Daily Iowan journalists on 2024 GOP caucus front lines with extensive coverage
'A unique opportunity that a lot of student journalists don’t get'
About 50 journalists from The Daily Iowan are among political reporters in Iowa Monday covering the first-in-the-nation test for the 2024 presidential election.
Between 20-30 of them are reporters, photographers and videographers working from caucus sites and watch parties for each top Republican candidate.
The rest is a team of editors and producers supporting the coverage from the newsroom at the University of Iowa.
“It's a unique opportunity that a lot of student journalists don’t get because a lot of states don’t have the unique amount of events,” said Liam Halawith, the paper’s senior news and politics editor who leads the caucus coverage.
The Daily Iowan has extensively covered dozens of campaign events and debates, interviewed candidates individually, talked to party officials and reported on how young people feel about the White House race — on top of covering state and local politics.
Iowa caucuses, which are considered the first primary elections of the cycle, serve as the initial gauge of support for presidential candidates. Former President Trump has been holding a big lead in the polls, followed by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
With hundreds of campaign events throughout the state, Halawith, a third-year journalism student, said he prioritizes stories that involve young voters, events in proximity to Iowa City and Cedar Rapids and ones that feature all the candidates.
“We try to cover as much as possible,” he said. “Obviously, we're college students and have busy schedules, so it can kind of hinder some of it.”
Read some of The DI’s stories on the 2024 presidential election:
Despite the logistical challenges of academic responsibilities, Halawith underscored the importance of providing political coverage for college students, given the historically high activity of young voters in Iowa.
The turnout of young Iowans for the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections stood at 55% and 50%, respectively, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.
He said talking with candidates and young people at these events gives the public insight into what’s politically important for students.
“As young people are set to become one of the largest voting blocs in the next couple of years, that is important for politics in general in the United States to look at what youth and young people are talking about,” Halawith said.
Asked about the campus mood around the caucuses, Halawith said it depends on each student's political affiliation.
While Democrats are apathetic because the incumbent is running, he said, Republicans are notably more excited, viewing it as an opportunity to choose the next president.
“While Trump has a massive lead in Iowa, that doesn't mean that he's guaranteed to get all the way to the nomination with his legal troubles and everything,” Halawith said. “And I think a lot of student voters have an appetite to find somebody other than Trump.”
Story Spotlight:
Where to find the coldest, crispest water on Vanderbilt campus (Corey Lochan/The Vanderbilt Hustler): It’s a story idea that never crossed my mind when I was a student, to be honest. The piece offers a detailed and humorous review of the water fountains on Vanderbilt University's campus. It reflects how small details — often overlooked — can become a part of the campus culture. In the past, students have gone so far as to create an Instagram account dedicated to campus water. It’s a very entertaining read.
Featured Opportunities:
Rest of World is seeking a social video intern to be based in New York with a Jan. 9 deadline.
SPJ is seeking entries from student journalists for the Mark of Excellence Awards until Jan. 22.
STAT’s 12-month-long Disability in Health Care Reporting Fellowship accepts applications until Jan. 24
The Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University is hosting “Dark Money, Local News and the 2024 Election” conference on Jan. 26 to discuss the influence of political funding and partisan networks in local election coverage.
A free webinar on Jan. 26 discusses how to use poll data to inform the public in the 2024 election accurately.
Council on Foreign Relations’ 2024-25 Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship’s deadline is March 1.
The Journalism Institute at the National Press Club offers multiple scholarships with deadlines in February and April.
Women in Journalism Workshop 2024 takes place April 12-14 at the Reynolds Journalism Institute in Columbia, Missouri.