Melissa Isaacson went to the Lisagor Awards dinner days after she’d been laid off by Chi Trib, thanks to WBEZ’s buying tickets for two former employees who said theirs should go to laid-off newsies, Michael Miner reports at his News Bites blog.
This led to the amusing incident — amusing, at least, to those who witnessed it from the Sun-Times table — in which Isaacson’s victory was announced but by the time she made her way up front to accept her plaque it had disappeared. That’s because [managing editor Jane] Hirt had hopped up from the Tribune table next to the dais to claim it for the Tribune. “My friends asked me later if I got to bask in any of the applause,” says Isaacson, “but there was no basking. I had to go find my award.”
I assumed she didn’t find it, or Hirt didn’t relinquish it, and so was ready to howl at managerial insensitivity. But after giving no comment to Jim Romenesko, she changed her mind and told him she regrets “the awkward moment.” Had missed Isaacson in the crowd (of 280) and “wanted to pick up the plaque to make sure she got it. When she arrived at the stage at the same time I did, I handed her the plaque. I wasn’t planning on keeping it for the Tribune.”
OK. In any case, the 280 was the biggest crowd yet, says Miner, even as the 443 entries were down precipitously. It costs to enter — $30 for Headline Club members, $50 for others — so cash-short outlets cut back.
Whatever the awkward part, the affair went well, says Miner. This is good, especially against a dispiriting desk-chairs-on-Titanic background.
Another generous gesture was made by Chicago Journal, Inc., who sponsors my column in the Wednesday Journal of Oak Park & River Forest. This outfit bought a ticket for Ben Myers, former editor of Skyline, a Chicago Journal property, Miner reports. Myers was there to pick up his award, sans awkward moment at podium, which was nice.
Blithe Spirit 