Latest News
Good news for local media as the government reopens
The National Newspaper Association and its partners were once again happy to see the recognition by Congress of the vital role community newspapers play in sharing information to small and rural markets. As part of the package of bills approved by the Senate and the House to get the government open after the historic 43-day…
Read MoreCongratulations to Woodward Writing Workshop Participants
Nine Iowa newspapers employees recently completed the Woodward Writing Workshop. This program is designed to provide participants with multiple contacts with a professional coach to build interviewing, writing and story development skills. Following a one-day kick off, participants have one-on-one conferences with a writing coach over the course of four weeks to hone their skills.…
Read MoreIowa Newspaper Foundation Partners with iJAG
The Iowa Newspaper Foundation (INF) has begun developing a partnership with iJAG with two main goals: helping students become stronger communicators and raising awareness of the newspaper industry and its career opportunities. As part of this collaboration, INF participated in the annual iJAG Leadership and Development Conference and presented a session on social media to…
Read MorePolitical Voices
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…
Read MorePolitical Voices
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…
Read MorePolitical Voices
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 MoreHidden treasures at the State Historical Society of Iowa
Researchers know that newspapers are the first draft of history. One of the hidden treasures at the State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) is a magnificent collection of Iowa newspapers, guarded for more than a century and a half. This collection is now threatened by state officials. In 2023, State government was realigned, and control…
Read MorePolitical Voices
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…
Read More‘Our love for journalism bonds us together.’
Article by Levi Foster From July 7th to July 10th, students from across the country traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, where Drake University hosted a special event: a journalism camp held by Media Now. All students are welcome, whether they are from Iowa or not, or if they aren’t planning on being a journalist in…
Read MoreLast Call to Join Digital Ambassador Program
In a first-of-its-kind opportunity, the Iowa Newspaper Association is partnering with Iowa State University and Drake University to launch the Walt Potter Digital Ambassadors Program in Iowa. The program provides newspapers with on-site digital expertise to enhance their online presence and audience engagement. The program originated in Missouri, where Walt Potter Jr. partnered with the…
Read More