Gente de NAHJ: Lourdes Duarte is a ‘detective on the run’
Growing up, Lourdes Duarte was glued to detective shows, fascinated by the way the on-screen investigators helped people and uncovered the truth.
She has brought that same sense of curiosity and purpose to her reporting. A four-time Emmy Award winner, Duarte’s drive to tell meaningful stories is deeply connected to her own childhood experiences. Duarte has long viewed her investigative reporting as “detective work on the run.”
Born in Chicago, her family moved to Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, when she was one. At 10, Duarte returned to Illinois, beginning school at St. Gregory’s on the north side of Chicago, unable to speak or understand English. The school did not offer English as Second Language, ESL, programs, forcing Duarte to navigate classes in a language she hardly knew.
Duarte got her start in journalism as a freelancer for Telemundo in Chicago, where her ability to report in both English and Spanish opened doors.
At WGN, a local television station, Duarte anchors the 4 p.m. newscast in English and crafted investigative pieces that unpacked complex issues in local government and criminal justice.
“I love the idea of being able to help people and shine a light on things that are confusing to people or complicated and help them understand it,” Duarte said.
A detective, in a way, in her own right.
Araceli Ramirez is a recent journalism graduate from Columbia College Chicago. She is a freelance reporter in Chicago and has worked with local nonprofit The Alliance 98 and aspires to be a local news reporter. Reach her at byaraceliramirez [at] gmail [dot] com or on Instagram @byaraceliramirez.
