What's a Digital Only Media Town Like?

As more and more newspapers cut back on daily publishing, what has been the experience of communities that have only digital media? One of the first cities to lose its daily newspaper was Ann Arbor, Michigan, which converted to a digital-only format three years ago. The American Journalism Review recently analyzed how it's been going in Ann Arbor. Read the story at: http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=5377.

Don't forget: First meeting of the new school year for anyone interested in working on Western Illinois Magazine will be Wednesday, August 29 at 4 p.m. in the Western Courier offices in the Heating Plant Annex. See you!

Fewer People Believe Major News Media

Fewer people believe what they hear or read from major news organizations according to a recent Pew Research Center report. According to a survey, positive believability ratings have fallen significantly for nine of the 13 major news organizations. Despite the declines, however, the study also indicated that a majority of Americans still give most major news organizations positive believability marks. To read a summary of the study go to: http://www.people-press.org/2012/08/16/further-decline-in-credibility-ratings-for-most-news-organizations/.

Welcome back! Any students needing to pick up a journalism class (or interested in politics and journalism) should sign up immediately for Journalism 334, Public Affairs and Beat Reporting, taught by Professor Lisa Kernek. The class still has a few openings so sign up now!

Job Openings in Macomb and Canton

Tom Martin, regional editor for Gatehouse newspapers is looking for a daily newspaper reporter ready to become an editor, or a weekly editor wanting to go to a daily newspaper. His company has openings at: • The McDonough County Voice, a 5-day per week newspaper in Macomb, Ill. • Daily Ledger, a 6-day per week newspaper in Canton, Ill., have top editor openings. Each newspaper has a circulation of about 4,000 and a staff of 4 full-timers in the newsroom, including the editors. The Macomb opening is urgent. The Canton job starts Oc.t 1. Anyone who is interested please contact him at tmartin@register-mail.com.