Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Question of the day

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Illinois

Rate the state politics coverage by your local media outlets, print and electronic. Is it enough? Too much? Well-informed? Clueless? Explain.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 9:07 am

Comments

From South Cook County:

The Daily Southtown - Outstanding!
The Chicago Sun Times - Excellent local coverage: Fran Spielman should be the Boss of the whole works - she does all the work; Neil Steinberg -Priceless!

Chicago Tribune Sports - Peerless

The balance of the Medill Swill? The best fish-wrapper a guy can get! Halibut Tonight!

Comment by Pat Hickey Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 9:14 am
I get 90% of my news online, via sites like yours & local blogs. I give high marks for state political coverage these sites & particularly value the various opinions about the issues presented.

From a printed perspective, the only “news” I get is from the silly Pioneer Press North Shore rags (which I’m seriously considering cancelling).

Depending on the city, they let their political bias show way too much with the slant of their political news stories, the letters to the editor, the phototgraphs of politicians & organizations. For example, I’m convinced the editor of the Lake Forester is related to Mark Kirk; they shamelessly promote him in every way possible & fail to print many anti-Kirk letters to the editor that I know for fact they are receiving. However, I’ve noticed that other North Shore versions (like Winnetka, Wilmette, etc.) seem to be more balanced.

Comment by North Shore Mom Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 9:24 am
Why read the same news stories online today in tomorrow’s paper? As long as our local continues to regurgitate AP news items, it serves little purpose, except gives the obits to oldsters.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 9:45 am
The media is simply over the top. They are more than willing to convict someone without credible evidence and half-truthful rumors. I donâ€™t even watch the news any more. We the public are not as stupid as we once were. We recognize sensationalism when we see it. All they are doing is trying to sell papers or advertising spots. The news be damned.

Comment by anonymous Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 9:53 am
The Joliet Herald News, Plainfield Sun, and the Plainfield Enterprise rarely cover any state issues, unless simply copying from a newswire. Not enough.

Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 9:56 am
Tribune - best as it gets locally. Generally good but it better be for big city rag. Only read Sunday.
St. Louis - OK, boring. occasional Sunday only.
Springfield JR - Print pretty good. Comments on-line range from good to moron.
Springfield Business Journal - Did you buy an ad lately?
Local paper - local paper. Dear Abby lives on, next level down national columists. 5 minute read in morning. Not much beyond city council approving sound ordinance. Arrests are interesting when a name is recognized.
Local TV news - Politics? Hey there’s a fire across town, let’s film it. Rain tonight.
Capital Fax - Nice controversy from reasonably knowledged people. Addictive (kiss,kiss).
Other blogs - generally OK.
Trade association - actually pretty good but specific to our industry.

Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 10:29 am
Journalists are weak as water statewide. The pursuit of the facts has been replaced by the pursuit of enough copy to keep getting paid.

Some suggestions from one who’s been there:

* Get in the candidates’ faces, and don’t let their minions run interference.

* Demand answers from the candidates; do not accept info from their people or press releases. I want my info from thee decision maker, not an underling who dictates prepared comments the decision maker has never seen.

* Stop letting candidates hide from the people. They are seeking public office, so why do we let them avoid the public? Get cameras and mikes in their faces, and keep them there.

* Leave your ego at home and be thorough, truthful, accurate about everything. Seek and report ALL points of view. The journalist’s job is about informing people, not persuading them.

Sorry for the rant, but the bottom line is that I feel like reporters today are just settling for the soundbyte instead of hungrily digging through the trash and seeking the treasure in the form of the truth.

Comment by me Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 10:30 am
My local paper is worthless for state news, it is only good for knowing what happens in town. This blog (and the links provided within) has become my preferred site for state news. I like a site that sorts through all the many sources and provides a synopsis of what is worth my time because I am too busy to peruse multiple sources everyday on my own. In addition, I can quickly sample what others of varying views have to say on a topic (which often provides valuable perspective, but not always…smile). E-media is the future.

Comment by Middle Majority Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 11:19 am
For anything north of Chicago, check out

http://GOPulse.blogspot.com

It’s clearly partisan, but it sure does make some good points and it raises good questions no matter which side of the aisle you are on.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 11:21 am
Two “local” downtown chicago papers of any decent circulation - the Gazette and the Chicago Journal.

The Gazette is a regular dem party rag that has predicted Ken Dunkin was going to be the next Speaker after Mike Madigan.

The Chicago Journal spends so much time writing about dogs that it misses corruption and embarassing public figures flagrantly operating in its coverage area.

Pretty pathetic coverage for the new downtown population.

Comment by Downtown Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 12:38 pm
I miss Steve Neal.

Comment by Constance Lee Reading Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 12:47 pm
Your site does a great job at informing. Good cross check of opinions. Since I travel a lot, I see that the news reporting is seriously biased one way or the other. Much like judges and politicians, reporters have chosen political sides. Usually they pick a party theme and stick to it and demonstrate no free and unencumbered thought. Thatâ€™s too bad as it helped keep the public informed and politicians honest. You simply can’t believe much of what most news media, print and TV, has to say as most have taken sides. - me - Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 10:30 am: had some great points. GET IN THEIR FACE. Don’t let them hide behind a spokesperson. Hold them accountable, get their true feelings and who they truly are, like when they hold up a child in front of them to deflect questions. It shows their true character.

Comment by Justice Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 2:43 pm
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch rarely reports Illinois politics. On occasion, there might be one article on Sundays. Pretty lame. I read the Chicago Tribune and your blog to keep up.

Comment by Metro-East Reader Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 5:13 pm
I agree with Metro-East Reader. The St. Louis Post Dispatch political stories are usually a day late and watered down. I get my info online and of course the Capital Fax.

Comment by anon A Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 6:41 pm
Jacksonville Journal Courier
on-line - next to nothing
print - $1500 gift story buried on page 10

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 7:22 pm
Daily Herald has decent coverage of state politics, especially Eric Krol. I like the S-T but miss Steve Neal; our own Rich Miller is stepping up to the plate, at least on state issues. The Trib has good and knowledgeable reporters and some depth in their coverage. Springfield SJ-R is close to the action, Finke is a gem, and they allow reader comments on their articles (priceless entertainment!). The Southtown has Kris McQueary and again our own Rich Miller, nuff said. The Aurora and Joliet papers are somewhat weak and rely on newswire and borrowed articles from sister papers too much.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 8:45 pm
Every time I visit my family in New York City, I am struck by how much better both the print and broadcast local journalism is in Chicago.

Comment by Ivory-billed Woodpecker Tuesday, Sep 12, 06 @ 9:28 pm