Here’s your roundup of columns by some of the best writers in the state (and beyond). And what a week it was. Below is a major scoop by Laura Belin, a powerful tribute to Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer John Gapps, insightful commentary leading up to the election, follow-up commentary, an informed take on farming today, and beautifully written essays. Mary Swander is introducing us to emerging writers, and Bob Leonard wrote a thank-you to Rekha Basu on her retirement. Fern Kupfer and her husband, Joe Geha, are our latest addition, and their intro is an amusing look at what is to come from these two pros.
Take the time to read each of the columns below. Share them with your friends. They’ll be grateful you did. So will the writers. You are part of a growing movement to bring professional commentary directly to Iowa readers.
Mention this on Facebook. Twitter. Your holiday newsletter. Together, we are making this new model work.
ED TIBBETTS
CHERYL TEVIS
MARY SWANDER’S EMERGING VOICES
MARY SWANDER
BARRY PIATT
CHUCK OFFENBURGER
ROBERT LEONARD
FERN KUPFER AND JOE GEHA
DANA JAMES
BETH HOFFMAN
JULIE GAMMACK
JODY GIFFORD
DEBRA ENGLE
SUZANNA DEBACA
ART CULLEN
DAVE BUSIEK
DOUGLAS BURNS
LAURA BELIN
To receive a weekly roundup of our columnist links each Sunday, subscribe here: IOWA WRITERS’ COLLABORATIVE.
We came together to address a growing lack of local commentary around the state. Many towns have lost their local newspaper, and others are producing less opinion writing. The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative connects writers to readers in an ad-free format. You can subscribe at no charge, but if you can support their work, we encourage you to become a paid subscriber to as many as possible.
And we ask you to support your local newspaper.
Laura Belin: Iowa Politics with Laura Belin, Windsor Heights
Doug Burns: The Iowa Mercury, Carroll
Dave Busiek: Dave Busiek on Media, Des Moines
Art Cullen: Art Cullen’s Notebook, Storm Lake
Suzanna de Baca: Dispatches from the Heartland, Huxley
Debra Engle: A Whole New World, Madison County
Julie Gammack: Julie Gammack’s Iowa Potluck, Des Moines and Okoboji
Beth Hoffman: In the Dirt, Lovilla
Dana James: New Black Iowa, Des Moines
Fern Kupfer and Joe Geha: Fern and Joe, Ames
Robert Leonard: Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture, Bussey
Chuck Offenburger: Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger, Jefferson and Des Moines
Barry Piatt: Barry Piatt on Politics-Behind the Curtain, Washington, D.C.
Mary Swander: Mary Swander’s Buggy Land, Kalona
Mary Swander: Mary Swander’s Emerging Voices
Cheryl Tevis: Unfinished Business, Boone County
Ed Tibbetts: Along the Mississippi, Davenport
Also, please subscribe to our alliance partner, Iowa Capital Dispatch. They provide hard-hitting news along with selected commentary by IWC members. IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH