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My former small team’s very important work exposing system failures seen during Hurricane Ian’s evacuation won best medium market Investigation at the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists awards. Weeks after also being honored as part of one of journalism’s most prestigious awards, as an IRE finalist, I’m going to once again use our entry’s description to individualy recognize the important team work: After 72 people died in Lee Co., FL following Hurricane Ian, the WFTX investigative unit went searching for answers. Based on reconstructing a series of records requests, what would end up being a 7 mo. investigation showed how Lee Co. leaders didn’t follow their own emergency management plan & procedures. This resulted in delays in evacuation orders being issued, leaving people an inadequate amount of time to make an informed decision. Less than 2 weeks after the investigation aired the Lee Co. manager announced his retirement. Assistant News Director Matthew Simon functioned as the project’s executive producer overseeing and partnering with Specialty Producer Molly Atchison to report out the story’s initial research and records requests. Matthew Simon and Molly Atchison also worked with the legal team compelling the county to produce records after months of delays, showing how county leaders were communicating during the critical time between FL’s State of Emergency being issued Fri. & Lee Co.'s evacuation orders being issued Tues. Matthew Simon & Molly Atchison then worked with Meteorologists Katie Walls & Andrew Shipotofsky who analyzed weather data, including Katie Walls confirming storm surge data showing, under the county’s plan, the evacuation should've been issued as early at 11 p.m. Sun. Once Molly Atchison & Matthew Simon assembled all the data, Anchor Nadeen Yanes was brought into be the project’s investigative reporter, securing interviews with survivors; a county manager accountability interview & a county commissioner solutions-based interview. Nadeen Yanes’ reporting exposed how survivors felt the county's less urgent messaging, tone & timeline, compared to previous storms, made it more difficult to make an evacuation decision. Nadeen Yanes also showed how the county manager had difficulty explaining his answer, the timing was 'really very good,' when storm surge was reported about 15 hours after all evacuations. Nadeen Yanes also worked with Katie Walls & Andrew Shipotofsky to secure weather expert interviews who said evacuations should've been called sooner. Nadeen Yanes, Molly Atchison & Matthew Simon worked in tandem to draft the story’s copy & work with the legal team on approval. While also working with Senior Editors Mason Hawk, Austin Schargorodski & Chief Photojournalist Andy Cunningham, who also shot much of the piece’s video, on editing the pieces as parts and eventually bringing them together to form the full story. Photojournalist Karan Deardorff also shot the survivor portion of the story on Ft. Myers Beach.

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In our latest Jist Media Breaking Down podcast, former DCP Special Cell LN Rao joined us, and we tried to understand crime, jail, encounters, and gangs through his perspective. Podcast Link- https://lnkd.in/gfYkWmGk #Podcast #lawrenceBishnoi #Police #SpecialCell

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Some interesting things I noticed about the 2025 #ReportForAmerica job openings are the number of small, non-profit newsrooms that are seeking reporters to cover their local communities. Take Boyle Heights Beat in LA, "serving Boyle Heights and the Eastside with bilingual, community-focused journalism." What started as a youth journalism program is now "a trusted news source publishing daily online, quarterly in print, and through a podcast and newsletter." The salary is $60,000–$80,000 for reporters with 0–7 years of experience and $80,000–$90,000 for experienced reporters. A terrific news city, livable if you have dual incomes or are okay with a house share or one- or two- bedroom space. #journalism #reporters #jobs #nonprofits #localnews

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This is evergreen and so important for comms people in all sectors.

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One thing I love about local journalism is that there is a particularly large emphasis on the questions “who cares?” and “why should readers read this?” Obviously those two questions are monumental to every story reporters work on, but attracting and sustaining local readership is a challenge - especially if you fail to answer why readers should care. Sometimes figuring out the “who cares? Why should someone read this?” is as simple as a simple, one word question. Don’t overthink it! This story is, what I think, is a solid example. https://lnkd.in/g54fU_im

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Stress about the election keeping you awake at night? You’re not alone! Check out this short story to see if you may be experiencing “Electsomnia”:

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The RNC (and the DNC) are upon on! Check out Gary Diedrichs's story on what meeting planners can learn about political conventions. It was fun to offer some insight into my experience attending the DNC in 2008. https://lnkd.in/euJpS3ei

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Like those changemakers who took advantage of the expansion of color television, 2025’s next-generation journalists will leverage the expansion and continued democratization of video creation and distribution to make citizens more aware of what is going on in their world.

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"My prediction is that local journalists, editors, and news leaders will find themselves navigating one or more (...) crises in their communities. But if they prioritize the following, I predict that not only will their communities be far more resilient, but their organizations will too. 🤝 Strengthening relationships with other organizations and individuals who are trusted to provide civic information. This includes everything from working with libraries and local cultural groups to individuals who run useful Facebook groups and meetups. Newsrooms could also collaborate with other local and regional media outlets who could benefit from coordinating coverage in a crisis. Plus, partnerships can allow for news outlets to support and protect each other should new policies threaten the act of reporting the news. 👯 Helping the public strengthen their relationships with one another. Newsrooms who show up with their convening power to hold conversations, help people find one another, and support them with information they need to make decisions will become more trusted, relied upon and supported by their communities. There’s no reason that newsrooms shouldn’t run and support a mutual aid board before a crisis hits. 🪢 De-centralizing their role and seeing themselves as nodes in a network. (In other words, newsrooms should not fall prey to “main character syndrome.”) The more newsrooms coordinate and collaborate with other trusted players, the better information they will receive for reporting and the more their work will filter out to the folks who need that information. Working with folks outside of newsroom staff to get the public information they need means reporting gets less “killable” by outside forces." By Jennifer Brandel, co-founder and CEO of Hearken, for Nieman Journalism Lab.

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As an exit assignment last week, I tasked my students with writing down questions they have about journalism. Maybe you can help me answer a couple of them? (Some questions have been edited for clarity.) What is journalism all about? Why is journalism important? What’s the best way to share journalism with people? What is doing journalism like? Is it hard to be a journalist? How do you become a journalist? How old do you need to be a journalist? Do you have to be a perfect writer to do journalism? Can you go on an adventure if you’re a journalist? (Folo: Flat Journo project? It would be my dream to get a student's Flat Journo on Air Force One.) How long is your shift?

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Woohoo!!!! I've been working on this for more than a year and now the big day is almost here!!! For the last few years, I've wanted to write a book to help journalism students and those new to the profession. I realized that when MMJs and Reporters first start their careers, there rarely is anyone who will help them and give them the kind of feedback they really need. Most times they are left to figure it out, in what is an extremely complicated and pressure-filled job. They are literally out there on their own. It leaves them frustrated, overwhelmed and second-guessing their career. It also leaves stations open to broadcasting mistakes and even lawsuits. So I sat down to write a new age reporters' handbook. Something that may not solve any of these problems, but will at least help give new journalists a REAL WORLD foundation. I tried to incorporate all the things I've learned in more than 30 years into one easy-to-read book that deals with how to be a reporter and mmj. There's not a lot of theory here, but instead, tangible things people can do to excel at storytelling and get along at work. Everything from story meetings, coming up with ideas, gathering elements, interviewing, writing, improving live shots and stand-ups, covering breaking news, anchoring, whether you need an agent, how to get along with your boss and co-workers, and how to land that first job or get that next one with a deep emphasis on STORYTELLING!! If you know me or we've worked together, I could use your help when this book is officially released in a few weeks. Help me get the word out. I've made a lot of mistakes in my career so hopefully others won't have to. I'm proud of the pages within and know they will be a great help to those interested in becoming or those who already are broadcast journalists. We need you more than ever!!

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The Power of Local Radio: Bolstering Connections through Audio Journalism by Adam Scull Read it. Hear it. https://lnkd.in/eBxPen6p Through journalism reporting, public involvement, and artistic connection, one can grasp the impact of audio investigative reporting on nearby neighborhoods. As local newspapers decline because of corporate takeovers, local neighborhoods rely on audio broadcast news. These outlets are invaluable to society members, as they keep them informed on regional updates, events, and issues that have an impact on their lives. Radio reporting goes beyond just providing information. Public broadcasting channels encourage social cohesion by supporting local artists, cultivating neighborhood activities, and facilitating dialogues on regional politics, and the local population that they serve.

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Calling all journalists! It's that time again. I am putting together my November jobs newsletter. Please send me all the job openings you know of in newsrooms nationwide. Many of you are new to my LinkedIn. This is part of the deal. If you asked to connect with me, you know I only ask of you one thing: help me find a job opening or internship I can add to my list. Put the info in the comments or DM me. This work is part of my #CallingAllJournalists Initiative. While I appreciate that you like this post, I would appreciate it if you REPOST it now. We succeed together. My last list had more than 125 jobs. Let's beat that record! Just so you know, I am NOT a recruiter. I don't get paid to do this. I offer this job list for FREE, and I list your jobs for FREE. Please let me know if anyone is putting this list on a paid service. #CallingAllJournalists #LocalNews #JobsAlert #JournalismJobs #Journalism

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This is important for #communications pros and our subject matter experts to remember. An interview is a conversation not a rote question asked, prepared answer given. Using talking points rather than scripted answers is more effective for a SME and makes for a better interview. Unfortunately that path isn’t taken as often as it should be.

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I'm a 2008 graduate of AAJA's Executive Leadership Program. I had no intention of becoming a manager, but the training made me realize that I had a responsibility to help other journalists of color achieve their potential -- by becoming a leader myself. Applications are now open for ELP's next cohort, and I'm hoping that some of you -- my fellow members of AAJA (you don't have to be of Asian descent to join) -- will invest in their careers by applying. I have yet to reach my potential, but I know that taking part in ELP allowed me to make great strides. ELP made me realize my self-worth -- though it also made me realize that I can sometimes be my own worst enemy. That realization forced me to become more adaptable and develop the skills I needed to establish relationships and better manage them. The program taught me that I should leverage my talents to my advantage. It made me less timid about asking for what I want and need to advance my career. It empowered me to reflect on setbacks as a way to learn so I can again move forward. While there are lots that we cannot control, we can become more cognizant of what is under our control to navigate this increasingly challenging industry. ELP helped me understand that I do have control but only if I take ownership of my career.

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The Herald Bulletin editorial staff received a total of 12 awards from the Hoosier State Press Association better newspapers contest for 2024 Those awards included both staff and individual awards. As an individual I received four awards. Two firsts, a second and a third, in very competitive categories. I received the most awards as an individual, and I had a hand in some of the staff awards. For my efforts I have been laid off. The layoff was as a result of poor quarterly earnings. I, not anyone in editorial are to blame. Despite being understaffed, underpaid, and overworked, The Herald Bulletin staff still managed to do award-winning work. Laying off those creating the content is just plain bad foresight and worse management. The leadership at the paper had demonstrated how little they value those who create the content, even though it is award-winning content. Those who made the decision to lay off workers are the ones who are not properly doing their jobs. Layoffs are no solution. It is sad. It also shows a complete and utter lack of regard for people who have sacrificed and put in their valuable time, efforts, skill, and talents. I have no respect to the bean counters who have no vision or leadership who make decisions that affect people's livelihoods and families. They tell you that it was a hard decision and they hate to do it. They don't know hard. They have no idea. It is sad that the efforts by us in editorial to do work at a level that stands out as best of the best does not matter. Other than one little story in the paper, the paper did little in the way of self promotion to the public. Other companies would have put up billboards if their employees received such recognition. To our company, even if we win awards, work our tail ends off, we are expendable. The problems are at the top, yet we workers are the ones who are punished.

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