News
April 14, 2023
ICPA President Murphy issues statement regarding Iowa Supreme Court ruling on open records case
A statement from Iowa Capitol Press Association President Erin Murphy regarding this morning's Iowa Supreme Court ruling on open records requests:
“Today’s ruling from the Iowa Supreme Court is an important one for transparency and accountability in Iowa government, and is a victory for all Iowans. The Court’s ruling affirms the state law that declares government officials must respond to requests for certain records in a timely fashion. As the Court says, condoning an unlimited delay in government response would hamper the free and open examination of public records. The Iowa Capitol Press Association is pleased with the Court’s ruling as we continue to advocate for policies that encourage transparency and access to Iowans’ government.”
(Note: ICPA Vice President Kathie Obradovich, whose news organization was one of the plaintiffs in the case, recused herself from the process and was not involved in the publication of this statement.)
January 3, 2023
Legislative preview forum canceled; ICPA expresses concern with statehouse leaders' declining availability
The 2023 edition of the Iowa Capitol Press Association’s annual legislative preview forum has been canceled after Gov. Kim Reynolds, Republican Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver and Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley declined an invitation to the event, breaking with more than two decades of tradition.
The Iowa Capitol Press Association is very disappointed with this decision by Republican statehouse leaders, a decision that continues an unsettling trend of reduced availability to Iowa journalists. The ICPA continues to believe elected officials who craft state laws and operate state government should be accessible to the journalists who monitor that work on behalf of all Iowans.
The ICPA hopes to resume the forum – which has been held annually for more than 20 years, previously by the Associated Press – next year or at another time in another form.
December 20, 2022
Iowa Capitol Press Association amends bylaws, including membership guidelines
Iowa Capitol Press Association members on Friday, Dec. 16, voted to amend the organization’s bylaws, including by updating the membership guidelines and making other technical changes. The updates were the result of ICPA's annual bylaws review.
The updates were made after discussion by ICPA members over what types of political activities should be unacceptable for membership in a group that reports on Iowa state government. The updated bylaws make clear that an individual who works for a political campaign should not be eligible for ICPA membership.
This amendment was made without political consideration. The ICPA membership continues to include journalists who cover Iowa state government from both liberal and conservative perspectives, in addition to those who strive for ideologically neutral coverage.
The Iowa Capitol Press Association’s bylaws can be viewed here at iowacapitolpress.com.
January 7, 2022
Iowa Capitol Press Association statement regarding media seating in the Iowa Senate
A statement from Iowa Capitol Press Association officers, President Erin Murphy, Vice President Kathie Obradovich, and Secretary Katarina Sostaric:
Media access to the people who make laws is a critical component of representative government. Primarily for this reason, the Iowa Capitol Press Association is extremely disappointed in the Iowa Senate’s decision to move reporters out of the press work stations on the chamber floor and into the upstairs gallery.
In moving reporters off the floor, the Iowa Senate becomes one of only a handful of state legislative chambers across the country to limit access in this way, according to information from the National Conference on State Legislatures. For more than 100 years, reporters have worked from the press work stations on the chamber floors in the Iowa House and Senate to cover the Legislature and the taxpayer-financed officials who make state laws. For more than 100 years, the setup has served all parties well: the press, state lawmakers, and most importantly the public, which has benefited from the reporting that comes from that access.
Having real-time access to lawmakers allows reporters to provide important clarification, context and additional information to the public. Lawmakers who have real-time access to reporters can pass along news that might not otherwise be reported, and also hold journalists accountable for errors or unclear information in stories. Putting reporters in the upstairs galleries puts up new barriers to this process, and makes it more difficult for reporters to serve as the eyes and ears of the public. The better we can do our job, the better understanding the public will have of what their elected representatives are doing on their behalf.
We are pleased the Iowa House has pledged to maintain press work stations on the House chamber floor, and we hope the Iowa Senate reconsiders, and works with the press to return reporters to the Senate floor. In the meantime, the Iowa Capitol Press Association will continue to advocate for conditions in which press corps members can, for the benefit of the public, conduct their work safely and effectively.
Supporting the Iowa Capitol Press Association on this issue are the Iowa Broadcast News Association and the Iowa Freedom of Information Council.
A statement from Dar Danielson, executive director, and Zarren Egesdal, board president of the Iowa Broadcast News Association:
“The Iowa Broadcast News Association fully supports the statement of the ICPA and asks the Senate leadership to reconsider this change.”
A statement from Randy Evans, executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council (please also see the attached full FOIC press release):
“All Iowans should be troubled, as we are, by the decision of Iowa Senate leaders to move Statehouse journalists from the ‘press bench’ at the front of the Senate chamber to the public gallery upstairs.
For decades, journalists have had access to the floor of the Senate chamber. This close proximity to senators and their leaders is the customary practice in virtually every other state legislature.
This access is a recognition of the important role journalists have played throughout our state’s history. They have served as the eyes and ears of citizens across Iowa who cannot be in Des Moines when the Legislature is meeting.
These reporters, photographers and videographers have informed the people of Iowa about the debates and votes. They have been able to quickly interview individual senators and flesh out their views and votes. And the work space on the ‘press bench’ has enabled journalists to send their reports back to their newspapers, their stations and their websites.
Barring journalists from access to the floor of the Senate chamber does not continue Iowa’s long and proud tradition of transparency that is a foundation of our democracy.
The Iowa Freedom of Information Council encourages Iowa Senate leaders to reconsider their hasty decision and once again provide Statehouse reporters with space on the ‘press bench.’
The Council is a 45-year-old nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. We advocate on behalf of improved access to our state and local governments and better accountability of our governments to the people of Iowa.”
November 22, 2021*
Iowa Capitol Press Association officers re-elected
Iowa Capitol Press Association members recently held officer elections, and President Erin Murphy, Vice President Kathie Obradovich, and Secretary Katarina Sostaric were all unanimously re-elected. The officers will serve two-year terms.
"I am pleased with and proud of the work this new organization performed during its first official year, and I look forward to continuing that important work with my fellow officers and all members in the years ahead," Murphy said.
* Statement was posted on this website later, on December 15, 2021
July 30, 2021*
Iowa Capitol Press Association statement regarding AP story
The following is a statement from the Iowa Capitol Press Association officers:
It is discouraging to see the state argue that Iowa’s Open Records Law is not a “clearly defined and well-recognized public policy.” It sends the wrong message to public officials, who in fact do have a clearly defined obligation under Chapter 22 to maintain public records and make them available for public examination.
One of the primary reasons members of the Statehouse press corps formed the Iowa Capitol Press Association last year was our concern about protecting and improving access to state government for the media and the public. We object to the exclusion of one of our members, Laura Belin, from Gov. Kim Reynolds’ recent news conference and will pursue this concern with the governor’s office.
* Statement was posted on this website later, on August 20, 2021
March 10, 2021
Iowa Capitol Press Association statement regarding Andrea Sahouri verdict
The following is a statement from Iowa Capitol Press Association President Erin Murphy:
"The Iowa Capitol Press Association is relieved that a jury of her peers has acquitted Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri, who was arrested last summer while simply doing her job, covering social justice protests in Des Moines. It remains concerning that Sahouri was arrested, charged and tried for performing the basic duties of a free press. Today's verdict is a victory for Sahouri, the Register, journalists everywhere, and the First Amendment."
Nov. 30, 2020
Statehouse journalists form organization to promote transparency, public access
Members of the Iowa Statehouse press corps are announcing the formation of the Iowa Capitol Press Association.
The purpose of the association is to support robust coverage of Iowa state government for the benefit of the public and to promote policies that encourage transparency and access. The association will also advocate for conditions in which press corps members can conduct their work safely and effectively.
The Iowa Capitol Press Association shares many of the same values with similar legislative media associations in more than a dozen states.
Association members have elected the following officers: president Erin Murphy, Lee Enterprises; vice president Kathie Obradovich, Iowa Capital Dispatch; and secretary Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio.
“I am beyond humbled and honored that my colleagues, for whom I have deep respect, have put their faith in me to lead this fledgling organization, whose mission and goals I believe in deeply,” Murphy said. “Our members have enjoyed a respectful working relationship with our leaders in state government. We look forward to working with them to foster a climate of transparency and accountability, for the benefit of the people of Iowa.”
The Iowa Capitol Press Association’s members include journalists employed by the Associated Press, the Des Moines Register, the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, the Gazette, the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Iowa Public Radio, KCCI-TV, Lee Enterprises, Radio Iowa, Sinclair Broadcast Group, WHO-TV and WOI-TV.
Membership in the association is open to any journalist who is credentialed to cover the Iowa Legislature.