Cassandra West
By Lisa Biehle Files
For 10 years, Cassandra West has served One Earth Film Fest as public relations lead, while juggling communications consulting jobs for non-profits and freelance writing assignments for a variety of publications. About a year ago, she took on a full-time post as assistant managing editor for news features with Crain's Chicago Business, where she oversees the monthly Forum and Equity series and serves on the editorial board.
In late April, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) announced winners for its annual Jesse H. Neal Awards for journalistic excellence. Cassandra was among 61 winners nationally across 26 categories, garnering an award in the category of Best Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coverage for her work editing Crain's monthly Equity series.
She also was named the 2022 recipient of the McAllister Editorial Fellowship based on her work on the Equity series. Fellowship winners are announced during the annual Neal Awards. The fellowships promote the study of business media, with McAllister Fellows lecturing across the curriculum and meeting with faculty over several days at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications.
Q: Congratulations! It looks like you didn't have to enter this competition; instead, they found you. Were you surprised to win one of the most prestigious editorial honors in business-to-business journalism?
A: Oh, yes I was surprised when I got a Slack message from a Crain’s colleague letting me know I had won. Journalism is what I’ve always loved and wanted to do. I don’t think about winning awards, but it does feel good to have your work recognized by others in your field of work.
“Journalism is a sacred public service that shouldn’t be misused.”
Q: Are there some recent stories or series with Crain's (or another media platform) that make you especially proud?
A: Both the Forum and Equity give me a chance to learn about topics and issues that are relevant and impact the lives of Chicago-area residents: infrastructure, property taxes, racial inequities, housing—and even climate change, which you know is a personal concern. I’m proud to work every day with people who are passionate about taking action to address and solve problems and make others aware of challenges and opportunities. For me, journalism is a field that doesn’t leave time to bask in what you’ve done because it’s a constantly moving vocation.
Q: You are not unfamiliar with Northwestern University, where you will serve as an advisor for the Medill Magazine Project, as part of your McAllister Fellowship. You taught journalism classes there for about 5 years. Do you look forward to returning?
A: Indeed. I had dinner with last year’s McAllister Fellowship winner, who told me how stimulating the experience was for her. And how sharp the students are, which I certainly know from previous experience. I did enjoy teaching and still am in touch via LinkedIn and Facebook with former students who I can see are rising in the profession.
Q: You spent 14 years at the Chicago Tribune and three and a half years at the Chicago Sun-Times as an editor/writer. Do you miss those days when print dominated? Or do you see advantages to digital news dissemination?
A: Digital brings a speed and urgency that didn’t exist during the old print days. Seeing my own industry change is what it means to be in this business. A big part of journalists’ work is to document our constantly changing world and how change impacts our lives. I like that more people now are able to participate in sharing information. I don’t like when people are irresponsible or purposely sharing misinformation. Journalism is a sacred public service that shouldn’t be misused.
Q: May you bask in the glory of these important honors, Cassandra. Do you have any plans to celebrate or reward yourself this summer?
A: More immediately, I’m going to Colorado to visit my son—and going to try my hand at fly fishing. When I was a young girl, I would watch sportsman (no women back then) TV shows about fishing and dream about catching “one that didn’t get away.” If I do catch anything, though, I’ll release it back into the water.