Publisher made a sound investment – in me
By Randy EvansIowa Newspaper Foundation president It was 57 years ago when Gary Spurgeon, then the publisher of the Bloomfield Democrat, made an investment in the future of Iowa’s newspapers. I would like to think that investment has more than paid for itself. The investment was a “scholarship” Gary provided to a kid who was…
Read MoreHall of Fame lawyer to keynote FOI annual meeting
The longtime legal adviser to the Iowa Freedom of Information Council will be the featured speaker on Thursday, November 9, at the Council’s annual meeting. Iowa Newspaper Association members are welcome to attend. Michael Giudicessi, a partner in the Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath law firm in Des Moines, will give us a much-needed pep…
Read MoreCommunity publishers reaffirm First Amendment support wake of Kansas newspaper raid
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—Oct 2, 2023Contact: Lynne Lance, executive director, lynne@nna.org Last week, community newspaper publishers, editors, and executives across the United States resoundingly reaffirmed their commitment to a free press undisturbed by unannounced police raids. Meeting in Washington, National Newspaper Association members representing community daily and weekly newspapers in 31 states took their concerns to…
Read MoreContest resources available for your last-minute questions!
We’re getting down to the wire. The deadline to submit entries for the Better Newspaper Contests is Friday, October 13. All entries must be submitted and uploaded to the betternewspapercontest.com website by 4:30 p.m.; hard-copy examples must be postmarked on or before October 13. In past years, many entries were submitted in the 1-2 hours…
Read MoreIowa Newspaper Association Welcomes Debbie Anselm As New Executive Director
The Iowa Newspaper Association is thrilled to announce that Debbie Anselm will lead the organization as executive director, effective October 24. Anselm, a visionary industry leader of 20 years, brings a wealth of experience to the INA and its 240 member newspapers, most recently serving as the association’s board president and with Lee Enterprises as…
Read MoreMisguided gov’t proposal targets ‘vexatious’ people
By Randy Evans / Iowa Freedom of Information Council Many decades ago, Mrs. Gentry and Mr. Halferty put up with an inquisitive kid’s classroom questionsabout American democracy and the workings of government. I did not imagine back then how the meaning of some words could take on such importance in government. Take, for example, a…
Read MoreINA Leadership Transition Underway
The Iowa Newspaper Association is transitioning as it transitions. As announced at the start of August, Susan Patterson Plank, executive director since 2016, will depart Sept. 1 to rejoin Gannett Co., Inc. Patterson Plank, who joined INA in 2013 as sales and marketing director, will fill Gannett’s newly established position of vice president of public…
Read MoreINA Advisory Following Kansas Newsroom Search
In 1980, the United States Congress enacted a law called the Privacy Protection Act that makes it illegal for law enforcement to seize materials used by journalists for their work pursuant to a search warrant. Law enforcement is required to obtain a court subpoena for the information. The difference between the two is that the…
Read MoreIowa Newspaper Association Executive Director
The Iowa Newspaper Association, a member driven non-profit trade association representing 240 newspapers across Iowa is seeking its next Executive Director. The Executive Director will lead the INA and its affiliated organizations, Customized Newspaper Advertising and the Iowa Newspaper Foundation. CNA is a for-profit national newspaper and digital sales, planning and placement organization and the INF is a charitable foundation serving the interests of…
Read MoreINA executive director resigns; to accept new role with Gannett
Brian Cooper Susan Patterson Plank, Iowa Newspaper Association executive director since 2016, has resigned, effective Sept. 1, and will rejoin Gannett Co., Inc. Patterson Plank, 58, who joined INA in 2013 as sales and marketing director, will become Gannett’s vice president of public records strategic initiatives, a newly established position. This will be her third…
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