online resource for Illinois broadcast news managers, reporters, producers, photographers and students
In our Tip Of The Week this time, a way to keep tabs on potential layoffs in your area. Large employers are required to issue notification of pending layoffs. The State issues a report on the last day of the month called a WARN report. It stands for the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. More
A big help for radio/TV newsrooms on covering religion is out this week. The National Association of Broadcasters and its NAB Education foundation released the Awareness in Reporting/Reporting on Religion Toolkit.
The on-line toolkit contains excellent content and its user-friendly. There is a lot included, but it kicks off with some general guidelines to remember when covering religion:
Campaign Finance Resources: Sources of information and data compiled by Kent Redfield.
Kent Redfield
kredf1@uis.edu
217-971-8691
Illinois statewide and legislative elections
Private campaign contribution and expenditure databases – 2000 – 2018
State board of election data with value added through standardization and coding
Illinois Election Data– Scott Kennedy
https://illinoiselectiondata.com/
Best source of current and historical Illinois election data – open access and subscription data
Developing a strong campaign finance data presence – Tracks targeted legislative races
Illinois State Board of Elections
http://www.elections.il.gov/ More
Searchable and downloadable data base of campaign contributions (1994 to present) and campaign expenditures (2000 to present)
No value added – providing access to electronic public documents
Downloadable election data for primary and general election by candidate,
A lot of advice never goes out of style. It might be age-old. You might have heard it before. However, with your hectic work and life schedule, it is good to get a refresher. Media management guru Jill Geisler penned this nearly a decade ago. Take a few minutes and read the list. More
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.