In this podcast, WBBM’s Margaret Larkin interviews NBC5 Chicago veteran reporter Phil Rogers.

Rogers joined WMAQ in 1991, and before that he worked at WBBM Newsradio, KOMA-AM in Oklahoma City, and KVRO-FM in Stillwater, OK.

Rogers talks with Larkin about the news stories he’s covered all over the world throughout his career including Olympic games, conflicts in the Middle East, and the Sandy Hook massacre.

Rogers also dives into how much transparency among public agencies has changed through the course of his career, specifically in Chicago. Spoiler alert: he says it has changed dramatically, but you’ll have to listen to the podcast to hear how he keeps doing the work he does.

To budding journalists, Rogers said, “News isn’t very hard,” adding that 99% of the job is just reporting what happens. He says what interests him is finding the information he’s not supposed to know about. He also talks about how stories can be unpredictable, “News a lot of the time involves things that don’t pan out,” he said, “You’re there to tell the story that you have not the story that you want.”

For journalists hungry for conversations on transparency, public records, and investigative work, this is the INBA podcast for you.

As a multimedia journalist at ABC/FOX affiliated TV stations in Springfield, Illinois, Jordan Elder has covered a variety of local stories. Elder talks about what she likes about being a ‘one-man-band’; plus how she writes and reports, especially when it comes to making a visually poor story more engaging.

“It feels like we have kind of the biggest hand in our work,” Elder said about reporting as an MMJ.

Elder got her start in news during the pandemic. She talks about that experience after graduating from the Walter Cronkite School of Mass Communication at Arizona State University. She is originally from Kansas City.

Margaret Larkin interviewed Elder via Zoom.

When it comes to investigative reporting, CBS 2’s Dave Savini of Chicago is among the best in the business. His work has earned him Murrow, Emmy and DuPont awards.

In March, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced changes to the city’s search warrant process as a result of a series that Savini and his team did on “wrong raids.” And because of your connection to INBA, you have an opportunity to learn how he does it. 

Join Savini on Wednesday, July 14 at noon via Zoom for an introduction to TV investigative reporting. He’ll talk about where to look for stories, how to make them interesting for TV, and how to find the time when you don’t have an entire team to help. 

Know someone who could benefit? Send them over to inba.net, and encourage them to become a member. For just $35 a year ($20 if you’re a student) you get many more chances to learn from some top-notch journalists. Members can RSVP to the webinar by emailing Rachel Lippmann at lippmannr@umsl.edu.

After spending several years in Illinois at WREX-TV in Rockford and WQAD-TV in the Quad Cities, Elizabeth Wadas recently became a lead reporter for NBC15 Investigates and a nightly news anchor at WMTV in Madison, Wisconsin. She talks about how she writes and reports stories, her interest in people and passion for news, her extensive experience in the Quad Cities, how she got into the media, and a lot more.

Elizabeth was interviewed on the phone by Margaret Larkin via Zoom.

WXIA, better known as “11Alive” in the local news business, is an NBC-affiliate in Atlanta, Ga., the seventh-largest market in the country. It’s known nationally for its dedication to investigative reporting.

“I’m incredibly honored to join the investigative team at 11Alive,” Crowley said. “Their unrelenting work to find justice and truth is what journalism is all about and it’s exactly what I want to be a part of.”

Crowley will also contribute to 11Alive’s award-winning, and nationally recognized, weekly program, The Reveal. The Reveal is an investigative show exposing inequality, injustice and ineptitude created by people in power throughout Georgia and across the country.

Crowley is no stranger to investigative reporting, helping launch Rockford’s only investigative reporting team back in 2018, 13 Investigates. Since that time, Crowley, her co-anchor James Stratton and investigative reporter Mary Sugden, have revealed major stories to the Rockford area.

“From exposing unfair billing practices to shedding light on police misconduct, working on these stories with our talented team at 13 WREX has truly been the opportunity of a lifetime,” Crowley said. “13 Investigates will never stop fighting for justice.”

Crowley, who has been an INBA member for several years, has received numerous awards for her investigative work, including a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, six Illinois Silver Dome Awards and five Illinois Associated Press Awards. She has also won five Regional Emmy Awards, dozens of other statewide awards, and had her work recognized as part of
13 WREX’s National Edward R. Murrow Award in 2018.

“Kristin has helped transform the way we do news here at 13 WREX,” said News Director, Audrey Moon. “We have undertaken several significant changes to our editorial process over the years and she has been a leader in making those changes impactful and meaningful to our viewers. Her expertise and ambition will be sorely missed.”

Crowley says working at a small market television station is like working with family. A family she has grown close to and relied on for support several times over the years.

“The people I work with are more than colleagues, they’re family,” Crowley said. “Their support, and genuine care, is what makes our team so special. I will miss them more than they will ever know.”

Crowley will join 13 WREX alumnus, and Chief Investigator at 11Alive, Brendan Keefe. Keefe began his broadcast career at 13 WREX back in 1991.

“Brendan is someone I’ve admired as a journalist for years,” Crowley added. “He has helped mentor me and has challenged me to reach new heights. Our shared connection of 13 WREX just goes to show what a small world, and small business, this really is!”

Crowley’s last day on the air at 13 WREX will be Wednesday, Mar. 31.