Elizabeth Brackett facts for kids

Elizabeth E. Brackett (born Elizabeth Everett; December 11, 1941 – June 17, 2018) was an American journalist and writer. She was famous for hosting the TV show Chicago Tonight on WTTW. She also worked as a reporter for PBS's The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. In 1988, she won a special award called a Peabody Award. This was for her excellent reporting on the 1988 U.S. presidential election.

Elizabeth Brackett also tried to get involved in politics in Chicago. She helped William Singer when he ran for mayor in 1975. She also tried to win a local political position herself in 1976, but she was not successful.

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth Brackett went to New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. She then studied at Indiana University Bloomington. While at Indiana University, she was the only girl on the diving team. She later earned a master's degree in social work from Our Lady of the Lake College.

Starting Her Career

After college, Elizabeth Brackett worked as a social worker. She helped people part-time at the YMCA in the Uptown area of Chicago. She also worked for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. There, she helped families and organized community events in Uptown.

In 1972, Elizabeth Brackett was chosen to be a delegate for the Democratic presidential convention in Miami. She went with important figures like Jesse Jackson and William Singer. In 1975, she helped William Singer raise money for his campaign to become mayor of Chicago. He did not win that election. In 1976, she tried to become a local political leader in Chicago's 43rd ward, but she was not elected.

Journalism Career

In 1977, Elizabeth Brackett started working at WBBM-TV in Chicago. She was a researcher, helping reporters find information. In 1979, she moved to WGN-TV in Chicago. Later, she became a reporter at WLS-TV in Chicago. In 1984, she joined the news program that would become The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer for PBS. She reported from Chicago.

Elizabeth Brackett won a national Emmy award in 1987. This was for her reporting on the U.S. farm crisis. The next year, she won a national Peabody Award. This award was for her coverage of the 1988 presidential election. She also won three Midwest Emmy awards and two Peter Lisagor awards for her journalism.

In 1991, Elizabeth Brackett started appearing on WTTW's Chicago Tonight show. This program discussed public affairs. By 1994, she became a full-time reporter for the show. She was also allowed to keep contributing to The NewsHour.

From 2000 to 2001, Elizabeth Brackett co-hosted a science show called Chicago Tomorrow. She hosted it with journalist and comedian Aaron Freeman.

In 2009, she wrote a book called Pay to Play. It was about the former Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich.

Personal Life and Hobbies

Elizabeth Brackett married Peter Martinez on September 27, 1998. She had been married before, and that marriage ended in divorce. She had two children from her first marriage: Elisabeth, born around 1967, and Jon, born around 1970. She lived in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. She also had two sisters, Ellen Everett Rieger and Jill Everett Swisher.

Elizabeth Brackett was also a very talented athlete. She was a World Champion Triathlete. She won this title in 2009 at a competition in Sydney. In December 2017, she was featured in Sports Illustrated magazine. This was because she did very well in a triathlon in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Her Passing

On June 13, 2018, Elizabeth Brackett had an accident while biking on the Chicago Lakefront Trail. She was seriously injured and was taken to Stroger Hospital. Sadly, she passed away four days later, at the age of 76.