INF Announces New Scholarship

Funded by friends and family of longtime Iowa newspaper reporter and former Des Moines Register Northeast Iowa Bureau chief, Jack Hovelson, an annual $500 scholarship will be awarded to a sophomore, junior or senior at University of Northern Iowa or Iowa State University. Applicants must demonstrate dedication to print or digital journalism, and exhibit curiosity,…

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New board members nominated

Kathie Obradovich is editor-in-chief for Iowa Capital Dispatch, part of a national not-for-profit news organization that launched in January 2020. She leads an experienced staff covering state news and politics and writes a column. Dozens of Iowa newspapers, broadcast stations and news sites regularly republish Iowa Capital Dispatch content. Kathie has more than 35 years…

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Iowa needs to stop the creeping secrecy about names

By Randy Evans The increasing secrecy by Iowa law enforcement and their lawyers about identifying people by name raises important questions underlying public confidence in the critical work of first-responders. The question deals with whether police can or should refuse to identify persons involved in incidents and crimes. Despite Iowa’s history of openness about crimes…

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Secret gov’t settlements are wrong — period

By Randy Evans City leaders in Davenport have forgotten that city government there belongs to the people. It does not belong to the folks who were elected to city offices. This reminder is necessary because of a troubling series of events that is unlike any I have seen in five decades of monitoring the goings-on…

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Alan and Steve Mores honored with James W. Schwartz Award from Iowa State University’s Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication

[AMES, IOWA, November 13, 2023]—Alan Mores (’80 Journalism and Mass Communication), received the James W. Schwartz Award for Distinguished Service to Journalism and Mass Communication from the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at a ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023 in Ames, Iowa. The award recognizes distinguished alumni and friends from the Greenlee School…

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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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License change would deprive consumers of important info

By Randy Evans The rationale behind Iowa’s professional licensing laws is simple: People in certain professions and skilled occupations are required to hold state licenses to work in Iowa. This is to ensure they meet the minimum standard of training and skill necessary to serve consumers safely and effectively. But a state government policy change…

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The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Artificial Intelligence for Newspapers

By Russell Viers I still remember the first time I showed Photoshop’s Clone Stamp Tool to a newspaper audience. It was 1997 and it was called the Rubber Stamp Tool back then. The room was silent in amazement as I eliminated various marks, spots, and objects from the image. I think I removed a hot…

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Publisher made a sound investment – in me

By Randy EvansIowa Newspaper Foundation president It was 57 years ago when Gary Spurgeon, then the publisher of the Bloomfield Democrat, made an investment in the future of Iowa’s newspapers. I would like to think that investment has more than paid for itself. The investment was a “scholarship” Gary provided to a kid who was…

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Hall of Fame lawyer to keynote FOI annual meeting

The longtime legal adviser to the Iowa Freedom of Information Council will be the featured speaker on Thursday, November 9, at the Council’s annual meeting. Iowa Newspaper Association members are welcome to attend. Michael Giudicessi, a partner in the Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath law firm in Des Moines, will give us a much-needed pep…

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