisman.