Blogs might be all the rage now, but I want to praise something more old-fashioned: news roundups from mailing lists that cover a particular topic. When done right, they can be really useful for reporters on a beat. Each day (or week, depending on the frequency), you get a roundup of headlines from a variety of publications on that topic. It an excellent way to battle info overload.
For example, I help run the mailing lists of SAJA, the South Asian Journalists Association. Thousands of journalists, academics, and other South Asia watchers get roundups of articles in the U.S. press about the region and South Asians in America. More on the lists (including info on signing up) here.
Here’s another mailing list that should be of interest to people in every U.S. newsroom. It’s called “Immigration News,” and every weekday, you get headlines, a summary, and links to stories about different aspects of immigration from various sources. It’s run by César A. Orantes, on behalf of GUATENET, the nonprofit federation of Guatemalan Americans and friends of Guatemala in the United States and Guatemala Unity Information Agency Inc, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that works with immigrants.
Excerpts from last Friday’s mailing:
Plan for border merger draws fireYou can sign up for the mailing list by sending a blank message to GUATENET-subscribe@topica.com. To contact Orantes, who’s a good source on immigration matters himself, e-mail orantesc@cox.net.
United Press International, September 26, 2003
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/
9/25/215048.shtml
WASHINGTON (UPI) — Plans by the new Department of Homeland Security to merge customs and immigration inspection at air and sea ports are provoking a growing chorus of criticism from unions and advocates of tougher immigration policy.
Group seeks to ban California license as ID
Argues illegal aliens could use them to board passenger planes
By Jon Dougherty
WorldNetDaily, September 26, 2003
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34787
Immigration-reform advocates are calling on the Department of Homeland Security to ban the use of California driver’s licenses as identification for boarding passenger planes, now that illegal aliens can obtain them.
Repatriation program ends Sunday
By Brittney Booth
The Brownsville (Texas) Herald, September 24, 2003
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/ts_comments.php?id=53561_0_10_0_C
BROWNSVILLE — The last airplane transporting Mexican nationals detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Arizona is scheduled to arrive in Harlingen on Sunday, signaling the end of the month-long controversial repatriation pilot program.
Immigrant bill likely issue in ’04 vote
By Robert Gutsche Jr.
Newsday, September 26, 2003
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation
/ny-woangl263469836sep26.story
WASHINGTON — Sponsors of a bill to make some of America’s 7 million undocumented immigrants legal residents, though pessimistic it will pass, will use it to make immigration reform an issue in next year’s presidential election.
Your turn: Know of a useful mailing list that provides a round-up of stories by beat/topic? E-mail me at poynter@sree.net (please include your name and affiliation).
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