Jackson County Resources

Jackson County is surprisingly accessible via the Internet. Here are a few links to help you naviagte:

* Jackson County Web site
* The Circuit Clerk has a great site for tracking court cases .

I need a job!!

The industry is looking pretty grim -- all right, it is horrible. Aside from dumb luck, our future employers have made it clear that they want experience and clips. The sure way to do that is internships.

The three best places for internship postings are:
* American Society for Newspaper Editors
* Journalism Jobs
* University of California Berkely Web site

Figuring out the SIUC campus

I've been working the campus reporting gig for three years.

Here are a few links that I have found most helpful while reporting.

* You must verify students, faculty and employees when reporting. This site won't tell you much, but it will confirm that people exist.
* SIUC Faculty Senate: This governing body is probably the most competent of any on campus. Its site is handy because they have archived all of their resolutions from the past five years at least.

Math and maps and more

Ok... it is a well-known fact that journalists do not get into this profession due to their high level of proficiency at mathematics, directions and general use of the Internet.

Fortunately, one of our more appealing assets is our ability to capitalize on a wealth of information at our fingertips. Here are some links I have found useful to make up for my deficiencies.

* Here's a whole gamut of Internet resources.
* An editor once yelled at me for relying on Mapquest. He told me it would only get me lost. I didn't believe him until I wound up in the town's Little Mexico. Always make sure you have a good, updated local and state map in the back seat just in case.
* It's math, we hate, and we ALWAYS get it wrong. For percent increase/decrease, go here. For the rest, just go here.

The extra mile

The proof is in the legwork for a great journalist. Your ability to relentlessly pursue a story, to not take "No" for an answer, is a necessary characteristic. Unfortunately, sometimes the numbers and documents we need are either not readily available or the officials who hold onto them are not quite so willing to divulge. The federal and state sunshine laws, and public records acts are essentials for reporters. Not knowing the ins and outs of these could prove detrimental.

Be sure to check with each institution, because some (such as SIUC) have a form you need to fill out. A letter is only necessary when appealing a rejection.

Take a look at these links for more help:

* Federal FOI
* State

By the way, the photo is of me truly going the extra mile by standing on Dead Man's Curve while writing as story about dangerous country roads in Pennsylvania.

Lifesavers for Journalists

It can be a rough world out there. In fact, a deadly one for some of us in journalism. The Poynter Institute is rubber ducky floaty in the midst of the turbulent waves. Its Web site has a "faculty" of experienced journalists that cover everything from writing tips to ethical issues to industry gossip. It's so good it should be included in the food pyramid. Check it out! You can also sign up for email alerts and daily doses of all your favorite journalism entrees.

How to save the world in just one post

In my mind, a successful journalism career has three main components -- solid beat walking, good knowledge of resources and luck. Well, I can't help you with two of those, but I can point you to some great Web sites with a plethora of databases and search engines.

Check these out:
* Google = Yes, the nerds at Google will probably soon rule the world, because no other search engine can even come close to matching its strength.
* Journalist's Toolbox = Need I say more?
* People Databases = The University of Texas is a godsend, enough said. This one is also pretty amazing, because you can never have too many.