Find Sources for Oil Spill Reporting

Trying to find out more information about the Gulf oil spill? Joe Davis of the Society of Environmental Journalists is compiling a tracking blog of sources for journalists about the oil spill, taking a specific look at the access issues reporters have experienced. Mapping out a timeline, Davis has been posting breaking news stories and press releases since May. The Daily Glob blog also presents a list of sources journalists can use, including news media outlets, government websites, congressional hearings, commercial responses, research and experts, and mapping and infographics. Davis started posting at a Twitter account @DailyGlob today. Turn to the SEJ blog for information about reporting this environmental crisis. Get back to us with the stories you have posted, too.

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First Place for the First

The Illinois First Amendment Center, an MF grantee since its origins in 2001, is taking home a highly-coveted First Amendment Award from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). The award recognizes individuals and groups for "extraordinarily strong efforts to preserve and strengthen the First Amendment . " SPJ will also honor former USA Today reporter Toni Locy , who has refused to reveal her sources from stories in a 2002 anthrax case.

IFAC works to educate young people about the need to understand, preserve and protect the First Amendment. What started as a modest effort housed at the Illinois Press Foundation has grown into a booming non-profit organization, providing free curriculum, posters, videos and other materials to thousands of K-12 teachers across the country. It recently began offering its materials in Spanish as well. The Center works closely with newspapers to promote its materials and host an annual conference.

IFAC will pick up the honor at SPJ's annual convention, to be held Sept. 6 in Atlanta. For more, visit: http://www.spj.org/news.asp?REF=819#819

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