Joan Wagner Beck
Joan Wagner Beck (BSJ45, MSJ47) was a member of the inaugural class of the Medill Hall of Achievement in 1997.
In her career, she wrote an op-ed column for the Chicago Tribune and became the first woman to have a regular column on the editorial or op-ed pages. She started with the Tribune as a feature writer, pioneering new types of coverage in the areas of medicine, education, sociology, psychology
Beck also wrote four books: “Best Beginnings,” “Effective Parenting,” “Is My Baby All Right?” with Dr. Virginia Apgar, and “How to Raise a Brighter Child.” She was a life trustee of Children’s Home and Aid Society of Illinois and was elected to the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame. In 1994, she earned the award for best commentary writing from the American Society of Newspaper Editors.
Beck died in 1998.