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Brady Johnson and Olivia Doak, co-editors-in-chief of the Augustana Observer, are shown in the student newspaper's office.
By CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN For Illinois Press Association
ROCK ISLAND – While the co-editors-in-chief of the Augustana Observer began their education as freshmen with a course in news literacy, this past year has been particularly enlightening.
Senior Brady Johnson and junior Olivia Doak have learned to read laterally, vet sources, and have picked their battles with friends, family and strangers who have spread misinformation.
So it’s troubling to them when veteran journalists, albeit long removed from a college course in news literacy, have failed to debunk misinformation, and even spread it however consciously.
“It can be frustrating when you know all these things, and others don’t, people who’ve been around a lot longer than we have,” said Doak, a double-major in multimedia journalism and mass communication, and communication studies. “We talked about misinformation in class, and it really changed the way I looked at information. It changed the way I was writing and made me aware of any bias in my writing.”
Getting others to be self-critical? That’s far trickier, especially when family members spread misinformation.
Johnson said when he confronts anyone questioning proven facts, he comes prepared with his own research and articles from reputable outlets such as NPR and PBS.
“Hopefully I don’t come across as someone who’s trying to prove them wrong,” Johnson said, adding that he often points out accuracies within others’ viewpoints, as something of an olive branch. “I try to be welcoming and try to find something that they’re saying that’s right.”
Doak said it’s important to be aware that there’s only so much time in a day, and so much energy to confront everyone spreading false information.
And in many cases, you have to pick your battles and weed out the ones that can’t be won.
“Usually people who are sharing those kinds of things aren’t going to listen to you,” she said. “I know some people will just attack me. So I usually just ignore it, but it depends on the person. If I know them well, I’ve sent something before.”
Fighting the good fight as a college newsroom has been particularly challenging during the pandemic. In spring 2020, Augustana College froze funds for student jobs for about a month, and then for some time the Observer was on a rotation during which only a couple of employees were paid at a time.
Historically, the Observer has had about 40 staffers in total. Now it has a bit more than 20, and it’s been an adventure keeping tabs on them since Johnson and Doak became editors-in-chief in the fall. A few staffers have contracted COVID-19, and many have been quarantined when a housemate has gotten sick.
“It’s been super-difficult,” Doak said. “A lot of staff I haven’t met face-to-face, and I wouldn’t probably recognize them if I saw them around campus. So that’s strange.”
Johnson, who said he’s wanted to be a journalist since the seventh grade, when the nightly news and morning shows were always on in his home, said one way he’d like to attack misinformation is through human interest stories.
“Those stories show the best of people, while also addressing big issues,” he said.
Doak echoed her passion for issue-driven features, and admitted that the daily grind of exclusively hard news might not be for her in the long haul.
Both she and Johnson are well aware of the shift toward the gig economy, but Johnson is hopeful he can land a job in a traditional newsroom. In fact, he said he’s looking at opportunities in bigger markets, where many large newspaper groups have cut loose long-tenured employees and their salaries that dwarf those of newcomers.
“I might be more lucky finding a job entering,” he said.
Johnson grew up in Peoria and was an intern at the Journal Star in summer 2018.
“Most of the staff was gone, so I was aware of the landscape,” he said. “I’d like a job that can just keep an apartment.”
But first, he, Doak, and their team have a monumental project to bring home: the Observer’s first magazine, which will center on social justice. They hope to print about 800 copies. After the pandemic forced the Observer to shift from printing weekly to occasionally, to see the magazines in people’s hands as they’re read on campus will be something to behold.
“Oh my gosh, I’ll be so happy,” Doak said. “I prefer having something in front of me. I prefer seeing everything laid out. Last year, whenever I saw somebody reading our issues, I’d get so excited. People don’t take the time to read the news in general. To see them actually sitting down and reading something makes me so happy.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2025 Contact Information: Ride Illinois Dave Simmons, executive director (630) 216-9282 dave@rideillinois.org
Illinois Bike & Walk Summit coming to Springfield
Creating Connected Livable Thriving communities: Illinois Bike & Walk Summit Fosters Learning and Lobbying Among Advocates and Practitioners
Ride Illinois and its partner organizations are pleased to announce the 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit. Three hundred advocates, professionals, and public officials will gather in Springfield (May 7-8, 2025) for an important conference to help shape the future of biking and walking across the state. The conference will take place over two days in Springfield. Day One - May 7 ● A welcome from Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher ● Breakout sessions with topics including: ○ Completing the Great American Rail Trail ○ Developing Low-Stress Bike Networks ○ Bike/walk legislation at the state and federal level: 2025 and beyond ● Keynote Speaker: Tom Flood ○ A bold and visionary advocate who uses striking design and messaging to challenge car-centric culture, and a champion spokesman of safer streets for all. ○ Flood's Presentation Topic: Reframing Road Safety. This presentation will highlight his work and its importance in challenging the narrative around active transportation and road safety.
Day Two - May 8 ● Lobby Day ● Workshops focused on: ○ Advocacy training ○ Trail development ○ Best practices for the planning, design, and incorporation of complete streets into transportation projects. ○ CM and PDH credits available. Dave Simmons, executive director of Ride Illinois, emphasized the new format of lobbying and advocacy: “It’s important that elected officials hear from their constituents. Lobby Day is an opportunity for Illinois residents to voice their concerns related to biking and walking in their community.” The legislative goals of Lobby Day include advocating for bills that will increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher shared, “I am honored to greet attendees to the 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit. I look forward to the summit and also look forward to making Springfield a more bike/walk friendly community.” With a strong foundation built on the educational and empowering sessions of day one, the day of lobbying will bring a buzz to Springfield with the hope of creating safer, more accessible active transportation options for all ages and backgrounds. The end goal being that active transportation becomes a viable and welcoming choice for everyone. Conference Details ● Illinois Bike & Walk Summit to convene in Springfield, May 7-8 with a focus on creating connected, livable, thriving communities. ● Highlights of the event include: ○ Keynote speaker Tom Flood ○ Inaugural lobby day ○ Breakout sessions ○ Workshops ○ Networking opportunities ● The 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit will take place at the Wyndham Springfield City Center, conveniently located in the heart of Illinois’ state capital. ● Registration for the conference starts at the affordable price of $20! ● For more information and to register for this event, visit IllinoisBikeWalkSummit.org.
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