Joel D. Weisman, Class of 1969

Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist and entertainment law expert

Joel Weisman is an attorney, talent agent and Emmy Award -winning Chicago television host and commentator.  As an attorney, he specializes in media and entertainment law and has represented hundreds of media personalities since 1976. He represents journalists at stations and publications throughout the country and has lectured extensively on legal and journalism issues. He broke into journalism with the City News Bureau of Chicago, worked for the Gary Post-Tribune, was political editor and investigative reporter for the Chicago American (Chicago Today) and was a reporter, columnist and Metropolitan Editor of the Chicago-Sun Times, as well as Midwest correspondent for The Washington Post.

On television, Weisman is the host and senior editor of Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review on WTTW, winner of Chicago Emmy Awards for Outstanding Conversation Program Series and Outstanding Public Affairs Series. He has won multiple Peter Lisagor, Jacob Scher ad Associated Press awards and was twice nominated for Pulitzer Prizes for his investigative reporting. In addition to The Week in Review, his television career includes Emmy Award-winning commentary and news analysis for 13 years on WGN Television, where he directed election coverage with a team known as the “Joel Patrol.”