Chris Linden of Crystal Lake, IL, was the featured speaker in the River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles’ recent lecture series. His standing-room-only presentation highlighted the antics of bootleggers and gangsters in the Fox Valley, from Aurora to the Chain O’Lakes, during the Prohibition Era. Chris is in his 11th year as Executive Editor of Northwest Quarterly Magazine.
Medill graduate Kyra Kyles and her sister, Kozi Kyles, co-produced/directed/wrote a buzzy fictional horror comedy podcast, “Home for the Holidays.” Spanning Christmas, New Year’s and Thanksgiving, this trilogy features an array of talent from across the country and the audio engineering skills of fellow Northwestern grad, Casey Baker. Fans of anthology series from “The Twilight Zone” to “The Outer Limits” to “Tales from the Crypt” (and “Hood”) can take a listen to Season 1 and then subscribe to stay on top of new releases: https://bit.ly/4qssCls Available on Apple, Spotify, iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts.
Camille Beredjick (BSJ ’13) and Kaitlyn Jakola (BSJ ’13) welcomed their daughter, Sadie Scout, on November 26 in Evanston, Illinois.
Thomas J. Harack passed away Nov. 29, 2025 suddenly at home. Adoring husband of Mercedes Amundsen. Beloved brother of his twin Anthony Harack (Gina) and sister Joanne Harack (Michael Kahan). Doting uncle of Jonathan Harack. Predeceased by his parents Elizabeth and John Harack. He will be deeply missed by his cousins, his many colleagues and friends in the golfing community, fellow alumni from Evanston Township High School, Cornell University and Northwestern University’s Madill School of Journalism, as well as every pet he ever encountered.
From his earliest years, Tom was a writer. Written for his dad as a Father’s Day gift, his first known work, with chapters “Kittens are Trouble and Smart,” “Kittens are Trouble and Fun,” and “Kittens are Trouble and Small” reflects Tom’s lifelong affection for cats and forecasts his interest in food. As a child, Tom was the fussiest eater on the planet, insisting that his McDonald’s hamburger be specially prepared with NOTHING but the meat. But once he tasted lobster at a surf ‘n turf restaurant, there was no turning back! Phone calls to his siblings invariably included the question: “What are you cooking?”
One of the most traveled golf writers in the business, he visited many of the famous courses in multiple countries across multiple continents. That frenetic travel schedule took its toll and he was happy to avoid airports in his last years.
Tom was a meticulous editor with a wicked sense of humo/ur (as a dual Canadian/American citizen, he acknowledged both spellings) who recognized absurdity, called it out in a mischievous way, and reduced us all to helpless laughter on many occasions. Per his wishes, he has been cremated, with a private memorial round of golf planned for a later date. Please “Have one for the boys overseas” in his memory. Donations in his memory to World Central Kitchen, https://wck.org/ or the charity of your choice are appreciated.
Rin-rin Yu (MSJ01)
Rin-rin Yu just published her debut fiction novel for middle grade readers, called Goodbye, French Fry. When 10-year-old American-born Chinese Ping-Ping is exhausted from all the trials of her life: a schoolyard bully, potential overseas move, a troubling taekwondo move, piano recital mistakes, and a need for glasses – she learns to give her frustrations a big kick and people a second chance. The book is based loosely on her own childhood growing up in suburban New York. More info at rinrinyu.com and on instagram @rinrinyutheauthor
Nina Mandell (BSJ07)
When the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School gymnastics team competes in the Ohio High School Athletic Association state gymnastics meet, they’re expected to win. That’s because they’ve won each year—since 2004. And as the streak builds, there’s more pressure each year on the public school’s team to continue that tradition. No year was more tense than the year that they were hoping to take home their 20th straight title.
A Fraction of a Point follows the Bees throughout the intense 2022–2023 season as the team works toward the state meet. During one of their most competitive seasons in recent years, sports journalist Nina Mandell explores the gymnasts’ backstories and traces the legacy of the Ganim family, the team’s longtime coaches. Initially led by husband and wife Joan and Ron Ganim, their daughter, Maria Schneider, then became coach. In a sport that has been plagued by scandal—especially for the mistreatment of athletes—the Ganims represent a changing face of gymnastics by emphasizing their players’ well-being and mental health.
Throughout A Fraction of a Point, the players and coaches frequently question if they’re good enough to keep the winning streak alive and if the gymnasts will be able to rise to the challenge. But this isn’t just a story about one historic season. At its heart, it’s also about the teenagers balancing athletics with high school life, the larger community that supported the team, what it means to compete for the joy of the sport, and the athletes’ and coaches’ dedication even while facing immense pressure.
David Bernknoph (BSJ80)
A novel about a down-on-his-luck journalist who accepts the challenge of packing up his entire life and moving to Alaska, where he’s isolated from the people and patterns he’s familiar with . Not everyone he works with shares his somewhat snobby sense of how things should work. And they often don’t get the jokes he thinks are comic gold. It’s a workplace comedy….’Northern Exposure’ in a TV newsroom, if you will.
Elizabeth Dougherty (MSJ88)
Many experts dream of writing a nonfiction book. Few do it. The Complete Expert-to-Author Guide: How to Plan, Write, and Publish Your Nonfiction provides a clear road map for turning expertise into a well-crafted book that can transform readers’ lives. Based on decades of publishing experience, book editors Elizabeth Dougherty (MSJ, 1988) and Marisa Solis provide a step-by-step methodology for writing advice-based nonfiction (the reader has a problem, and the author has a solution).
The Complete Expert-to-Author Guide covers what most writing guides don’t and what most aspiring authors skip: key foundational work that saves time, effort, and sanity. From refining the concept and organizing the content, to identifying the target audience and building an authentic author platform, this guide details what needs to happen to publish a book. Twenty-five hands-on assignments help authors stay focused and move forward with confidence, empowering them to complete their manuscript and get their message out into the world.
Solis and Dougherty are the cofounders of Book Structures Pro, a boutique editorial services firm that specializes in working with subject matter experts writing consumer and professional advice-based nonfiction.
Join Dean Whitaker and fellow alumni in Minneapolis for the annual alumni party during AAJA!
Where: The Local Minneapolis – 931 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402
When: June 25 – 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
RSVP is requested, please, so we can gauge food.
Join Dean Whitaker and fellow alumni at Rosa Mexicano at the National Harbor for tacos and conversation during the Investigative Reporters and Editors Conference.
Friday, June 19 – 5:30 to 7:30 P.M.
There is no cost for this event but RSVP is requested please!
153 Waterfront St, Oxon Hill, MD 20745