Columbia College Chicago Alum Jake Wittich '17 Named Chicago Journalist of the Year
Jake Wittich '17 traces much of his success to his experiences at Columbia, where he served as managing editor of “The Columbia Chronicle.” Columbia College Chicago alum Jake Wittich ‘17, managing editor of “Windy City Times,” has been named the 2025 Chicago Journalist of the Year by the Chicago Journalists Association. The honor comes in recognition of Wittich’s outstanding coverage of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community and his leadership in revitalizing the publication’s digital presence through a growing suite of newsletters.
As managing editor of “Windy City Times,” which has been around since 1985, Wittich leads one of the nation’s most respected LGBTQ+ news outlets, continuing a legacy of advocacy and community-driven storytelling.
“This award is really a validation of the leap of faith I took in January 2024,” he says. “I quit my full-time job to pursue LGBTQ+ journalism full-time, and that’s when things clicked for me. So many doors opened once I started doing something that felt aligned with my purpose.”
His work now focuses on improving representation for people and communities often left out of mainstream news.
“By sharing our queer stories, we can build empathy, understanding, and support for our community,” he says.
Revitalizing a Chicago Institution
Since becoming managing editor, Wittich has spearheaded a digital renaissance for “Windy City Times,” launching a suite of newsletters that connect readers directly with LGBTQ+ life in Chicago. The most popular, “Chicago Social Butterflies,” highlights weekly LGBTQ+ events, while “BLACKLines” and “En La Vida” revive two beloved community publications from the 1990s as modern digital newsletters.
“It’s a really cool mix of past meets present,” Wittich says. “And it shows the potential impact that community-centered journalism can have when people invest in it.”
A Columbia Foundation
Before joining “Windy City Times,” Wittich worked as a reporter for the “Chicago Sun-Times” and “Block Club Chicago,” covering breaking news, neighborhood life, and Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community.
Wittich traces much of his success to his experiences at Columbia, where he served as managing editor of “The Columbia Chronicle” and completed an internship at the "Sun-Times" where he went to work as a reporter after graduation.
“The biggest thing I learned at Columbia was the power of making and nurturing connections,” he says. “Those connections with the classmates, professors, and staff are still part of my life today.”
As for his broader mission, Wittich is clear.
"I hope to inspire even more LGBTQ+ coverage across newsrooms — and to create space for even more queer journalists to thrive."
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