Black Iowa News Founder & Publisher Dana James featured in session at the Midwest Journalism Conference

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News

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April 14, 2026

The Midwest Journalism Conference featured Black Iowa News Founder & Publisher Dana James as a panelist in a session on Entrepreneurial Journalism during its April 10-11 conference held in St. Paul, Minnesota.

James discussed the founding of Black Iowa News, which includes the statewide monthly Black Iowa Newspaper. She encouraged students in attendance to consider studying business and owning their own platforms.

The session also included panelist Hutch Johnson, an independent meteorologist. The session was moderated by Aaron Quanbeck from Minnesota State University-Moorhead.

Session on Entrepreneurial Journalism at the Midwest Journalism Conference held April 10, at the Intercontinental IHG in St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo by Dana James.

Author

Dana James

Dana James is an award-winning writer who founded Black Iowa News in 2020 and the Black Iowa Newspaper in 2023. Born and raised in Des Moines, Dana tells stories that center Black Iowans’ lived experiences and amplify their voices. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from Grand View University. She serves as secretary of the Iowa Association of Black Journalists.