online resource for Illinois broadcast news managers, reporters, producers, photographers and students
Get the Sqoop! With a hat tip to both Ren LaForme and Samantha Sunne, this site offers a way to search court records, business filings and other documents. It also allows you to set it up to alert you to new documents of interest. While there is a subscription fee usually attached to it, More
When researching a story, academic research can provide you with data and findings that can help you with a story. The helpful folks at Journalist’s Resource have a list of seven ways to get your eyes on research that is sometimes behind a paywall.
As the they mention, More
Associated Press Political Writer John O’Connor is an expert at using FOIA to obtain documents for scoops and added depth to his reporting. He spoke to the Illinois News Broadcasters Association convention over the weekend. He has advice for those who would like to do more of this type of reporting. More
With a hurricane approaching the southeastern United States, Ron LaForme offered up an excellent list of tips to help reporters there. His weekly Poynter column doesn’t just apply to hurricanes but also can help you with man-made or natural disaster coverage. He offers up more than a dozen tools. More
Harvard’s Shorenstein Center released a good tip sheet on covering issues of poverty. The recent edition of Journalist’s Resource featured both tips on getting it right and what to avoid.
We are about two months away from election day. A resource available with a couple of clicks will let you keep track on spending in your area State legislative races. Donations of $1,000 or more are required to be reported within five days.
When Illinois’ high court releases opinions, you have as quick of access to them as anyone else. The Court last week released more than 15 opinions. Usually there are fewer releases at one time. If you take the time to review these, you can find stories than can be of either regional or statewide interest. More
Ask yourself five questions about the most obvious, dull and well worn story and see if something is being overlooked because it’s in plain sight. Just because everyone knows about an issue or the “way it is” in politics, doesn’t mean there’s not a fresh angle, or a follow-up or unasked question. More
This week’s tip actually isn’t about an interviewing skill. It is about asking people who are likely in the know what is under-reported.
Next time you are chatting with the secretary at the school board office or a mid-level administrator in the courthouse, tell them you are doing an informal survey. More
When you hit the summer news doldrums its an opportunity to look back in time to get some fresh news. One of those basic principles that many of us never have time to do is the “followup!”
Pick a random week from a year ago and look through the stories your newsroom covered at the time. More