Journalists of the Gazette: Meet John Steppe

Where are you from and where did you go to school?

I am from Milwaukee, Wisc. and studied at Marquette.

How long have you been at The Gazette?

I’ve been at The Gazette as a reporter since 2020. Before that, I was a Gazette intern and also a Gazette freelancer, so I’ve worn a couple different hats.

Describe your beat.

I’m the Gazette’s Hawkeye Football reporter. So, if Iowa football is playing somewhere, you’ll see me there and probably some other spots, helping out wherever with Iowa athletics coverage.

What do you like about being the Hawkeye Football reporter?

Every day it’s something different and there’s been so many great experiences, so many great stories I’ve been able to tell, from Caitlin Clark mania to two Big 10 West title teams. There’s been a lot of great stories that have been a privilege to be able to help share.

Tell us about your newsletter and podcast.

You can subscribe to the Hawk Off the Press newsletter and get weekly insights from me on all things Hawkyes—not just football. I host also the Hawk Off the Press podcast, so you can subscribe to that on whatever your favorite podcast listening platform is. The show has had a lot of unique guests. For example, Rebecca Lobo has been on to talk about Caitlin Clark. During football season you can hear from beat writers of the opposing team to get a better insight on what to expect.

What do you like to do outside of work?

When I’m not at The Gazette and when I’m not busy in football season, I love to travel. I love to hike. I enjoy reading. I enjoy also just sitting on my couch and watching TV too sometimes.

Share a fun fact.

I went to school with the son of the inventor of the cheesehead.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com