[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 82 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5907-S5908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  EXTRA, EXTRA--``READ ALL ABOUT IT''

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, 2 days ago, I spoke proudly of my 
State's 150th birthday celebration this year and also the Smithsonian 
Institution's cooperation with that effort. By the way, the Smithsonian 
Institution happens to be 150 years old as well this year, and they are 
celebrating that anniversary throughout the year. But for 2 weeks, 
beginning on June 26, there is going to be a celebration of my State on 
The Mall. Specifically, though, on June 26 there will be a birthday 
party for Iowa from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Centennial Building on The 
Mall across from the Smithsonian castle.
  I hope that Americans will come to see, over the course of those 2 
weeks, demonstrations about Iowa industry, Iowa agriculture, Iowa 
education, Iowa history, culture--everything--that will be on display 
there.
  I announced that I was going to speak a little bit and shortly every 
day on a certain aspect of Iowa.
  I want to make reference to spreading the spirit of Iowa. As I talk 
about the Iowa spirit, I will talk about the role of weekly and daily 
newspapers throughout the history of Iowa, my State.
  So it is time to say, ``Extra, extra--read all about it.''
  Mr. President, Iowa celebrates its 150-year-old heritage this year. 
And at the end of this month and during the first week of July, Iowa 
will participate at the Festival of American Folklife on our National 
Mall to showcase our folks and way of life. Billing the celebration as 
``Iowa--Community Style,'' hundreds of Iowans and Iowa natives will 
pitch in to spread the sesquicentennial spirit to more than a million 
visitors.
  Of course, Iowa's story of community wouldn't be complete without 
sharing a vital and continuing chapter integral to community life in 
Iowa. Iowa's first newspaper started in Dubuque when the Dubuque 
Visitor issued its premiere edition on May 11, 1836. And Iowa's longest 
running newspaper continues to roll off the presses each day in 
southeast Iowa. The Burlington Hawkeye's first edition dates back 
prestatehood, to July 10, 1837. To this day, the local newspaper office 
remains an important hub of activity on Main Street in Iowa's 99 county 
seats and surrounding communities. More than 340 hometown weekly and 
daily newspapers currently report local events in Iowa.
  As you may know, Iowa consistently ranks at the top in literacy and 
other tests of scholastic achievement. Perhaps it's no small wonder 
that my State also holds the highest per capita number of newspapers in 
the country. Just take one county in Iowa, as an example. Situated on 
the banks of the Missouri River in northwest Iowa, Sioux County has a 
population of about 30,000 people and boasts no less than seven 
published newspapers each week. Known to be well-read, Iowans are 
serious about keeping abreast of current affairs in our local, national 
and international communities.
  In fact, an international venture between Iowa media outlets and 
foreign journalists started 3 years ago. The International Center for 
Community Journalism, based in Grinnell, IA, has helped to match 
journalists from the Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Mongolia, and 
Thailand with more than 30 newspapers in Iowa. Iowa families open up 
their homes for 2 or 3 months while the visiting journalist works at 
their local newspapers.
  Many times, Iowa journalists and journalism educators will 
reciprocate the stay in the foreign country. This exchange of 
information, culture, and talent has helped to spread the Iowa spirit 
and a vital understanding of the importance of a free press in a 
democratic society. The program soon will

[[Page S5908]]

include journalists from Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, the 
Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.
  Without a doubt, Iowans have grown to depend on their hometown papers 
for school news, high school sports coverage, business items, local 
government and politics, community announcements, and human interest 
stories. Typical of any endeavor in my State, be it enterprise, 
education or entertainment, newspapers in Iowa place great emphasis on 
quality. Combining news reporting and advertising, the local newspaper 
is a constant and reliable source for the community.
  The Iowa Newspaper Association each year awards top honors to 
newspapers in Iowa for general excellence; for delivering the best 
editorial, front, sports, and feature pages; for best coverage of local 
government, agriculture, and education; and, for overall community 
service.
  Merchants and shopkeepers on Main Street rely on the local newspaper 
to advertise upcoming sales and promotions. And readers pay close 
attention to the ads.
  For sure, Iowa's hometown newspapers wouldn't miss this once-in-one-
hundred-and-fifty-years-opportunity to help spread Iowa's spirit. 
Visitors to the cafe on The National Mall will find a grand newspaper 
stand displaying many of Iowa's hometown papers. You can discover for 
yourself a trove of Iowa's ink in the Herald, Journal, Gazette, Review, 
Leader, Express, Record, Bee, Chronicle, Register, Times, and Courier, 
just to name a few. I would encourage those who plan to celebrate with 
Iowa--community style, to stop by and ``read all about it.''

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