A Message From Your INF President

Carl Vieregger, Associate Professor of Management
Drake University

In 2025, the Iowa Newspaper Foundation focused on deepening relationships, expanding into new spaces, and strengthening the pipeline of future journalists and newspaper leaders. Through increased engagement on high school and college campuses, innovative new programs, and continued investment in signature professional development initiatives, INF advanced its mission to support Iowa’s local news industry at every level.

INF reached students earlier than ever before, engaging more than 1,300 high school students at the iJAG Leadership and Development Conference, launching the inaugural Iowa Potter Digital Ambassador Program for college journalists, and partnering with Drake University on a new business reporting contest open to all college students across the state. INF also employed its first summer intern. These efforts complemented INF’s longstanding commitment to scholarships, internships, and experiential learning opportunities that remove barriers and create clear pathways into journalism careers.

At the same time, INF continued to serve newsroom professionals statewide through high-impact training and leadership programs. Online Media Campus, Earn Your Press Pass, the Mores Media Fellowship, and the Woodward Writing Workshop collectively delivered more than $130,000 in annual training value. INF is strengthening skills, leadership capacity, and journalistic excellence across Iowa’s newspapers.

Every one of Iowa’s 230+ newspapers benefit from INF programs.

Every dollar raised by the Iowa Newspaper Foundation powers programs that grow, educate, and inspire the next generation of journalists—while supporting the professionals already making a difference in communities across Iowa.

INF is fueling journalism in Iowa.