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Ideas worth sharing: Working together to deliver the news
In the first week of state-mandated closures of restaurants and other businesses in Iowa, The News in Kalona launched an advertising campaign to help local businesses let customers know what is open and what is closed. Soon after sending an email announcing the campaign, Publisher Jim Johnson received a call from Ryan Schlabaugh, the Kalona…
Read MoreReporters Committee for Freedom of the Press offers HIPAA guidebook
Medical privacy laws can confuse the most savvy journalist and give public officials a reason not to disclose information that should be provided to the public under state open records laws. During the pandemic, a new wave of concerns about the application of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are coming from NNA…
Read MoreIdeas worth sharing: Times Citizen Communications builds creative revenue
Times Citizen Communication has come up with a creative way to get community businesses involved with supporting their local newspaper. The paper sold four weeks of different double truck coloring pages. The pages reflect messages of hope and bring people together for a timeless activity. If your newspaper has come up with a creative way…
Read MoreBail out the Postal Service before cruise lines
Randy Evans, Executive DirectorIowa Freedom of Information Council It’s quiz time. What arm of the federal government has the most contact with ordinary Americans, people like you and me? Is it the Internal Revenue Service? Social Security Administration? The Food and Drug Administration? Or the Department of Agriculture? Nope. Not that one. Not that one,…
Read MoreINA Member update | COVID-19
The Iowa Newspaper Association is working with its national partners to promote measures to aid local news media during the COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage our members to reach out to Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Enst to urge support for the measures which include: There is no good reason to allow USPS to falter NNA…
Read MoreGovernment Advertising (Senate Sample Letter)
Russell T. VoughtActing DirectorThe Office of Management and Budget725 17th Street, NWWashington, DC 20503 Dear Mr. Vought, We are writing today concerning the challenges faced by local media and actions the Office of Management and Budget can take that will help ensure these important businesses are able to continue to operate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.…
Read MoreSBA Expansion (House Sample Letter)
Dear Madam Speaker and Minority Leader McCarthy: We write to ask that any future stimulus package to address the coronavirus pandemic include immediate improvements to existing lending programs to protect local news publishers and broadcasters. Reliable local information and reporting in our communities is more important than ever—newspapers and broadcasters are working “around the clock,…
Read MoreINA Update | 04.09.20
Senators urge action for local journalism A group of Democratic senators led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D—Conn.) has sent a letter to Senate leadership urging the body to consider stimulus relief for local journalism and media. The letter, signed by 19 Democratic senators including Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, calls on House Majority Leader…
Read MoreAmericans are optimistic despite uncertainty
Forty percent believe the world will be better than before the coronavirus Courtesy of Research America. While Americans have a high level of anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic, most are willing to make significant sacrifices and many are optimistic about the future. They also believe that government leaders are taking the appropriate actions, according to…
Read MoreJournalists can still get access to court records
While the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted or limited access to Iowa county courthouses, journalists can still get access to court records. Public computer terminals which allow citizens and reporters access to court filings may be inaccessible with the coronavirus forcing courthouses to restrict access, but county clerks of court can still provide the information, according…
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