How you can still lose while winning in court
Randy Evans, executive directorIowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication. Many years ago, during a conversation with an old lawyer, he made a comment I still remember: “You can sue the bishop of Boston for bastardy, but that doesn’t mean you are going to collect.” It was…
Read MoreIowa should stop keeping police discipline secret
Randy Evans, executive directorIowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication. The actions of journalists and police officers were in the spotlight last week in a Des Moines courtroom. The scrutiny came at the trial of Andrea Sahouri, a Des Moines Register reporter. She was arrested while…
Read MoreIt’s a violation of free press rights to bring to trial a Des Moines Register reporter arrested while covering a protest
This article is free to use and publish in your publication. By Carol Hunter, executive editorThe Des Moines Register Freedom of the press stands alongside freedom of religion, speech, assembly and petition as the rights guaranteed by the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. That makes the upcoming trial of a Des Moines Register reporter…
Read MoreTri-State Newspaper Convention draws more than 500 attendees
Newspaper professionals from 14 states participated in the 2021 Tri-State Newspaper Convention, a virtual program presented on Feb. 4-5 by the Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin newspaper associations. More than 500 people registered for the two-day, virtual event that provided insights from more than 20 speakers on subjects ranging from “Publishing Through a Pandemic” to “Covering…
Read MoreInitiate conversations with your readers
By Jim Pumarlo A reader questions your policy for reporting suicides. A retailer challenges your staff to produce timely and relevant business news. A reporter is confronted for printing a press release charging a candidate with unfair campaign practices without contacting the accused for a response. A family member gets emotional over publication of an…
Read MoreIowaWatch offers news stories for free
Stories from IowaWatch – The Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism are open to any Iowa news outlet to republish, with appropriate credit given to the decade-old nonprofit news outlet. Executive Director Suzanne Behnke offered these tips: Email her at suzanne-behnke@iowawatch.org to be added to the distribution list. When a story is published, an email…
Read MoreFirst installment of INA police video investigative series available!
INA members have started publishing the series in their local newspapers The Iowa Newspaper Association launched a statewide project focused on police video rules, regulations and associated policies late last year. Since the launch of the project, over 50 different journalists from across the state have requested copies of these policies from local police departments,…
Read MoreRepeat after me: Let the public know
This article is free to use and publish in your publication. Randy Evans, executive directorIowa Freedom of Information Council The purpose was pretty simple when the Iowa Legislature wrote the state’s public meetings law many years ago: Government boards are required to announce their meetings at least one day in advance, and officials must tell the…
Read MorePresident’s report: The Foundation successfully pivots
Mark Spensley2020 Iowa newspaper foundation PRESIDENTMonticello Express The Iowa Newspaper Foundation was uniquely positioned to navigate the online world of 2020 due to the work done by INF board members, committees, and staff in previous years. When other organizations were scrambling to move business online, the INF had already provided hundreds of online training programs…
Read MorePresident’s report: C.N.A. exceeds Iowa sales goal by $1 million in 2020
Becky Maxwell2020 INA Services Company PresidentAlbia—Monroe County News The mission of the INA Services Company is to advance the economic well-being of Iowa newspaper enterprises primarily through, research, promotion, and advertising sales. INA Services Company does business under the branded name Customized Newspaper Advertising, CNA. The team at CNA, is driven to increase sales, manage…
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