South Side documentarian, exoneree Lloyd Newman dies at 43. He was ‘fearless’ and spoke the truth, loved ones say

Lloyd Newman, right, and his childhood friend LeAlan Jones became documentarians at the age of 13 with the release of “Ghetto Life 101.” (Courtesy of LeAlan Jones)

Lloyd Newman was surprised that he hadn’t been LeAlan Jones’ first call when Jones was approached about making a documentary that would become 1992’s award-winning broadcast feature “Ghetto Life 101.” 

The radio documentary, which examined life in public housing on the South Side through the experiences of the two young boys, garnered the 13-year-olds an array of prestigious journalism prizes, including a Peabody Award. The broadcast, made in conjunction with producer David Isay, made the youths the youngest to receive the award. It became a book and eventually a movie.