Chips Quinn Reporter Spotlight: Michael Liptrot
Posting: Monday, November 25, 2024
Michael Liptrot, a Reporter for Block Club Chicago, brings a unique background and a steadfast commitment to equity in journalism. Though he is currently located in Chicago, Liptrot hails from Birmingham, AL, and began his career in medicine before making the switch to journalism. Liptrot’s perspective informs his impactful reporting on underrepresented communities and systemic inequities.
Growing up, Liptrot was immersed in a healthcare-driven environment, with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) being the state’s largest employer. He was accepted into medical school at 17 through UAB’s Early Medical School Acceptance Program, granting him academic freedom during college. During this time, Liptrot discovered journalism through an internship at Birmingham’s NPR affiliate, WBHM. Years later, a break from medical school led him to a journalism position that ultimately inspired him to fully commit to the field.
Liptrot’s journalism career took shape during a fellowship with Chicago’s NPR affiliate, WBEZ, where he received extensive training and completed a capstone project he reported on titled “Profiled: The State of Traffic Stops in Illinois.” This investigative series that aired on NPR’s Morning Edition and Fresh Air, showcased his ability to merge audio storytelling with in-depth reporting. The project earned several prestigious awards from the Chicago Headline Club, solidifying his role as a rising voice in investigative journalism.
For Liptrot, Equity is at the core of his work. His personal experiences as a Black man in Birmingham and his leadership roles, the issue of society's inequities was a passion for him well before being a journalist and in many ways, motivated him towards the field. In Chicago, he has focused on inequities in historically disinvested areas like the West Side, contributing to publications like Crain’s Chicago Business, where he explored foster care disparities and challenges facing small businesses post-pandemic. In addition to his award-winning traffic stops investigation, Liptrot has covered major political and social issues. His recent election coverage on a taxpayer referendum for a Chicago Bears NFL stadium was referenced in Sports Illustrated. He has also grown into a regular contributor and political analyst for Chicago’s PBS affiliate, WTTW, expanding his influence in the city’s media landscape.
Liptrot sought out the Chips Quinn Program for Diversity in Journalism to find mentorship and a sense of community among journalists committed to equity in newsrooms. His career has spanned varying degrees of diversity and inclusion efforts, which have shaped his approach to leadership and advocacy. The fellowship offers a space for him to refine his discernment as he grows into a leader and expert in his field.
When asked if he had any advice for new journalists, he said, “Greatness starts with you.” He encourages journalists to improve their craft, seek help when needed, and push themselves to the next level. “You are in the driver’s seat of your career,” he says, “so be mindful of the direction you drive your efforts.”
Message From His Mentor
“Michael brings a wealth of perspective to his work, as well as the innate curiosity that makes for exceptional journalists. He's been able to navigate well through text, audio and now video, too. He's destined for continued success in the coming years. It's been a treat for me to be a part of his journey.”
Andy Pergam is a media and technology leader whose career has focused on building projects in journalism, emerging tools, and platform governance. He currently serves on the executive board of the Video Consortium, and advisory boards for the Poynter Institute and the Sustainable Media Center. He is also co-founder of Spark Camp, a gathering of thinkers inside and outside the media industry.
Until early 2022, he was a senior director at Meta, helping construct the independent Oversight Board and Trust. Before that, he was part of the executive team at McClatchy where he developed the video business, managed global partnerships, and led corporate venture investments. As Senior Editor at The Washington Post he guided long-term video strategy and operations.
Started by Freedom Forum, the original Chips Quinn program helped put college interns into newsrooms across the country. Since its beginnings in 1991, the program has reached more than 1,400 people, many of whom are now in leadership positions for local and national newsrooms. Today, the program aims to offer support to early-career journalists already in their respective newsrooms through a 1:1 mentorship by leading members in the journalism field as well as alumni from the program. Thanks to continued support for the program from Freedom Forum, each Chips Quinn Reporter receives a $10,000 stipend..
About Freedom Forum: Established on July 4, 1991, by USA TODAY founder Al Neuharth, the Freedom Forum is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to fostering First Amendment freedoms for all. As the nation’s foremost advocate for First Amendment freedoms, the Freedom Forum engages thousands of Americans each year in classes, conversations and celebrations of these essential rights, including through the Power Shift Project, the annual Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, the Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism, the Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in the Media, the Free Expression Awards, the annual “Where America Stands” survey, the Journalists Memorial and Today’s Front Pages.
About JFP: The mission of Journalism Funding Partners is to strengthen the depth, diversity and sustainability of local news by building and shepherding relationships between funders and local news organizations. JFP is a recognized nonprofit that acts as fiscal sponsor, allowing foundations and individual funders to contribute directly to local news, regardless of the news organization’s business model. JFP manages the funds feeding numerous news initiatives, including more than a dozen Climate reporters in the Southeast, an Equity Desk at The Sacramento Bee, an Education and Economic Mobility Desk in California’s Central Valley, the Investigative Fund of The Miami Herald and for Inclusivity and Investigative funds at the Associated Press.
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Media Contact: Rusty Coats, Executive Director | rusty@jfp-local.org | (813) 277-8959