The Great Charlie Wheeler, former director of ⁦UIS Public Affairs Reporting Program⁩ and longtime statehouse reporter, gives rousing speech in support of keeping program strong at 50th anniversary celebration!

What a great day. We celebrated the 50th anniversary of PAR and our newest Hall of Famers at a beautiful ceremony this afternoon at the Union League Club. We continued the PARty tonight at Billy Goat Tavern. Many more photos to come, but for now here’s Charlie Wheeler and Ray Long.

Great to see fellow ⁦UIS Public Affairs Reporting Program⁩ grads Caroline and Anne at the public affairs reporting program’s 50th anniversary celebration over the weekend

We're still thinking about the fun we had celebrating PAR's 50th anniversary. To attract PAR students for the next 50 years, we've launched the PAR Student Journalist Salary Fund to help cover intern living expenses. uis.edu/news/par-celeb…

Journalists and those aspiring to be one: UIS Public Affairs Reporting Program is a singular program that can put you on the path to career success. If you’re at #NABJ Headquarters ✊🏾🖊️🎙️💻 📷 🎥 📝 🔈’s conference, seek out Jason (and if you’re not there, check out the University of Illinois Springfield PAR website or contact an alum. Like me!)

When the PAR HOF was created in 2006 the plan was to display this permanently in the Capitol press room. For whatever reason, the plaque had been MIA for a few years. With help from the Capitol Architect’s office, it’s now back in its rightful place.

.Brenden Moore (PAR ’18) has often advocated it’s OK to put ketchup on a corn dog, despite what encased meat connoisseurs say. Governor JB Pritzker has razzed him about this. At today’s Illinois State Fair ribbon-cutting, the gov made a peace offering - a corn dog with ketchup AND mustard.

We’re here on campus watching tonight’s presidential debate at a gathering hosted by the School of Politics and International Affairs. We’re playing debate bingo!

Thank you to Steve Inskeep for visiting with some of our PAR students to talk about journalism. The Morning Edition host is at #UISedu UIS Student Union tonight to talk about his new Lincoln book. uis.edu/event/22nd-ann…

Thank you for making time for us, Chancellor. This experience helps our students build their skills and confidence as they prepare to question public officials at the Statehouse next semester.

Thank you to Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis for speaking with the PAR class today about the importance of the public understanding the judicial system. Theis and the other justices have are in town hearing oral arguments. 📸 = Chris Bonjean

We've been collecting entries for the PAR Alumni Newsletter for less than three weeks and we've heard from about 11% of you. Not bad! Help us hit our goal of a 78% response rate. bit.ly/PAR24newsletter. Respond by Oct. 31 and we'll enter you in a drawing for a $20 gift card.

.UIS Public Affairs Reporting Program Director Jason Piscia writes about how to be a better news consumer during the #2024Election in a column published by the Illinois Times. He emphasizes avoiding misinformation and seeking out fact-based sources. #UISedu ➡️ Read the Column: bit.ly/4feP4Zf

Congrats to Ben (PAR ’21).

PAR ALUMS: Time is running out to submit your entry for the PAR Alumni Newsletter. Help us make the 50th edition the biggest yet: go.uis.edu/PARnewsletter

JOB ALERT: PAR grad Marc Chase of Lee Enterprises let us know that the Omaha World-Herald is hiring a Nebraska state government reporter: us242.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePorta…

PAR ALUMS: Before you head into the holiday weekend, take a moment to submit your information for the 50th annual PAR Alumni Newsletter. Happy Thanksgiving! go.uis.edu/PARnewsletter

Today is the first-ever UIS Day of Giving. PAR is focusing on our travel fund, which sends our students to educational conferences, including this weekend's FOIA Fest in Chicago. Please help us meet our goal before we head to Chicago on Friday. Donate: bit.ly/PARtravel