Mark M. Ridolfi

Mark M. Ridolfi

2843 21 ½ Ave., Rock Island, IL 62101, (309)794-0185, mmridolfi@aol.com

EDUCATION

Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN ,M.A., Journalism , 1995.

Thesis:” Instructional model for database and Web-assisted reporting.”

Northern Illinois University,B.A. Journalism, 1980

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Quad-City Times

Editorial Page Editor, 2003 to present

Online Interactivity Director, 2003-2004

City Editor, 1993 – 2003

• Database journalism instruction: Organized classroom lessons on Paradox, Access and Excel, 1994-2001.
• Television convergence instruction: Led collaboration with Times and KWQC reporters, appeared on air and conducted training sessions, 1999-2001.
• Civic journalism instruction: Led summer intern project reporting teams, 2004. Knox College project.
• Caucus campaign coverage instruction: Led First Vote student election reporting, 2004 and 2008.
• Editorial writing: Published more than 2,000 editorials and won first-place awards among the largest newspapers in Iowa and Illinois.
• Political reporting: Edited and reported the 2008, 2004, 2000 and 1996 Iowa presidential caucuses.
• Law and ethics: Assisted public records lawsuits, responded to subpoenas and accompanied reporters called to testify. 1993-2001
• Government reporting: Served as editor for reporters in Illinois and Iowa state capitols. 1993-2001
• Investigative reporting: Served as editor for investigative projects including juvenile justice, drunken driving, public information access and many others. 1993-2001
• Print page design: Produced daily editorial pages, 2002-2008
• Web page design: Designed and helped develop content systems for IowaPulse.com (1999), mpinews.org (2004), and various qctimes.com projects.
• Multimedia news production: Shot video flood reports; recorded and edited interviews with presidential candidates. 2006-2008

Indianapolis News: Assistant City Editor, 1987 – 1993

Edited reporting from Washington and Indiana capitol bureaus.

Daily Dispatch, Moline, IL: Reporter and City Editor, 1981 – 1987

Beat reporting: Covered police, courts, politics and municipal, state and county government.

United Press International, Reporter and Bureau Manager, 1984 – 1985
Broadcast writing: Provided radio copy.
Agriculture reporting: Provided a weekly farm-related news feature and
covered the 1984 drought.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, Adjunct instructor, English 216, 2006 – 2009

Taught independent multimedia reporting projects and advised the student newspaper.

Western Illinois University, Moline, IL,Adjunct instructor, Journalism 400, 2008

Collaborated with WIU professor on environmental journalism class.

Knox College, Galesburg, IL,Adjunct instructor, Journalism 395C, 2007

Developed interactive journalism and group multimedia reporting course.

Black Hawk College, Moline, IL, adjunct instructor, Journalism 100 and 200, 2001 – 2004

Taught and advised the student newspaper.

Presentations

“Iowa federal and state legislative candidate forum,” Oct. 26, 2008, Davenport, Iowa
Moderated forum with 14 legislative candidates.

“Iowa Journal, a Davenport perspective,” Aug. 21, 2008
Panelist on Iowa Public Television public affairs program

“ Multimedia and design: The future is now,” April 11-13, 2008, St. Louis, Mo.

Co-chair and presenter, Mid America Press Institute.

“Divided We Fail student campaign coverage workshop,” Sept. 21, 2007, Davenport
Moderator and co-chair of journalism workshop featuring nationally syndicated columnist Froma Harrop and former John Kerry presidential campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill.

“The new media’s impact on shaping our perceptions of culture and diversity” April 18, 2007, Macomb, IL

Moderator of panel discussion with Helen Thomas, Clarence Page and Pamela Huey, Western Illinois University.

“What’s next? Online journalism conference,” April 20-22, 2007, St. Louis, Mo.

Co-chair and presenter, Mid America Press Institute.

“Aggressive reporting on local issues,” Nov. 11, 2006, St. Louis, Mo.

Co-chair of Mid America Press Institute conference and panelist on “Beat Blogging” session.

“Iowa First District congressional debate,” Oct. 3, 2006, Davenport, Iowa. Moderated televised public debate with congressional candidates Rep. Bruce Braley and Mike Whalen.

“Iowa First District congressional primary forum,” May 4, 2006, Davenport, Iowa.
Moderated public education forum featuring four candidates.

“Print to Web: Making new transitions in an old newsroom,” March 13, 2006, Peoria, Ill.Facilitated Peoria Journal Star newsroom meeting on Web convergence.

“APME Newstrain” May 5, 2005, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.Panelist, “More than a horse race: Making election coverage relevant to readers.”

“Exactly the right word,” Nov. 12-14, 2004, St. Louis, Mo.Co-chair of Mid America Press Institute copy editing conference.

“Gather at the River,” May 23, 2004, Davenport, Iowa. Organizer and moderator for a public editorial board forum on casino expansion drawing more than 100 to Davenport’s riverfront.

“All Things Considered,” Jan. 11, 2004. Panelist for NPR interviewer Steve Inskeep report on Iowa presidential caucus endorsements.

“New life in the sports section,” June 18-20, 2001, St. Louis, Mo.Moderated panel discussion on motorsports coverage, Mid America Press Institute

“Tighter, brighter writing,” Nov. 16, 2000, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.Facilitated Cedar Rapids Gazette writing workshop.

“Iowa First District congressional debate”, Oct. 20, 1998, Davenport, Iowa.Moderated public forum with Rep. Jim Leach and Bob Rush.

Editorial Boards

“Lee Enterprises Midwest newspapers interview with Vice President Dick Cheney,” Oct. 12, 2004, Davenport, Iowa.

Organized, moderated and published accounts of panel discussion with the vice president and Lee editors and executives.

“Lee Enterprises Midwest newspapers interview with vice presidential candidate John Edwards, Oct. 21, 2004, Davenport, Iowa.

Organized, moderated and published accounts of a panel discussion with Sen. John Edwards and Lee editors and executives.

“Presidential endorsement interviews, 2004 and 2008,” Davenport, Iowa.

Organized, moderated and published print and multimedia accounts of interviews with Sens. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Christopher Dodd, Joe Biden, Govs. Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Bill Richardson and Thomas Vilsack.

Memberships

Mid America Press Institute, 1996 to present. Board chairman 2003-2005.

Awards

Editorial Writing, Iowa Newspaper Association, 2009, first place

Editorial writing, Iowa Newspaper Association, 2007, first place.

Editorial writing, Iowa APME, 2005, first place.

Editorial writing, Suburban Newspapers of America, 2003 and 2005, first place.
Editorial writing, Illinois Press Association, 2002, first place.
Investigative reporting, Inland Press Association, 1995, first place.