Gerald L. Nowicki
...grew up in southwest suburban Evergreen Park the son of a police officer and a nurse. As a teenager and into his 20s, he worked in the locker room at Beverly Country Club, where he developed a strong work ethic and attention to detail.
He received a degree in Journalism from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in Strategic Communications at Purdue University. He has explored his home state of Illinois from the small town to the big city, living for a time in Cook, Will, Champaign, McLean and Sangamon Counties.
His various life experiences have allowed him to develop a knack for communicating with people from all walks of life, and his communication skills reflect the diversity of areas where he has spent parts of his life.
He is currently Bureau Chief at Capitol News Illinois, the non-profit, non-partisan news bureau started by the Illinois Press Foundation. Below, view a snapshot of his other professional experience.
Illinois senate staff
From March 2017 to December 2018, Nowicki served on the staff of the Illinois State Senate as a copy editor and legislative assistant.
LeRoy farmer city press editor 2013-2016
Nowicki spent three-plus years as editor of the LeRoy Farmer City Press, a publication of the News-Gazette that closed after his departure. At the Press, Nowicki wrote 6-10 stories weekly, edited several others and managed a team of freelancers to produce a 12-20-page newspaper every Friday in central Illinois. He also:
Covered three city governments, two county governments, three school boards, a park district board, the features beat, sports and more.
Maintained the newspaper's website and social media, increasing its Facebook following from about 250 people in late 2013 to about 1,600 in 2016.
Served as editor, sports editor, reporter, photographer, photo editor, social media editor, online editor, headline writer and page designer.
Was named 2015 “Employee of the Year” at the News-Gazette.
mstn, llc journalist, 2013
Nowicki was the first journalist hired at a local start-up company, MSTN, LLC, where he worked to start online publications for the web-based, hyperlocal news company which disbanded in nine months.
In that effort, he traveled between several small towns in central Illinois collecting and writing news while promoting the product.
Master of Science in Communication - Purdue University, Spring 2019
Nowicki obtained his master’s degree from Purdue University with concentration in public relations, graduating in 2019. He obtained his bachelor's degree from Illinois State University, majoring in Journalism.