The days when people waited for nightly newscasts to learn what’s happening are long gone. But you won’t see me crying about it.

In fact, your 24/7 appetite for news is a huge opportunity for KWWL and we’re taking steps to make the most of it on our new KWWL.com web site. As an example, check out the blog Jenn Jarvis is writing on May 20th, as Barack Obama returns to Iowa to claim the majority of Democrat delegates. Jenn is one of a new breed of what we call “convergence” reporters - those who have the tools and techniques to report online as well as on television.

Jenn’s blog on Obama’s visit includes the kind of nuance and detail you won’t get in 1:30 on television. You will get behind the scene photographs, personal observations and the complete text of Obama’s speech. We call efforts like this “KWWL.com Extras,” because that’s what they are - extra content that goes beyond what we report on television.

We do this kind of web reporting because we know lots of people are checking our site between newscasts - often while they’re at work. We want to give you a reason to visit our site, whether you watch our television news or not. There’s always something extra on KWWL.com

Jon Okerstrom
News Director

Posted under Uncategorized

The scope of the story is stunning. What’s more, it’s growing bigger and more divisive by the day.

The first milestone came on day one with more than 300 workers from the Agriprocessors meat packing plant in custody: it’s the biggest immigration raid of it’s kind in Iowa. Then, with nearly 400 people accused of violating a host of immigration-related laws, came the second milestone: it’s the biggest immigration raid of it’s kind in the United States.

Suddenly, the immigration battle which traditionally focused in border states, hit home in the heartland. The small town of Postville is now ground zero of the debate raging from the halls of Congress to main street coffee shops. And because it’s happening in our state, this battle is now more than rhetoric for many people. It’s personal. Instead of nameless, faceless numbers, this story is about mothers, fathers and children. It’s about legal citizens and about those who chose to enter the United States illegally, in search of a better life. It’s also about their kids, who had no choice in the matter, but who must now face a frightening and uncertain future.

As this story unfolds, the depth of emotion and the strength of convictions become abundantly clear. Some people are really angry the illegal workers are here; they’re also extremely supportive of the government’s efforts to enforce the law. Others are angry about the enforcement effort because it’s tearing apart families, not to mention the community of Postville. Some point the finger at Agriprocessors. The company says it takes a strong stand against illegal immigration. If that’s true, one wonders how so many apparently undocumented workers could be employed. Still others are angry about the government’s inability to come up with an immigration policy that works to benefit the United States and encourages legal immigration.

Talk about touching a nerve. No matter which side they’re on, Iowans have good reason to be angry. We have porous borders. We have employers unable or unwilling to hire only legal citizens. And we have an immigration policy that makes it virtually impossible for unskilled workers - like those at Agriprocessors - to gain legal citizenship. The people of Postville - those here legally and those who are here illegally - are paying the price.

Jon Okerstrom
News Director

Posted under News Coverage