Illinois News Broadcasters Association Spring Convention 2024

Friday

Board meeting, 1pm, WIU-Quad Cities (Virtual option will be available)

Evening gathering TBA

Saturday

Opening remarks, 9:15 am

9:30 to 10:45 AM – The SAFE-T Act in Operation

• Rock Island state’s attorney Dora Villarreal, public defender Shay Meredith, and Judge Peter Church will discuss the ins, outs, upsides and pitfalls of the state’s new pretrial hearing and release policies.

11 am to 12:15 PM – Legal Pot

• We’ll learn about the issues that have emerged since Illinois lawmakers legalized recreational cannabis in 2019. We have tentatively confirmed a Quad Cities attorney who is arguing a case in front of the state Supreme Court about whether the odor of pot is now probable cause for a traffic stop. We are also hoping to arrange for someone to talk about the business challenges, and a discussion of the equity component

12:30 to 2 pm – Lunch and business meeting

2 pm to 3:15 pm – Social media tools

• TikTok, Facebook, Reels, Threads, X, Reddit. There are so many distribution platforms out there. We’ll learn tips and tricks of the trade about how to best reach the varied audiences without creating tons of extra work. We have confirmed Lara Hamdan, the engagement editor at STLPR, and have reached out to the Online News Association

3:30 pm – Student critiques, story workshop, IPR and Foundation meetings

6pm – Cocktail hour

6:30 pm – Dinner

6:55 pm – Presentation of scholarship winners

7 pm – Keynote address – Eric Sorensen (Maggie Hradecky to introduce)

8pm – SINBA Awards presentation

*Past president’s reception to follow.

Sunday

9:30 am – Breakfast

10am – Small Market, Big Careers

• A conversation with Herb Trix and Paula Sands. Both spend the large majority of their careers in the Quad Cities. It’s an opportunity for students to see how they can grow and thrive without constantly jumping markets.

11:30 AM – Closing resolution

Host or Publisher Illinois News Broadcasters Association