What is citizen journalism?

2 comments September 29th, 2008

From pamphlets to blogs, there have been “people who are non journalists committing random acts of journalism.”

The video below is a couple years old, but it’s one of the best I’ve seen on the subject.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/58iZpMRclwI" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

What’s ‘On the Line’? With an election, a lot

Add comment September 29th, 2008

Political Editor Chuck Sweeny and photographer/videographer Scott Morgan traveled the Amtrak rails this weekend to hear from voters — average Americans — as we approach the November presidential election.

Sweeny chose The City of New Orleans line from Chicago’s Union State to New Orleans because he likes the Steve Goodman song. In the past, he’s done road trips west and south instead of attending the political conventions, as he had done for many years.

You can catch his tales on his blog, Sweeny Report. We plan to pull together the blog entries, photos and videos on a special report page. And we’ll also pull it together for Sunday’s Register Star.

The headlines? People are steaming mad over the financial mess and ensuing bailout. And they’re pretty torn over John McCain and Barack Obama.

This is my favorite post. … We know some of you enjoyed his encounters, too. One commenter said, “Ain’t America great?!”

In case you missed it, 180 Degrees is back …

Add comment September 29th, 2008

In case you missed it, the 180 Degrees: Solutions for a Better Rockford is back with another installment.

This Sunday in print, we focused on how culture has changed over the past three decades. An excerpt is below:

Sports and the arts — in fact Rockford attractions across the board — have grown steadily over the last three decades amid, or despite three economic downturns.

Consider: In 1980, the MetroCentre was under construction.

No Klehm Arboretum.

No water park.

No Sportscore One, much less Sportscore Two or Indoor Sports Center.

No Jane and Homer, our world-famous dinos. Burpee Museum of Natural History was mostly a collection of birds.

Heck, the Rockford Art Museum was still trying to establish a permanent home. And you could count the number of hotels off Interstate 90 on one hand. Now there are more than 20 in Rockford, Loves Park and South Beloit.

There are parts of this project especially created for the Web. Like our photo gallery of notable MetroCentre and Coronado acts.

We created a map to use any time we feature Winnebago County attractions (scroll to bottom of story).

And this video tour of major Rockford things to do: yes, dining is a part of that!

It’s homecoming time; share your photos with us

Add comment September 24th, 2008

I love when we ask readers for their pictures of special events because we usually get some really great shots. This time we’re asking for homecoming photos and submissions are starting to come in steadily. Last weekend was the first homecoming weekend for our region. North Belvidere and Freeport celebrated. This weekend, we’ll have more.

Find out how to submit photos, and see what we’ve gotten so far.

Got the one below today from Sarah Gamble of Belvidere. Pictured from left to right are: Andrea Behling, Jessica Gamble and Courtney Fisk, juniors at Belvidere North High School. The picture was taken at the Baltic Mill at Belvidere Park.

Know an amazing Rockford Woman?

Add comment September 22nd, 2008

You only have until the end of the month to nominate her for the Rockford Woman of the Year award. Find directions here or here.

Furst Staffing CEO Darlene Furst won in the award’s first year, which drew two dozen nominees. Let’s see even more great women in the selection process this time!

update: news tower no longer under attack …

Add comment September 19th, 2008

… by giant pests. that problem with hornets i told you about a month ago? apparently, we’ve gotten it under control!

more than one way to fight breast cancer

Add comment September 18th, 2008

at rockford woman magazine, we take the fight against breast cancer personally, as staffers and their relatives have been affected.

so a head’s up about a shopping event this weekend and a reminder about others:

1. suzanne young is holding the second  annual “great big accessory sale” from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. saturday at 1779 sentinel court in rockford to raise money for the american cancer society. you can find gently used purses, shoes, jewelry, scarves and other accessories. there will be door prizes.

new this year colorlab cosmetics’ custom pink lip gloss, “sara’s smile,” named after rachel robinson-bardoville’s mother who lost her battle with breast cancer but faced it with a smile.

2. tickets are on sale for the second annual rockford woman victory lap brunch, which will be oct. 25 at cliffbreakers after the making strides against breast cancer walk.

the event features a breakfast buffet, music by the red note quartet, raffle prizes and emcee/speaker judge rosemary collins — a great way to finish off a morning with the girls.

the price is $20. tickets are available in rockford at roxy carmichael, 310 n. alpine road; woodman’s; and j.r. kortman center for design, or you can call bea ricotta at 815-987-1453.

the walk in martin park and the brunch are both fund-raisers for the american cancer society.for information on the walk, go to cancer.org/strides online or call 815-229-1287.

3. womanspace is presenting “busted,” a one-woman play about the humor and terror of surviving breast cancer, at 7 p.m. oct. 29 at rockford memorial hospital. tickets are $25; call 815-877-0118. meet and greet playwright, actress and survivor nancy heerens-knudson afterward. dvds of the show will be available; proceeds benefit nancy’s sister kisti, who has no health insurance and is paying for her breast-cancer treatment on her own. proceeds from the performance benefit womanspace and its women in crisis fund.
4. swedishamerican health system is offering “planting the seeds of hope: a free breast cancer awareness program,” at 6:30 p.m. oct. 6 at giovanni’s in rockford. a panel will discuss the latest innovations in breast health care — and take questions. special guest speaker will be judy emerson, breast cancer survivor and former newspaper columnist. call 815-968-2500.

5. my aerobics instructor and survivor dani kelly is in charge of rocktoberfest 2008, a two-day music festival 5 to 10 p.m. friday, sept. 26, and noon to 10 p.m. saturday, sept. 27, in the parking lot of  old chicago. cost is $5 friday; $5 until 6 p.m. saturday and $10 after that; free for children 7 and younger. buy advanced tickets at old chicago, the oak barrel and other locations. proceeds benefit the inspiration for hope foundation and the making strides walk.

now presenting, crime stoppers

Add comment September 18th, 2008

police are seeking your help. this month, rrstar.com launched an area under “special reports” for rockford area crimestoppers to list and picture fugitives. so check it out here.

this concept is not new: the local crime stoppers was founded 27 years ago.

I’ve been a …

3 comments September 16th, 2008

… bad blogger. And for that I am sorry.

We’re trying some new things on rrstar.com, including a “need to know” piece that highlights, well, the stuff you need to know today. Here’s what we posted recently.

Wondering what you think or what you would like included. Does this help you find important and interesting stories we have on the Web?

for your healthy dose of news

3 comments September 16th, 2008

in june, we launched healthyrockford.com — a one-stop shop for local health, healthy living and health care news. the site is rich with doctor listings, Harvard Medical School A-Z disease/condition information, local and national news and advice from local experts.

you’ve seen a sampling of content in sunday’s life&style section, with a healthyrockford.com page inside. you’ve also seen stories reappear in the local and business sections, whether we’re writing about quadruplets born at rockford memorial or the college of medicine’s effort to retain local talent.

this week, you’ll start seeing more in the newspaper. the go section will carry useful bits of information, like calendar items and tips. and the thursday people section will focus on, naturally, people.

fyi, healthyrockford.com’s editor is mike dedoncker; the reporter is melissa westphal. they have started appearing each monday at 5 p.m. on wrex-13’s newscast to promote healthyrockford.com content as well.