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Prosecutors had sought convictions for second-degree murder and armed criminal action against defendant Deion Whalen, but jurors instead convicted Whalen of involuntary manslaughter.

With the right to same-sex marriage now protected by federal statute, a Jackson County Republican lawmaker believes it is time for Missouri to retire a portion of the state constitution that says the only valid marriages are “between a man and a woman.” Rep. Chris Sander, R-Lone Jack, for the second year has introduced a […]

The post Missouri Republican pushes for constitutional change to recognize same-sex marriages appeared first on Missouri Independent.

"Emily, if you are seeing this, please come home. We love you."

by ProPublica

In an effort to address the critical need to diversify the ranks of investigative editors in newsrooms across the country, ProPublica announced Thursday the Investigative Editor Training Program. Funded by the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, this one-year training program will support talented news editors in learning the craft of investigative editing from ProPublica’s prizewinning editors and staff.

Studies in recent years have shown that leadership in newsrooms around the country does not represent the diversity of the communities that they cover. That’s particularly acute in investigative news. Part of the reason for those low numbers is that journalists from diverse backgrounds have historically been passed over for opportunities to do investigative reporting and editing, which lessens their ability to pursue this specialty later in their careers. This program is aimed at bolstering that pipeline.

“ProPublica was founded to create journalism that spurs real-world change,” said Stephen Engelberg, ProPublica’s editor in chief. “We are incredibly excited to play a role in training the new, diverse generation of newsroom leaders. Behind almost every great story, there’s a great editor whose passion, patience and craft made all the difference. We look forward to expanding the pipeline of people who do that essential work.”

The program will launch in summer 2023 with a weeklong, all-expenses-paid boot camp in New York that will coach editors how to conceive of, produce and edit investigative projects that expose harm and create impact. The editors will learn how to guide reporters through complicated accountability stories, including challenges related to deciphering data, obtaining documents and engaging sources who have suffered trauma. Attendees will also learn how to work collaboratively with research, data and multimedia teams to elevate an investigative project and maximize impact potential.

After the boot camp, participants will gather virtually every two months until summer 2024 for seminars and career development discussions with their cohort and ProPublica journalists. Each participant will be assigned a ProPublica senior editor as a mentor for one-on-one consultation about ongoing stories, management challenges and how to most effectively pursue their own professional aspirations.

The program is open to all, but we especially encourage people from traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.

The ideal participants will have:

• A minimum of five years of journalism experience, either as an editor or as a reporter primarily doing work with an investigative or accountability focus.
• A strong grasp of the basics of editing, storytelling, structure and framing.
• Experience managing a team of journalists or a complicated multipronged reporting project.
• An accountability mindset and an eye for watchdog reporting and editing.

The application period will open on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, and close on Monday, March 13, 2023. The cohort will be announced in April 2023. Here are more details for those interested in applying.

This program is funded through the generous support of the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, which supports organizations advancing social justice by empowering world-changing work in investigative journalism, documentary film and arts and culture.

by Talia Buford

ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published.

Beginning this summer, ProPublica will invite up to 10 news editors from media companies across the country to participate in a yearlong investigative editing training program, led by the newsroom’s award-winning staff.

As the nation’s premier nonprofit investigative newsroom, ProPublica is dedicated to journalism that changes laws and lives and to advancing the careers of the people who produce it. The goal of this program is to address our industry’s critical need to diversify the ranks of investigative editors. Building a pipeline of talent is a priority that serves us and our industry.

“ProPublica was founded to create journalism that spurs real-world change,” said Stephen Engelberg, ProPublica’s editor in chief. “We are incredibly excited to play a role in training the new, diverse generation of newsroom leaders. Behind almost every great story, there’s a great editor whose passion, patience and craft made all the difference. We look forward to expanding the pipeline of people who do that essential work.”

The program will begin in June 2023 with a weeklong boot camp in New York that will include courses and panel discussions on how to conceive of and produce investigative projects that expose harm and have impact. The editors will also get training in how to manage reporters who are working with data, documents and sensitive sources, including whistleblowers, agency insiders and people who have suffered trauma.

This program is funded through the generous support of the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, which supports organizations — whether in journalism, film and the arts — whose work is dedicated to social justice and strengthening democracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this?

The ProPublica Investigative Editor Training Program is designed to help expand the ranks of editors with investigative experience in more newsrooms across the country, with a focus on people from underrepresented backgrounds.

What kind of experience can you expect?

The program kicks off with a five-day intensive editing boot camp in New York, with courses and panel discussions led by ProPublica’s senior editors, veteran reporters and other newsroom leaders. The boot camp will include hands-on editing exercises and opportunities for participants to workshop projects underway in their own newsrooms.

Afterward, participants will gather virtually every two months for seminars and career development discussions with their cohort and ProPublica journalists. Each of the participants will also be assigned a ProPublica senior editor as a mentor for advice on story and management challenges or on how to most effectively pursue their own professional aspirations.

What skills should I expect to learn?

• How to evaluate story ideas and determine the right scope, length and time for getting it done.
• How to manage a reporter through a complicated accountability story and communicate feedback in ways that build trust and confidence.
• How to edit investigative drafts, spot holes in reporting logic, organize a narrative and guide the reporter through the fact-checking process.
• How to work collaboratively with research, data and multimedia teams to elevate an investigative project.

When is the boot camp?

The five-day, all-expenses-paid boot camp will be held June 2023 in New York, with remote sessions via Zoom throughout the year.

Is there a virtual option for the boot camp?

We are planning for the boot camp to be held in person. If a participant cannot attend, we will consider remote alternatives.

Will I be responsible for my expenses in New York?

ProPublica will cover participants’ expenses for meals, travel and lodging during the boot camp.

How many participants will be selected each year?

Up to 10 journalists.

What if I can’t make it this year?

ProPublica plans to offer this training in 2024 and 2025 as well.

Who is eligible?

The program is open to all, but we especially encourage people from traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.

The ideal participants will have:

• A minimum of five years of journalism experience, either as an editor or as a reporter primarily doing work with an investigative or accountability focus.
• A strong grasp of the basics of editing, storytelling, structure and framing.
• Experience managing a team of journalists or a complicated multipronged reporting project.
• An accountability mindset: You don’t have to have been on an investigative team, but we are looking for people with an eye for watchdog reporting and editing.

What is the Logan Family Foundation?

The Jonathan Logan Family Foundation is a philanthropic foundation that supports organizations — whether in journalism, film and the arts — whose work is dedicated to social justice and strengthening democracy.

How do I apply?

The application period will open on Feb. 1, 2023. You can sign up for our Jobs newsletter to be notified when this opportunity becomes available.

What if I have other questions?

Send an email to Talent Director Talia Buford at talent@propublica.org.

A year ago the CDC published a study of mask-wearing in elementary and secondary schools. They collected data from 565 counties and produced the following results: With a couple of small exceptions at either end of the chart, schools that required masks were correlated with lower rates of COVID-19 cases in children. A pair of ...continue reading "Should we be masking students in K12 schools?"

Following a bench trial that began Monday, Caleb Campbell was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2021 death of Officer Brian Pierce.

Survivors of a deadly attack at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs and other advocates told a U.S. House panel Wednesday that political rhetoric and policy fights dehumanize LGBTQ people and contribute to such violence. Democrats and Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee largely sympathized with the survivors, but drew different conclusions […]

The post Club Q survivors at U.S. House hearing denounce anti-LGBTQ rhetoric appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Chase opened its 20th branch in the St. Louis area on Wednesday, with a pledge to open 31 by the end of 2024. The newest branch will make its home in the Covenant Blu-Grand Center neighborhood in the MLK Plaza. Nearly 60 people crammed into the 3,000-square-foot business on Wednesday, where they celebrated the opening and held a ribbon cutting while Cardinal Ritter College Prep cheerleaders chanted, “Finance and save!

A man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the death of a Metro East officer last year.

Less than three months after the archdiocese announced the closing of St. Mary’s High School, the school officially announced at a press conference on Thursday morning that it will stay open. President Mike England and Archdiocese of St. Louis officials initially confirmed the news to the RFT on Tuesday that they had reached a three-year lease agreement. The school will be renamed St. Mary’s South Side Catholic High School with religious sponsorship from the Marianists.

GODFREY - The Lewis and Clark Community Clark Veterans Club joined forces with Marquette Catholic High School students and graduates to support the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) "Operation Rising Spirit" campaign this year. A Marquette Catholic graduate attending L&C - Monica Wendle - is playing an important role in the campaign. The campaign encourages service organizations, schools, communities, and individuals to write letters of appreciation and support to veterans residing at the state veterans' homes in Anna, Chicago, LaSalle, Manteno, and Quincy. “Hundreds of letters were sent to veterans in our five residential homes last holiday season, bringing so much joy to the homes,” said Director Terry Prince. “Operation Rising Spirit is a wonderful volunteer opportunity to spread cheer to our veterans.” Cards and letters will be disseminated equally to the five residential homes. “At a recent meeting, the Veterans Club decided t

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The family of a man who died from a crane fault at the Wood River Refinery last week has hired a law firm.

Malware and exploit developers are generating a seemingly endless number of headlines, thanks to misuse of their products by government entities. Israel’s NSO Group has made the most headlines, but other Israel-located malware purveyors have made the news as well. Candiru, another Israeli exploit developer, was hit with the same sanctions the US Commerce Department […]

The Washington University School of Medicine has teamed up with a Japan-based company to explore potential treatments for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzhemier's and Parkinson's diseases.

COLLINSVILLE - Junior forward/guard Mario Brown is emerging as one of the key players for the boys' basketball team at Granite City High School and on Dec. 13, he hit for 11 points in a 50-35 loss to Collinsville at Vergil Fletcher Gym. Brown is currently the Warriors' leading scorer, averaging 18 points-per-game, also leading the team in rebounding with 11,3 boards-per-game, also adding 13 assists and 17 steals. He's emerging as one of the key players for the Warriors in their 5-4 start to the 2022-23 season. For his efforts both on and off the court, Brown has been named a Stillwater Senior Living male Athlete of the Month for the Warriors. Brown, who plays for head coach Gerard Moore, agreed that the Warriors played well in the first half, especially in the second end of back-to-back games, having won over McCluer High of Ferguson, Mo., the night before. The Kahoks slowly took control in the second half, going on to an 11-2 run in the third quarter to help clinch the win. "I'm

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