About Public Insight Journalism Public Insight Network FAQ | Public Insight Network FAQ |
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Click here for "About Public Insight Journalism" What is Public Insight Journalism? Public Insight Journalism is a new way for KETC and St. Louis Beacon journalists to find the best sources and the best information. The centerpiece of Public Insight Journalism is the Public Insight Network - a group of people in the St. Louis area and beyond who have agreed to help us cover the news. Every week, we ask people in that network to share their observations, knowledge and expertise with us. We take that information, distill it, and pass it on to our reporters and editors. They may follow up with a request for more information, or perhaps an interview. We believe that this new approach to journalism will make KETC and the St. Louis Beacon an even more trusted and credible source of news and information. How is this different from how KETC and the Beacon's newsrooms worked in the past? Our journalists are always trying to find the best sources and the best information to tell their stories. But there are few of us, and so many people who have good information and insight that they have acquired through their jobs, hobbies, contacts, friendships or life experiences. Until recently, we have lacked the ability to ask many people to share what they know with us on any given story. Now, e-mail and the Internet have enabled us to quickly and efficiently communicate with hundreds, even thousands of people, within minutes. Those same technologies also enable us to keep track of information in a central database that we can build into a powerful storehouse of intelligence. How will KETC and the Beacon use the information I give them? First, we will use the knowledge, observations and expertise people provide to inform our news coverage. A newsroom analyst will take the information, connect it with other relevant intelligence and pass it on to the appropriate reporters and editors. We will not share any personal information we received outside of the newsroom. We will never quote anyone on the air or online without first getting their permission. Reporters and editors will then decide what information they deem relevant or important. If the information you provide interests them, they will follow up with an e-mail or a phone call. How do I share what I know with you? You can contact us anytime by sending an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Also, keep an eye out for e-mails (or phone calls if you don't have e-mail) asking for you to share your knowledge and expertise with us. Respond only to those that are relevant, ignore the rest. We also welcome your story ideas. But, understand that we cannot cover every story that you suggest. In some cases, your idea may be a good one, but the newsroom may have other priorities. Our standard for what is or is not a news story is not etched in stone. We apply a number of tests to story ideas. These tests may be more or less stringent depending on the availability of newsroom resources. In general, we look for stories about events, issues and trends that either directly or indirectly affect many people in the St. Louis region. What will you do with the information I give you? The information you give us helps us ask you questions about topics relevant to your knowledge and expertise. We will never, under any circumstance, sell or share your personal information outside the newsroom. We take your privacy extremely seriously. We want you and others to feel comfortable sharing important information with us. 
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Recent PIN Queries
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What are you doing this summer?
For high school students, jobs may be scarce this summer as communities tighten their parks and recreation budgets. College students, however, may fair better when seeking internships as business begin to see a glimmer of economic recovery. Some businesses are hoping to hire young people, while others are going to try to make due with their current staff.
Meanwhile, parents are beginning to ponder ways to keep the kids happy without breaking the family budget. Whether you are a student, recent graduate, or grownup, please click on this link and tell us: What are you doing this summert? -
What's your take on undocumented workers in Missouri?
Missouri law prohibits an employer from "knowingly" employing an unauthorized immigrant to perform work within the state.
This issue is gaining attention after 14 undocumented workers were arrested in February in Farmington, a small town in Southeast Missouri. The men had been hired to help build a new hotel. The local sheriff said he hoped the arrests would help restore jobs to legal citizens in St. Francois County, where the unemployment rate is more than 11 percent. The Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, however, told the Sheriff that the case was not a priority and he had no authority to hold the men in jail.Attorney General Chris Koster announced that he is launching an investigation into the situation and will report back to the General Assembly and the state at large.
The St. Louis Beacon and KETC/Channel 9 want to learn what you know about undocumented workers. Please click on this link to share: What's your take on undocumented workers in Missouri? -
What do you want from a Web site?
KETC/Channel 9 is planning to add a new Web site as part of an upcoming special project. The station will be exploring the people of different cultures that call Missouri home. In order to share information with the community, KETC will be designing a Web site that will explore the unique traditions of a diverse population. KETC and the Beacon want to learn from you about how to make this site engaging and useful. Please tell us: What do you want from a Web site?
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How healthy is health-care reform?
The debate over health care reform rages on in Congress. President Obama has said that Republican and Democratic leaders agree that the rising cost of health care is a serious problem for families, small businesses, and the federal budget. But the agreements stop there.
We at the St. Louis Beacon and KETC/Channel 9 want to learn from you about your experience with health-care coverage and what you want your political leaders to do about it. Please click on this link and tell us: What's the cure for ailing health-care coverage? -
What is your connection with Chile?
Reports in the aftermath of the massive earthquake that struck Chile indicates that the temblor is one of the most powerful on record, unleashing about 500 times the energy of the quake the struck Haiti in January. Hundreds are dead and the damage is widespread.
We at the St. Louis Beacon and KETC/Channel 9 want to learn about your connection with Chile. Do you have family or friends from there? Are you planning to go there and lend a hand? Do you work with a relief or faith-based organization that is planning to help? Please share your insights on Chile. -
What is Metro worth to you?
On April 6, St. Louis County voters will have the chance to decide whether they want to approve a sales tax increase to support the Metro transit system. Voters rejected a similar request in November 2008. Metro responded by cutting service in March 2009; the agency restored about half of those cuts after it received a one-time, $12 million boost from the state of Missouri plus about $6 million in federal grants. Some areas remain without service, and many routes are reported to be overcrowded.
The St. Louis Beacon and KETC/ Channel 9 want to learn what you know about Metro. Have you had find new ways to get to work? Have your workers had problems reaching their jobs? What are your experiences and observations about how Metro spends taxpayer money? Please tell us: What is Metro worth to you?
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Barroom Conversations
The St. Louis Beacon sponsors weekly conversations on race, related to the publication's year-long special coverage of issues and situations related to race in the St. Louis region. The lightly-moderated discussions begin with a specific topic, but like all good conversations, veer off in different and rewarding directions. The general topic now is "Finding Common Ground." The Barroom Conversations begin at 7:30 p.m. every Monday in the Half-Pint Room, to the left of the lobby at the Schlafly Brewery and Taproom at 22nd and Locust. Everyone is welcome.
Join the folks who have already found the Beacon on Facebook, the social networking site. See the most popular stories of the day, photos, videos and upcoming events. Visit the St. Louis Beacon page on Facebook and become a fan.
Twitter is a "microblogging" service where users can provide short updates about what they are doing. stlbeacon is our official Twitter feed – check it out to find our featured stories and the news that matters.
In St. Louis, race affects virtually every important aspect of community life. Yet it’s difficult to talk productively about race. Race, Frankly invites you to look at race with fresh eyes.
The Missouri History Museum, the Beacon and KETC/Channel 9 have partnered to create a yearlong series of events, in-depth articles and video pieces.
What's this icon? It's the standard icon for RSS.
RSS gives you another option for reading the Beacon, in a way that may be more convenient for you. As explained below, you can use our RSS feed to get alerts about new Beacon content. The Beacon's main RSS feed is here.
For more about RSS, read this quick introduction or watch this video: RSS in simple English.
