The INBA Fall Convention in East Peoria on Sept. 26 was keynoted by former WGN-TV anchor Sean Lewis, who told the group how he fell in love with TV at a young age.

“You didn’t have to sit in an office,” he said. “You got to talk to people. You got to tell stories.”

He followed that love to UW-Milwaukee, to internships at KSTP in Minneapolis and WTMJ in Milwaukee, then to jobs in Fargo, Madison, Rockford, Richmond, CLTV and then WGN.

Then came Feb. 23 of this year, when Lewis was at work at WGN and got wind a fellow reporter had been let go. Another reporter messaged him that she was being called to HR. As a Union Steward, he offered to accompany her. As her meeting was ending, he had a bad feeling, and was asked to stay in the room.

Within a few minutes, he was back in the newsroom, putting his belongings in a box, surrounded by disbelieving and emotional co-workers.

Lewis was one of eight on-air talents let go that day, in what Nexstar has called a cost-cutting measure. Similar cuts happened at KTLA in Los Angeles and WPIX in New York. Stations throughout the group have laid off Technical Directors, Floor Directors, Writers, Photographers and Creative Service staff as well.

But Lewis was different than most, if not all, of those journalists.

“I did not have the pit in my stomach that I believe many of my colleagues did that day,” he said. “A few years ago I realized that the business was changing, and I started to explore what might come next. I was fortunate that this separation came at a time when my brain was already heading in a new direction.”

Forty-five days later, Lewis had a new job as Public Information Officer for the U.S. District Court in Chicago. He loves it (and says the judges love him!). He’s writing and telling stories and just completed a 10-minute story that’s reaching judges all over the country.

His new job is making him even more certain that journalism matters.

“Information is everywhere now,” Lewis said. “What is scarce is information that people can trust.”

He said AI should support human work and not replace it.

“Human judgment is not a flaw to be engineered out,” Lewis said.

He encouraged the journalists in the room to learn every tool they can, but to spend even more time on the human part. He also encouraged them not to surrender standards, and to be an advocate for the profession.

“One era is ending,” he said. “The next is not yet fully built. It’s actually an exciting time. It’s an opportunity.”

Three public radio journalists will be joining the INBA Board of Directors. Jane Carlson of Tri States Public Radio, Peter Medlin of WNIJ, and Arjun Thakkar of Illinois Public Media.

They join board members Devin Brooks, Christine Hatfield, Jeff Rogers and Redrick Terry.

Four officers were re-elected: President Jason Piscia, Treasurer Tanya Koonce Williams, Executive Secretary John Kendall and Recording Secretary Laura Trendle Polus.

Emily Manley was elected Vice President, after the board held a special meeting and approved granting her voting membership. Emily has previously served as Vice President, but was replaced when she left her TV journalism job, and had been an Associate Member.

Piscia’s re-election as president means Rachel Lippmann will continue as Immediate Past President.

For the first time, voting was done virtually, using the OPAVote platform. Fifty INBA members submitted ballots. Winners were announced at the INBA Fall Convention in East Peoria in September.

By Christine Hatfield
INBA Board Member

With so many races and issues to cover ahead of the 2026 midterms, experienced political journalists are encouraging their fellow reporters to focus on the kitchen-table issues.

They shared the advice at the INBA Fall Convention, in a panel moderated by Rachel Lippmann of St. Louis Public Radio.

“We are trying to focus our energy on those issues that people care about that impact their lives,” said Brenden Moore of Capitol News Illinois.

Cameron Maine of WMBD-TV said reporters should ask candidates about those issues, such as gas prices and the cost of living, even when politicians are trying to shift the focus.

Races at the top of the ballot, from governor to U.S. Senate, are getting the most attention, but reporter Mike Miletich of WAND-TV also noted the importance of covering local races and cutting through the noise and confusion that can come with a rapidly changing electoral landscape.

As for election night itself, Moore recommended reporters “do your homework,” especially for those still getting used to political journalism. He said reporters should be ready with contact information for the candidates they’re covering, knowledge about the race and the core issues, and background written ahead of election day reflecting what the audience should know.

If Election Day coverage concerns the “what,” Moore said coverage in the days that follow should focus on the “why” and “how” of the outcomes, helping readers, listeners and viewers put the results in context.

Election Day is Nov. 3, and early voting has begun across Illinois.

Convention attendees got the backstory on an app being pilot-tested in at least one Illinois newsroom.

“LocalMatters” turns hours of public meetings into summaries that are linked and searchable.

Ben Kramer (pictured on left) and Blair Beverly are co-founders of LocalMatters. Kramer brings a background in founding and building organizations that address social issues, and Beverly is a software engineer with 14 years at Google.

They appeared via Zoom, as Jason Piscia of the PAR program moderated.

What they’ve developed offers previews, and then summaries, of city council, school board, park district meetings and more. Assignment desks could use the previews to set calendars for the week or month, and to guide assignment decisions. Reporters and producers could use the summaries for background, but also to cover agenda items and outcomes.

Items are linked to websites and PDFs, and also offer links to audio clips from within the meeting (video is likely coming, but there are sometimes issues with file size and type).

Kramer said they use AI in the background, but he wouldn’t call the app an AI tool.

“There is a risk, as we all know,” Beverly explained. “Anything that’s not verifiable is not very good for a journalist.”

He added newsrooms should have an AI policy, that lays out what they’re doing and what they’re comfortable with.

LocalMatters is actively searching for more pilot newsrooms. If you’re interested in learning more, send an email to hello@localmatters.fyi

The plan is to transform into a subscription-based service.

The INBA’s Fall Convention in September included a panel featuring two journalists who’ve been job candidates within the last year, with one now helping make hiring decisions.

Brandon Pope is political reporter and anchor at WFLD, the FOX affiliate in Chicago, after eight years at WCIU-TV. Andrew Harvey is Assistant News Director at 25News in Peoria, after working 10 years at WMBD. Here’s some of what they shared with moderator John Kendall of 25News.

What Skills Should an Applicant Have?

Harvey: Skills that match what the team is looking for. A wide range of skills, because in a smaller newsroom, you may be called on to do more. Pope: Not just an anchor who sits there and looks pretty. Think about long-form writing, multi-platform storytelling and building an audience digitally. Harvey: Interactivity is the next thing we’re looking at. The digital stuff has a different feel. Not really scripted. More of a conversation. Pope: We’re very big on not using prompter. You have to be able to go off script, just talk about it.

What Should an Applicant Do Before an Interview?

Pope: Look up the person you’ll be talking to. Find some commonalities. It’s not creeping! Harvey: Know the station that you’re talking to. Don’t get caught up in the conveyor belt of applying. Your preparation and knowledge reflect your curiosity and how you will approach stories. Pope: Make sure you’re easy to find online.

What Questions Should an Applicant Ask?

“What does a day in this role look like?”
“What would make me the most valuable member of your team?”
“Where do you see me fitting into your station?”
“What is the culture like here? Culture of competition? of Collaboration?”
“Will I be able to try new things?”

The event, titled “Local News at a Crossroads: Power, Pressure & Possibility,” will feature a series of discussions with industry veterans about changes we’re seeing in local media and how today’s journalists can do their best work amid them.

The event, at East Peoria’s Holiday Inn, 101 Holiday St., includes lunch.

Ticket sales are now closed.

Lewis, who served as the main weekend anchor at WGN-TV in Chicago, will speak about how TV has changed over the course of his career, memorable stories he’s covered, storytelling strategies, and his insight into the future for local news. 

Lewis’ journalism career has spanned across two decades with stops in Madison, WI; Rockford, IL; and Richmond, VA. In 2007, Lewis made his way back to Illinois, becoming an Anchor and Reporter at CLTV in 2007 and then moving to WGN in 2008 while still continuing his role at CLTV.  

While in Chicago, Lewis covered several breaking news stories from the anchor desk including the 2008 Presidential Election of Barack Obama and a mass shooting at Northern Illinois University in 2008. Lewis followed up his coverage with an award-winning special focusing on the victims’ recovery and the student journalists first on the scene of the NIU shooting.

In 2026, Lewis was one of the eight anchors to be laid off by Nexstar amid a corporate-wide downsizing. He is now the public information officer for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

This is a new format for our fall convention. Historically, we’ve spread the event over three days. This time around: One day (morning through late afternoon), fewer sessions, high impact. Drive in for the day.

In addition to hearing from industry veterans, we’ll also offer student critiques (**students: bring samples of your recent work; INBA members will give you feedback!**), career advice and networking opportunities.

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. — AI in the Newsroom: Turning Public Records into Reporting Power: Ben Kramer & Blair
  Beverly, Local Matters
• 11 a.m. — Inside the Hiring Room: How Journalists Land Jobs Today: Brandon Pope (Fox 32 Chicago) and
  Andrew Harvey (25News)
• 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

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.

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.

Ticket sales are now closed.

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. — AI in the Newsroom: Turning Public Records into Reporting Power: Ben Kramer & Blair
  Beverly, Local Matters
• 11 a.m. — Inside the Hiring Room: How Journalists Land Jobs Today: Brandon Pope (Fox 32 Chicago) and
  Andrew Harvey (25News)
• 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

The Illinois News Broadcasters Association is pleased to announce an important addition to the 2026 Fall Convention program. We are honored to welcome Brandon Pope, Emmy‑winning journalist and anchor/reporter with Fox 32 Chicago, and Leon Hendricks, News Director at 25 News WEEK, who will join us for a newly added session.

The panel, titled Inside the Hiring Room: How Journalists Land Jobs Today, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Holiday Inn & Suites East Peoria. This session will offer a substantive examination of the current journalism job market, exploring how newsrooms evaluate applicants, the qualities and skills most valued in early‑career journalists, and the ways in which hiring practices have evolved in response to industry‑wide changes.

Pope will share insight from his recent transition into a major Chicago newsroom, while Hendricks will provide the perspective of a newsroom leader responsible for recruitment and talent development. Together, they will offer attendees a clear and practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing journalists entering the profession today.

This addition reflects INBA’s continued commitment to supporting both established professionals and emerging journalists as they navigate a rapidly changing media landscape. We look forward to the valuable perspectives Pope and Hendricks will bring to this year’s convention.

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.

Ticket sales are now closed.

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. — AI in the Newsroom: Turning Public Records into Reporting Power: Ben Kramer & Blair
  Beverly, Local Matters
• 11 a.m. — Inside the Hiring Room: How Journalists Land Jobs Today: Brandon Pope (Fox 32 Chicago) and
  Andrew Harvey (25News)
• 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

Until CBS Radio shut down in the spring of 2026, Jennifer Keiper was an anchor there. She talks about reporting and anchoring, quality broadcasting and writing, career advice, changes in journalism, Burning Man, her upbringing, and the serious topic of suicide (her sister) and caring for family. This is from a livestream that Jennifer did with Margaret Larkin. Margaret interviewed her for the INBA in 2020 when she was at WBBM Newsradio, and in 2016 when she was at WLS.