Above / Nichols Library, home to a bulletin board exhibit for Constitution Week every September, is set to host author Dave Hoekstra during a local event at 7PM Wed., March 29, 2023, to help launch his new book, Beacons in the Darkness. Nichols Library is located at 200 W. Jefferson Avenue in downtown Naperville.
Award-winning journalist and author Dave Hoekstra’s newest book, Beacons in the Darkness: Hope and Transformation Among America’s Community Newspapers, is an insider exploration of American newspaper journalism that digs deep into local newspapers as the backbones of their communities and the devastating potential of what we stand to lose without them.
At 7PM on Wed., March 29, 2023, Nichols Library will celebrate local journalism in the modern age with a panel discussion featuring three former community reporters who wrote for the Naperville Central High School newspaper under their shared advisor, Marilyn Hollman.
Panel discussion will focus on importance of community journalism
Panelists will include:
– Marilyn Hollman, professor of English and journalism
– Dave Hoekstra, author of Beacons in the Darkness ($18.99)
– Steve Lord, journalist of 45+ years for the Beacon-News/Chicago Tribune
– Donna DeFalco, former reporter at the Naperville Sun
Hoekstra, Lord and De Falco were all Class of 1973 graduates at Naperville Central High School who worked together on the school paper before embarking on careers in journalism. Hollman will lead the discussion, featuring the lessons learned about community reporting and the importance of community newspapers to today’s media landscape, noted publicist Jacqueline Jarik.
This free event is co-sponsored by the Naperville Public Library and Agate Publishing. Copies of the books will be available for purchase.
A few notes about Marilyn Hollman
Hollman was graduated from the University of Iowa and moved to the western suburbs to teach English and journalism at Naperville Central High School, the fellow panelists’ alma mater. She’s also taught at Purdue University, Hammond, National Lewis University, and the University of Montana. She has an MA from DePaul University and a PhD from Northwestern University.
A few notes about Dave Hoekstra
Hoekstra is a Chicago-based author-journalist, having written for many publications,
including the Chicago Sun-Times, where he was a staff columnist and critic for 30 years. He was awarded the 2013 Studs Terkel Community Media Award for his columns and critiques and nominated for a Chicago Emmy for his documentary work.
Nichols Library is located at 300 W. Jefferson Avenue in downtown Naperville.
Report submitted by Agate Publishing / PN File Photo