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# IowaWatch Wins Top Broadcast News Awards For Politics, Farm And Agribusiness Reporting
- URL: https://www.investigatemidwest.org/iowawatch-wins-top-broadcast-news-awards-for-politics-farm-and-agribusiness-reporting/
- Published: 2019-04-14T19:08:03.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-11T02:37:09.000Z
- Author: IowaWatch
- Tags: Investigate Midwest News, iowawatch, "Cage free", broadcast news, Iowa Broadcast News Association, journalism awards, nonprofit news, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-06-18 04:56

The IowaWatch Connection radio program collected seven awards — including first place for political coverage and farm/agribusiness reporting — for large market radio reporting during 2018 at the annual [Iowa Broadcast News Association ](http://ibna.org/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)convention in Johnston, Iowa, on Saturday, April 13, 2019.

The radio program had won first place the previous year, too, for farm and agribusiness reporting.

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

Jeff Stein, IowaWatch Connection host/producer

The program is part of IowaWatch’s multimedia reporting effort. Each week, program host and producer Jeff Stein and IowaWatch reporters examine a story in depth during a 23-minute program that airs on [21 radio stations](https://investigatemidwest.org/radio/?ref=investigatemidwest.org) and then serves as an IowaWatch.org podcast.

The program’s winning entries were:

- First place: Political coverage for reporting on [year-round interest in politics](https://investigatemidwest.org/podcast-elections-are-over-but-not-interest-in-politics-for-these-people/?ref=investigatemidwest.org).
- First place: Farm and Agribusiness reporting, for [a report](https://soundcloud.com/iowawatch/the-iowawatch-connection-program-219-rural-issues?ref=investigatemidwest.org) on rural issues.
- Second place: Public Affairs Reporting, for [a report on attempts](https://soundcloud.com/iowawatch/the-iowawatch-connection-program-226-first-time-voters?ref=investigatemidwest.org) to reach first-time voters. The radio report was part of a larger project that included [a written news story](https://investigatemidwest.org/chasing-iowas-first-time-voters-but-are-they-paying-attention/?ref=investigatemidwest.org).
- Second place: Use of an Actuality, for the report on[ year-round interest in politics](https://soundcloud.com/iowawatch/the-iowawatch-connection-program-231-never-ending-campaigns?ref=investigatemidwest.org).
- Honorable mention: Public Service, for a report on the[ state of modern-day journalism](https://soundcloud.com/iowawatch/the-iowawatch-connection-program-222-state-of-journalism-2018?ref=investigatemidwest.org).
- Honorable mention: In-Depth Series, for a report on the [cost of college textbooks](https://soundcloud.com/iowawatch/the-iowawatch-connection-program-208-the-cost-of-college-textbooks?ref=investigatemidwest.org). This was part of a larger project that included [written ](https://investigatemidwest.org/high-textbook-costs-are-sending-college-students-looking-elsewhere-during-studies/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)and [video](https://investigatemidwest.org/video-feature-college-students-faculty-staff-and-their-concerns-about-college-textbook-costs/?ref=investigatemidwest.org) reports.
- Honorable mention: General Reporting, for a [report on the legacy](https://soundcloud.com/iowawatch/the-iowawatch-connection-program-198-the-legacy-of-senator-harkin?ref=investigatemidwest.org) of former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa).

###### TO LEARN HOW IOWAWATCH’S NONPROFIT JOURNALISM IS FUNDED AND HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT IT, [GO TO THIS LINK](https://investigatemidwest.org/fundraising/?ref=investigatemidwest.org).

The IowaWatch Connection is a statewide audience engagement program launched as a pilot in July 2014 with a John S. and James L. Knight Foundation grant awarded through the Investigative News Network (now the Institute for Nonprofit News). Supported by underwriters, it aired its 250th episode the weekend of April 12-14, 2019.

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