See you in Rock Island for the INBA Spring Convention, April 19-21
Get ready for networking, educational sessions, and inspiration and knowledge you can take back to your newsroom. The INBA Spring Convention happens April 19-21 at the Holiday Inn Rock Island.
The deadline to purchase tickets and get a discounted hotel reservation has passed.
U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, a former television meteorologist, will deliver the keynote address during the convention. The first-term Democrat and a Rockford native represents the 17th Congressional District, a C-shaped district that takes in Rockford, the Quad Cities, Galesburg, Macomb, Peoria and Bloomington.
Prior to entering politics, he worked for 22 years as a meteorologist and chief meteorologist, including almost 11 years at WREX in Rockford and seven years at WQAD in the Quad Cities. Sorenson will speak during the convention’s Saturday evening dinner event.
Meanwhile, here’s the schedule for the rest of the weekend.
Friday, April 19
1 p.m. – INBA board meeting, WIU-Quad Cities, 3300 River Drive, Moline, Room 218.
Around 6 p.m. – Evening social gathering, Bent River Brewing Rock Island, 512 24th St., Rock Island.
Saturday, April 20
9 a.m. – Welcome
9:30 to 10:45 a.m. – The SAFE-T Act on the Ground: Join Rock Island State’s Attorney Dora Villarreal, Public Defender Shay Meredith and 14th Circuit Judge Peter W. Church to hear how the elimination of cash bail in the state changed their operating processes.
11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. – Legal Pot at 5: It’s been about five years since Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the legislation legalizing recreational marijuana in the state. We’ll evaluate the emerging legal questions, the ongoing business struggles, and how to figure out if the law is living up to its lofty promises. Panelists are James Mertes, managing partner, Mertes and Mertes, Sterling; Chris Mathias, community and economic development director, City of Moline; and Tiffany Newbern-Johnson, director of government affairs, Green Thumb Industries.
12:30 to 2 p.m. – Lunch and business meeting
2 to 3:15 p.m. – Social media platforms: TikTok, X, Threads, Facebook, Insta Reels, YouTube shorts. There are so many (too many?) social media platforms out there these days. We’ll learn which tools reach what audiences, and how to make content without adding too much to already overfull plates. Panelists are Lara Hamdan, engagement editor, St. Louis Public Radio, and Carolyn Tang Kmet, associate professor of integrated marketing communications, Medill School of Journalism.
3:30 p.m. – INBA Foundation and IPR Meeting
3:30 p.m. – Student critiques and story workshop: Bring your demos and get some advice from the pros. Plus, bring your story ideas and work through them with your peers, both students and full-timers
6 p.m. – Cocktails
6:30 p.m. – Dinner
6:55 p.m. – Presentation of INBA scholarship winners
7 p.m. – Keynote speech from U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen
8 p.m. – SINBA award presentation
Past president’s reception to follow
Sunday
9:30 a.m. – Breakfast
10 a.m. – Small Market, Big Careers: Marcia Lense of KWQC and Herb Trix, formerly of WVIK, will talk about their decisions to spend the vast majority of their long broadcasting careers in the Quad Cities.
We can’t wait to see you in Rock Island!