March 23, 2023 www.investigatemidwest.org Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Letter from our executive director
Investigate Midwest joins The Trust Project with focus on transparency of how we do investigative journalism
Earlier this month, Investigate Midwest joined The Trust Project, a global network of news organizations that has developed transparency standards to help readers assess the quality and credibility of journalism.
The “Trust Indicators” are benchmarks noted on participating sites that spell out editorial practices and policies, and provide additional context.
On Investigate Midwest’s site, you can find the Indicators on the page “Editorial Standards,” which is also linked from The Trust Project logo on each story.
The core set of Trust Indicators was developed by leaders from 80 news organizations and informed by extensive interviews with readers in the United States and Europe. They describe an organization’s commitment to ethics, inclusive reporting, fact-checking and correcting errors, information on journalists’ backgrounds and how they do their work. In addition, the indicators denote the type of work a person is reading — such as news, opinion or analysis.
We want you to know you can trust our work. Earning the right to join The Trust Project is reinforcement of how seriously we take that trust.
We are all bombarded daily with disinformation and thousands of sources. Here at Investigate Midwest, we hold our newsgathering to the highest standards, so you can confidently come to our site and see how we operate.
Thanks for reading and your ongoing support.
Erin Orr, executive director/managing editor
FOR MORE: Read the news release here.
EPA, FDA present proposal to transfer regulation of pet pesticide products
By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest
The current system for regulating pet pesticide products in the United States is outdated and needs to be overhauled, federal government officials said at a public meeting on Wednesday, during which advocates called for urgent action from the federal government to protect people, pets and the environment from harmful pet pesticide products.
Read more.
Graphic of the Week: While relatively rare, some get H-2A visas while already in the US
By Mònica Cordero, Investigate Midwest and Report for America corps member
Many farmworkers come to the U.S. on H-2A, or temporary agriculture work, visas. The number of visas certified has more than doubled over the past several years.
But a sliver of workers on H-2A visas are already in the country when their visas are processed, according to data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Search the graphic.
Opinion: Wake up and sound the plastic alarm
By Dave Dickey, Columnist
"The amount of ag plastic is truly staggering," writes Dave Dickey in his latest column.
"A Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations report says that in 2019 worldwide usage totaled just under 50 million tons including 37.7 million in packaging, 12.5 million in production, and 10.2 million in livestock and crop production."
"Plasticulture is everywhere — in drip irrigation systems, films for greenhouses and soil mulching, containers for agrichemicals, coatings on seeds … the list is endless."
Read more.
Center news
'Home Grown' stories coming at Iowa event April 20
Come to the annual Spring Storytelling Night at The Graduate Hotel in Iowa City on Thursday, April 20, hosted by Investigate Midwest and its IowaWatch newsroom.
This event is co-produced with the University of Iowa Events Management Certification program.
Doors open with music starting at 5:45 p.m. Attendees can order appetizers or dinner on their own and enjoy a themed drink ahead of the speakers starting at 6:30. Tickets are $20 and include a free drink. (They can be purchased ahead of time or at the door.)
