Want data? We got it

Add comment April 30th, 2008

We’ve put links to all of our databases — from golf courses to real estate transactions to movie trailers — in one place to make it easier for you to find information you may want.

Check out eSearch. Or look for the link under Short-Cuts on the rrstar.com home page.

Another knock on Rockford

10 comments April 28th, 2008

It’s coincidence, I’m sure, that I came across this by Jay Mariotti today. The Chicago Sun-Times columnist disses Rockford in a piece about Jerry Angelo.

“If Jerry Angelo wasn’t an NFL general manager, he’d be a worm farmer. Or an air-duct cleaner. Or a first-base coach. Or a Rockford tour guide. Or a cement-mixer driver. Or Lovie Smith’s hair stylist. You know, something boring that requires little creativity.”

Ouch.

I get really tired of reading negative stuff about Rockford. I even posted that to our newest blog, 180 Degrees, today before I knew about the nugget above. (Earlier this year, Rockford got knocked in Rolling Stone.) The 180 Degrees blog is a piece of a campaign we’re launching this week on rrstar.com. Our goal? To make Rockford a better place to live.

I figure if we start with the people who actually live here, we’ll be on the right track. Not sure how many times Mr. Mariotti has been here. But a Rockford tour guide wouldn’t have that bad of a job. There’s plenty of great things the Rock River Valley can boast about.

if you want to see what our jobs are like

2 comments April 28th, 2008

we at bricks & clicks write about how our jobs are changing from the old days of just ink and paper to tv, the web and magazines.today, instead of reading about how we’re different, watch us.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/GIJUyNHXrwQ" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

we produced this video by request from our parent company, gatehouse media. it will be used for training: while it’s not a how-to, it’s a how-to-think.

thanks, billy kulpa, for filming and editing this piece. (his first day on the job was the boone county tornado, and he’s been “running” ever since.)

this article is ‘boss’

Add comment April 25th, 2008

last week, one of my bosses was quoted in the national media.

today, i found the spotlight on another one of my bosses — lil swanson, the managing editor.

jill geisler at the poynter institute (a school for journalists that promotes excellence), who writes about newsroom leadership, gave lil a “shout-out.”

(also found on poynter today: people’s suggestions for six-word mottos to describe journalism today… i voted for “Who, what, when, where, why, Web”)

live, from fort lauderdale

Add comment April 25th, 2008

as many of you know, wrex-13 and the register star have worked together since 2004 to bring you “the power of 2.”

looks like another newspaper and tv station are trying something different in convergence: the south florida sun-sentinel and wsfl plan to produce a morning news show together. they have not determine who’s on air, but i can’t wait to see how it turns out.

this is different than the rrs-wrex arrangement in a major way, though: both are owned by the tribune co.

gas prices got ya down?

1 comment April 24th, 2008

if the thought of driving or flying cross-country this summer is enough to make you sick, consider planning a “local” vacation this year.

on may 20, the register star will publish a special section called “drive illinois,” which lists hundreds of events and attractions across the state.

the web site is up and running already.

p.s. if you have stories or ideas you’d like to see regarding gas prices, of course we’ll take ‘em.

when the news wears on you

4 comments April 23rd, 2008

at the register star, like i just mentioned,  you can order a t-shirt with a photo on it.

but at cnn.com, you can order a t-shirt with a headline on it. though i learned that hackers got a little naughty on this app.

of course, the onion satirical newspaper offers funny headline t-shirts, too, like “area man.” click at your own risk, since we know how naughty they can be.

Theodore Bacino petition now available

Add comment April 22nd, 2008

Lately, we’ve covered a couple parole hearings. Robert Henry Lower and Curtis Brownell were both denied parole earlier this year for killing in the 1970s 15-year-old newspaper carrier Joey Didier and 17-year-old Louise Betts, respectively.

Now, Theodore Bacino is approaching a parole hearing. Bacino killed Winnebago County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Mayborne in 1974. At his parole hearing last year, Bacino narrowly got out of prison after the Illinois Prisoner Review Board voted 7-6 to keep him behind bars. Bacino’s parole decision is May 29. You have until May 28 to sign electronic petitions on our Web site either against for for Bacino’s parole.

Next week, we’ll make available an electronic petition regarding Simon Peter Nelson’s parole. Nelson stabbed and bludgeoned his six children to death Jan. 17, 1978. The Nelson children were Jenny, 12; Simon Peter III, 10; Andrew, 8; Matthew, 7; Roseann, 6; and David, 3. The mass murder was among the worst cases of filicide — the murder of one’s children — in the nation’s history.

Belvidere tornado remembered

Add comment April 21st, 2008

At our news meeting this morning, we looked at our calendar that highlights what we call “moments of life.” We use the calendar to remind of us of annual events, anniversaries, special days (did you know Earth Day is tomorrow) and more.

Turns out today is the 41st anniversary of the tornado that killed 24 people in 1967 when it ripped through Belvidere. Back in January, when another tornado tore through Boone County, we resurrected our special report on the 1967 twister.

The special report, completely interactive, is comprehensive. Go back in time to remember or learn more.

Talk music, prom

Add comment April 21st, 2008

Got two new blogs to tell you about …

Staffer Collin Quick is blogging about music for us. Words and Music is written by a self-described “music nerd.” Collin is an avid reader of Spin, Rolling Stone, Alternative Press and Filter. Collin admits that he spends “a little too much time” listening to anything he can get his hands on. So, log on to Collin’s blog to discuss all things music.

Collin

Two high schoolers — Sarah Wieland (East High senior) and Matt Yardley (Belvidere North senior) agreed to blog about prom season for us. They’re both editors-in-chief at their respective high school newspapers. Check out Our Time and let the teens know what you think.

Sarah and Matt