Watching the newscast from a critical perspective made me more aware of the role local television news programs play in our lives. I now see that they give people a brief overview of the day's events on the national and local scenes. Because people in today's society have many demands on their time – work, family, school, leisure pursuits – they need to get their news quickly. They rely on their favorite television news programs to keep them informed. They should be aware, however, that the time constraints of a 30-minute local newscast limit the amount of information it can give its viewers. For more in-depth coverage they should supplement the TV news with other media sources, such as newspapers, magazines, and radio news programs. As long as viewers take the inherent limitations into account while they watch the evening news, it is a quick, easy way to stay informed on daily events and unfolding or ongoing stories in their own and surrounding communities.

The newscast began with a story on the impending appointment of Chicago's next archbishop and a new development in the story – the addition of Francis George, a dark horse candidate, to the list of possible replacements for John Cardinal Bernadin who died five months ago. The new development and the news that the decision would be announced from Rome the next day created a flurry of activity at the Archdiocese of Chicago, where NBC had set up a film crew. The segment included statements from Chicago Catholics who expressed their hopes that the next archbishop would possess some of the same traits as their beloved Cardinal Bernadin and provide similar leadership and guidance to Chicago's faithful. This was the lead story for several reasons. First, Chicago has the second largest Catholic population in the United States and many Catholics have been anxiously awaiting the announcement. Second, John Cardinal Bernadin was loved and respected by so many people – Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Third, Francis George is from Chicago and, surprisingly, no native Chicagoan has ever held the position. Because of these facts, I agree with the decision-makers at NBC that this was the most important story of the day and worthy of garnering the lead spot in the newscast.

The next story began with a picture of a Nigerian native, a worker at a South Side clinic, who has been accused of practicing medicine without a license and charged with criminal sexual assault, impersonating a physician, and forging prescriptions. According to a videotaped statement by the Deputy Attorney General, the discovery was made during a Medicaid fraud investigation by the Illinois Attorney General's office and the state police. The Deputy Attorney General said the sexual assault charge stemmed from a vaginal exam that the accused man performed last winter, and they are interviewing former patients to determine how many more women may have been assaulted. He added that the doctor being impersonated probably knew what was going on and that they were continuing their investigation into possible Medicaid fraud at the clinic. This was a disturbing story, but I suppose it served the purpose of warning people about the need to verify the credentials of the professionals whose services they seek. I think it was placed, inappropriately, in the second spot of the newscast due to the story's sensational nature.

Next was an update on the murder of Juana Nieto, the 7-year-old girl who was killed in Franklin Park while waiting in line for ice-cream, and it began with a picture of the child (which they used twice), whose angelic face in the photo immediately makes the viewer care about her fate. The two men charged with her murder appeared in court that day and were shown being led from a building by police. We were also shown the front of the girl's school, where a flag was being flown at half staff, and we saw the school superintendent commenting that with the loss of the child go any potential contributions she might have made to society. In court, the judge set bond at $3 million for one man and $2 million for the other. This is a newsworthy story because the two men said in court that they were trying to kill a man over membership in a gang when the child was caught in the gunfire. Because this happened in a suburban community, people took notice who might otherwise say, "Oh, there's been another senseless shooting of an innocent child who was in the wrong place at the wrong time." It makes them realize that gang violence is everyone's concern, not just those who live in the city. We were told that one of the accused men was defiant as he stood before the judge, while the other man wept openly; and this is in a strange way comforting – that a gang member who thinks nothing of killing a rival could feel remorse and weep over the death of an innocent child.

The next story began with a picture of a lovely 17-year-old high school student, Christina Copernicus, who drowned while in Cancun with friends during their spring break. She looks so happy in the picture. In a videotaped interview, the principal of the girl's high school explained that Christina had gone to the aid of a young man who was having trouble swimming, but she got caught in the undertow and was drowned while the young man managed to extricate himself from it. We were shown the exterior of the girl's high school while being told that students gathered for a prayer service in Christina's memory and that counselors were on had to help students cope with the tragedy. This was newsworthy because it is such a sad yet inspirational story. On the one hand, we wonder why someone who risked her life to help another would meet such a tragic end; but on the other hand, we are comforted by the knowledge that there are such people in the world.

Next was an update on the Coast Guard's resumed search for two missing boaters – a fisherman and his passenger – who were last seen on Saturday leaving from a harbor in Hammond, Indiana. The search had been interrupted on Sunday due to bad weather conditions. The piece included a shot of the boat slip where they had embarked, along with a videotaped statement from a member of the Coast Guard in which he said, "The lake can change in a matter of minutes and, unfortunately, that's what it did." The men had no marine radio of board, no one knew in which direction they'd headed, and the owner of the boat was reported to have had only two years' experience. This story is newsworthy because it warns people of the dangers of the lake. It just might prevent future deaths if people heed the warnings contained in the piece, such as being fully prepared before setting out on a large body of water.

The next segment was an update on efforts to clean up the aftermath of the windstorms in and around Chicago over the weekend. The storms downed trees and shattered windows. The piece included scenes of city workers hauling away debris. Carol Marin said that, according to a city spokesperson, the debris had been cleared from most of the city streets. This type of story seems like filler, but I guess we are supposed to see that Chicago is "the city that works." Then came a commercial break.

The next story after the break was an update on the medical condition of Lenard Clark, the 13-year-old African-American boy who was beaten up by three Caucasian boys in Bridgeport over two weeks ago. The piece opened with a poignant shot of the boy in his hospital bed, surrounded by stuffed animals from well-wishers, his mother by his side. The Reverend Jesse Jackson was also by Lenard's bedside at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, along with another man, and one shot showed a smiling Reverend Jackson leaning over the boy's bed. We were told he is walking for the first time and showing signs that he understands what is going on around him, and that he may be released by the end of this month. At a press conference, Lenard's doctor displayed pictures of Lenard and his speech therapist to show how much progress he has made since he came out of his coma. The story is extremely important because it shows what kind of pain and suffering victims and their families often endure as a result of acts of violence caused by intolerance and bigotry. While doctors are hopeful that Lenard will be released by the end of the month, they "remain guarded" about his cognitive recovery, such as long-term memory and problem-solving abilities. The press conference included a statement by Lenard's mother who thanked Chicagoans and the entire country for the support they've shown her son, which is an affirmation of goodness and a reminder that many people abhor the violence and hatred that this crime represents.

Next was an update on Girl X, the girl who was brutally raped, beaten, choked, and left for dead by her attacker several weeks ago, and her recovery at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital. Her 10th birthday was Sunday, but family members gathered at her bedside on Monday to celebrate. We were shown a picture of the girl, her face blurred to maintain her anonymity. The next scene was of a handcuffed Patrick Sykes, the man accused of attacking the girl, who is being held on a $6 million bond. This story, like Lenard Clark's story, is newsworthy because so many people are following the girl's progress. There is something about not knowing the girl's name that makes people realize that this brutal crime could happen to anyone's child. It helps us to know that the staff at Schwab say Girl X is recovering because "she has a fighting attitude." It is important to us that Girl X and Lenard recover because it would reaffirm our belief that good conquers evil.

The next story concerned the announcement by the Federal Election Committee that Carol Mosely-Braun's finances are in order. There had been considerable controversy about extravagant spending by Mosely-Braun and her "one-time boyfriend Ksogie Matthews" and talk of an IRS investigation. Although the FEC investigation is being closed, the IRS investigation will conduct a second, ongoing investigation. The piece included a videotape of the senator's press conference, during which she expressed gratitude for being vindicated of any wrong-doing. But political editor Dick Kay pointed out during the press conference and during his commentary that the FEC did not clear her of anything. Rather, it chose to close the case without making a decision because of time constraints and pressure to investigate newer, more serious cases. I know this is an important story to many, because of the air of scandal that has followed Senator Mosely-Braun, but I had the feeling that Dick Kay's attitude was biased against her. His commentary included a clip of Republican Party Spokesman John McGovern in which he says, "Well, the FEC, remember, is not saying it doesn't bother them, they're just saying they're not going to continue the investigation. And, as I said, where there's smoke, there's fire." Dick Kay then makes a point of repeating that Mosely-Braun was not cleared of anything, and he mentions that a lawsuit by the senator's former treasurer claiming spending abuses and unpaid debts is still pending. Perhaps this was a case of a reporter not wanting a politician to get away with something she shouldn't, but his apparent negative attitude seemed to indicate a bias against Carol Mosely-Braun.

The final story of the newscast was on the proposal by Niles Township Board of Education to lay off 34 teachers. The teachers believe that the proposed layoffs would be in retaliation for a strike they went on last fall as a result of a bitter contract dispute. The piece included a shot of them carrying their picket signs. This story received only 20 seconds and did not give much information at all. Being the last story, I thought they ended on a whimper.

After the weather, sports, and Wall Street Report, Saunders told viewers some of the stories that would be coming up on NBC 5 News at 10, and then he and Carol Marin said good evening and that they'd see us at 10:00.

For the most part, I think this broadcast did a good job of identifying the important issues of the day in Chicago on April 7, 1997. The announcement of a new archbishop for Chicago is clearly news. So are stories that reaffirm our humanity and the resilience of the human spirit – the drowned high school student, the 13-year-old boy and the 10-year-old girl struggling to come back to life from the brink of death – and, certainly, the story of an innocent 7-year-old girl shot down during a senseless act of violence. Stories of missing boaters and heroic efforts to find them are news as well. Even stories of aberrant behavior and politicians falling from grace are news. However, as I stated earlier, it is important to supplement TV news with other sources of information, e.g., a reputable newspaper, a weekly news magazine, or a radio news broadcast, for more in-depth coverage, insights gained from different perspectives, and any stories not covered in the television newscasts.