Iowa 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…
Read MoreThin skin plagues some officials in Iowa
Randy Evans, executive directorIowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication. Around the time the famous movie “The Bridges of Madison County” premiered in 1995, author Robert James Waller was at a book-signing in West Des Moines. Between scribbling his signature for fans on copies of his novel,…
Read MoreDon’t Sell Your Clients Short
By John FoustGreensboro, NC Gene told me about an experience he had when he was fundraising for the Boy Scouts. “I was young and completely sold on the value of scouting because some years earlier I had earned the designations of Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow,” he said. “My boss asked me to…
Read MoreRegional Students Participate in Media Now
The Iowa Newspaper Foundation (INF) was thrilled to be a part of a program specifically targeting the next generation of Iowa newspaper professionals. The INF partnered with Media Now and Drake University to offer an in-depth media experience for Iowa high school students July 10-13. Media Now was held at Drake University in Des Moines…
Read MoreSchool and state board blunder in major transparency case
Randy Evans, executive directorIowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication. These are challenging times for Iowa’s 327 public school districts. They are being watched closely by state officials and lawmakers, by parents and by others in the community. These eyes are looking for signs schools are treading…
Read More2025 IHSAA Wrestling Tournament and INA Photo Pool
Order deadline: Tuesday, February 18 by 2:00pm The Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Newspaper Association are again teaming up to facilitate a service for Iowa newspapers that are unable to staff the 2025 State Wrestling Tournament with a photographer. The Iowa Newspaper Association will provide a pool of volunteers to take pictures.…
Read MoreAccepting 2023 contest entries!
The Iowa Newspaper Association is excited to begin accepting entries for the 2023 Better Newspaper Contests. These contests, held annually, were developed to foster competition and quality among Iowa’s newspapers. To encourage participation, INA will again offer “coupons” for three free entries to newspapers who did not enter the 2022 contests. In addition, INA will…
Read MoreWise school leaders don’t keep public in the dark
Randy Evans, executive directorIowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication. These days, I stand in front of audiences and engage in what is politely called “public speaking” more often than even Mr. Gentry ever imagined when I showed up at his office door 55 years ago with…
Read MoreIf Grandma can Zoom, Gov’t should Zoom, too
Randy Evans, Iowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication. In my day job, I wear the hat of the executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. This nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has been around for 40+ years. We advocate on behalf of the public and journalists…
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