Hidden 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…

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Political 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…

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‘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…

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Last 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…

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Explore a new solution for preserving digital news:

We’re looking to expand on a pilot program developed by the Reynolds Journalism Institute and Portico.  The program is exploring a scalable, long-term solution for preserving digital news content.  This came out of a report RJI did into 2021 that showed most news organizations lack a comprehensive strategy to preserve digital content.  Through this pilot…

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Soaring High: The Talon’s Journey to Success

Article by Levi Foster Former magazine publisher turned English teacher revives Ankeny High’s journalism program. A few years ago, Ankeny’s journalism program, The Talon, was nonexistent. With only a handful of students in class, the future of the program looked bleak. Now, The Talon is in contention for the 2025 All-Iowa News Team and won…

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Get to know Levi Foster, INA’s newest intern

Please welcome our newest team member, Levi Foster from Ankeny High School. Levi will create content highlighting some of the state’s top high school journalism programs and covering the expansion of journalism among younger generations. Before accepting the internship position at the Iowa Newspaper Association, Levi served on The Talon, Ankeny High School’s news team.…

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New Board Members Nominated

Shannon Welch, Gannett – Shannon Welch currently serves in a dual capacity for Gannett. He is a Regional Vice-President of Sales for LocaliQ over seven mid-western states. Additionally, he serves the Des Moines Register directly as the General Manager. With a degree in Marketing, Shannon has risen rapidly through the ranks in his 12 years…

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Iowa Newspaper Foundation honors new inductees into Heritage Club and Diamond Club

On Thursday, February 8, the Iowa Newspaper Foundation was proud to honor new inductees into the Heritage Club.  Since 1985, the Foundation has honored 97 individuals, recognizing our most loyal supporters for their uncommon generosity and foresight.  These patrons of Iowa journalism have each given at least $5,000 and are a major reason for the…

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The Iowa Newspaper Foundation Celebrates 40 Years in 2024 

In 1984, the Iowa Newspaper Association’s board decided to create a way for members to make tax-deductible contributions to support enhanced member programming. To accomplish this and protect the association’s not-for-profit status, the Iowa Newspaper Foundation was created. Originally, the foundation concentrated on fund raising to underwrite affordable, high-quality educational opportunities for members and the…

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