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The Student News Site of Elgin Community College

Observer
The Student News Site of Elgin Community College

Observer
The Student News Site of Elgin Community College

Observer
All content by Observer staff
The Courage to Exist in Daylight was written by Tricia Kucinksi.

[Photo] Indie Writer Visits ECC

Daniel Nachampassak, Staff Writer
March 20, 2025
ECC Men's Baseball team

[Photo] ECC defeated Morton College in Doubleheader

Daniel Nachampassak, Staff Writer
May 1, 2024

Eye of the Observer S2E3

Observer Staff
September 25, 2023
Hannah Soukup, an Observer editor from 2022-2023, is a finalist for the Associated Collegiate Press's Pacemaker Award for Reporter of the Year in the two year school category. Soukup and current Observer editor Indie Wilson are finalists for the College Media Association's Pinnacle Award for Column writing in the two year school category. Winners will be announced in late October.

[Photo] Observer named national finalist in 5 categories

Indie Wilson, Managing Editor
September 22, 2023

Eye of the Observer S2S2

Observer staff
September 18, 2023

Eye of the Observer S2E1

Observer staff
September 11, 2023
May 30

May 30

Eye of the Observer episode 8

Observer staff
May 18, 2023
While faith may be disappearing in the United States, 71% of college students identify as having a religious affiliation.

[Photo] Faith in Focus: Exploring Religious Diversity on Campus

May 13, 2023

Eye of the Observer episode 7

Observer staff
May 8, 2023

Eye of the Observer episode 6

Observer staff
May 1, 2023

Eye of the Observer episode 5

Observer staff
April 24, 2023

Eye of the Observer episode 4

Observer staff
April 17, 2023
Members of the Observer staff celebrate after earning three staff awards at the ICCJA conference.

Observer earns multiple honors at state competition

Observer staff
April 15, 2023
Hannah Soukup and Indie Wilson (not pictured) won 3rd place in feature writing at the ICCJA conference on April 14, 2023. Staff members can compete for a variety of writing, photography, multimedia awards in the annual ICCJA competition.

Editor-in-Chief Dom Di Palermo won three 1st place awards for photograph at the ICCJA conference on April 14, 2023. Staff members can compete for a variety of writing, photography, multimedia awards in the annual ICCJA competition.

Eye of the Observer episode 3

Observer staff
April 10, 2023

Eye of the Observer podcast episode 2

Observer staff
April 5, 2023

Eye of the Observer podcast episode 1

Observer staff
April 5, 2023
Our Fall 2022 staff was among the biggest and most friendly, and produced worked that earned several awards.

Several staff members celebrate after winning Best in Show for Digital Newsletter at the Associated Collegiate Press national conference in March 2023.

The Observer will launch its new podcast, Eye of the Observer, in early April. Staff member Vansh Patel, who will serve as a regular host, tests the new podcast equipment in the Observer newsroom.

Observer podcast launches April 2023

Observer staff
March 20, 2023
Follow the Observer @elginobserver on TikTok

Watch our videos on TikTok!

Observer staff
March 14, 2023
Members of the Observer staff celebrate after winning for in the Best in Show digital newsletter category.

Observer wins national honor for newsletter

Observer staff
March 12, 2023
The first place at ACP is believed to be the first time the Observer has won as a staff at any national college media conference.

Members of the 2022-2023 Observer staff were honored in two categories (digital newsletter and website) at the 2023 ACP Spring College National Media Conference on March 11 in San Francisco.

[Photo] Joining the Observer staff

February 1, 2021
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The Observer placed 8th in the Best of Show competition in the two-year school category for news websites. The award was presented at MediaFest 2022 in Washington DC.

When music gets stuck in your read, it is known as involuntary musical imagery, or "earworm."

[Photo] Why do songs get stuck in our heads?

December 9, 2022
Members of the Observer staff celebrate after winning two club awards at the Student Life Leadership banquet on May 12, 2023. The 2022-2023 staff was one the largest in Observer history, ranging from 12-15 members.

20 photos that will make you want to join the Observer

Observer staff
November 22, 2022
Members of the staff badger adviser Nick Obradovich to watch various TikTok videos. The Observer started a TikTok account in 2023, which you can find @elginobserver

Observer staffs (past and present) take their work-- but not themselves-- seriously.

Observer staff has an opportunity to earn recognitions from Student Life for leadership, as editors Luz Silva and Shealeigh Voitl did in 2019, the same year the Observer won a club purpose award.

The Spring 2022 staff poses for a picture at the Student Life leadership banquet, an annual event all clubs get to attend.

Members of the staff record interviews with ECC students as a part of a mental health reporting project. Staff members often choose projects that they are passionate about and are encouraged to think outside the box.

Members of the staff badger adviser Nick Obradovich to watch various TikTok videos. The Observer will be starting to post TikTok videos in the Spring 2023 semester!

The Observer regularly places among the top schools in the state awards judged by the Illinois Community College Journalism Association (ICCJA). The staff travels to ICCJA conferences 1-2 times per academic year.

The Observer participates in the Illinois Community College Journalism Association's (ICCJA) awards competition every year. Winning a state award looks great on a resume! (This photo was from the Spring 2019 conference where the Observer took home 13 staff and individual honors.)

At a recent trip to the Fall 2022 Illinois Community College Journalism Association (ICCJA) conference hosted by Eastern Illinois University, Observer staff members were able to sit in the control room of WEIU-TV during live newscast.

Members of the Observer staff pose in front of the White House during an early evening walk in Washington DC. Staff members quickly develop a sense of comradery.

At MediaFest 2022 (a national collegiate journalism conference), students had a chance to hear from numerous high-profile speakers in media, including NPR'S Juana Summers.

At MediaFest 2022 (a national collegiate journalism conference), students had a chance to hear from numerous high-profile speakers in media, including NPR'S Juana Summers, a successful young broadcast journalist.

screen of Shelby's place

Observer staff often have a chance to travel to state and national conferences and participate in numerous workshops.

Members of the Observer staff grab dinner in Washington DC. The Observer staff (past and present) likes to eat.

Dominic Di Palermo, Observer editor-in-chief, competed in a photo contest at MediaFest 2022, and earned an honor mention from a panel of 44 professional photojournalists.

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Members of the Observer staff attended MediaFest 2022, a national collegiate journalism conference, where they participated in dozens of workshops, listened to guest speakers, and made friends with fellow college students from across the country.

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Dominic Di Palermo teachers a photography lesson to the staff. The Observer is an excellent place to develop leadership skills.

Observer staff member Yesenia De La Torre interviews Gamers United at a recent campus event. Staff members choose stories to report on.

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At at given time, Observer staff members may be working on collaborative or individual projects.

During the 2022-2023 year, the Observer has between 12-14 staff members, the largest group since before the pandemic.

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Staff learning

The Observer's culture is best summed up with a simple statement: "If you're not learning and laughing, you're not trying." If you are interested, join us by registering (for free) under JRN 134-100.

Matt Brady, the 2023-2024 editor-in-chief, shoots photos at a campus event. The Observer is a great place to learn how to shoot pictures using your phone or with a camera.

Dominic Di Palermo, Observer editor-in-chief for 2022-2023, conducts an interview. The Observer is a great place to learn how to interview people and feel more confident.

Observer staff are taught the basics of reporting, including how to interview people, write basic news stories and headlines, among other skills.

The Observer measures how frequently the audience engages with our content platforms (newsletters, website, and social media). This helps drive our news coverage. For those who are more analytical minded, you have an important spot with the Observer!

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voting sticker

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ECC and Observer alum Shelby Anne Taylor earned third place at the Pacemaker awards for Story of the Year in the feature writing category. The award was given at MediaFest 2022 on Oct. 28 in Washington DC.

Observer alum takes 3rd place in nation

Observer staff
November 1, 2022
Members of the Observer staff take a break at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Washington DC at MediaFest 2022.

Observer Editor-in-Chief Dom Di Palermo writes a caption for his photo submission during MediaFest 2022. Di Palermo participated in a photo contest. His photo of a Franciscan monk was voted second place among his peers at the critique session on Oct. 29. A panel of professional photojournalists voted Di Palermo's photo one of the best five photos (out of 32 entries).

ECC and Observer alum Shelby Anne Taylor earned third place at the Pacemaker awards for Story of the Year in the feature writing category. The award was given at MediaFest 2022 on Oct. 28 in Washington DC.

ECC and Observer alum Shelby Anne Taylor earned third place at the Pacemaker awards for Story of the Year in the feature writing category. The award was given at MediaFest 2022 on Oct. 28 in Washington DC.

Members of the Observer staff enjoy dinner in Washington DC at MediaFest 2022.

Members of the Observer staff enjoy dinner in Washington DC at MediaFest 2022.

Members of the Observer staff prepare for a tour of the US Capitol building in Washington DC at MediaFest 2022.

The Observer staff took home 8th place in the Best-in-Show competition for two-year schools in the website division at MediaFest 2022 in Washington DC. Observer Editor-in-Chief Dom Di Palermo (third from left) earned honor mention in a photo contest he participated in during the conference.

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Members of the Observer staff enjoy dinner in Washington DC at MediaFest 2022.

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The property at 600 S. McLean Blvd. was purchased by ECC in 2020. The school is planning to build a new training facility. The Colonial Café, now demolished, closed in 2018.

The property at 600 S. McLean Blvd. was purchased by ECC in 2020. The school is planning to build a new training facility. The Colonial Café, now demolished, closed in 2018.

[Photo] ECC demolishes old Colonial Cafe property

May 20, 2022
Observer wins 6 state awards

Observer wins 6 state awards

Observer staff
April 11, 2022
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Erik Enders is ECC's student life coordinator for student equity. (In this February 2020 photo, Enders is being interviewed for an Observer podcast that was never published due to the pandemic.)

[Photo] A man of TRIUMPH

Ava Pollock, Staff Writer
March 24, 2022
Erik Enders (center) is ECC's student life coordinator for student equity. (In this February 2020 photo, Enders is being interviewed for an Observer podcast that was never published due to the pandemic.)

On Monday, March 28, mask wearing will become optional for most of the ECC campus. Masks will be mandatory at the Vitality testing site in Building K, certain arts and health classrooms, rooms where faculty are immunocompromised, and during meetings in work spaces when requested.

On Monday, March 28, mask wearing will become optional for most of the ECC campus. Masks will be mandatory at the Vitality testing site in Building K, certain arts and health classrooms, rooms where faculty are immunocompromised, and during meetings in work spaces when requested.

[Photo] ECC says goodbye to mandatory masks

March 27, 2022
Masks no longer required at ECC starting on Feb. 28

Masks no longer required at ECC starting on Feb. 28

Observer Staff
February 11, 2022
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