To Our Readers and Supporters
From our President and Executive Editor
The role of a community’s newspaper is different than most other businesses in the community
Sure, we create and deliver products: a daily newspaper or digital editions to your inbox or smart phone. But the connection and responsibility runs much deeper. We share a collective identity, remind you of the stake we have in each other and potential we have. We connect people and businesses to drive their own opportunities. And we do it every day.
Our newspaper has had a front-row seat to see our region develop since 1883. In that time, we’ve shared the stories of people, places and ideas, the growth and progress, the failures and challenges that have faced the region. We’ve brought you into the discussions you didn’t have time to attend, introduced you to people you didn’t know were here, or asked questions to people you weren’t able to connect with yourself.
Too often, though, we underplay the importance of the role we play in our community’s health. When you look at the topics and the places that we cover – our success is also an indicator of our community’s health. Our work is as important and instrumental to the community as clean water, reliable energy, health care or good schools.
But we also can’t ignore that – while our audiences grow – the business model supporting our work has collapsed. It’s more important than ever that subscribers and non-subscribers understand the role we play because it isn’t a guarantee our work continues. As we challenge our team to think about the connection The Gazette has in the community and how we work to help it thrive, it’s also important we challenge our audience to think about us more than simply a source of information or entertainment and take a more holistic view. Regardless of the issue in our community that you care about, supporting us is an important piece of making it succeed.
The Gazette is a reflection of the communities we serve. We serve as a watchdog over local government, amplify the voices of those with unmet needs and also challenge the community to grow or to change. News organizations like ours provide important strength to the social safety net in our community. We routinely report on social programs and provide advertising support to many groups focused on doing good in our region. We provide an outlet to learn about different programs and create paths for individuals to help these organizations.
Throughout this report, you will see examples of the outstanding work our staff does each day. This is the kind of reporting that makes The Gazette unique. Nearly one-third of the remaining newspapers in the country – approximately 3,000 – have closed since 2004.
We’ve been candid about the challenges facing newspapers and the local media landscape. While our audience continues to grow and remain highly engaged, the business model that sustained the journalism for centuries collapsed. Costs of print editions continue to spike, while a handful of digital tech companies have dominated the internet with different responsibilities for accuracy and without the objectives for local community success.
“We are incredibly proud of the work you see highlighted in this report. It’s your support that allows us to continue this work.”
We remain deeply appreciative of the subscribers, advertisers and donors who have continued their subscriptions as we navigate the frequency change of our print edition. Your continued support is essential in our ability to maintain the journalism we do each day. We’d ask those in position to do so, to consider a philanthropic gift to help sustain our reporting team. We’d also ask you to consider sharing this report with others to help build better connection and understanding throughout our community.
Change is a constant in journalism right now. We are committed to sustaining local journalism in Eastern Iowa. We are incredibly proud of the work you see highlighted in this report. It’s your support that allows us to continue this work. We’re honored to continue the trust you place in us to share the stories of the people, places and things that make this region truly fantastic.
Thanks for reading and your continued support of local journalism.
Kelly Homewood
President | Employee Owner
kelly.homewood@thegazette.com
(319) 398-8304
Zack Kucharski
Executive Editor | Employee Owner
zack.kucharski@thegazette.com
(319) 398-8219
POET Bioprocessing — the largest producer of ethanol in the United States — operates an ethanol plant near Shell Rock in Northeast Iowa. For three years, the plant violated a permit and emitted cancer-causing toxins into the atmosphere. It paid about $43,000 in back fees and a $10,000 fine to the state, and insists there was no danger to public health. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
We Dig Deep
No one told the residents
People who live in Shell Rock knew nothing of the toxic air pollution that had emitted from a nearby ethanol producer for years until investigative reporter Jared Strong looked into it. His monthslong inquiry uncovered gaps in regulation that allowed the pollution to happen and inadequate communication among state departments within Iowa and Nebraska, which failed to alert residents and evaluate the risks to them and the facility’s workers. His reporting prompted government officials to examine those risks and to review their policies to prevent similar incidents.
Jared Strong
Investigative Reporter | Employee Owner
jared.strong@thegazette.com
Kristin Clay, general manager of the POET facility near Shell Rock, speaks Sept. 3 during a Shell Rock City Council meeting. (Jared Strong/The Gazette)
Iowa ethanol plant emitted cancer-causing toxins for years.
Read the story here >>
Josh Wellman’s mother, Teresa Walton, and sister, Shawna Hunziker, sort June 5 through photos of Josh throughout his childhood and adulthood at Shawna’s home in Vinton. Wellman has been missing since 2015. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
We Investigate
Shining a light on unsolved cases
After covering the cold case murder of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko, which was solved 38 years later ending in a 2020 conviction, courts reporter Trish Mehaffey started looking at the other 27 unresolved cases in Cedar Rapids with the numerous victims and their loved ones who were still waiting on answers in mind. She asked Cedar Rapids Police Investigator Matt Denlinger if he would review some of the case files and share insights and new information for a continuing series The Gazette kicked off last February and will continue in 2025.
Trish Mehaffey
Court Reporter | Employee Owner
trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com
Frederick “Fred” Leonard Coste holds his daughter, Dianne, in 1953. Coste was fatally stabbed Oct. 15, 1959, at Family Finance Corporation in Cedar Rapids. (Supplied photo)
Missing from Cedar Rapids since 2015, ‘we just want someone to tell us where he is’
Read the story here >>
Daughter of finance manager slain in 1959 in Cedar Rapids still hopes for answers
Read the story here >>
Maria Davila Hererra feeds her son, Christian Davila Reconco, 20, on April 12 at her home in Iowa City. Davila Reconco was born with physical and developmental disabilities. (The Gazette)
Here’s why half of Latino immigrants are chronically homeless in Johnson County
Read the story here >>
We Touch Lives
Raising awareness, inspiring solutions
After The Gazette learned in 2022 that homelessness in Cedar Rapids had increased by 200 percent since the pandemic, reporters and photojournalists set out to find answers while connecting the faces and stories of the unhoused to the public’s conscience. But that work to paint the bigger picture didn’t stop there. In 2024, features reporter Elijah Decious listened to the harrowing journeys of immigrants who set their sights on a better life in Iowa but remain chronically homeless, living in housing crowded far beyond its capacity. As new solutions are evaluated and implemented, their stories — which were published by The Gazette in English and Spanish — offer a critical reminder to ensure no one is left behind.
Elijah Decious
Features Reporter | Employee Owner
elijah.decious@thegazette.com
Maria Davila Hererra speaks with an immigration attorney April 12 at her home in Iowa City while caring for her son, Christian Davila Reconco. (The Gazette)
We Answer Your Questions
Making sense of the state we call home
Lifelong residents and Iowa transplants alike have questions about the state they call home. The Gazette’s series Curious Iowa exists to answer reader-submitted questions about our state and how it works. Since launching in May 2023, over 360 questions have been received, and 82 have been answered. Reporters answered questions like, How are THC drinks and edibles legal in Iowa?, Why does Iowa have so many gravel roads?, and Why does Iowa have a city west of the Missouri River?
Bailey Cichon
Social Video Producer | Employee Owner
bailey.cichon@thegazette.com
Plastic Recycling of Iowa Falls
processes approximately
35,000 POUNDS
of plastics every day.
There are about
1,500 NAMES
in the Iowa Freedom Trail Project Database.
A birthplace marker located outside
Riverside’s City Hall claims
MARCH 22, 2228
will be the future birthdate of Star Trek Captain James T. Kirk.
Staff physician Dr. Mike Halyko listens to the heartbeat of 15-month-old Devyn Kaas during an appointment at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City on March 1. Devyn’s mother, Brooke Kaas, holds her while Devyn’s father, Scott Kaas, watches. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
We Seek Answers
Connecting research, policy, and people in the battle against cancer
Iowa’s alarming cancer rate – second-highest in the nation and fastest growing – caught many Iowans by surprise when the Iowa Cancer Registry called it out in 2023.
In 2024, The Gazette set out to explore the work being done by researchers, lawmakers and doctors to look at new ways to fight this deadly disease. Over three months, Erin Jordan and Brittney J. Miller interviewed two dozen people, including cancer survivors, oncologists, current and former university researchers, lawmakers and educators. They read dozens of studies and tracked cancer-related legislation.
They – and photojournalists from The Gazette – traveled the state, talking to people who were studying cancer or had been affected by it. The result was a three-part series, the first comprehensive investigative journalism done by any Iowa newspaper about the state’s cancer trends. It gave Iowans information about which cancers are most likely to show up in which parts of the state, and the work that’s being done to understand – and fight – the disease.
Diane Anderson prepares for her blood to be drawn to make sure her breast cancer still is in remission. (The Gazette)
David Cwiertny, director of the UI Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Iowa has the
SECOND-HIGHEST RATE OF CANCER IN THE U.S.
with an estimated 20,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed in the state each year.
What you need to know about Iowa’s soaring cancer rates
Read the story here >>
We Encourage Civil Discourse
A space for community perspective on Iowa’s critical issues
The Gazette Insight pages strive for the civil exchange of ideas. Reaction, position, and opinion empower readers to identify where they align – or not – with their peers on a variety of Iowa issues. Pages include staff-written editorials taking positions on key issues, staff-produced opinion columns, community generated letters and guest columns.
Editorial Board
The editorial board meets weekly to discuss the latest happenings in local, state and national issues. Regular meetings are held with economic development and governing bodies (quarterly) along with community groups upon request. The weekly editorials are typically published twice a week. In 2024 the board weighed in on issues including food insecurity, climate change, and the 2024 election.
Zack Kucharski
Executive Editor | Employee Owner
zack.kucharski@thegazette.com
Todd Dorman
Opinion Editor | Employee Owner
todd.dorman@thegazette.com
Quinn Pettifer
Manager of Brand Initiatives | Employee Owner
quinn.pettifer@thegazette.com
Editorial Columnists
Editorial columnists share their individual viewpoints on a variety of local and state issues. Editorial columnists still must report factual elements, but present their opinion and analysis.
Todd Dorman
Opinion Editor | Employee Owner
todd.dorman@thegazette.com
Althea Cole
Content Editor | Employee Owner
althea.cole@thegazette.com
Insight Fellows
The Gazette Fellows Program continued in 2024 with a focus to expand the diversity of viewpoints on political, cultural and policy issues affecting Iowans. The fellows serve a minimum one-year term and write monthly columns.
Sofia DeMartino
Editorial Fellow
editorial@thegazette.com
Chris Espersen
Editorial Fellow
editorial@thegazette.com
David Chung
Editorial Fellow
editorial@thegazette.com
The Gazette Pints and Politics
700+
Community Letters
Published in 2024
450+
Guest Columns
Published in 2024
Protect our reporting.
The Gazette is a 100% employee-owned daily news operation.
Help us continue advancing local, independent journalism.
Subscribe
Our readers take a meaningful step in advancing our work when they decide to subscribe to The Gazette. Become a subscriber and help us continue our mission to inform, engage and empower as we uncover stories, investigate issues, and celebrate the achievements of our community. Visit thegazette.com/subscribe.
Support the work by funding the journalist
The Gazette was awarded a Report for America journalist who reports on energy, environment and water quality issues. Consider a tax-deductible gift through The Gazette’s giving portal of the Ground Truth Project as we secure the required funding for this important coverage. Visit thegazette.com/communityfund.
For a deeper conversation on contributing to The Gazette, contact Tony Baranowski at tony.baranowski@thegazette.com
We Connect Ideas
The Iowa Ideas annual conference has evolved to a year-long, state-spanning convergence of thoughtful conversations and news-shaping narratives
Nearly a decade since its launch, Iowa Ideas continues on a trajectory of growth and impact across Iowa. The virtual format allows for a free conference convenient for both attendees and panelists. Staff from The Gazette meet regularly with more than 100 advisory council members to shape the conversations making up three In-Depth Weeks and the full October conference across nine tracks. Challenges are illuminated, triumphs shared and connections made, all of which helps shape The Gazette’s coverage year round.
Iowa Ideas 2024 Recap
Iowa Ideas 2024 saw record-breaking growth in attendance and deepening engagement from participants. A look at some of our top-line metrics from the conference:
3,000+
Total Participants
2,000
Video Replays
1,000+
In-Depth Week Participants
50+
Viewing Parties
What to Expect in 2025
Agriculture returns as a track for the first time in more than five years, leading off with an In-Depth Week in March dedicated to innovation. From manufacturing to research and land use and technology, ag has long driven the Iowa economy.
We Bring People Together
Experiences that encourage growth
In 2024, The Gazette produced more than 30 events – each with a commitment to deliver exceptional opportunities that align with The Gazette brand and exceed the expectations of all involved. Strategy and partnership paved the way to record breaking attendance and the launch of new elements to classic gatherings, including Festival of Trees’ Sensory Day and Business Breakfast Series – Iowa City edition.
Through engaging discussions, networking opportunities, and celebrations of local talent, our events unite small businesses, families, and community leaders to inspire action and open conversations.
Event Opportunities
Elena Minor
Events Manager | Employee Owner
elena.minor@thegazette.com
Excellence in the Arts
Student honors and mentor recognition in visual, performing, digital arts, along with spoken word
100+
Annual Participants
Business Breakfast Series
The latest in economic development and impact on area business
250+
Annual Participants
HER Women of Achievement
A celebration of women who lead
350+
Annual Participants
Pints and Politics
Spirited conversations in the name of democracy
600+
Annual Participants
Iowa Ideas
Exploring solutions for critical issues impacting Iowa
3,000+
Annual Participants
Festival of Trees
A classic holiday event for all ages
11,000+
Annual Participants
gazettelocaltickets.com
Introducing Gazette Local Tickets
An inclusive platform free for event organizers, providing tools for events, courtesy of The Gazette
We Give Back
Resources to inform and empower
What’s possible when barriers to learning are removed? With the support of area partners, The Gazette hosts a variety of philanthropic programs designed for individuals and organizations to connect, flourish, and thrive.
Partnership Opportunities
Quinn Pettifer
Manager of Brand Initiatives | Employee Owner
quinn.pettifer@thegazette.com • (319) 981-0307
The Gazette Gives Back
and social service nonprofits including advertising credits, workshops and networking. Visit thegazette.com/givesback to learn more.
United We March Forward
Life skills support for Iowa’s immigrant and refugee families with use of the daily newspaper for English Literacy coursework. Visit unitedwemarchforward.org to learn more.
Newspapers in Education
Subscriber donated newspapers for classrooms and educators. Visit thegazette.com/nie to learn more.
Love Your Library
The promotion of literacy and the value of public libraries, including on-site access to thegazette.com. Visit thegazette.com/library to learn more.
Eastern Iowa Honor Flight
A pre-flight preview and recognition of participating veterans with a double full-page printed keepsake. Visit eihonorflight.org to learn more.
2024 Highlights
- The Gazette distributed 72,000+ newspapers to 40 area schools.
- The Gazette provided media sponsor support for 50+ community festivals, conferences, and programs.
- A series of workshops for The Gazette Gives Back class of 2024 offered helpful tools and resources related to branding, media literacy, and digital advertising.
- The Gazette partnered with United We March Forward for their Kikao series. The Kikao gathering hosted a cooking demonstration and celebration for the graduates of the driver education program.
We Capture History
A fraction of a second has the power to inform, inspire, engage – even entertain.
With genuine curiosity and a desire to visually tell the stories of the communities we serve, The Gazette’s photojournalists use their skills to document everyday events in people’s lives as well as significant events in Eastern Iowa. Their work fulfills the continuing responsibility our photographers have in sharing those events, from the seemingly mundane to the historic, with our readership.
Those fractions of a second highlight human emotions of a birth of a child or from a hard-fought sporting contest. It also can capture the fleeting glint of a picturesque sunset. Photographs captured by The Gazette’s photojournalists bring another level of depth to the stories and history that affect us.
Jim Slosiarek
Visuals Editor | Employee Owner
jim.slosiarek@thegazette.com
We Celebrate with You
High school teams and athletes remain a priority for The Gazette, and our award-winning sports team provides unmatched coverage of dozens of area schools. College athletics also matter, from the University of Iowa and Iowa State to Kirkwood Community College.
Our team’s deep knowledge of programs, coaches, and family legacies comes from decades on the baselines, delivering up-to-the-minute coverage across digital and print platforms.
Although Caitlin Clark has moved on to the WNBA, we continue to cover Iowa women’s basketball’s impact. With Iowa State football and men’s basketball thriving, The Gazette delivers news, features, and analysis on major Eastern Iowa sports and beyond.
J.R. Ogden
Sports Editor | Employee Owner
jr.ogden@thegazette.com
Juliette Houseman of Cumming, middle, holds a sign that represents the number of students being served by Iowa area education agencies while waiting for an AEA hearing at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines on Feb. 21. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
We Spur Action
In a year that included the Iowa caucuses, a 104-day legislative session, and a general election, The Gazette’s reporting team provided unparalleled coverage of politicians’ proposals, and the ways those proposals might affect Iowans. The Gazette’s political coverage is led by Erin Murphy and Tom Barton, chief and deputy chief of the Des Moines bureau. When the state legislature is in session, they’re at the State Capitol every day, covering committee hearings, new bills, policy debate, and lobbying by Iowans.
Iowa Republican state Sen. Lynn Evans (right) speaks during a Senate Education Subcommittee hearing on Senate Study Bill 3073 in the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
In the lead-up to state and federal elections, they’re attending rallies, reporting on candidates’ positions on issues, and speaking with voters. At the heart of their work is the pursuit of facts that will help Iowans make decisions about the people and legislation they support, and give them the information they need to get involved and affect change.
Erin Murphy
Des Moines Bureau Chief | Employee Owner
erin.murphy@thegazette.com
Tom Barton
Deputy Bureau Chief | Employee Owner
tom.barton@thegazette.com
Accolades
2024 Iowa Newspaper Association Awards
First Place Awards
- Best Continuing Coverage: Grace King and Tom Barton – AEA System Changes
- Best Sports Feature Story: KJ Pilcher – Harris Profile
- Best Sports Feature Photo: Savannah Blake – Miller Pin
- Best Feature Pages: Staff
- Best Ad Featuring Misc: Staff
Second Place Awards
- Master Columnist: Chris Espersen
- Best Sports Story: KJ Pilcher – Decorah senior Simon makes state history
- Best Personality Feature Story: Elijah Decious – In Pursuit of the Crown
- Best Photographer: Nick Rohlman
- Best Sports Photo: Nick Rohlman – NCAA Spladle
- Community Leadership: Staff – The Gazette Impact Report
- Best Special Section: Emily Hawk and Victoria Fish – HER Stories
- Best Ad Designer: Seth Smith
- Best Ad Featuring Furniture: Staff – Ferguson
- Best Ad Featuring Grocery: Chad Willenborg and Jacob Willenborg – Hy-Vee
Third Place Awards
- Best Ad Featuring Grocery: Staff – New Pioneer Coop
- Best of Class Advertising: Staff – The Douglas
- Best Special Section (Editorial): Staff – Date with Destiny, Iowa Hawkeye Women’s Basketball Final Four
- Total Newspaper Design: Staff
- Best Headline Writing: Staff
- Best Use of Graphics: Staff
- Best Newspaper Website: Staff
- Best Video: Bailey Cichon – Curious Iowa: House moving
- Best News Photo: Jim Slosiarek – Road Kill
We Document Milestones
Gazette Special Sections provide a unique avenue to chronicle Iowans’ stories
Newspapers have historically been referred to as the first drafts of history. The Gazette’s historical perspective doesn’t end with the first draft. In 2024 we marked monumental anniversaries for the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, The Czech and Slovak Museum, MidWestOne Bank and other community partners. We acknowledged leaders, artists and inspirational figures in special publications. And we sought out new ways to celebrate all our community has to offer in terms of leisure, education and healthcare.
Our History
A legacy of independence
Since 1883, The Gazette has served the eastern Iowa cities of Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and beyond with local coverage. Today, the company is Eastern Iowa’s largest, independent media company, publishing print and online news products every day.
As a 100 percent employee-owned company, the people within The Gazette are part of an always-evolving industry with a past to remember and a future to report.
News that impacts the readers
The Gazette maintains its commitment to being the region’s trusted source for local, state and national news by providing professional, award-winning journalism. Coverage is fueled by social and civic engagement with comprehensive reporting that covers a variety of interests and issues.
Innovation
From idea sharing events, full digital publication, to video and podcast segments, The Gazette strikes a solid balance of classic offerings with new and exciting enhancements that will build a greater bond with current and future audiences.
Through the Years
Jan. 10, 1883: The first edition of The Evening Gazette is printed – four pages, 3 cents a copy – by founders Lucian H. Post and Elbridge T. Otis.
March 1884: Clarence Miller and Fred Faulkes buy The Evening Gazette. Their family members will guide the paper for the next 100-plus years.
1925: The Evening Gazette moves into a new building on the corner of Third Avenue and Fifth Street SE, its headquarters for the next 95 years.
1936: The Gazette wins the Pulitzer Prize for community service after exposing corruption in state government related to gambling and liquor sales.
November 1, 1975: The first Saturday morning Gazette is published.
July 19, 1979: The paper changes its name to The Gazette, reflecting the paper’s regional and statewide coverage.
1986: An employee stock ownership plan is created, with Gazette employees holding about 44 percent of the company’s stock as part of a retirement plan.
1987: The Gazette becomes one of the first newspapers in the nation to offer a telephone news service-CITYLINE-to supplement traditional news coverage.
August 1994: The Gazette launches FYIowa, an online bulletin board service. It becomes Gazetteonline.com in October 1995 and is now thegazette.com
November 25, 2004: The Gazette’s e-edition launches, offering the first digital Gazette subscriptions.
2012: The Gazette Company transitions to a 100 percent employee-owned news operation.
2016: The Gazette hosts its first Iowa Ideas Conference and was honored with the Iowa Newspaper Association’s Bill Monroe Innovation Award in 2017.
January 1, 2017: Folience, The Gazette’s parent company, is formed to diversify the company beyond media holdings.
January 10, 2023: The Gazette celebrates 140 years of continuous publication.
Tell Your Story
Drive results with dynamic marketing solutions
If you’re looking to increase brand engagement, The Gazette’s team of strategists have the resources and expertise to help you achieve more with your marketing. Reach a diverse, informed, and highly-engaged audience when you advertise on our multimedia platforms.
Print Advertising
Reach thousands of Eastern Iowans through a customized mix of print products.
The Gazette: Reach engaged local readers through our daily product with traditional display advertising.
Penny Saver: Reach all Gazette subscribers plus an expanded audience in Linn County through the weekly TMC.
Premium Ad Positions: Give maximum exposure to your message with highly visible page positions. Available in both The Gazette and Penny Saver.
Classifieds: Low-cost, highly flexible advertising to reach your target audience.
Native Advertising / Sponsored Content: Tell your story in your own words while engaging readers and building awareness on important topics.
Inserts and Preprints: Send your message to targeted audience segments within The Gazette and Penny Saver.
Special Sections: The Gazette publishes more than 30 special sections each year. Readers love these niche and general interest publications.
Our format allows you to place your message in front of readers who are connected to that topic area.
Digital Advertising
Serve your ad campaigns on thegazette.com, The Gazette App, Green Gazette, and our newsletters through traditional run of site, video or high impact billboard impressions.
The Gazette also offers a full suite of digital beyond our properties including targeted campaigns on social, web, OTT/connected TV, SEO, and streaming audio.
Recruitment
Hire top talent with the help of the Gazette’s recruitment specialists using tools like targeted digital, print, and Corridor Careers; Eastern Iowa’s only job board for local employers and job seekers.
Event Sponsorships
Showcase your brand to a broad audience through event sponsorships at our 15+ annual events.
Advertising Opportunities
Amy McKelvy
Advertising Sales & Support Manager | Employee Owner
amy.mckelvy@thegazette.com
(319) 398-8351
Iowa Ideas Opportunities
Tony Baranowski
Manager of Special Projects | Employee Owner
tony.baranowski@thegazette.com
(319) 398-8366
