Monday Zoom not happening today
....and more
First, for a couple of reasons, some on my part (I should have confirmed again) and some on a new policy for state employees, the speaker I had scheduled for today on preventing lead poisoning in children is not taking place.
All requests for public appearances by the state must now be approved, and all questions to be asked must be submitted in advance.
Ironically, a similar policy is now in place for Gannett employees, the company that owns The Des Moines Register, the Ames Tribune, Boone News-Republican, and Iowa City Press-Citizen.
The Gannett memo says under the heading:
Responding to Inquiries From the Press and Others
If you are asked to provide information to the public or media (including TV, radio, podcasts, streaming, print, online, and other external media outlets) you must notify and receive approval from your supervisor and your regional editor. The request then needs to be referred to the Corporate Communications team for review and approval, or the media outlet must submit their request/inquiry.
Politely inform the media representative that you are not a company spokesperson.
Do not speculate or make any statements about the company, its products, services, or policies.
Press Freedom
You have probably read about the raid on the Kansas newspaper office and owner’s home by now. Here is Heather Cox Richardson August 12 letter on the subject:
In Marion, Kansas, yesterday morning, four local police officers and three sheriff’s deputies raided the office of the Marion County Record newspaper; the home of its co-owners, Eric Meyer and his 98-year-old mother, Joan Meyer; and the home of Marion vice mayor Ruth Herbel, 80. They seized computers, cell phones, and other equipment. Joan Meyer was unable to eat or sleep after the raid; she collapsed Saturday afternoon and died at her home…read more:
TY RUSHING, CREDENTIALED REPORTER, DENIED ACCESS TO DESANTIS IOWA EVENT
Ty Rushing, who has stacks of awards from the Iowa Newspaper Association, covers politics and the Iowa Legislature for Iowa Starting Line, heads the Iowa Association of Black Journalists, and has been a presenter during all Okoboji Writers’ Retreat events, was denied access to a campaign event for Ron DeSantis.
Ty tweeted a video with the introduction, Welp, I got barred from covering a Ron DeSantis event in Harlan — one of three of his events I planned to cover today — with absolutely no explanation as to why.
Ty will discuss this and other obstacles covering presidential candidates during his Okoboji Writers’ Retreat Master Class on Local Reporting:
https://okobojiwritersretreat.com
By the way, there are just three spots remaining before I stop accepting enrollments and start a waiting list. Stop procrastinating!
I’ve compiled anecdotes from previous participants about their actions since attending. The stories are amazing. More to come.
Here is yesterday’s weekly roundup of columns by Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members. Subscribe. It’s free. Now, thirty-six Iowa journalists bring their commentary to you via this platform.
Who could have predicted that the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative would become the bastion of democracy in our state?
And we live where?!!! People need to wake up and decide if their tax cuts are worth all of this kind of dangerous behavior happening to our fellow citizens. People who are simply doing their jobs. I am afraid that if this keeps up Iowa will become a ghost state with fewer and fewer professionals wanting to stick around.