More than 120 journalists attended a day-long observance of Sunshine Week that provided training in 12 sessions that ranged from the pros and cons of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act to how to find data and manipulate it with Excel spreadsheets. The Chicago Headline Club and Loyola University Chicago student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists sponsored the fest at Loyola March 14. Admission and lunch were free. Attendees got a free beer afterward at the Headline Club’s Burger Nite.
SouthtownStar columnist Phil Kadner, who helped write the current Illinois FOIA, and Ann Spillane, chief of staff for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, whose office crafted and pushed for its adoption. (photo by Stan Zoller)
Knight Lab’s chief nerd, Joe Germuska, Derek Eder, co-founder of DataMade and Open Gov Hack Night, and Paul Wright, director of Local Media Development for Comcast/NBC Universal which includes managing EveryBlock. (photo by Steve Rynkiewicz)