EIU’s Olivia Bennett Named Walter Cronkite Scholarship Winner

An Eastern Illinois University ‘Broadcast Journalism’ student is being recognized on the national stage for her investigative journalism. You’ve probably seen her work with WEIU TV or the Daily Eastern News, maybe even elsewhere, but now others are taking notice too…

Olivia Bennett has been named a recipient of the Walter Cronkite Scholarship, as part of the Mid-America Emmy 2026 Scholarship Program, which awards $5,000 to students showing serious promise in the field. It’s far from the only scholarship she’s received for her work surely, however, it could be one her most notable.

Bennett has built an extensive resumé throughout her college career, earning multiple Emmy Crystal Pillar, SINBA, IBA, and CBI awards, along with a Top 10 finish in the Hearst Awards for excellence in “hard news” reporting. This summer, she interned with the investigative team at WTHR in Indianapolis, where she worked through vast public records and contributed to long-form investigative projects. Bennett has also directed and produced a cold case docuseries for the TruBlu Crime Streaming Network, she’s served as Managing Editor and Investigative Reporter at WEIU TV, and interned at WOIO in Cleveland.

At this year’s Emmy Gala, Bennett will add six more ‘Crystal Pillar’ awards to her collection, recognizing her work across investigative reporting, hard news, feature reporting, and short-form storytelling. She says she plans to build a career in investigative journalism focused on crime and justice issues.

Anyone with questions on the programs offered and more can contact Rob Calhoun at WEIU at rncalhoun@eiu.edu or 217-581-8470. Congratulations Olivia and best of luck!