These veteran Des Moines Register reporters break exclusive news, write with authority
The heart of any news organization is a skilled, dogged reporting staff.
From the 1950s through the 1980s, Des Moines Register reporters won six Pulitzer Prizes for national reporting, and a series by another reporter, Jane Schorer Meisner, was central to the Register winning the public service award, the most prestigious of Pulitzers, in 1991.
Register reporters continue to win top awards in national competitions today.
In honor of the Register’s 175th anniversary, I’ll highlight eight of today’s veteran reporters and columnists, all with nine or more years of service at the Register and sister Iowa newspapers. They carry on the Register’s legacy of authoritative, revelatory reporting. Ordered by years of service:
Lee Rood, 30 years. After working for years as an investigative reporter and editor, Lee in 2012 founded the Reader's Watchdog column, whichhelps Iowans get answers and accountability from public officials, the justice system, businesses and nonprofits.
Chad Leistikow, 29 years, including work for the Iowa City Press-Citizen and USA TODAY. Chad is the Register's Iowa Hawkeyes columnist, after earlier serving as Register sports editor. His work spans not only writing columns but also appearing on "Hawk Central Hour” on 1460 KXnO-AM radio, hosting Register Hawkeye-related podcasts and conversing with fans through an SMS text group.
Donnelle Eller, 25 years. Donnelle covers agriculture, energy and the environment, interviewing experts and studying data on issues such as farm consolidation, land values, soil health and water quality. She also has a personal interest in these issues: She's married to Neal Heldt, who grows corn and soybeans on their farm near Mallard, in northwest Iowa.
Tommy Birch, 16 years. Tommy is our sports enterprise and features writer, as well as covering Iowa State women's basketball. He specializes in delving into the backstories of athletes and teams, the obstacles they've overcome and their inspiring achievements.
Travis Hines, 12 years with the Register and sister paper the Ames Tribune, all spent covering Iowa State University athletics. Travis has written for the Register since 2020 and before that covered the Cyclones as sports editor of the Ames Tribune.
Courtney Crowder, 9½ years. Courtney is the Register's Iowa columnist, traversing the state's 99 counties to tell Iowans' stories. Courtney specializes in long-form narrative journalism, diving into historical research and conducting hours of interviews with her subjects, plumbing their trials and joys, to get at the essence of their stories and their humanity.
Brianne Pfannenstiel, 9½ years. Brianne is the Register's chief politics reporter. She's covered Iowa governor, U.S. Senate and congressional races and three presidential caucus cycles. During the 2024 election cycle, she's also serving as a senior national campaign correspondent for USA TODAY and will cover both the Republican and Democratic national conventions.
Stephen Gruber-Miller, 9 years at the Register and earlier at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Stephen has covered the Iowa Legislature for six sessions as well as legislative, statewide and congressional races. He previously served as a courts reporter.
Several other reporters have worked five years or less at the Register, but arrived with significant experience and hold key beats. Tyler Jett, for example, came to the Register five years ago after 6½ years at the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He first worked on the business staff, covering jobs and the economy, and then a year and a half ago joined Rood as an investigative reporter.
The group of reporters who are newer to the Register but are experienced journalists includes Kevin Baskins, covering the Des Moines metro job market; Virginia Barreda, the city of Des Moines and Polk County governments; Philip Joens, retail, real estate and RAGBRAI; Samantha Hernandez, education; William Morris, courts; Michaela Ramm, health; and Amanda Tugade, social justice.
Reporters with less time at the Register or in journalism are making their mark, too, scoring scoops and vying for space on 1A.
The reporters I've cited regularly break exclusive news, hold the powerful to account and write with authority and elegance. I encourage you to follow their work.
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: Here's a thumbnail look at veteran Des Moines Register reporters
