Category: News and Opinion

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…

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…

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…

After being laid off, Central Illinois photojournalist uses drones to elevate coverage of agriculture

Photojournalist Rich Saal stretched his neck toward the sky as he followed the drone he was flying over the immense Midwestern farming landscape in Central Illinois. Shades of brown and green stretch for miles with precise rows and columns tediously cut out by enormous machines. The scene captivated him, just as his grandfather’s farm did…