Mike Miletich, WAND-TV’s Capitol reporter, talks about covering the Illinois legislature, dealing with a complex schedule, how working as a producer has helped his reporting, preparation and work flow, explaining complex issues to viewers, working in Springfield, writing history as it happens, why he likes covering politics, expectations, why the Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois Springfield was very helpful for his work, and more. This is from a livestream interview with Margaret Larkin.

On the latest episode of the INBA Podcast, Margaret Larkin talks to Mark Maxwell, who covers Illinois and Missouri politics for KSDK-TV in St. Louis. He previously was Capitol Bureau Chief at WCIA-TV in Springfield. He talks about his career in TV news, how he develops sources, covering politicians and news gathering, challenges, what he’s learned, and more.

The last time former INBA president Steve Scott was interviewed for the INBA Podcast (five years ago!) was when he was at WCBS in New York. After WCBS stopped operations, he became a news anchor at KCBS radio. He gives us an update about being an alum of San Jose State, working in San Francisco, covering news, doing PA announcing for the Golden State Warriors and other NBA teams, the importance of joining an organization, and more. 

The INBA is debuting a new podcast series, INBA Podcast Bite, a short-form audio feature designed to help broadcast journalists generate ideas and do their jobs better.

Our inaugural episode runs for 14 minutes and features INBA board member and WNIJ reporter Yvonne Boose talking with Ryan Denham, content director for WGLT. Ryan served on a task force that helped the Illinois Supreme Court design new rules for Extended Media Coverage, which allows reporters to bring cameras and recording devices into courtrooms. EMC is now an option in all 102 counties. Ryan walks us through some tips to effectively use EMC to cover trials and other court proceedings in your county.

The Bite format adds to the INBA’s longstanding podcast feed, which has been filled for several years by INBA member Margaret Larkin, who conducts long-form interviews with Illinois-connected journalists about their careers.

Our goal for the Bite format is to pass around the hosting duties to an array of INBA members to offer tips about covering popular issues in the news, share guidance on emerging trends and technology in the industry and highlight good work happening around the state. The other goal is to keep the episodes short — 15- to 20-minute bites of information you can consume quickly and move on with your day.

Have an idea for an episode? Want to host an episode? Contact INBA President Jason Piscia at jason.piscia@inba.net or text him at 217-414-1033.

After more than 40 years, Craig Dellimore retired this summer from WBBM Newsradio, where he was Political Editor and a reporter in Chicago and the Illinois state legislature. He started in New York at Columbia University, then worked at WNYC and WCBS. Before he moved to Chicago, he worked at the Associated Press in Washington, D.C. This is from a livestream that Craig did with Margaret Larkin. Margaret also interviewed Craig in 2018, when he shared various stories and challenges he encountered.

On the latest episode of the INBA Podcast, Margaret Larkin talks with Justin Kaufmann, who works in Chicago news for Axios as a reporter and writer. He talks about his broadcasting career at WBEZ Public Radio and WGN Radio, getting subscribers and communicating with listeners, being on the air, deadlines, getting more exposure, dealing with challenges, journalistic discipline, writing, producing, and more.

After growing up in Chicago and watching his dad, Lester Holt, report news on WBBM-TV, Stefan Holt went into TV news as a reporter and anchor. He is now an anchor at NBC affiliate WMAQ-TV in Chicago, and he talks about his career in Florida and New York before coming back home. He also talks about what he learned from his dad, bosses, and on-the-job training, why journalism is important, writing, being flexible, flying planes, and much more. This interview is from a livestream that Stefan did with Margaret Larkin.

In the latest episode of the INBA Podcast, Margaret Larkin talks to Joe Donlon, an Emmy-award winning journalist who anchors weeknight newscasts at CBS 2 Chicago. Prior to that role, the St. Louis native spent several years anchoring news at KGW-TV in Oregon before coming to Chicago to work at WGN-TV. Donlon discusses his professional journey, his Chicago Unscripted podcast, how to be effective on the air, why writing is important, how experience helps develop your skills, structuring a story, reporting and anchoring, changing technology, why ambition is important, working in cable and local news, and much more.

Molly Jirasek was first interviewed six years ago at the Illinois News Broadcasters Association convention when she was Assistant News Director at Heart of Illinois ABC in Peoria. Now she is News Director at ABC57-TV in South Bend, Indiana. Molly says that she is hiring and explains what she looks for in an applicant. She also offers advice for recent college grads, including demo reels, necessary skills, attitude and passion, how to get experience, and more. This interview is edited from a livestream that Molly did with Margaret Larkin.