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# IowaWatch Connection Wins Seven Iowa Broadcast News Awards
- URL: https://www.investigatemidwest.org/iowawatch-connection-wins-seven-iowa-broadcast-news-awards/
- Published: 2016-04-25T15:17:54.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-11T02:38:53.000Z
- Author: IowaWatch
- Tags: Blog, Investigate Midwest News, iowawatch, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-06-18 04:56

![Jeff Stein](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cd/d3/cdd3c059-8898-40b1-bcf7-cb2d3aa89775/content/images/2026/09/stein.jpg)

Jeff Stein

The IowaWatch Connection radio program collected seven awards, including three for first place, for large market radio reporting at the 2016 [Iowa Broadcast News Association ](http://ibna.org/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)convention in Waterloo, Iowa, on April 23.

Each week program host and producer Jeff Stein examines an IowaWatch story in depth during the 23-minute program.

![2015_12_22_IowaWatchConnectionsWithSponsor](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cd/d3/cdd3c059-8898-40b1-bcf7-cb2d3aa89775/content/images/2026/09/2015_12_22_IowaWatchConnectionsWithSponsor.png)

The program’s winning entries were:

- First place: Political coverage, for a series on the [mood of the electorate ](https://investigatemidwest.org/iowawatch-connection-podcast-mood-of-the-electorate/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)leading up to the 2016 Iowa precinct caucuses.
- First place: In-depth/series, for a two-part report on criminal justice reform. [Part one](https://investigatemidwest.org/iowawatch-connection-podcast-criminal-justice-reform/?ref=investigatemidwest.org). [Part two](https://investigatemidwest.org/iowawatch-connection-criminal-justice-reform-part-2/?ref=investigatemidwest.org).
- First place: Public service, for a report on the [exodus of college graduates leaving Iowa for jobs elsewhere.](https://investigatemidwest.org/podcast-keeping-young-talent-in-iowa-after-college-graduation/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)
- Second place: Spot news coverage, for a report by host Jeff Stein on [gun violence in Iowa](https://investigatemidwest.org/iowawatch-connection-podcast-gun-violence-in-iowa/?ref=investigatemidwest.org).
- Second place: General reporting, for a report from Simpson College 2014 journalism graduates about [illnesses students keep hidden ](https://investigatemidwest.org/iowawatch-connection-hidden-illnesses/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)while attending college.
- Third place: Feature reporting, for a story about [graffiti and street art.](https://investigatemidwest.org/iowawatch-connection-graffiti-and-street-art-2/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)
- Third place for use of an actuality and honorable mention for in-depth/series for a Lauren Mills report on [water toxins in Iowa lakes.](https://investigatemidwest.org/iowawatch-connection-water-toxins/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)

The IowaWatch Connection, a statewide audience engagement program, was launched in July 2014\. [AARP Iowa](http://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/?ref=investigatemidwest.org) is the program’s underwriter through June 30\. The program was launched in 2014 with a grant from the [John S. and James L. Knight Foundation](http://www.knightfoundation.org/?ref=investigatemidwest.org) through the Investigative News Network (now the [Institute for Nonprofit News](http://inn.org/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)). The [Iowa State Bar Association ](http://www.iowabar.org/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)was an underwriter for the program in 2015.

Program host and producer Jeff Stein also is executive director of the Iowa Broadcast News Association and a noted Iowa broadcast historian. Awards were determined by independent, out-of-state judges.

[**CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IOWAWATCH CONNECTION, AND TO HEAR PODCASTS OF ITS PROGRAMS**](https://investigatemidwest.org/radio/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)