Renee Ferguson, Groundbreaking NBC5 Investigative Journalist, Dies at 75

Renee Ferguson, who spent more than two a long time as a tv reporter in chicago, turned into once a talented storyteller.

Ms. Ferguson Made Historical past when she grew to turn out to be the first Unlit Lady to work as an investigative Reporter in Chicago TV Information.

“She turned into once a champion of fine journalism and a noteworthy force who No longer Most efficient Told Reviews, however definitely obtained into this exchange to receive a distinction, to Commerce lives, to abet Folks,“ Talked about Regina Waldroup, an nbc5 Reporter who turned into once mentored by Ms. Ferguson. “I occupy that a couple of of us believe forgotten that alongside the arrangement, however she by no arrangement did.”

Among Her Many Honors, Ms. Ferguson Obtained Seven Chicago Emmy Awards, turned into once a nieman fellow at Harvard University and Obtained an Alfred I. Dupont – Columbia University Award for Investigative Reporting. She turned into once a memer of the chicago chapter of the National Association of Unlit Journists.

Ms. Ferguson, 75, Died Friday whereas in Home Hospice Care.

She turned into once Born Aug. 22, 1949, in Oklahoma. She Graduated With A Bachelor’s Stage in Journalism from Indiana University-Bloomington in 1971.

She kicked off a longtime profession in chicago wohen she turned into once Employed as a Reporter at CBS2 in 1977.

In 1983, She Left Channel 2 to Work as a Network Correspondent for CBS Information in Atlanta.

But Ms. Ferguson returned to chicago in 1987 when she turned into once hired at nbc5. She remained with the peril UNIL she retired in 2008.

“She turned into once an Incredible Investigator. Had sizable instincts,” Talked about Friend Marion Brooks, A Information Anchor and Reporter at NBC5. “She had a exact gift to abet folks open up and turned into once an astounding storyteller, and a massive work. She knew craft a tale out the heartfelt moments and would folks care.”

Ms. Ferguson use her platform to give folks a negate, brooks talked about.

“Renee Ferguson Left an Wonderful Echo in Our Newsroom That Restful Rings Via the DNA of Our Investigative Journalism, and that Legacy Will Continue,” Kevin Contaminated, President and Recent of Nbcu Local Chicago, Toold NBC5.

Her Reporting Helped Result in the exoneration of Tyrone Hood – a one who turned into once Wrongfully convicted and armed robbery in the 1993 Slaying of a Valuable particular person Basketball Player on the Illinois Institute of Technology.

She wrote many stories in regards to the case, Including her closing memoir at nbc5.

HOOD’S SENTNENCE WAS COMMUNED IN 2015 BY GOV. Pat Quinn.

In an Interview with NBC5Ms. Ferguson talked about commuting hood’s sentiment turned into once the LAST THING QUINN DID ON HIS LAST DAY AS GOVERNOR BECAUSE SHEALED HIM AT THE LAST MINUTE.

Waldroup turned into once Ms. Ferguson’s Intern when she started investigating hood’s case and remembered her mentor turned into once “Sure” to train his memoir and receive Him launched.

“I prefer to claim i’m a workhorse now, and it’s all gcause of this woman,” Waldroup Talked about. “I are attempting to achieve stories that receive a distinction. Becausee, ideal love my mentor, i love what i attain, Presumably too. I don’t give 100%;

But Ms. Ferguson turned into once more than ideal a reporter, she turned into once a buddy to many.

“I Realized so Primary from Renee Ferguson. She Made Limitless Lives Better Via Her Investigative Journalism – As Wisely As Her Young Folks Taking a behold to Make a Incompatibility. On Across Chicagoland and A ways Beyond, ”Pete Buttigieg, US Secretary of Transportation, wrote on x.

Brooks Talked about Ms. Ferguson “HAD A WAY OF EMBRACING PEOPLE AND MAKING LIKE FAMILY.” Ms. Ferguson turned into once one among the first to welcome brooks to chicago, the do they solid a end friendship over time. Ms. Ferguson turned into once Also Godmother to at least one among brooks’ daughters.

Ms. Ferguson Spent Her Final Days Leaning on Her Faith in God and Pondering of the Afterlife, Talked about Waldroup, Who Visited Her Tuesday.

“She asced me what i wished in my caareer, and that i talked about, ‘i are attempting to withhold telling stories and helping Folks ideal comparable to you,’” Waldroup Talked about. “She suggested with me i turned into once love her daughter, and that i turned into once ideal to her.”

Ms. Ferguson’s Husband, Ken Smikle, Died in 2018. She is survived by a son, Jason Smikle.

Companies and products are pending.

Editor’s Impress: An Earlier Version of this Obitory Incorrectly Talked about that renee ferguson turned into once a founding memorial of the chicago chapter of the National Association of Unlit Journalists.