The case of Marty Dwyer, a gay man who was discharged from the Air National Guard under questionable circumstances, was first reported in Illinois Times' April 13 cover story. Other media outlets later picked it up, and Gov. Rod Blagojevich last week told the Associated Press that he had asked the state attorney general to investigate Dwyer's discharge. However, the attorney general's office denied receiving the request. Dwyer told the AP, "I think the governor’s office is paying lip service to me."

Continue ReadingIllinois Times Story May Prompt Investigation Into Discharge — Or Not

Ten aspiring journalists have been chosen to attend the seventh annual AAJ summer residency program at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. This year's class includes a former staff writer for Tampa's Weekly Planet and several other young writers who have experience freelancing for AAN papers. The ten fellows were selected from 420 applicants for the eight-week program, which is designed to train minority journalists in the fundamentals of long-form journalism.

Continue Reading2006 Academy for Alternative Journalism Fellows Named