Mid-Illinois Communications Association

In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving media environment, journalists face new challenges in how they connect with and inform their audiences. Veteran NewsChannel 20 anchors Dawn Sterling and Stacey Skrysak share their perspectives on navigating the pressures of today’s, balancing immediacy with accuracy, compassion with objectivity and technology with human connection. They will explore how television journalists adapt to changing platforms, audience expectations and newsroom dynamics, while maintaining trust and credibility. The discussion will also address how reporters manage emotionally charged stories—such as tragedies and community crises—allowing empathy and sensitivity to guide their storytelling without compromising fairness or professionalism. Through candid conversation and personal experiences, Dawn and Stacey will offer insight into what it means to tell meaningful stories in a time when connection, compassion and credibility matter more than ever.