http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-961606.mp3
Macomb, IL – NPR's Cheryl Corley joins the panelists to talk about her job as a Midwest reporter for the network's national desk. She covers a 12 state region.
Corley said she tries to read papers from all 12 states to come up with story ideas. Her editor also suggests story ideas.
Corley recently helped report a week-long series on the epidemic of youth violence in Chicago. She said violent crime in Chicago decreased last year, but at the same time the number of murders of young people increased. Corley and other reporters came up with the idea for the series.
Corley grew up in the Chicago area and is now based in Chicago for NPR. She worked in central Illinois earlier in her career. Corley is grateful for the time she spent downstate. She said working at a smaller station forced her to do more, which led to her learning more.
Corley was in Macomb as part of Spring Journalism Day at Western Illinois University.