President’s Column: Signs of life in the news industry

By Betsy Russell

Check out the “Media Moves” section of this newsletter – there are a lot! Lots of Idaho journalists are moving around as our industry finally once again begins to show some signs of life, after the huge financial gut-punch most or all of our employers took due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As you’ll see in Orion Donovan-Smith’s interesting article in this issue, reprinted from The Spokesman-Review, the news … [Read more...]

Demystifying the Courts: Idaho Journalists Institute Promotes Understanding of the Courts and the Judiciary

By William Cracraft

Twenty-eight journalists from across Idaho attended Idaho’s third Journalists’ Institute on Covering the Courts in April. The Idaho Press Club, Attorneys for Civic Education and the University of Idaho College of Law teamed up to hold the institute. Previous institutes were held in 2018 and 2019.

The day-long program, titled “Without Fear or Favor: Reporting on the Rule of Law and the Work of an Independent, Impartial Judiciary,” included information on journalists’ access to court … [Read more...]

Can Congress save local news? Two bills backed by Northwest lawmakers may help

Note: This story first published in The Spokesman-Review

By Orion Donovan-Smith, The Spokesman-Review

Jun. 12—WASHINGTON — America's local news outlets are in crisis and in search of a new business model, forced to cut staff or close altogether amid rising costs and falling revenue. But two proposals backed by Northwest lawmakers in Congress may offer a solution.

The Local Journalism Sustainability Act, introduced in 2021 by Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat, and GOP Rep. Dan Newhouse … [Read more...]

Meet Your IPC: Lisa Chavez

Lisa Chavez is one of the newest members of the Idaho Press Club board.  She is the Director of Content at KTVB.  She oversees the news department and all news platforms.

Interviewed by Joan Cartan-Hansen

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Powell, Wyoming.

Why did you go to Boise State University?

I initially wanted to focus on documentary shooting and producing. Boise is so … [Read more...]

Media Moves

New faces in your newsroom or communication department? Let everyone know. Send your Media Moves mail to:email@idahopressclub.org

TIMES-NEWS, Twin Falls

Business reporter Hannah Ashton is leaving to become a science writer for Oregon State University.
 
IDAHO PRESS, Nampa/Boise

Crime and courts reporter Alexandra Duggan left for a position at KTVB. … [Read more...]