Nov. 12, 2012
FOIA Illinois – Our new Freedom of Information website — foiaillinois.org — is designed to be the go-to place for information about freedom of information in the state. Headline Club President Alden Loury and Vice President Fernando Diaz, in charge of our efforts, say the site content is there. Now it’s a matter of growing content and traffic. If you can help, contact Fernando. Read more about this dynamic new FOI site on the Headline Club’s own website.
Scribe Aid II – is coming your way at 8 p.m. Fri. Dec. 7 at the Heartland Café. Mary Schmich and Eric Zorn will contribute a fabulous set. And we’ll hear great jazz from Curtis Black and his group before and after the Schmich-Zorn performance. Heartland is at 7000 N. Glenwood Ave. Profits will go toward unemployed or underemployed journalists who want to update their skills.
Climate Change – anyone still deny it’s occurring? Board member Mary Wisniewski plans a program on such in January or February at the Cactus Bar. Watch your emails for more info.
Journ Camp – About 125 journalists from all over gathered at Navy Pier Nov. 9 for SPJ’s Journ Camp, an intense day of learning about success in the digital age. Our thanks to presenters Barbara Iverson of Columbia College, a former CHC board member, Nancy Loo of WGN-TV, and Amy Guth and Andy Boyle of the Chicago Tribune. Also, our thanks to SPJ’s Sigma Delta Chi Foundation for funding.
Career Survival 101 – if you missed this worthwhile program put together by board member Rob Elder, you can catch up a bit here. Rob & Co. — Amy Guth, Mike Schmiedeler and Scott Smith — addressed successful survival. A couple of them said they fell up. But you won’t get the full flavor the panelists brought to the evening. Don’t miss our next pro development event.
Be It Resolved – The Headline Club board approved two resolutions at its November meeting. One demands that journalists not allow politicians, candidates or their representatives to review their quotes before publication. The other is standing with AP and WBEZ, which are fighting with the state for access to prisons.
Welcome Stan – Former journalist and teacher Stan Zoller has joined the CHC board. He’s chomping at the bit, ready to go to work. A special interest is journalism education for high school students.
Watchdog Grants – would you believe it is hard to give away money? If you need a stipend to conduct an investigation for your little news outlet or because you are a freelancer, contact Kristen Schorsch immediately if not sooner. Thanks to the Dreihaus Foundation.
Watch Your SnailMail – for two important items. One is the Peter Lisagor Awards entry form. We hope to get it to you by Thanksgiving. Deadline: January. Also, many of you have SPJ memberships that expire at the end of the year. Watch for your renewal form. Please don’t misplace it that happens far too often!
Ed Baumann RIP – We’ve lost one of the best old-style newspapermen. Read about losing Ed here.
Next board meeting – all of our members are welcome at our board meetings, usually on the first Friday of the month. Next meeting: 9 a.m. Fri. Dec. 7 at Bloomberg. Contact CHC Treasurer Flynn McRoberts, our host, to get on the building security list at 111 S. Wacker Dr.
Feedback? Contact me.
Susan S. Stevens
CHC and CHCF secretary
SPJ Region 5 director