Tom McNamee
Tom McNamee is not one of those journalists who knew what he was going to do from the time he was a child. Instead, the idea came as "a mini-epiphany" when he was a year into college, on a perfect summer night --June 27, 1973 to be exact--strolling up North Michigan Avenue with a friend. A homeless man curled against the gold revolving doors of the Wrigley Building made a stark contrast to the tourists and other dressed-up strollers around them. "I told Barb, 'if I were a newspaper reporter, I could walk up to that guy and find out what I want to know anyway--why are you here, what happened to you?'" McNamee recalls. [News: Yesterday Tom took on a new role as editorial page editor at the Sun-Times, replacing Cheryl Reed]

Radio Arte, 90.5 FM
Chicago's "Latino-owned, youth-driven, bilingual public radio station" is putting news at the center of an ambitious expansion of programming. First Voice, in English and Spanish, Sin Papeles (Undocumented), Homofrecuencia and, since January, simulcast public affairs shows in partnership with national outlets such as Hispanic Information and Television Network and Radio Bilingue make this a station to watch. As changes in the news business bring new models to the forefront--including youth journalists--General Manager Silvia Rivera and the rest of the small staff of Radio Arte are serving Chicago's Latinos by training youth to tell stories about themselves and the community at large, reporting the strengths and challenges people in the community face.

Dawn Turner Trice, Chicago Tribune
Some reporters have a nose for news, and some columnists have a soapbox to stand on. Dawn Turner Trice has an eye for the visual, an ear for the cadence, rhythm and melody of her sources' voices, and an instinct for stories. "I can see a story and sniff it out … look at a person and tell if there's a story there," she says. Growing up in Bronzeville's Theodore K. Lawless apartments sandwiched between the upper crust in Lake Meadows and tenants at Ida B. Wells public housing development, Dawn watched her African-American community sub-divide: she remembers roaming the 'hood in the 1970s, then saw a chain-link fence go up, later to be replaced by wrought iron. Looking back, she sees the fences as metaphor for race and class.

Read more about this year's Studs Terkel Community Media Awards here.

Better Media Relations in 2008!

If one of your resolutions for the new year is to do better media relations (which it should be) – then we can help you! In addition to our communications workshops, give yourself the map & compass to Chicago area media: Getting on the Air Online and Into Print! Order the book & CD to maximize your potential for successful media campaigns. Make the most impact in 2008!

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Power Pitching: The Phone Call Worth A Thousand Words
Friday, March 14, 9 a.m. to noon, Trainer Suzan Erem, Cost: $95
Master the power of pitching to reporters with communications expert Suzan Erem. Register

People to Pitch

Suzanne Hanney, Editor, Streetwise
“Everyone is just one or two paychecks away from homelessness,” says Suzanne Hanney, editor of Streetwise.  That’s why she is interested in stories “dealing with marginalized people.” Stories don’t need to focus on homeless people alone, says Suzanne. Pitches can be about services available to the homeless or issues the homeless face like domestic violence, childcare, substance abuse or joblessness. Before  you pitch, she adds, have in mind specific individuals who can be interviewed as part of the story. Email her first at suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com or shanney@streetwise.org and then call her at 312-829-2526.

Find more "People to Pitch" in our 2008 Getting on Air, Online and Into Print media guide. Get it here

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Newstips
by Curtis Black, newstips editor

Referendum Backs Health Care for Vets
Local veterans are mobilizing support for an advisory referendum in Tuesday's primary calling for full mandatory funding of VA health care. The referendum is on the ballot in Cook County and 21 other counties in Illinois. Read more.

Black History Month in Pullman
The links between the historic neighborhood of Pullman and the black labor movement will be highlighted in a program this Friday on A. Philip Randolph and the Pullman Porters, the first of a series of Black History Month events sponsored by the Pullman Civic Organization. Read more.

Subscribe to the new Newstips v2.0 Blog
Visit the Newstips blog and tell us what you think.

Do you have a newstip? Contact Curtis Black.
curtis@newstips.org | phone: 312-344-6400 | fax: 312-344-6404

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Community Media & You

"Harold: Honoring a Legacy” with Salim Muwakkil & Thom Clark will cablecast at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 on CAN TV 19. It will also air on its regular time slot 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 on CAN TV 21.  

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Other Events Around Town

Smart Mouth
6 to 7:30 p.m., Today, Feb. 6, McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum 445 N. Michigan Ave.
Participate in a public debate and voice your opinions on current events facing the nation with a local panel of “movers and shakers.” Event is free. Reservations required; RSVP at 312-222-7871 or http://www.freedommuseum.us/

Developing a Budget for Nonprofit Organizations
5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 9, CEDLP, 100 N. LaSalle St., Suite 600
Community Economic Development Law Project presents a workshop on the basics of creating a budget for new nonprofit organizations including how to estimate income and expenses. Costs $30 to 35. Registration required at www.cedlp.org. Contact Erica Spangler Raz at 312/939-3638 or espanglerraz@cedlp.org for more information.   

Smart Growth and Social Justice Conference
March 3 to 5, Sheraton New Orleans, LA
Tavis Smiley, Jim Wallis and Angela Glover Blackwell headline a 3-day conference on equity and planning sponsored by PolicyLink. Hotel registration deadline is Feb. 13. Learn more at http://www.regionalequity08.org.

Call for Nominations: Community Organizing Award
Monday, March 17Deadline
Two awards will be given this year recognizing outstanding community organizing and collaborative efforts in the Chicago area. Nominate your own or another’s organization or collaboration. To receive a copy of the guidelines, contact Jeff Pinzino, jpinzino@woodsfund.org or at 312-782-92698 x103.

New On The Web

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Communications Jobs

Director
The SPIN Project – a San Francisco-based national nonprofit program of the Communications Leadership Institute – seeks a Director to lead and manage The SPIN Project. The SPIN Project strengthens grassroots nonprofits that work to build a fair, just equitable society to communicate effectively for themselves.  The Director will develop, communicate and execute a vision for the project that promotes its growth and credibility; will be responsible for the overall expansion of the project through fundraising, promotion, strategic planning and execution of its programmatic work.  People of color are very strongly encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will have 5 to 7 years experience in PR or communications, community organizing or working with nonprofit advocacy campaigns.  More information at www.spinproject.org or email rebecca@spinproject.org.

Development Director
The National Training and Information Center seeks a Development Director to serve as lead writer for grant proposals, build the organization’s marketing plans and resource development and build donor campaigns. Candidate should have five years development and administrative experience, word-processing and spreadsheet skills and a Bachelor’s degree. Benefits available. Send resume and cover letter to George Goehl, Executive Director, National Information Training Center, 810 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, Il 60622 or at cd@ntic-us.org. More information at www.ntic-us.org.

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