My mother was frustrated. At 78, she was next in line for the COVID-19 vaccine under state guidance in Illinois, but like so many seniors, she was having difficulty navigating the various websites and phone lines to secure an appointment. When she finally got on a waiting list at the local hospital, she found out there were at least 1,000 people in front of her. After … [Read more...] about Local news outlets should play larger role in helping community members find vaccines
News and Opinion
More news outlets stop publishing mugshots in wake of George Floyd protests, national reckoning over race
A growing number of media outlets are banning the publication of police mugshots--and in some cases, removing them from digital archives, in the wake of a national reckoning on racial justice that followed the murder of George Floyd last summer in Minnesota. Both the Chicago Tribune and St. Louis Post Dispatch have adopted new policies in recent months. The Tribune announced … [Read more...] about More news outlets stop publishing mugshots in wake of George Floyd protests, national reckoning over race
Iowa State ‘tweetstorm’ shows how Free Speech is stretched on college campuses seeking to allow diverse opinions
College Republicans at Iowa State University tweeted after the November presidential election that students should “arm up” and later encouraged students to show up to “Stop the Steal rallies” in Des Moines and Washington, DC. The university has refused to comment on the tweets encouraging students to participate in the Jan. 6 insurrection in DC that left five people dead … [Read more...] about Iowa State ‘tweetstorm’ shows how Free Speech is stretched on college campuses seeking to allow diverse opinions
What it was like to cover Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan
He always meant what he said, but figuring out what he said, and meant, was the tough part. It was the ongoing theme of covering a powerful figure in Illinois politics who often was a man of few words, unless it suited him to be more verbose or more available. It was always fascinating trying to figure out how he worked. Illinois House … [Read more...] about What it was like to cover Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan
Some Illinois media outlets push back against late night passage of major criminal justice reform bill
Some news media are smarting from the late night passage of a groundbreaking Illinois criminal justice bill last month that left them without a chance to report on the substance of sweeping legislation that is now before the governor awaiting his signature. Police have launched a media campaign claiming the “dark of night” legislation endangers citizens. But members of the … [Read more...] about Some Illinois media outlets push back against late night passage of major criminal justice reform bill