Program Update: Sept. 26 convention adds session on AI tool that helps monitor local government activity
Illinois News Broadcasters Association is pleased to introduce a new session at this year’s Fall Convention, taking place Saturday, Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Holiday Inn & Suites in East Peoria. This addition to the program highlights one of the most promising developments in local journalism: the use of artificial intelligence to strengthen public‑service reporting.
This session will feature “Local Matters,” an emerging platform founded by Ben Kramer and Blair Beverly, designed to help newsrooms more efficiently monitor local government meetings, documents and public records. As news organizations continue to navigate limited staffing and expanding coverage demands, Local Matters offers a practical solution to a growing challenge: the sheer volume of civic information that often goes unexamined. Their platform uses AI to surface potential stories, track ongoing issues and identify developments that might otherwise be missed.
Illinois Public Media, one of Local Matters’ early partners, has already begun integrating the tool into its reporting workflow, offering valuable insight into how AI can complement local reporting. During the session, Kramer and Beverly will walk attendees through the platform’s capabilities and discuss how AI can support accountability reporting in a rapidly evolving media landscape. They will explore the ethical considerations involved in adopting AI tools, the importance of transparency in automated workflows and the ways small and mid‑sized newsrooms can begin incorporating these technologies responsibly.
This session represents an important opportunity for INBA members to engage with a forward‑looking approach to public‑interest reporting and to consider how emerging tools can strengthen the mission of local journalism.
It is one of several valuable sessions that will be offered during the convention, titled “Local News at a Crossroads: Power, Pressure & Possibility.”
The new session add to an already strong lineup to INBA’s one-day convention, titled “Local News at a Crossroads: Power, Pressure & Possibility,” which also includes keynote speaker Sean Lewis, a former anchor at WGN-TV.
Tickets are on sale now. And for a limited time, INBA professional members can get one free ticket for their newsroom for every ticket they purchase.
While the one-day convention format allows for attendees to make the experience a one-day trip from almost anywhere in Illinois, the Holiday Inn is offering a special hotel rate for attendees who’d like to stay the night before or after the event. Reserve by Sept. 11 to take advantage.
Tentative schedule: Local News at a Crossroads: Power, Pressure & Possibility
- 9 a.m. — Welcome + Midterm Elections Panel: Mike Miletich (WAND-TV), Brenden Moore (Capitol News Illinois), Cameron Maine (WMBD-TV)
- 10 a.m. — Inside the Hiring Room: How Journalists Land Jobs Today: Brandon Pope (Fox 32 Chicago) and
Leon Hendricks (25News) - 11 a.m. — AI in the Newsroom: Turning Public Records into Reporting Power: Ben Kramer & Blair
Beverly - Noon — Lunch (EXTENDED FOR NON-STUDENTS)
- 12:30 p.m. — Student/Young Journalist Meetup
- 1 p.m. — Newsmaker Keynote, Q&A + The Crossroads Conversation: Sean Lewis, formerly WGN-TV
- 2 p.m. — General Membership Meeting
- 3 p.m. — Adjourn