Click Here for details.
Save Save Save Save
The Northern Illinois News Association (NINA) is pleased to announce its new president John Lampinen and the addition of journalists Madhu Krishnamurthy and Julie Mann to its board of directors.
Lampinen recently retired as Editor of the Daily Herald Media Group and Senior Vice President of its parent company Paddock Publications. He has been a member of the NINA board since 2021. Mann is the Public Information Officer for Kane County Government and Krishnamurthy is Diversity Editor and Assistant City Editor for the Daily Herald.
A native of Waukegan and graduate of the University of Illinois, Lampinen devoted virtually his entire career to the Arlington Heights-based Daily Herald. He began there as a reporter and moved up the ranks at the news organization, where he was named Executive Editor in 1998 and Editor in 2001, retiring at the end of 2021. He has won numerous honors, including the Chicago Headline Club’s Ethics in Journalism Award. In 2019, he was inducted into the prestigious Lincoln League of Journalists by the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors and last year, he was presented by the Illinois Press Association with its James C. Craven Freedom of the Press Award for his lifelong commitment to the principles of a free and open press.
“I am pleased to welcome Julie and Madhu to our board,” said Lampinen. “Julie's broadcast experience and Madhu's association work and diversified news coverage will be great assets to our board. I am confident they will strengthen our efforts in solidifying our position as an advocate for journalism in northern Illinois.”
“This is a year or recalibration for NINA,” Lampinen said. “In 2022, we revised our name – the Northern Illinois News Association. In 2023, we want to focus on what that means. Journalism is re-imagining itself in exciting ways but it also is under threat in various ways that threaten the health of the democracy. As an organization, how can we promote good journalism in northern Illinois and what can we do help strengthen the practice of that journalism and the credibility that is essential to its impact?”
Mann has worked over three decades as an award-winning journalist in the City of Chicago and suburbs as an anchor and managing editor of WBBM Newsradio. In 2021, she accepted her position with Kane Country Government where she serves as liaison for local and national media on behalf of the County and promotes awareness of the County’s mission programs, policies, and initiatives.
She is a graduate of Drake University and St. Charles High School, where she was honored with the Alumni of the Year in 2015. She was named one of the 10 Most Powerful Women in Chicago Journalism in 2014, 2017, and 2019.
At the Daily Herald, Krishnamurthy previously was an Education Writer covering suburban K-12 school districts, community colleges, and universities. In her 22 years with the Daily Herald, she has covered stories on a variety of issues and topics, including human interest, local government, health, politics, religion, and diversity. She joined the Daily Herald in 2000 covering the Northwest, North and Western suburbs.
She chairs the Editorial Diversity Committee whose goals are to broaden employees' understanding of the various cultures represented within and reflect the diversity of the communities the Daily Herald Media Group serves through its news products. Madhu has done extensive work covering issues facing the Muslim, Arab, Black, Latino and Hindu communities in the suburbs.
Krishnamurthy is past president of the Chicago Headline Club, the largest chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and an adjunct faculty member of Columbia College Chicago. She received the University of Central Oklahoma's 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award.
NINA recently changed its name and adopted a new vision statement to reflect the organization’s growth and goals for the future - “We aim to be the leading advocate in northern Illinois for reliable and factual local journalism - teaching what it is, celebrating its achievements, spreading its virtues and defending its role in society.”
NINA board officers include: John Lampinen, president, Cristi Kempf, first vice president; Jim Killam, second vice president; Dan Campana, treasurer; Pat Szpekowski, immediate past president; Jason Akst, executive secretary; and Shelley Hendricks, communication coordinator; and NINA board members Sharon Boehlefeld; Margarita Mendoza; Rick Nagel, Roger Ruthart; and Penny Wiegert.
About NINA
Founded in 1962 to promote the newspapers of Northern Illinois, NINA develops programs and workshops to enhance the profession and recognizes journalistic achievements through a prestigious annual contest. NINA’s ties with Northern Illinois University extend to its beginnings when it was founded by Dr. Donald Grubb, long-time chairman of the university’s journalism department. NINA remains affiliated with the Communication Department, which now houses NIU’s journalism programs. Members are located throughout Northern Illinois and include individuals, newspapers, magazines, online publications, radio and television.
For membership information, contact Shelley Hendricks at shendricks@niu.edu.
Member Log-In + Contact Us + Events + PressLines + Job Bank + Advertising Toolbox + Upload Pages
+Regular Member Newspapers
Subscribe to RSS headline updates from: Powered by FeedBurner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8, 2025 Contact Information: Christopher Weishaar Digital Public Relations Specialist cweishaar@studentloan.org (515) 273-7140
Six $1,500 scholarships now open to Midwest high school seniors High school seniors from six Midwest states have a chance to earn the scholarships
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA — High school seniors from Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin now have a chance to receive one of six college scholarships worth $1,500. Registration is open now through April 30, 2025. Parents are also able to register their student. High school seniors or their parents may register for the ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/Midwest. ISL Education Lending will award $1,500 scholarships to six students whose names are randomly drawn after the registration period. There are no financial need, grade point average or class rank requirements. The ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship can be used at any eligible institution in the United States. Registered participants also receive emails highlighting financial literacy tips, such as the importance of early career and college planning and ways to reduce student loan indebtedness. “Student loan debt is a huge concern for new college students,” said Steve McCullough, president and CEO of ISL Education Lending. “As a nonprofit, we provide tools and resources to help high school seniors plan so they can reduce the amount of debt they need to take on while achieving their education goals. Students sign up for a chance at a $1,500 scholarship, and we take that opportunity to share information with them about our free resources.” The ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship is open to legal U.S. citizens who are seniors at a high school in one of the qualifying states during the 2025-2026 school year and who intend to attend college, either virtually or physically, in fall 2025. It is a no-purchase-required program, and full rules and details are available at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/Midwest. Additional Resources Available In addition to offering student loans, ISL Education Lending has other resources for families planning for college and for students who intend to pursue advanced degrees. The Parent Handbook consists of valuable tips to help families of students in sixth through 12th grades prepare for success in college and other postsecondary options. Parents of students in eighth through 12th grades can also sign up to receive twice-monthly emailed tips on academic, college and career planning through the Student Planning Pointers for Parents program. The College Funding Forecaster helps families understand the total cost of four years of college based on a freshman-year financial aid offer. Information about these resources is available at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/SmartBorrowing.
# # #
About ISL Education Lending Established in 1979 as Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation, a private, nonprofit organization, ISL Education Lending helps students and families obtain the resources necessary to succeed in postsecondary education. ISL has helped nearly 400,000 students pay for college, offering student loans and other products under the name ISL Education Lending. The organization, based in West Des Moines, Iowa, also provides an array of borrower benefits, financial literacy tools and community reinvestment programs, including support for free college planning services for students and their families. For more information, visit www.IowaStudentLoan.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 7, 2025 Contact Information: Illinois State Medical Society Jann Ingmire janningmire@isms.org (312) 520-9802
Illinois State Medical Society offers free programs for health professionals to address human trafficking awareness
As January marks National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) is offering a free, two-part webinar series aimed at equipping physicians and other health care professionals with the tools to identify and support those individuals exploited by human trafficking. The series, which is available on demand, is designed to challenge stereotypes, clarify the various factors contributing to trafficking, and provide practical approaches for assisting survivors of both sex and labor trafficking. Health care professionals are uniquely positioned to identify and assist trafficking victims due to their frontline access and trusted roles within the community. By offering these programs, ISMS aims to raise awareness and offer resources to professionals who may come across survivors in their care. January 11 is recognized as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and the month as a whole is dedicated to increasing awareness of trafficking, which affects millions globally. According to a 2017 survey of 127 human trafficking survivors, 69% reported having accessed health care services at some point during their exploitation. Of those, 85% sought treatment for injuries or illnesses related to their trafficking. Despite this, only 6% of health care workers reported having treated someone who was a victim of trafficking. The two no-cost, on-demand programs, available 24/7, offer continuing medical education (CME) credits and are designed to help health care professionals recognize signs of trafficking, improve their response, and ensure proper support for survivors. Human Trafficking: Identification and Response in a Healthcare Setting Presented by Anna Pastor, coordinator, Cook Co. Human Trafficking Task Force Human Trafficking: Practical Approaches and Resources in a Healthcare Setting Presented by Traci Kurtzer, M.D., medical director for trauma informed care and education, Northwestern Medicine The programs are free to all health care professionals and the public.
###
Click Image to Find the IPA Disaster Checklist!