Northwestern encampment, FEST headliner, and diversity in the newsroom
Plus, a new podcast to add to your que
Welcome back to ‘In the Loop’! We’ve got a good one for you today. It’s your newsletter team — Alexandra, Hailey, Kiki, Isabella, Sam, Emily, Noël and Ella — back with a Monday night newsletter to start off your week!
First, DePaul’s Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence held their Annual Awards Conference last Thursday; honoring John Quiñones with the Distinguished Journalist Award, Rachel Hinton with the Distinguished Alumna Award and Marty Wilke with the Distinguished Mentor Award. For the feature tonight, 14 East Editor-in-Chief Hailey Bosek sat down with Quiñones and Hinton who offered their perspective on the importance of diversity in today’s newsrooms.
In other Chicago news, in efforts to pressure Northwestern University to divest from companies and cut ties with institutions connected to Israel, about 50 students set up tents on Deering Meadow Thursday morning and the students intend to remain on Deering Meadow until the university agrees to the demands laid out in a People’s Resolution. Also, DePaul just announced FEST’s 39th annual headliner, Swae Lee, who student’s can expect to see performing on the Quad Friday, May 17. Get your tickets now!
Tonight’s newsletter is sponsored by DePaul’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
If you want to show support for 14 East and ‘In the Loop,’ we invite you to donate directly to our newsroom. Whether it’s a one-time contribution or a monthly gift, every cent helps us build a newsroom that serves you, our readers, and we get 100% of your donation.
With that, let’s get into tonight’s news!
CJIE Awardees John Quiñones and Rachel Hinton on Diversity in the Newsroom
By Hailey Bosek
On Thursday, DePaul’s Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence held their Annual Awards Conference honoring John Quiñones, Marty Wilke and Rachel Hinton.
ABC’s veteran journalist Quiñones and Block Club Chicago investigative journalist Hinton sat down with 14 East to give their perspective on the importance of diversity in today's newsrooms. Both said they believe reporting on diverse communities is an essential part of being a journalist and that in order to work towards creating a more informed public, it is important to understand where people come from.
Quiñones said he doesn’t mind that a large part of his identity is being a journalist, since all he ever wanted to do was be on broadcast television. Even when his teachers and counselors pointed him to construction or woodwork, thinking that his Mexican heritage had made a predetermined destiny for his life, he knew he wanted to be behind the camera.
He knew when he was young as he knelt next to his father picking tomatoes in an endless field.
“Do you want to do this work for the rest of your life mijo? Or do you want a college education?” said Quiñones during his speech accepting the Distinguished Journalist Award.
Quiñones, born to two Mexican immigrant parents, did just that and went on to win countless awards over his 40-year career as a journalist. This includes investigative work about immigration that had him floating down the Rio Grande in an intertube, or his years as the host on ABC’s “What Would You Do”, where he uncovered the true actions of people in the face of injustice, when they think no one is looking.
The trajectory of his career has uncovered injustices in different corners of the world where he utilized his unique background to become one of the most successful Latinx journalists in the country. He believes now, more than ever, diversity in newsrooms is crucial to represent an ever changing world.
“Marginalized voices are becoming more of a majority in this country, the very face of America is changing,” Quiñones said. He believes that it is the diverse backgrounds of marginalized voices that are uniquely equipped to do something about injustice. But it wasn’t easy and he had to fight for the hope that one day, Latinx reporters would no longer have to.
“Even at ABC, there were ups and downs for me. There were times when I thought my contract wouldn't get renewed because I was no longer covering Latin America, or nobody cared about Latin America,” Quiñones said. “And I kept going and speaking to people higher up in management saying, ‘Look, I've risked [my] life for this network. You gotta listen to me’.”
It was scary, and he had to deal with all the imposter syndrome that came with being one of the sole minority voices in news. While the tides are beginning to shift for diversity in newsrooms, journalists still do not represent the racial makeup of America, with most recent data from the 2018 American Society of News Editors, showing that newsrooms are still overwhelmingly white.
“Our newsrooms continue to look white, or white male and potentially wealthy, because journalism isn't an industry where you make a whole lot of money,” said Hinton.
However, unique worldviews like Hinton’s, have been essential to her work in uncovering injustice and bringing attention to important issues. Hinton got her start as the Editor-in-Chief of The Paw Print, Plainfield South High Schools newspaper. She sharpened her skills at DePaul University where she eventually became the managing editor of The DePaulia.
She would go on to work for The Illinois Answers Project, and become the Chief Political Reporter at The Chicago Sun-Times. As a Black woman in journalism, she understands the weight of her possession, and believes it is voices like hers that can shed light on important issues and give others a platform.
“You can't leave your identity at home. I don't have that luxury, that privilege, really. And I think that I really do bring that into every room, and probably every story that I write,” Hinton said.
Hinton’s distinct background has allowed her to report on some of the hidden injustices of the world. Homelessness crisis, sexual assault, race and racism are all topics she has been able to report and write about. These stories have helped her win two ACP awards as well as The Peter Lisagor Award in a team investigative piece for the Illinois Answers project about unveiling failures in the state’s foster care system.
Hinton feels it is up to newsrooms, and other marginalized journalists to help uplift others into their same positions.
“I want to make sure that I'm not just in the room, I want to make sure that the room remains open to people who look like me,” Hinton said.
In recent years, as more universities and corporate offices are closing DEI programs, Hinton believes that journalism programs might have an even harder time uplifting the voices that need to be heard.
“There's already a problem with people, everybody chasing the same story, everybody's chasing the same story, the same shooting and everybody giving the same perspective on it,” Hinton said. “But I think without diversity, especially at the top, but also in the ranks of reporters, you miss out on other perspectives and other angles that can better inform readers.”
Quiñones explained it was his perspective as one of the sole Spanish-speaking reporters on the network at the time that allowed him to highlight more Latinx voices.
“That's the greatest profession, to be able to do some good and then sometimes have a little fun with it,” Quiñones said.
DePaul News
By Kiki Dyball
Swae Lee headlines FEST
In case you missed the announcement, the FEST 2024 headliner has now been announced! Students can expect to see Swae Lee in the Quad at the Lincoln Park campus on Friday, May 17. It is FEST’s 39th year at DePaul and tickets are now on sale for $10 for students and $20 for an optional guest ticket. Students should bring their DePaul student ID and event ticket (found on My Events page on DeHub). If you would like to celebrate the end of the academic year at FEST, click here to purchase your ticket.
Vincentian Service Day
DePaul’s Division of Mission and Ministry invites all students, staff, faculty and alumni to participate in Vincentian Service Day on Saturday, May 4. This DePaul tradition started in 1988 and enables the DePaul community to contribute meaningfully within the Chicagoland area. Blue Demons will start their morning by coming together on the Lincoln Park Campus Quad before heading to their assigned non-profit service sites, like food pantries and animal shelters. After service, volunteers will return to the Quad for a barbecue lunch. More information here.
DePaul Pop Culture Conference
Happy Star Wars Day! The DePaul Pop Culture Conference is bringing fans and scholars together on May 4 for A Celebration of Star Wars. The conference will integrate both fandom and academia through activities, panels and keynote speakers and vendors. This is the first year the conference will be hybrid, allowing participants to attend in person in the Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley building on DePaul’s Loop Campus or available to join virtually on Zoom.
Inspired Crowdfunding
The Spring cohort for InspireDePaul, a crowdfunding platform for students, faculty and staff, is now underway. InspireDePaul is an organization that executes fundraising for academic and clinical success through educational conferences, books and necessary background testing for fieldwork. This Spring's cohort includes more than 20 active campaigns raising funds for student groups, club sports and scholarships. Participants receive guidance on engagement, outreach and promotional strategies to operate their own campaigns. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. If you have a project you would like to fundraise, apply here.
Chicago Headlines
By Isabella Salinas
The Chicago Bears picks for the NFL Draft - Last Thursday was the 2024 NFL draft where Chicago kicked it off by taking 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick and proceeded to pick Rome Odunze, securing a new quarterback and wide receiver for the team. The Bears added an offensive lineman in the third round when they took Kiran Amegadjie with the 75th pick on Friday and selected punter Tory Taylor in the fourth at No. 122 on Saturday. During the fifth round, acquiring the 144th pick for a 2025 fourth-rounder, and selected edge rusher Austin Booker. The 2024 draft picks were in the Bears favor as we head into this new era, Andrew Seligman from ABC Chicago has more.
Rat hole removed by the city- Earlier this year a rat-shaped hole in the sidewalk of the 900 block of West Roscoe Street took the city and social media by storm. Wednesday morning city crews removed the slab of concrete with the rat-shaped hole still intact. After getting numerous complaints about the hole city officials determined it would be best to remove the slab, crews have successfully preserved the square of sidewalk containing the famous “Chicago rat hole” and are storing it temporarily while its future location is determined. Leen Yassine from Block Club Chicago has more on the story.
The Northwestern encampment - In efforts to pressure Northwestern to divest from companies and cut ties with institutions connected to Israel, about 50 student activists set up tents on Deering Meadow Thursday morning. The students intend to remain on Deering Meadow until the university agrees to the demands laid out in a People’s Resolution which has more than 2,600 signatures as of Friday evening. The resolution was circulated by NU chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace and Educators for Justice in Palestine and demands that the university protect the civil liberties of pro-Palestine speakers and cut ties with Israeli institutions. The Daily Northwestern staff is updating live on the story here.
Illinois lawmakers expected to propose merging CTA, Metra and Pace - Amid CTA complaints and budget worries Illinois lawmakers are expected to propose a merge between the Chicago area’s public bus and rail systems which would eliminate the CTA, Metra and Pace as separate agencies. This proposal comes from the region’s agencies anticipating the federal COVID-19 relief funding to start running out in the coming years. The legislation also comes from complaints over the Chicago Transit Authority’s struggles to provide frequent, reliable and safe service. Sarah Freishtat from the Chicago Tribune has more.
National Headlines
By Sam Freeman
Almost 300 people arrested on college campuses in protest of the war in Gaza this weekend – Across the country, universities are turning to force to remove Pro-Palestinian protests and encampments. More than 275 people were arrested on Saturday from campuses. On Friday night, campus police at Arizona State University told a group of protestors that their gathering was “unauthorized.” When the group refused to leave, campus police arrested 72 people by Saturday morning for trespassing, according to a university press release. On the campus of Washington University in St. Louis, protests spread out across campus and called for others to join. The group refused to leave, and campus police arrested 80 people, including Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. Those arrested face charges of trespassing and, for some, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer, according to a statement from Washington University. Luke Garrett from NPR has more information.
At least four people are dead after tornadoes hit Nebraska, Oklahoma and Iowa – At least four people were killed and dozens injured by tornadoes that hit the South and Midwest on Friday and into the weekend. Parts of Nebraska, Oklahoma and Iowa are devastated, and recovery efforts are underway. One man and one child died in the storms in Hughes County, Oklahoma, according to the county EMS agency. A truck driver who was passing through the county was also killed, said the Love County Sheriff Andy Cumberledge. Governor Kevin Stitt confirmed that another person died in the town of Sulphur. Stitt declared a state of emergency in a dozen counties Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds declared a disaster emergency on Saturday for Pottawattamie County, where a small town was leveled. Parts of Nebraska also suffered significant damage. Joe Hernandez from NPR has more information.
Harvey Weinstein is hospitalized after returning to New York from an upstate prison – Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the former film producer has been hospitalized for a series of tests after his return to New York City, following a ruling that eliminated his 2020 rape conviction. Last week, the New York Court of Appeals vacated his conviction after concluding that jurors saw and heard too much evidence that was unrelated to the charges he faced. It also eliminated his 23-year prison sentence and commanded a retrial. Weinstein remains in custody after the ruling because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Prosecutors say they intend to retry him on charges of forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and raping an actor in 2013. Weinstein has had a variety of health issues, including cardiac issues, diabetes, sleep apnea and eye problems. Larry Neumeister from the Associated Press has more information.
3-time WNBA champion and 2-time Olympic gold medalist Candace Parker announces retirement – Candace Parker, the 3-time WNBA champion and2-time Olympic gold medalist announced her retirement on social media Sunday. “The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it’s time,” Parker wrote in an Instagram post. “My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it.” Parker, 38, suffered from a foot injury that kept her off the court last season. Over the course of her career, she’s had 10 surgeries. She played her first 13 seasons in the league with the Los Angeles Sparks, where she was a No. 1 pick who won Rookie of the Year and league MVP in the same season. Parker earned her second MVP award in 2013 and first title in 2016 with the Sparks. She later won a second title with the Chicago Sky in 2021 and a third with the Los Vegas Aces. She also won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012. Doug Feinberg from the Associated Press has the story.
14 East Pueblo: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the National Museum of Mexican Art
By Emily Figueroa
Over the years, the U.S. has kept its traditions around Cinco De Mayo, and most celebrations come down to grabbing a few margaritas at happy hour. A better way to embrace Mexican heritage and culture, without visiting a restaurant, is to stop at the National Museum of Mexican Art.
“Arte Diseño Xicágo II: From the World’s Fair to the Present Day'' is the museum’s newest exhibit that runs until August 11. It showcases work by Mexican and Chicago artists split into two themes.
The first highlights artists that were involved in the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. The exposition was the first world’s fair held in Chicago. It was a monumental moment for the city, and its history is commemorated as one of the stars on the Chicago flag. Work in this exhibit will explore national identities and go through the Gilded Age, modernism and industry in America.
The second addition of this exhibit switches over to contemporary work by Mexican artists in Chicago. They focus on Midwest expressions of identity and innovation through a Mexican lens. It’s a combination of creativity that comes from growing up in Chicago with influences from an immigrant community.
Visiting these exhibitions is a great start to learn about Mexican heritage, and what it means for those who fulfill their creative outlet with personal memories. If you plan to visit this weekend, the museum is located at 1852 W 19th St., and admission is always free.
Hey, Check This Out!
With Columnist Noël Bentley
If you're looking to get away from music for a while and indulge in some of the latest gossip, scandal, and predictions, The Read is a great podcast for your queue. The Read is a part of the LoudSpeakers Network and can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud. The podcast is recorded and posted biweekly in New York City and gives listeners an hour of tears and laughs.
The Read is hosted by comedian Kid Fury and a psychiatrist student Crissle West. Both Fury and Crissle are a part of the LGBTQIA+, Black, and immigrant communities. Fury’s mother is from Jamaica and he often talks about their relationship. Crissle is currently working towards a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Their two different backgrounds and killer chemistry mesh to bring interesting perspectives on situations in their lives, news and pop culture topics.
The first episode was released on March 4, 2013 and quickly gained traffic. Since then, they have done a number of in-person shows, the most recent being their 10-year anniversary tour in 2023.
During the episodes, they follow a three-section structure; Black excellence, hot tops, and listener letters. Throughout the episodes, they both talk about the struggles they face in their lives, having to do with mental health and social issues, and how they have overcome said obstacles. Fury and Crissle host this podcast with a funny-vulnerable nature to it, letting listeners know it's okay, not to be okay. Everything they say is opinion, supported by facts that help their story.
Black Excellence highlights significant milestones that Black celebrities have achieved, in their March 7 episode ''Devil in the Details'' they gave a shout-out to Janice Burgess, a Black television screenwriter, best known for creating the television show “The Backyardigans.” Hot Tops centers around gossip about celebrities, often speaking highly of Beyoncè, as they are members of the “BeyHive.” Listener Letters are where the audience comes in and can share situations and questions to AskTheRead@gmail.com, where Fury and Crissle read the submission (anonymously) and offer advice and perspective.
Start your listening journey by listening to their latest episode, “Feeling Bluey.” In this episode, they dive deep into the recent Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud.
Resources
Need resources regarding cooling centers, rental assistance, abortion access, COVID-19 testing and vaccines or mental health? Check out our complete list here.
That’s it for today! See you next Monday.
The 14 East Newsletter Team