WIU Alum Pens Insightful Crime Story

Check out WIU Alum Mark Konkol's (winner of a Pulitzer Prize in 2011) exceptional story about how violence affects Chicago Aldermen on a personal level: http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/14958798-418/chicagos-violence-hits-home-for-some-aldermen-im-afraid-of-dying-says-austin.html

Mercer University's Bold, New Journalism Teaching Experiment

Mercer University is trying a new experiment in journalism education: a completely integrated news-gathering partnership between its journalism program and the local newspaper and public radio station. The university's president says it may be the future of journalism education. Check out the story at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/business/media/at-mercer-university-an-experiment-to-save-local-journalism.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1

Work at Tri-States Radio and Get Paid

Hi everyone: Tri-States Public Radio (91.3 FM) is in the market for paid part-time reporters. You will get terrific on-air experience while learning to write in broadcasting style. You don't have to be a broadcasting or even a journalism major to apply. If interested, please pick up an application at the front desk at Tri-States Public Radio, which is in a former grocery store next to the old movie theater on the north side of University Avenue (across from Cafe Aroma, near the intersection with Lafayette Street). Thanks, Professor Lisa Kernek

Want a Journalism Job? Learn Computer Programming

Miranda Mulligan, director of Northwestern's Knight News Innovation Lab, says journalism programs need to encourage their students to think outside of the box—and consider learning the basics of computer programming. Mulligan's article recently appeared on the Nieman Journalism Lab web site. Read it at: http://www.niemanlab.org/2012/09/miranda-mulligan-want-to-produce-hirable-grads-journalism-schools-teach-them-to-code/

WIU Alum is Journalism Day Speaker

Mark it on your calendars: October 19 is the 2012 Journalism Day at Western Illinois University. Make sure to attend keynote speaker (and WIU Alum) Chris Ward's presentation entitled: "From comic books to radio: Following the journalism career path in the 21st century." Ward's talk will begin at 12 noon in the Carl Sandburg Theater in the Student Union. Ward is a former Western Courier entertainment editor and currently works as Director of Marketing and Communications for KDHX in St. Louis. He is also author of the comic book, "Political Power: Barack Obama," and a former staff writer and editor of "Wizard Magazine" and "Toyfare Magazine."