Posts by sjames1
A Message From Your INF President
Carl Vieregger, Associate Professor of ManagementDrake 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…
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Perspective from Party Leadership When Agriculture is Strong, Iowa’s Economy is Strong By: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig Iowa’s economy is built on agriculture. What happens at the farm gate ripples through our entire state. When farmers are doing well, Main Street businesses thrive, equipment dealers stay busy, manufacturers expand production, and rural communities remain…
Read MoreA Message from Your INA President
As we begin 2026, I’m excited to invite you to join us at the upcoming INA Convention & Awards Ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 6 in Des Moines. This year’s convention – themed “Shaping the Future of Local News” – promises to deliver a powerful and motivational message at an important time for local journalism and community newspapers.…
Read MoreEnter ISWNE’s 66th Annual Golden Quill Award Contest
The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE) is accepting entries for its annual Golden Quill editorial writing contest. Deadline is Feb. 2, 2026. Entries should reflect the purpose of the ISWNE: Encouraging the writing of editorials or staff-written opinion pieces that identify local issues that are or should be of concern to the community,…
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Perspective from Party Leadership Time to Deliver for Working Families By: House Democratic Leader Brian Meyer & Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner It’s time to deliver for working Iowa families. That means all legislators working to find common ground and move past nearly a decade of single-party policymaking that has left too many Iowans out…
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Perspectives from Party Leadership Political violence isn’t symmetrical. It’s escalating on the left, and political leaders must call it out By: Jeff Kaufmann – Chairman, Republican Party of Iowa We keep hearing calls to “encourage thoughtful discourse” and “discourage violent rhetoric.” That’s true, and I have. One political party keeps crossing the line, pretending both parties…
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Perspectives from Party Leadership Stop Making Things Worse By: Sen. Janice Weiner A cardinal rule as elected officials is not to break things – as in, if it isn’t broken, don’t “fix” it – not unlike the medical profession’s Hippocratic oath: first, do no harm. Our state faces multiple self-inflicted healthcare crises that result from…
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Perspectives from Party Leadership Iowa Leads on Higher Education Reform Iowa needs to invest in its workforce to grow its economy By: Rep. Taylor Collins; Chair of the House Committee on Higher Education The challenges facing Iowa’s higher education system have been building for many years, and the impact on students is becoming increasingly severe.…
Read MoreRecruit and help journalism prospects enter the industry: INF matching funds program:
One of the missions of the Iowa Newspaper Association is to recruit and help younger people enter in the industry as the next generation of journalism prospers. Although there are many ways to help young people get into journalism, the Iowa Newspaper Association has a program to help both students and newspapers all across Iowa:…
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Perspectives from Party Leadership More Childcare Could Help Iowa’s Struggling Economy Republicans Deliver Real Relief for Families The lack of affordable and accessible child care costs Iowa about $1.1 billion a year in lost earnings and tax revenue By: Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart When Kim Reynolds gave her big annual speech at the…
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