Illinois Press Association President and CEO Don Craven, left, presents Jim Slusher, the Daily Herald's managing editor for opinion and administration, with the James C. Craven Freedom of the Press Award Thursday. Lisa Miner/lminer@dailyherald.com

Jim Slusher, the Daily Herald’s managing editor for opinion and administration, has been honored with the 2025 James C. Craven Freedom of the Press Award at the Illinois Press Association convention.

The annual award recognizes a journalist for a lifelong commitment to the principles of a free and open press. It was named for a longtime Springfield attorney who offered counsel to IPA member publications.

In presenting the award Thursday night in East Peoria, Craven’s son Don, IPA’s president and chief executive officer, read from one of Slush

See Full Page