Newspapers' archaic but interesting technology shown

The old days years before computers -- heck, years before offset printing -- are glimpsed in a 10-minute video that's worth screening --
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/greenslade/2008/03/hail_to_the_past_of_hot_metal.html

Press wasn't all bad in runup to war: E&P

There's a lot of commentary about how the mainstream news media failed the public and their own mission in the months leading to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. However, Editor & Publisher chief Greg Mitchell in a column promoting his new book points out the "contributions by everyone from relatively unknown reporters to ... comic Stephen Colbert and singer songwriter Neil Young."

Check out Some 'Unsung Heroes' of Iraq War Coverage (published March 18).

Environmental Journalism students visit wind farm

WIU grad student Catt Foy took this photo of the Crescent Ridge wind farm in rural Bureau County, where the Journalism 400 Topics class in Environmental Journalism recently visited.

The class blog is at http://qc-green.blogspot.com/

WIU alum advises Michigan State's daily

Omar Sofradzija, who attended WIU in the early '90s, has been named adviser to the State News student newspaper at Michigan State University in East Lansing.

He formerly worked at the Las Vegas Review Journal and the Peoria Journal Star.

State prominent in Student Press Law Center 'Sunshine Week' material

Illinois figures prominently in three compelling background stories generated from the Student Press Law Center in Washington, which stepped up postings to connect with Sunshine Week, marked by the Society of Professional Journalists and other news organizations.

There's the case brought by state newspapers about access to sporting events -- http://www.splc.org/newsflash.asp?id=1716

... plus the piece about reporters' right to materials generated by student governments -- http://www.splc.org/newsflash.asp?id=1714

... and, finally, the news story about the Naperville newspaper adviser apparently punished for advocating for high school journalists -- http://www.splc.org/newsflash.asp?id=1713

Turmoil at the Medill School of Audience and Consumer Information

Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism has been in the news lately for several reasons, including charges that the school's dean may have fabricated a story for an alumni publication. Check out the latest controversy—this time regarding a proposal to change the name of the school—on Eric Zorn's blog at the Chicago Tribune. Go to http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2008/03/medillname.html.

The Medill School of Information and Influence?