Bratcher Celebrates 40 Years of Rock-Solid Journalism: CopyLine Magazine Will Host “An Evening With Juanita Bratcher” in 2016

Bratcher says 40-Year Journey as Journalist, Author & Publisher brought about significant career milestones

CHICAGO, IL – In 1976, two weeks before graduating from Columbia College, Chicago, Bratcher had already been hired as a news reporter at the South End Review, a Chicago community newspaper. “It was a good feeling, she said, “after all, I had put in years of college study and garnered 128 credit hours to obtain that Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, although I only needed 124 credit hours to graduate. At the time, I had no idea that I would be in this career for 40 consecutive years, and today, still active in it with the same energy, gusto and admiration I had when I first started out 40 years ago.”
Today, Bratcher is the Publisher & CEO of CopyLine Magazine, an online magazine (www.copylinemagazine.com); the author of seven books, including “Harold: The Making of a Big City Mayor” and “Beyond The Boardroom: Empowering a New Generation of Leaders” (biographies of Mayor Harold Washington and Cook County Board President John H. Stroger, respectively); authored thousands of articles, authored more than 700 poems, a songwriter, with 17 records produced by HillTop Records of Hollywood, California; the recipient of numerous awards for Journalism Par Excellence, and included in many Who’s Who publications.
In 2016, CopyLine Magazine will host “An Evening With Juanita Bratcher” where she will focus on those 40 years as a professional journalist and sing some of her songs and favorite other songs in concert. Many who have followed Bratcher’s esteem career over the years are not aware of her singing prowess. When Bratcher first started her college career at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, her major was music. She wanted to be a professional singer. Soon afterwards she turned those efforts toward being a journalist.
Further, in high school, Bratcher once played the trombone, but soon departed from that goal.
Bratcher, who is also a songwriter, has 17 records produced by HillTop Records of Hollywood, California. She wrote the lyrics to 15 of those songs, and two of the songs were repeats by different artists. Those songs are R&B, gospel and a Christmas song.
Over a period of time, Bratcher will post brief posts on www.copylinemagazine.com from writings of years past and/or about her 40-year career.
Bratcher is also on the Speaker’s Circuit and will speak at your event. However, there is a fee for this service. For more information, you can contact Bratcher at 773 375-8127 or juanitabratcher@yahoo.com.

Juanita Bratcher’s BIO:

Juanita Bratcher is an Award-Winning Journalist, Author, Publisher, Poet and Songwriter. She is the Publisher & CEO of CopyLine Magazine, a former investigative reporter for the Southeast Alliance, Roseland Review, Southend Review and the Chicago Daily Defender.
• She is the Host of “One on One”, a cable television show and “Footnotes To The News”, PCC Network.

Juanita Bratcher’s Journalism Career started some 40 years ago, after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Columbia College, Chicago.
She is the published author of seven books, the author of more than 700 poems, many of which have been published in various anthologies – Best Poems of 1997, Best Poems of 1988, Best Poets of 1998, Poetry’s Elite: The Best Poets of 2000, A Celebration of Poets, The Best Poems and Poets of 2001, The Best Poems & Poets of 2003, The Sound of Poetry, Theatre of the Mind, and Colours of the Heart.
She has served as guest, panelist, or guest co-host on numerous television and radio programs; and participated in many workshops and forums on careers, journalism and politics, as a moderator or panelist. In 1983, she was assigned to the campaign trail of U.S. Congressman Harold Washington in his successful run for mayor of the City of Chicago.
Bratcher served as a Press Aide to Cook County Board President John Herman Stroger, Jr. in his successful run for President of the Cook County Board in 1994; served as a Special Assistant to Stroger in Cook County government in 2005, and was Press Secretary to the Stroger Campaign in 2006 during the Primary Election campaign. She also served as a Press Aide to the late Alderman Lorraine Dixon in her successful run for re-election to the Chicago City Council.
Bratcher is the recipient of numerous awards for Journalism Par Excellence & Community Service
Bratcher is Listed In The Following Who’s Who

• Who’s Who in the World
• Who’s Who in America
• Who’s Who of International Authors & Writers
• Who’s Who in Finance & Industry
• Who’s Who of American Women
• Who’s Who in the Midwest
• Who’s Who in Executives & Businesses
• Who’s Who in the World (Millennium Edition)
• Who’s Who in America (Millennium Edition)
• Who’s Who of American Women (Millennium Edition)
• 2000 Outstanding Women of the 20th Century
• 2000 Notable American Women
• Who’s Who in the 21st Century
• 500 Leaders of Influence (Year 2000)
• Outstanding People of the 20th Century
• 2000 Outstanding Scholars of the 20th Century
• 1000 Leaders of World Influence
• 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 20th Century
• 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century
• International Who’s Who of Professional & Business Women
• World Who’s Who of Women
• Strathmore’s Who’s Who (Millennium Edition) (2001)
• Strathmore’s Who’s Who (2003-2004 Edition)
• American Biography (2003 Edition)
• International Who’s Who of Information Technology
• Outstanding Writers of the 20th Century
• International Authors & Writers Who’s Who
• Who’s Who Historical Society (Certificate of Accomplishment)
• The Contemporary Who’s Who, 2002-2003
• International Who’s Who of Professional & Business Women, 2003
• Who’s Who in Finance & Industry, 2004-2005
• International WHO’S WHO of Professionals, 2013

Listed In the Following Anthologies:
• “Best Poems of 1997”
• “Best Poems of 1998”
• “Best Poets of 1998”
• “Poetry’s Elite; The Best Poets of 2000”
• “A Celebration of Poets”, National Library of Poetry
• “The Best Poems & Poets of 2001”
• “The Best Poems & Poets of 2002”
• “The Best Poems & Poets of 2003”
• “The Sound of Poetry”, 1996
• “The Sound of Poetry” (three-album CD), 2004
• Noble House “Theatre of the Mind”, 2003
• Noble House “Colours of the Heart”, 2004
• Recipient of six “Editor’s Choice” awards in Poetry
• Inducted into the International Society of Poets
(International Poet of Merit)
• Elected into the International Poetry Hall of Fame
• A 1993 Kool Achiever nominee
• “A Mini-View of Black History”, by Aurelia Henton
• “Somebody Special”, by Mildred Johnson
• “Recipient of numerous awards for journalism par excellence and community service”

Books Published

• “Harold: The Making of a Big City Mayor”
• “I Cry For A People: In Their Struggle For Justice & Equality”
• “Crooked Curves: The Last of the Red Hot Mamas”
• “A Celebration Of Love”
• “Love Me One More Time”
• “Beyond The Boardroom: Empowering a New Generation of Leaders”
• “Mine Eyes Have Seen God’s Miracles”

Records Released: HillTop Records, Hollywood, California
• “Too Many Memories”
• “Everything But Love”
• “I’m Here For You”
• “You’ve Been Gone Too Long” (3 Renditions – one instrumental, two artists)
• “God Can Ease The Pain”
• “Glorious Day In Heaven”
• “Freedom, Our Birthright”
• “America, The Land Of Freedom”
• Two Songs listed in songbook, “HillTop Country”
• “You’ve Been Gone Too Long” and “I’m Here For You”
• “That Twinkle In Your Eyes”
• “An Overdose Of Love”
• “A Toast To Christmas”
• “Chasing The Good Times”
• “Can’t Make It Without Him”

Awards: (among others)
• Kizzy Award, Kizzy Foundation
• Portraits of Achievers, Probation Challenge
• Inducted into Probation Challenge’s Hall of Fame
• Black Businesswoman of the Year, Parkway Community House
• Everyday Hero Award, Sec’y of State George Ryan
• Exemplary Civic Service Award, Dorcas Care Center
• Community Service Award, Ada Park Advisory Council
• Dedicated Service to Community, Firefighters for Justice & Equality
• Par Excellence Journalism, Coalition for United Community Action
• Outstanding Support of Human Rights, IL Dept. of Human Rights
• Press Award for Outstanding Achievement, Chicago & Northern
District Association of Club Women, Inc.
• Excellence in Achievement, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
• Outstanding Service in the Media & Telecommunications Award, Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority
• Service Award, U.S. Department of Education, Region V
• Service Award, Boy Scouts of America
• Certificates of Merit, Chicago Public Schools
• From Whence We Came Award, Allstate Insurance
• Media Award, Black Contractors United

*Certificate of Appreciation, Probation Challenge

*Participation in Chicago Mayoral Candidates Debate, Probation Challenge

*Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions, Fernwood United Methodist Church
Visit Juanita Bratcher on the World Wide Web:
WWW.Juanita Bratcher.Com

Or E-Mail Bratcher At:
JuanitaBratcher@Yahoo.Com