Our freelancing newsroom, a CPS data breach and a stock market crash
plus, what to know about the “Sueños” festival
Welcome back to ‘In the Loop’! It’s your newsletter team Lauren, Claire, Ellie, Mason, Estella, Jana, Jenna, Annabelle and Noel. We’ve got a good one for you today.
To start, we have five takeaways from our public newsroom on freelance journalism and information on the ‘Behind Enemy Lines’ protest at DePaul last week. Next, we have information on the 95th Street development project, the arrest of a pro-Palestinian activist and Saudi Arabia’s role in Ukrainian peace talks. To wrap up, we have information on the “Sueños” music festival and Bong Joon-ho’s new movie “Mickey 17” starting Robert Pattinson
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With that, let’s get into it!
5 takeaways from our public newsroom on freelancing
By Claire Rooney
Finding a job can be hard in this market, so many journalists are turning to freelancing to make ends meet. Two freelance writers, Megy Karydes and Debbie Carlson, visited the 14 East Newsroom this Thursday for a discussion about their line of work. The talk lasted for over an hour and was informative for a room full of early career journalists. Here are five takeaways from their visit:
When pitching to publications, have some stuff already prepared.
Carlson spoke about having pre-reporting done by the time you pitch a story to a publisher. Some sources should be scheduled and preliminary research should be completed before sending out that email to editors. She also mentioned being particular about which stories are pitched to which publications. Tailor stories to fit that newsroom’s audience in order to have a better chance at getting an assignment.
Find your network and don’t be afraid to rely on them.
Both speakers emphasized the importance of finding fellow journalists and editors that you know you can rely on. Everyone in your reporting classes (yes, even your professor) is a part of your web of connections. Keeping in touch with them and building relationships is key to finding jobs and having success when pitching.
You have to be disciplined in order to succeed in this field.
Because freelancers are their own boss, the weight of time management is put on their shoulders. Balancing publishing schedules and interview requests on top of constantly trying to find new work can get very chaotic very fast, so having a set regimen for yourself is important. For example, Carlson gets up early to get ready and get exercise in, and then sits at her desk and writes for the morning. After lunch, she knows she loses focus, so she schedules interviews and research time during the afternoon to be more productive. Being familiar with your work ethic and internal clock can help you better balance your time.
Make sure you carefully read contracts before signing and accepting the assignment.
When publications contract you to write stories, they will always protect themselves legally. They will often place liability onto freelancers and take away some of your rights as a writer. Some guilds and organizations offer free contract review as a part of membership fees which is immensely helpful when dealing with complex legal documents. Some red flags that Carlson and Karydes raised are “work for hire” clauses, indemnification clauses and liability agreements. According to Cornell Law, work for hire means that the piece of copyrighted material belongs to the third party that contracted the work rather than the writer. Indemnification clauses refers to which party is blameless for any potential damages that occur due to the contracted work. Bottom line: make sure you understand everything before signing a contract to write a story.
Student publications are professional publications.
When editors expect clips, student publications are perfect examples of your work. If you send in examples of quality journalism that you did for a student paper, that is more than enough to show to an editor that you’re able to receive and respond to edits and meet deadlines. Both visitors emphasized the point that a byline is a byline and as long as the news source is reputable, it’s an important part of your pitch.
DePaul News
By Ellie Shelton
‘Behind Enemy Lines’ protests outside DePaul Quad — A pro-Palestine organization not affiliated with DePaul protested outside of DePaul’s campus this past Thursday. The protest started small with 11 people gathered on Fullerton Ave. and grew to around 30 participants. Protestors chanted against DePaul’s recent revised demonstration guidelines and the ban on ‘Behind Enemy Lines’ by the university. Stay tuned for Gia Clarke’s piece on fourteeneastmag.com.
DePaul hosts Illinois Lieutenant Governor for dialogue on community — Ill. Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton joined the DePaul community for the second gathering of the President’s Dialogue Series on February 27. The conversation primarily surrounded the importance of community in the ever changing state of academia. Following the panel, small group discussions were held to explore strategies for fostering belonging at DePaul — information that will be used to help further advise university leadership. Stratton is also a DePaul alumna. DePaul Newsline has more.
DePaul professor leads study on Megalodon — DePaul paleobiology professor, Kenshu Shimada, led a study revolving around the size of the infamous Megalodon shark with 28 experts around the globe. The team examined as many living and fossil shark groups as possible, a new approach to estimating the size of the prehistoric shark. The study concluded that the Megalodon was up to 80 feet in length and was significantly more slender than a Great White shark. DePaul Newsline has more.
Chicago Headlines
By Mason McKee
Driver calls for safety measures after concrete chunk falls onto car — A woman is asking for repairs to a viaduct or safety netting to be put in place after chunks of concrete fell from a viaduct overhead onto her car. The driver, Amanda Massih, was waiting under the viaduct located near Lawrence Ave. and Avondale Ave. when a passing train caused the chunks to fall on her sunroof on February 20. “If it hit the sunroof of my car, it could have hit me directly,” Massih told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It could kill someone if they were walking under it.” The viaduct shows visible signs of deterioration with sections of concrete missing from support columns. The owner of the viaduct, Union Pacific, sent an inspector to the viaduct on February 24 for an examination and found that the viaduct was “safe and structurally sound,” according to a company spokesperson. “We understand the bridges may not look good visually, but that was taken into account in the evaluation,” the spokesperson said to the Sun-Times. For more information, you can find the article by Emmanuel Camarillo at Chicago Sun-Times.
Data breach exposes information of 700,000 CPS students — Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and law enforcement are investigating a data breach that has exposed the personal information of current and former students. The breach happened because Cleo, a software used by the school district for file transfers, was the subject of a cyber-attack late last year which resulted in student information being posted to the dark web, CPS said in a statement on their website. The breach affected 700,000 students dating as far back as the 2017-18 school year. The names of students, their dates of birth, gender and CPS student ID numbers were exposed. Those enrolled in Medicaid had their Medicaid ID numbers and dates of eligibility accessed. No social security numbers, health or financial information was exposed, CPS said. “At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that any student data has been misused. No staff information was involved in this incident,” CPS said to the Chicago Sun-Times. For more information you can find the article by Sun-Times Wire at Chicago Sun-Times.
Anthony Quezada gets backing of 35th ward group to be next Logan Square Alderperson — The 8th District Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada is leading as next alderman of the 35th Ward after endorsement by United Neighbors group. In a community meeting held Sunday, Quezada received 82% of 145 ballots cast during the meeting at the Hairpin Arts Center on N. Milwaukee Ave., said United Neighbors leaders. Outgoing Ald. Carlos Ramirez, who will lead the Park District next month, did not vote but endorsed Quezada to Mayor Brandon Johnson. During his time as Cook County commissioner, Quezada worked to pass policies to expand worker’s rights, reform the use of electronic monitoring, improved health care access and more. He has also been a vocal supporter of the community’s defense committee to protect immigrant families from deportation. After his announcement, a 2014 tweet resurfaced where he used a racial slur when he was in high school, causing alarm among some of the council’s Black Caucus members. Quezada has since apologized, saying that it “does not reflect my values or character,” and said he is meeting with caucus members about it. For more information, you can find the article by Ariel Parrella-Aureli at Block Club Chicago.
95th Street development plan adopted, will complement Red Line Extension — A plan which aims to complement major transit projects like the Red Line Extension with buildings and amenities has passed the Plan Commission, city officials announced. The corridor plan “envisions development that enhances access to jobs, housing, and services near high-frequency transit” on 95th Street between Halsted Street and Cottage Grove Ave., planning department commissioner Ciere Boatright said to Block Club Chicago. The plan will guide the redevelopment of four sites along 95th Street, State Street and at Union Ave., Wentworth Ave., and Lafayette Ave. The currently planned projects include mixed-use buildings with multiple stories for apartments at 95th and State, four single-family “live work” units with two- or three-bedroom townhomes at 95th and Union. There will also be a three-story mixed-use building with up to 25 affordable apartments with a community center on the ground floor at 95th and Yale, and a mixed-used, several-story building with ground-floor retail space at 95th and Lafayette. There are also plans for traffic calming measures, an expansion of the local bike network and pedestrian refuge areas. For more information, you can find the article by Maxwell Evans at Block Club Chicago.
National Headlines
By Estella Gabor
Stock market plunges amid recession fears — Wall Street has experienced a significant sell-off today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeting over 2%, the S&P 500 dropping 2.7% and the Nasdaq shedding 4%. Tesla’s shares have taken a notable hit, plunging 15%, which is a 50% decline from its all-time high in December. This market turmoil has been attributed to the escalating fears of another recession and the ongoing trade wars due to President Donald Trump’s tariff policies on Canada, Mexico and China. Danielle Kaye, Eshe Nelson and Joe Rennison of the New York Times have more.
ACLU condemns arrest of pro-Palestinian activist — The arrest of Mahmoud Kalil, a prominent pro-Palestinian activist, by immigration authorities has faced severe backlash from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The ACLU denounces Khalil’s arrest and has claimed it as a blatant attempt to intimidate and suppress free speech, especially in light of Trump’s recent executive order targeting supporters of Hamas. The arrest has ignited national debates over civil liberties and the boundaries of governmental authority when it comes to national security. The ACLU has more.
Severe weather threatens millions across the Midwest and Southeast — Meteorologists are sounding the alarm as a storm system is set to unleash severe weather across the Midwest and Southeast this week. Forecasters are predicting damaging winds, large hail and potential tornadoes on Wednesday, particularly for Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. The Storm Prediction Center is urging residents of these states to stay prepared. This comes after last week’s deadly storms, and amplifying concerns about the upcoming weather outbreak. Mary Gilbert, Taylor Ward, Artemis Moshtaghian and Phil Gast of CNN have more.
Republicans successfully sway Musk — Through persistent communication, including text messages and face-to-face meetings, Republican leaders have successfully influenced Elon Musk’s political stance and policy decisions. Their direct contact with Musk has led to key shifts in his approach to government regulations and corporate policies. Meanwhile, Democratic efforts to persuade Musk have fallen flat, with attempts at engagement meeting resistance or dead ends. This shows the GOP’s growing influence over Musk, and how the Democrats are struggling to break through and make their case. CNN's Annie Grayer has more.
Los Angeles County District Attorney opposes resentencing for Menendez brothers — Lyle and Erik Menedez, convicted of killing their parents in 1989, are facing major legal setbacks as Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman opposed their resentencing request. Hochman argues that the brothers fabricated their self-defense claims and have failed to take full responsibility for their murders. This stance reverses the approach of former DA George Gascon, who supported their resentences based on evidence of abuse. There will be a hearing later this month. CNN’s Elizabeth Wolfe has more.
International Headlines
By Jana Simovic
Saudi Arabia’s role in Ukraine peace talks — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Riyadh on Monday to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) in preparation of a round of negotiations with the U.S. beginning on March 11 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, will meet with Ukrainian counterparts and Prince MBS. Peace talks are expected to be “less frigid” as Saudi Arabia’s role in relations between Washington and Moscow in February proved to be restorative. To learn more about why Saudi Arabia makes sense for these upcoming peace talks, Radio Free Europe’s Nathan Hodge has more here.
Israel’s halt of aid takes toll on Palestinians — Since Israel suspended goods entering Gaza earlier last week — targeting food, medicine and fuel imports — Palestinians have seen store closures and price increases. As most of Gaza’s 2.3 million population are dependent on aid, concerns with water and power supply continue to rise as questions remain unanswered. To read more about the development of this story, check out Reuter’s coverage here.
Guatemalan volcano erupts, forces evacuations — One of the most active volcanoes in Central America started erupting earlier today, prompting evacuations for nearly 300 families and placing a warning for another 30,000 people that may be at risk in the area. The Volcano of Fire last erupted in June of 2023, while during a 2018 eruption killed 194 people and left 234 missing. Being 33 miles (53 kilometers) from the country’s capital, residents spoke to the Associated Press about safety concerns due to evacuations. To read more, check out the AP’s coverage here.
China’s AI boom — In China, artificial intelligence has seen a rapid rise in development. While AI courses in schools are on a rise and more Chinese companies are developing software, the West’s concerns with data gathering continue to rise. The BBC’s China correspondent, Laura Bicker, has more here.
Discoveries from the newly unearthed Pharaoh's tomb — Anyone that might have had a slight obsession with Egyptology would have seen the recent news of the newly unearthed King Thutmose II tomb and approached it with uncontainable excitement. Artnet news has more details on some of the exciting artifacts found in the tomb here as well as the long history of the discovery.
14 East Pueblo: Sueños is coming in May. Here’s what you need to know:
By Annabelle Rivera
After getting cut short due to weather last year, Latin music festival Sueños is back on for May 24-25 in Grant Park. Festival organizers met last Tuesday to unveil the new layout and timelines for this year’s festivities.
The fest is headlined by Shakira and Peso Pluma for the first day and Don Omar and Grupo Frontera for the last day. It’ll also feature performances by artists like El Alfa, Arcangel and Wisin.
This year’s iteration will be even bigger than before. Last summer, Park District officials approved Sueños to have an extra day and even more space in its Grant Park location.
Tuesday’s meeting revealed the festivities will extend “from Ida B. Wells Drive to East Roosevelt Road (north to south), and DuSable Lake Shore Drive to Columbus Drive (east to west),” according to Block Club Chicago. The entirety of the fountain and Ida B. Wells Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive will be encompassed.
The festival has steadily become a Chicago highlight within the past couple of years. In 2023, around 80,000 people attended. Last year, tickets sold out within five days. This year’s new layout allows for 65,000 attendees per day and a second stage will be added on the park’s north end.
Passes are still available on the Sueños website, with one-day options starting at $199 and two-day options starting at $360.
Hey, Check This Out!
With Featured Columnist Jenna Muehleck
Bong Joon-ho’s long-awaited return to cinema is finally here, and it’s everything I’ve been waiting for and more.
Following the huge success of his 2019 film, “Parasite,” Bong took several years to carefully craft his reunion with the silver screen through the multi-genre space comedy, “Mickey 17.” Robert Pattinson plays the titular Mickey, a man who joins a space colony as an “expendable,” a disposable body contracted to be cloned after death for research purposes.
Those familiar with Pattinson’s previous works know just how charmingly quirky he can be on screen, and this role is no exception because Pattinson plays 18 different versions of himself. To really seal the deal of his range in capability, Pattinson even plays two different versions of himself on screen at the same time.
It’s exciting to see Pattinson’s versatility as an actor in a Bong film rich with extensive world-building and strong direction. His performance perfectly complements Bong’s filmmaking style, which is known to skirt the line of absurdity and realism by showcasing his talent for voice work and physical comedy.
The cast of space colony residents also features Naomi Ackie as Nasha, Mickey’s girlfriend, Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette as the expedition’s leaders and Steven Yeun as Mickey’s Earth friend, Timo, who joined him on the expedition.
Bong stays true to his roots of depicting capitalism and social issues through the humorous lens of a space colony’s plan to populate a hospitable planet under the watchful eye of Ruffalo’s character’s fascist regime.
Where this film differs from Bong’s previous works is the very sweet romantic relationship between Mickey and Nasha that is central to Mickey’s drive as a character. While “Mickey 17” is similar to Bong’s previous works regarding its class commentary, dark comedy and slapstick humor, its romantic moments make this most recent addition to the Bong collection a real standout.
“Mickey 17” is currently in theaters, so watch it on the big screen while you can.
Resources
Need resources regarding cooling centers, rental assistance, immigrant rights, 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