Patch's Joe Hosey Named 2015 Illinois Journalist of the Year

“Joe Hosey is a reporter. He works for Patch.” So reads Hosey’s simple Twitter bio, where you can keep up on the stories he’s reporting on any given day.

Indeed, Joe Hosey is a reporter, and a good one at that. In recognition of his recent work, Hosey recently was named 2015 Illinois Journalist of the Year by the Journalism Department of Northern Illinois University.

The award was presented Friday, April 24. He was nominated by Jenna Dooley for his defiance of a judge’s order that he divulge confidential sources who provided him information regarding a grisly crime committed in 2013 in the city of Joliet.

The trial judge ruled the identity of the source was relevant and the information essential to protect the public interest. The court made 500 law enforcement officials swear they were not the source. Learning whether one was lying was deemed relevant to the case.

Facing $300-a-day fines and possible jail time, Hosey refused to break his promise to his sources. Patch appealed the order. The Third District Court of Appeals upheld reporters privilege and found in Hosey’s favor, dismissing the trial judge’s rationale.

“I’m very honored and grateful, not only to Jenna Dooley for nominating me and to the committee for selecting me for this award, but to all of the journalists and media outlets who stood up to support me,” Hosey said.

Thirty-nine news organizations filed a friend of the court brief on Hosey’s behalf.

Last summer, Hosey received the National Press Freedom Award in Washington, D.C., from the National Press Club for his actions in this case.

Hosey has worked for Patch since 2010. Prior to joining Patch, he was a reporter for The Sun-Times News Group and The Herald-News in Joliet. He’s also the author of “Fatal Vows: The Tragic Wives of Sergeant Drew Peterson,” a best-selling true-crime book about the cop turned wife killer who’s now serving time in prison. The book was the basis for a Lifetime movie, “Untouchable.”

In being named Illinois Journalist of the Year, Hosey joins a distinguished roster of news people.

Previous recipients of the honor include the late Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times columnist Mike Royko; two of Chicago’s most recognized TV anchormen, Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson; Daily Southtown columnist Phil Kadner; the late Clayton Kirkpatrick, the editor who modernized and professionalized the Tribune; and the late John Whiteside, a longtime columnist and editor for The Herald-News in Joliet and a colleague of Hosey’s during his stint at the paper.

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