Meet the Des Moines Register's editing staff, part of a long line of distinguished editors

Many skilled editors have led the Des Moines Register throughout its 175-year history, in the top role and as leaders of key departments.

One top editor stands apart from all others in sheer length of service: Harvey Ingham, editor from 1902 to 1943. He was followed by William Waymack, who had won a Pulitzer Prize as an editorial writer before ascending to the top role, where he served for a decade. Next came Kenneth MacDonald, second in longevity among top editors, serving 21 years.

Michael Gartner then took the baton, and the Register won two Pulitzer Prizes for national reporting during his tenure, until 1982 (and he later won one himself, for editorial writing, as owner and editor of the Ames Tribune).

More recently, Geneva Overholser, who in 1988 became the Register's first female top editor, showed editorial courage by challenging industry conventions about shielding the identity of rape victims. A series she oversaw, reported by Jane Schorer Meisner, profiled a rape victim, naming her with her permission, in an effort to destigmatize victims of the crime. The work won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 1991.

Managing editors and department editors have made their marks, too, such as the legendary Sec Taylor, sports editor for more than 50 years, from 1914 to 1965. The playing field at Principal Park still bears his name.

More recent senior editors remembered as top-flight journalists and mentors include Randy Evans, whose 40-year tenure began on Aug. 9, 1974, the day President Richard Nixon resigned, and included work as an assistant managing editor and opinion editor, and the late Randy Brubaker, whose jobs included sports editor and managing editor, second in command in the newsroom, in his 26-year Register career.

And now, I want to introduce you to today’s editing team, who, like the best of their predecessors, are skilled, dedicated journalists who work hard at their jobs and care about their staffs, their community and our state.

I’ll start with Mike Trautmann, who holds the dual responsibilities of news director (the equivalent of managing editor) and politics editor. This is Mike’s second stint at the Register, after serving as business and investigations editor from 2015 to 2019. He has worked for the Register’s parent company, Gannett, a total of 34 years, starting at the Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, in his home state, and also working at the Courier-Journal in Louisville, where he helped direct coverage of last-minute gubernatorial pardons, which won a Pulitzer Prize for breaking news in 2020, and of Breonna Taylor’s shooting death by Louisville police, which was a Pulitzer finalist for breaking news and for public service in 2021. Contact Mike: mtrautmann@registermedia.com

Other key members of the editing team, listed in order of years at the Register, with contact information:

James Kramer, sports editor: Has worked at the Register 25 years, almost all in sports. A native of Farley, in northeastern Iowa, and a University of Iowa graduate, he directly supervises coverage of Cyclone and Hawkeye sports. Deputy sports editor Will Kennedy supervises high school coverage. Contact: jkramer@registermedia.com

Lucas Grundmeier, opinion editor: Has worked at the Register 19 years and as opinion editor the past five. A Des Moines native and Iowa State graduate, he earlier worked as a copy editor, breaking news editor and planning editor. Contact: lgrundme@registermedia.com

Brian Smith, audience growth strategist and Iowa Connect editor: Has worked at the Register 12 years, hired right after his graduation from Iowa State. A Davenport native, Brian works to grow the digital audience through vehicles such as newsletters and social media (primarily Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok). He also supervises Iowa Connect, a three-person reporting team that focuses on service journalism, trending and breaking news. And he's director of the Des Moines Storytellers Project. Contact: bsmith@registermedia.com

Zach Boyden-Holmes, photo editor: Has worked on the photo staff for 12 years, starting as photo editor for the Register’s Juice Magazine, a publication for young professionals. He later shifted to staff photographer for the Register and last year earned promotion to photo editor. He's a Davenport native and University of Iowa graduate. Contact: zboyden@dmreg.com

Kim Norvell, communities editor: Has worked at the Register nine years, seven as a reporter and the past two as communities editor. A Nebraska native and Iowa State graduate, she supervises reporters covering the city of Des Moines and eastern and western suburbs as well as breaking news. Kim also is director of content for the Des Moines Storytellers Project. Contact: knorvell@dmreg.com

Bill Steiden, business and investigations editor: Came to the Register five years ago after 19 years as a writer and editor for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and its parent, Cox Media Group, and 11 years before that at the Sarasota, Florida, Herald-Tribune. Contact: WSteiden@registermedia.com

Susan Stapleton, entertainment editor: Was hired as entertainment editor two years, ago and also doubles as our dining reporter. It’s her second tour of duty at the Register, having earlier worked as dining reporter in 2015 and 2016. She grew up in the Davenport area and graduated from the University of Iowa. Contact: SStapleton@registermedia.com

Matt Peterson, senior audience manager: Oversees scheduling, presentation and promotion of Register content across all platforms, including print, our main website, apps and social media. He’s worked for the Register for 3½ years and for 13 years before that at Gannett’s paper in Springfield, Missouri, the News-Leader. Contact: MPeterson4@gannett.com

In addition, Brandon Hurley, editor of the Ames Tribune and the Iowa City Press-Citizen, helps supplement the Register’s coverage with stories and photos from those sister Iowa newspapers. Contact: BHurley@registermedia.com

I encourage you to reach out to these editors with story ideas, questions and comments.

Carol Hunter is the Register’s executive editor. She wants to hear your questions, story ideas or concerns at 515-284-8545, chunter@registermedia.com, or on Twitter: @carolhunter.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Meet the Des Moines Register's editing staff