Individual | Inducted 2024
Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist Sean Lewis is Chicago’s first out gay news anchor for WGN/Channel 9. From chasing the destruction of tornadoes across Illinois and sharing stories of survival to chasing down Illinois politicians under federal indictment, Lewis has covered thousands of stories in his years at WGN.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and working as a journalist in Rockford, Illinois, Lewis became Chicago’s first out gay news anchor when he came to Chicago in 2007, landing first at 24-hour cable news station CLTV before joining WGN-TV in 2008. Over the years, his coverage of issues important to the broad spectrum of the LGBTQIA+ community has won awards and brought previously untold stories to light, amplifying voices important to society. His advocacy within the newsroom led to WGN-TV’s Pride: Stories of Chicago’s Very Own, a groundbreaking half-hour special focusing on Chicago’s LGTBQ+ community in June 2023.
Outside of the newsroom, Lewis has volunteered his time to host events highlighting and supporting the community. Among the organizations he has helped are Chicago House, Equality Illinois, the Legacy Project, Test Positive Aware Network, and Brave Space Alliance.