A federal judge allowed broadcast news organizations to place cameras in his courtroom Tuesday for a hearing involving the Champaign school district.  While it was by no means a game-changer, it was a unique event noted by broadcast outlets serving the area.  

Check out the links below.  Thanks to H Wayne Wilson for the heads up.

Story from WILL-AM

Video report from WCIA-TV Ch. 3

Video report from WICD-TV Ch. 15

Video report from WAND-TV Ch. 17 (plays best on Internet Explorer)

Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar will address the INBA fall convention in Peoria after receiving the Illinoisan of the Year Award, as elected by the INBA's past presidents.  

 Edgar is currently a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Illinois' Institute of Government and Public Affairs. He was Illinois Secretary of State from 1981 to 1991, first appointed to succeed Alan Dixon in 1981, and then elected to two full terms. He subsequently served two terms as Illinois Governor from 1991 to 1999. 

We're looking to add photos from past conventions and other INBA events to the website.  If you've got some good ones, send them along to jimgee@siu.edu, and we'll put them online!  Please try to include a general idea when and where these are from.

A note for members... it appears that right now, you can only view conversations in the Forum if you are logged-in.  We're looking into this, but for now, make sure you sign in to see ALL of the online discussion. -- Jim Gee, INBA President.

The INBA Membership Committee has begun a discussion about if and how we should include online journalists in our membership ranks.  Give the committee your two cents in the new INBA Forum.

The folks at the Grand Hotel and Conference Center in Peoria have generously extended the registration window for those coming to the Fall 2009 Convention on Oct. 2nd - 4th!   You can still reserve rooms special low rate of $80/night + tax. 

The only way to make a reservation is by phone. Call the Grand Hotel and Conference Center (309) 686-8000 or toll free at 1-877-686-8001, and make sure to mention INBA by name.

From INBA Nominations Chair Jeff Bossert:

We’ll be holding INBA Board elections during the luncheon/business meeting at this year’s Fall Convention.  There was fair amount of competition for the open seats last fall in Carbondale, and we’re hoping for more of the same this October in Peoria (the dates are Oct. 2-4.) All of the officer positions are up for election.   Among the nine directors on the board, five two-year terms will be expiring. Some of them plan on running again (but a little healthy competition never hurt anything.)

We have sent out a test e-mail to subscribers of the JobFile using a new service.  You should have received this early Tueday morning (9/1/09).  If you do not see it in your inbox, check your spam or junk mail folders.

A text version of the 8/28/09 JobFile is available here.  We hope to resume normal JobFile service on Friday.  In the meantime, thank you for your patience.

Meanwhile, we're adding functionality and content to our new site.  The INBA Forum is now open-- feel free to engage in conversation and offer suggestions.  Remember-- anyone can view the Forum-- but you must be logged-in to post replies and start new conversations.

The future broadcasters of Illinois need your help!  We’re only a few weeks away from the Fall Convention in Peoria, and it’s time to start thinking about scholarship auction items.  

This is official notice of a proposed change to the INBA Bylaws, approved by the Board of Directors on July 18, 2009. It will be introduced to the general membership for its consideration at our annual business meeting on Saturday, October 3 at noon in Peoria.