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

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Join our nationally award-winning staff.

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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.

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Members of the 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.

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

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

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

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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.

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

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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.

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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!

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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.

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The Observer participates in the Illinois Community College Journalism Associations (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.)

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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.

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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.

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

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

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

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

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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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break at conference

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

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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.

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Staff learning

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

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Staff photographer Matt Brady 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.

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

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

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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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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.

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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 Palermos photo one of the best five photos (out of 32 entries).

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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.

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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.

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

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

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

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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.

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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.

[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 ECCs 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

March 24, 2022
Erik Enders (center) is ECCs 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.)

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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.

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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
Lori Clark

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Reach your audience!

Observer staff
September 16, 2021
All Illinois residents who are ages 16 and older were eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting April 12.

Are you registered for the COVID-19 vaccine?

Observer staff
April 19, 2021

ECC forensic team student wins national title

Observer staff
April 13, 2021
Observer earned 9 awards at state journalism competition

Observer earned 9 awards at state journalism competition

Observer staff
April 8, 2021
Wagreens

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We want to hear from you about how you are different

Observer staff
February 28, 2021
Members of the 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.

Joining the Observer staff

Observer staff
February 1, 2021
The Observer wins 2nd in state competition

The Observer wins 2nd in state competition

Observer staff
November 30, 2020
Various countries have experimented with Universal Basic Income (UBI).

[Photo] How does the stimulus check compare to Universal Basic Income?

April 22, 2020
Signs warning people to practice social distancing in grocery stores became widespread in mid March.

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Big box retailers including Walmart installed sneeze guards to separate the customers from the cashiers.

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Members of the Fall 2019 Observer staff pose on a sidewalk in Washington DC. The staff attended the ACP/CMA conference.

Observer recognized with 13 awards by ICCJA

Observer staff
April 11, 2020
Signs warning people to practice social distancing in grocery stores became widespread in mid March.

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Some stores, including Walmart, started limiting the number of customers in their building at one time.

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ECC has not held classes on campus since Friday, March 13. Besides a small number of essential staff, no one is allowed on campus.

[Photo] ECC administration plans for potential changes to fall semester

May 19, 2020
ECC has not held classes since Friday, March 13.

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