At a time when our nation is about as divided as it can be, national news outlets highlight our differences and perpetuate polarization. Local news, however, draws us back to reality.
When the world seems like it’s full of war and struggle, people also want to hear good news. Local newspapers like The Daily Iowan tell the stories of your neighbors, your teachers, your kids, all doing positive, newsworthy things. Obviously, Iowa City and towns like it aren’t without their issues, but local news reminds us that we’re all human and gives us common ground.
The DI has a storied history, accumulating Associated Press Pacemaker Awards across print, online, and broadcast platforms for decades. It was also named the Iowa Newspaper Association’s 2025 Newspaper of the Year. This is a newsroom that is overwhelmingly committed to authentic storytelling and giving a voice to the Iowa City community.
Our dedication to local reporting grew in 2024 when our publication acquired the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun and the Solon Economist, preventing two small-town papers from folding under financial pressure.
The DI also serves as a learning lab, fostering the growth of young journalists and continuing the strong, invaluable tradition of the Fourth Estate.
Our newsroom’s success, however, is not possible without support. We are fortunate to send members of our staff across the country to cover Hawkeye sports, politics, and more.
Our politics team gets to report on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and our sports team gets to cover big-time match-ups for March Madness, bowl games, and wrestling championships. We also closely cover the Iowa legislative session, local government and elections, and a variety of performances and concerts.
I personally have been able to travel on the DI’s dime to report on different stories, so I know how essential the experience is to growing as a writer and producing quality work.
Although I’m from a bigger city, Denver, I’ve also seen what happens to larger newspapers when the money runs dry. My mother is also a former journalist who worked at the Rocky Mountain News in Denver for years until its parent company decided to close the doors. She and many other talented journalists had to turn elsewhere for work.
Since then, I’ve also seen The Denver Post drastically dwindle its staff and incorporate paywalls. If newspapers in major cities need extra support, that just goes to show how much local papers like the DI need an extra boost.
Today, through a generous donation during the University of Iowa’s annual 24-hour donation drive, One Day for Iowa, you can support local news and the DI. Please consider helping us continue our strong tradition of student journalism so we can keep bringing our readers good news.