We are pleased to announce the annual writing workshop will now be named the Woodward Writing Workshop thanks to a $20,000 investment from Tom and Bob Woodward and the Woodward Communications Foundation.
"Story development, interviewing, and writing are key journalism skills that are at the core of every Iowa community newspaper. As a company and a family, we are proud to help the development of these skills across the state and proud to sponsor the Woodward Writing Workshop through INF." - Bob Woodward
"Supporting the Workshop aligns very well with our company's Purpose, which is to 'Provide quality local content and services that support and grow strong communities.' " - Tom Woodward
Thank you to the Woodward’s for their commitment to building strong Iowa journalists.
2025 WORKSHOP
This year's workshop continues the interactive format designed to provide participants with multiple contacts with a professional coach. The program will build your interviewing, writing and story development skills! We continue the workshop tradition of one-on-one conferences with a writing coach and it is your chance to build relationships with experienced professionals and journalists facing similar challenges!
Registration fee: $75
Deadline: Thursday, September 18
Use discount code 25WW to be billed by the INA.
Meet the presenters
Allie Hinga is the managing editor of the Telegraph Herald in Dubuque, where she leads the local news reporting team. She has worked at the TH for more than eight years, starting as a reporter covering K-12 and higher education and then taking on various editing roles before assuming her current position in March 2023. Before coming to Iowa, Hinga worked for the Joplin (Mo.) Globe, where she covered anything and everything happening in Newton County. Hinga is a firm believer in the power of community journalism to engage and inform readers and hold local, state and federal governments accountable, even in a changing media landscape.
Allie Hinga
Lindsey Young is co-owner of Kansas Publishing Ventures, along with her husband, Joey. KPV oversees the publication of three weeklies: Harvey County Now, The Clarion and The Hillsboro Free Press. They are becoming increasingly known for their innovative approach to business—implementing everything from an annual blues concert in their community to hosting readers for drinks and conversation for Press Club. With a newly purchased office that just happens to feature a bar, community members often hang out and chat during an open invitation for “Beer Fridays.” KPV was featured in a recent book, “Reviving Rural News.” They are also proud to be aiding newspapers around the country to train community members to work in local newsrooms with Earn Your Press Pass—on-demand journalism training.
Lindsey Young
Lyle Muller is the professional adviser for Grinnell College’s student-run Scarlet & Black newspaper. Before that, he built a long-time Iowa journalist and educator. He was the first full-time executive director-editor of the nonprofit Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism and had a 25-year career at The Gazette newspaper in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City that included serving as editor of The Gazette and the former Iowa City Gazette. His past experiences include serving as the reporting coach for The Daily Iowan’s Ethics and Politics Initiative journalism project at the University of Iowa, the Iowa editor for PolitiFact, an adjunct faculty member of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication, an Iowa Newspaper Foundation director, and on Pulitzer Prize juries that selected finalists for investigative reporting for 2017 and commentary for 2018. He remains a member of the Iowa High School Press Association Board of Directors and was a 2023 recipient of the Iowa Newspaper Association’s Distinguished Service Award.
Lyle Muller
this year's coaches:
Emily Hawk, Cedar Rapids Gazette
Allie Hinga, Dubuque Telegraph Herald
Kyle Ocker, Ottumwa Courier
Lyle Muller, Grinnell College
Emily Wood, Des Moines Business Publications
kick-off Program
8:45 a.m. Welcome and introductions
How To Make Your Editor's (and your) Life Easier
Presented by Allie Hinga
This session focuses on some of the common pitfalls and hangups reporters experience when it comes to story writing. From sharpening your lede to self-editing to fact-checking, we will discuss all the little things you can do that make a big difference in your reporting and writing.
Interviewing Skills
Presented by Lindsey Young
It’s just asking questions. How hard can interviewing somebody really be? As it turns out, there is a definite art to interviewing—from asking the right questions to handling sensitive topics, hostile sources and everything in between. Let’s explore the artistry behind a really good interview, how to prepare, how to follow up and how to handle those tough-to-deal-with situations we will all inevitably find ourselves in.
Story Development
Presented by Lyle Muller
Noon-Meet with coaches to discuss next steps
Follow-up dates
September 25 – Kick-off session held online includes breakouts and time for the coaches to get to know their mentees.
By Friday, October 10 – Participants send 2-3 writing samples to their coach and coaches schedule sessions for the following week.
Week of October 13 - Coaches hold online sessions with mentees.
By Friday, October 24 - Participants send second batch of 2-3 writing samples to their coach and coaches schedule sessions for the following week.
Week of October 27 - Coaches hold online sessions with mentees.
Program is completed by November 3 - Participants to be awarded certificate of completion and recognized in the INA Bulletin.