The IowaWatch Connection, a statewide audience engagement program, was produced from July 2014 through December 2019 by the Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism. It was launched as a pilot with a $25,000 John S. and James L. Knight Foundation grant awarded in 2014 through the Investigative News Network (now the Institute for Nonprofit News). It later gained support from other sponsors for a run of 287 episodes.
IowaWatch Wins Top Broadcast News Awards For Politics, Farm and Agribusiness Reporting
Jeff Stein, a noted Iowa broadcast veteran and historian, former executive director of the Iowa Broadcast News Association and currently general manager at KXEL radio in Waterloo, hosted and produced the program on a network of stations across the state.
IOWAWATCH CONNECTION FORUMS AND EVENTS
IowaWatch photo
The IowaWatch Connection continued in 2019 a streak of winning Iowa Broadcast News Association awards for excellence in broadcast journalism. Awards announced this year are for work in 2018.
Although the program has come to a close, IowaWatch continues to host public forums in various locations to explore issues that affect Iowans. The first, Critical Decisions about Elder Care, was held April 29, 2014, in Des Moines. Our forums since then have explored problems with meth addiction in Iowa, featuring the documentary Breaking the Cycle: Meth Addiction In The Heartland, in Council Bluffs, Des Moines and Iowa City; how to keep young talent in Iowa; whether or not boundaries exist for free speech on college campuses; and how well the University of Iowa does welcoming Latino and African-American students. We’ve explored in live storytelling events veterans’ issues, what appeals to people who adopted Iowa as their home state, how people treat you when you live on society’s fringe, and the humanity side of competitive sports.
We went into partnership with the nonprofit FilmScene theater for a November 2018 showing of the documentary film, “Dark Money,” about hidden campaign spending used to influence government leaders, and how important journalism is as a watchdog on government. In December 2018, we partnered with The Daily Iowan for a legislative forum that looked at the pending 2019 Iowa legislative session. In April 2019, reporters from IowaWatch, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), The Press-Citizen (Iowa City, IA) and The Daily Iowan helped us lead “Creative Minds: Journalism Workshop Engaging Citizens In the News,” a hands-on citizens’ journalism workshop in Iowa City.
COVERAGE MAP OF THE IOWAWATCH CONNECTION
The IowaWatch Connection aired on 21 radio stations when it came to a close at the end of 2019, covering Iowa and also reaching listeners in parts of Iowa’s seven neighboring states. Additionally, an Illinois high school station aired the program during the school year as a teaching tool for students and to help fulfill its public service responsibility.
This image shows the combined coverage areas of radio stations that aired the IowaWatch Connection radio program from July 2014 through December 2019.
STATIONS THAT AIRED
THE IOWAWATCH CONNECTION IN ITS LAST YEAR
KALA-FM (106.1), Bettendorf
KALA-FM (88.5), Davenport
WMT-AM, Cedar Rapids
KOIL, Omaha
KSIB-FM, Creston
KXEL-AM, Waterloo/Cedar Falls
KICI-LP, Iowa City
WHO-AM, Des Moines
KRTI-FM, Newton/Grinnell
KCYZ-FM, Ames
KSCJ-AM, Sioux City
KSCJ-FM, Sioux City
KMA-AM, Shenandoah
KMA-FM, Clarinda
KGLO-AM, Mason City
KXIC-AM, Iowa City
KASI-AM, Ames
KROS-AM, Clinton
KROS-FM, Clinton
KFJB-AM, Marshalltown
KVFD-AM, Fort Dodge
WLTL-FM, LaGrange (IL) — during the school year
LISTEN HERE TO EPISODES
| Program | Topic | Listen |
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| 287 Dec. 27-29, 2019 |
Verne Marshall and his Gazette, Revisited — He exposed corruption and helped his newspaper win a Pulitzer Prize in the 1930s. But how this Iowan did it was anything but ordinary. Categories: Government, Center News Guests:
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| 286 Dec. 20-22, 2019 |
The Moment of Rescue Revisited — A dramatic rescue at a Des Moines dam in 2009 resulted in a Pulitzer Prize for a Des Moines Register photographer. But there’s more to the story. Categories:Center News Guests:
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| 285 Dec. 13-15, 2019 |
Removing the Stigma Revisited, Revisited — One in a series of programs on Pulitzer Prize-winning Iowa journalists and the stories they told that added to our state’s history. This program remembers a ground-breaking Des Moines Register series aimed at removing the stigma from rape. Categories: Criminal Justice Guests:
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| 284 Dec. 6-8, 2019 |
A Pulitzer for Editorials Revisited — We’re remembering one of our most popular IowaWatch Connection radio projects — interviews with Pulitzer Prize winning journalists from Iowa. This week, Michael Gartner, who ran network news divisions, but won his award for commentary on hometown issues in Iowa. Categories: Education, Center News Guests:
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| 283 Nov. 28-Dec. 1, 2019 |
ACA and Medicare Fraud — We are in the heart of the ‘open enrollment’ period under the Affordable Care Act, and also prime time for fraudsters to impact Medicare. Categories: Health Guests:
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| 282 Nov. 22-24, 2019 |
Making Sense of Medicare — Signing up for Medicare is a rite of passage, but a complex topic to understand. Categories: Health Guests:
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| 281 Nov. 15-17, 2019 |
The Legacy of Tom Harkin — A conversation with Tom Harkin, who served as a member of the U.S. House and Senate for 40 years, representing Iowa. Categories: Government and Politics Guests:
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| 280 Nov. 8-10, 2019 |
Assessing Higher Education Costs — We’ve known the cost of higher education keeps increasing, but new data and tools allow accurate tracking of such costs, and possibly projecting into prospective students’ futures. Categories: Education Guests:
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| 279 Nov. 1-3, 2019 |
A Conversation with Jim Leach, Revisited — We reprise our extended interview with the man who served Iowa in Congress for 30 years. Categories: Government and Politics Guests:
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| 278 Oct. 25-27, 2019 |
Mental Health Care Shortage as Demand Increases in Flood Areas, Revisited — Images from spring flooding easily depicted a devastating situation. But what about the residual impact in areas that cannot be seen? Categories: Health Guests:
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| 277 Oct. 18-20, 2019 |
Rural Redevelopment, Revisited — A variety of efforts are underway to help Iowa’s smaller towns not only survive, but thrive. Categories: Business and Consumer Affairs, Economy and Employment Guests:
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| 276 Oct. 11-13, 2019 |
Public Safety Vehicle Costs — Iowa Department of Public Safety vehicles sustained a five year high of damage in 2018, a 63 percent increase from the prior year alone. But there’s more to the story. Categories: Politics and Government Guests:
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| 275 Oct. 4-6, 2019 |
Caucuses and Issues — It’s just four months before Iowa’s 2020 first-in-the-nation presidential precinct caucuses. An update on how the parties are preparing, and what voters think about the process. Categories: Politics and Government Guests:
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| 274 Sept. 27-29, 2019 |
Game Fish Food Safety Revisited — Fishing is popular for recreation and as a food source. But how safe are those fish to eat? Standards for testing vary in the Midwest. Categories: Health Guests:
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| 273 Sept. 20-22, 2019 |
Iowa Business Challenges — Iowa’s economy is dependent on agriculture, connecting Iowa to the global marketplace. This week, insight on how operating family-owned businesses in Iowa has changed over time. Categories: Business and Consumer Affairs Guests:
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| 272 Sept. 13-15, 2019 |
The Hoover Legacy, Revisited — The only native Iowan to become president led an accomplished life beyond the four years in the Oval Office. But his accomplishments often are misunderstood, those keeping his legacy alive say in this podcast. Categories: Government and Politics Guests:
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| 271 Sept. 6-8, 2019 |
Food Insecurity Solutions, Revisited — Iowa feeds the world but many in the state are food insecure. Possible solutions in this report. Categories: Agriculture, Business and Consumer Affairs Guests:
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| 270 Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2019 |
Sharing Recognition for Excellence, Revisited — The Iowa Broadcast News Association earlier this year presented IowaWatch with seven awards tied to broadcasts in “The IowaWatch Connection” series. We revisit some of the award-winning segments on voter engagement and rural development issues, and bid farewell to executive director and editor Lyle Muller. Category: Center News |
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| 269 Aug. 23-25, 2019 |
Student Mental Health In College, Revisited — Transitioning to life at college is difficult, especially for those dealing with mental illness. Categories: Education, Health Guests:
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| 268 Aug. 16-18, 2019 |
College Payback Time, Revisted — The high cost of a college education and the resultant student and family debt load is a topic we’ve covered before, but it bears continued interest because the problem is getting worse. Categories: Education Guests:
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| 267 Aug. 9-11, 2019 |
Public School Debt, Revisited — Schools need funding, sometimes coming from the state and sometimes from district voters directly. But the concept of educating the next generation requires investment. Categories: Education, Government and Politics Guests:
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| 266 Aug. 2-4, 2019 |
Mental Health Care Shortage as Demand Increases in Flood Areas — Images from spring flooding easily depicted a devastating situation. But what about the residual impact in areas that cannot be seen? Categories: Health Guests:
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| 265 July 26-28, 2019 |
Contentious Legislating, Revisited — The 2019 Iowa legislative session may have ended a week earlier than scheduled, but there was plenty of partisan wrangling in the final week of debate. How might that impact future governing from Des Moines? Categories: Government and Politics Guests:
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| 264 July 19-21, 2019 |
Rural Redevelopment — A variety of efforts are underway to help Iowa’s smaller towns not only survive, but thrive. Categories: Business and Consumer Affairs, Economy and Employment Guests:
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| 263 July 12-14, 2019 |
The Challenges Faced by Iowa’s Small Towns, Revisited — Part 1 of a two-part report: The rural and urban split in Iowa appears to be widening. How hard will it be to maintain the small town way of life? Produced in collaboration with 2019 IowaWatch Simpson College Journalism Project. Categories: Business and Consumer Affairs, Economy and Employment Guests:
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| 262 July 5-7, 2019 |
Tom Vilsack on public service, Revisited — An extended conversation with the 40th governor of Iowa, who later served as U.S. agriculture secretary in the Obama Administration. Categories: Government and Politics, Agriculture Guests:
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| 261 June 28-30, 2019 |
Game Fish Food Safety — Fishing is popular for recreation and as a food source. But how safe are those fish to eat? Standards for testing vary in the Midwest. Categories: Health Guests:
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| 260 June 21-23, 2019 |
Silica Dust Impact, Revisited — Mining activities produce needed material, but the process may have a cost. Residents living near silica sand mines would like to understand better the possible impact the mines have on their health. Categories: Health, Business and Consumer Affairs Guests:
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| 259 June 14-16, 2019 |
Food Insecurity Solutions — Iowa feeds the world but many in the state are food insecure. Possible solutions in this report. Categories: Agriculture, Business and Consumer Affairs Guests:
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| 258 June 7-9, 2019 |
Pesticide Drift Inspection Demand Growing, Revisited — Workloads for state investigators who determine whether herbicides are applied properly in Iowa have more than doubled the past two years, with no plans in sight for adding staffers. Categories: Agriculture, Business and Consumer Affairs, Government and Politics Guests:
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| 257 May 31-June 2, 2019 |
Student Mental Health In College — Transitioning to life at college is difficult, especially for those dealing with mental illness. Categories: Education, Health Guests:
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| 256 May 24-26, 2019 |
Working Into Retirement For Health Care, Revisited — Many Iowans nearing retirement age are driving an increase in older workers who keep their jobs to cover high health care costs their life savings cannot cover. Categories: Economy and Employment, Health Guests:
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| 255 May 17-19, 2019 |
College Payback Time — The high cost of a college education and the resultant student and family debt load is a topic we’ve covered before, but it bears continued interest because the problem is getting worse. Categories: Education Guests:
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| 254 May 10-12, 2019 |
Public School Debt — Schools need funding, sometimes coming from the state and sometimes from district voters directly. But the concept of educating the next generation requires investment. Categories: Education, Government and Politics Guests:
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| 253 May 3-5, 2019 |
Contentious Legislating — The 2019 Iowa legislative session may have ended a week earlier than scheduled, but there was plenty of partisan wrangling in the final week of debate. How might that impact future governing from Des Moines? Categories: Government and Politics Guests:
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| 252 April 26-28, 2019 |
The Challenges Faced by Iowa’s Small Towns — The rural and urban split in Iowa appears to be widening. How hard will it be to maintain the small town way of life? Produced in collaboration with 2019 IowaWatch Simpson College Journalism Project. Categories: Business and Consumer Affairs, Economy and Employment Guests:
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| 251 April 19-21, 2019 |
Sharing Recognition for Excellence — The Iowa Broadcast News Association last week presented IowaWatch with seven awards tied to broadcasts in “The IowaWatch Connection” series. We revisit some of the award-winning segments on voter engagement and rural development issues. Category: Center News |
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| 250 April 12-14, 2019 |
Iowa Legislative Update — The second funnel deadline has passed, and the 2019 Iowa legislative session is in its final weeks. Categories: Government and Politics Guests:
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| 249 April 5-7, 2019 |
Tom Vilsack on public service — An extended conversation with the 40th governor of Iowa, who later served as U.S. agriculture secretary in the Obama Administration. Categories: Government and Politics, Agriculture Guests:
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| 248 March 29-31, 2019 |
Risks and Rewards, Revisited: In The Words Of People Who Have Experienced Them — Sometimes you have to take risks in order to accomplish something. We asked four Eastern Iowans who have taken to speak at a live storytelling event about risks they took in search of something better in reward and share their stories in this podcast. Categories: Business and Consumer Affairs Guests:
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| 247 March 22-24, 2019 |
Silica Dust Impact — Mining activities produce needed material, but the process may have a cost. Residents living near silica sand mines would like to understand better the possible impact the mines have on their health. Categories: Business and Consumer Affairs, Health Guests:
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| 246 March 15-17, 2019 |
Pesticide Drift Inspection Demand Growing — Workloads for state investigators who determine whether herbicides are applied properly in Iowa have more than doubled the past two years, with no plans in sight for adding staffers. Categories: Agriculture, Business and Consumer Affairs, Government and Politics Guests:
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