Jeff Sutker | SIU

Broadcast and Multi-Media Journalism

Jeff Sutker is an Emmy award‑winning broadcast journalist with over four decades of experience covering major national and international news events.

His career highlights include the Bosnian War, the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the death of Princess Diana, the funeral of Pope John Paul II, and mass shootings such as those at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas, the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, and the Highland Park Fourth of July parade. He was assigned to Republican and Democratic national conventions, documented riots in cities including Chicago, Ferguson, Kenosha, and NATO summits, and covered events at the White House. Jeff shot footage of arrivals, departures, and speeches for seven U.S. presidents, and he broadcast live coverage of President Barack Obama’s historic acceptance speech in Chicago. He also worked on the Chicago Bulls’ six NBA championship runs and was on the field during the Chicago Cubs’ World Series celebration. As an ENG supervisor, he managed live broadcast coverage of that historic event.

Jeff began his career at WSIL‑TV in Southern Illinois as a photographer, reporter, producer, and anchor for both news and sports. From 1987 to 1989, he worked at CNN as a photographer covering important national stories during the early years of 24‑hour cable news. From 1989 to 2025, Jeff worked at Fox 32 News in Chicago as Chief Photographer, editor, and producer, where he covered daily news events and created long‑form reports, including an in‑depth piece on Chicago’s gun violence epidemic.

Jeff believes that being a journalist gives you a front‑row ticket to history. He is passionate about being in the middle of the action and bringing viewers to the scene as events unfold. Throughout his career, Jeff has demonstrated a commitment to strong storytelling, ethical journalism, and impactful visual reporting. He is deeply passionate about the importance of objectivity in journalism, seeing it as the foundation for credible, trustworthy reporting. He is also a strong advocate for the First Amendment and the essential role of a free press in democracy.

He earned his degree in Radio‑Television from SIU in 1987. Outside of the newsroom and classroom, Jeff enjoys hiking and exploring the natural beauty of the Shawnee National Forest.