Send in the Smokejumpers
When the government is burning down, you need journalists to keep track of the devastation
Grok’s version of the White House burning.
During normal times there are few similarities between journalists and smokejumpers. If there’s anything the past three weeks have proven, though, it’s that these aren’t normal times. Like those backcountry firefighters tasked with trying to get ahead of a roaring blaze while also stamping out exploding new hotspots, journalists have been struggling to keep up with the fast-moving tornado-fire of DOGE news, presidential orders, and tariff talks all coming out of Washington, D.C. Every press conference Pres. Donald Trump gives he seems to float another red-hot ember of angst in hopes it will catch fire. Let’s make Canada the 51st state! Let’s make Gaza a resort for everyone but Palastinians! Let’s make Trump the chairman of the Kennedy Center!
But this is also the time journalists were made for. When the world goes up in a pillar of fire, you want reporters on the ground making sure the story gets covered. They’re going to hunt down the names of Elon Musk’s team of DOGE hackers worming their way into government agencies like Wired’s fabulous “Takeover” team. They’re going to have insiders leaking endless streams of classified memos like independent journalist Ken Klippenstein. And they’re going to try to help us all make sense of things like recent Substack convert Paul Krugman.
And by a lot of measures, the press has been doing a passable job of keeping track of it all. Legacy outlets like the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal have provided the blow-by-blow of each day, usually taking a dozen or so stories to recap the last 12 hours or 12 minutes or 12 seconds of Trump news—whichever is appropriate at the moment. Then you have upstarts like Punchbowl, 404 Media, and Semafor filling in the gaps with equal parts investigative reporting, insider access, and world context. Oh, and don’t forget organizations like Politico and National Public Radio (NPR), who are trying to report the news while also facing concerted attacks over either the government buying subscriptions to their products (the former) or attempts to cut their federal funding (the latter).
But this firestorm has also made it easy see the cracks in the system. As many have referenced, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon famously said the best way to deal with the media is to “flood the zone.” The idea: Do so many things so quickly it’s hard for the media—and, as a result, the public—to keep track of everything going on. According to the Federal Register, Pres. Trump signed 52 executive orders as of Sun., Feb. 9. He signed 219 during his entire first term. And in that flood of orders, important impacts have gone barely noticed.
Example: When Trump rescinded 78 of Pres. Joe Biden’s executive orders, he cut EO 13,986, which required that the “whole number of persons in each State” be counted as a part of the Census, meaning undocumented immigrants will no longer be included, drastically cutting the number of people in certain districts and potentially changing the balance of power. During his first term, Trump’s order to not count the undocumented caused a massive blowback. There was outrage and legal challenges. Eventually there was a court order to block it. This round: Nothing.
He also cut EO 13,989, which, among other things, banned folks from personally benefiting from their government work or receiving money from an outside employer while also holding a government office. He cut EO 14,060, which orders agencies to work together to stop international crime. He cut EO 14,087, which pushed the government to lower prescription drug prices. And he cut EO 14,018, which itself rescinded four executive orders and two memorandums from Trump’s first term including the one demanding all new federal buildings look like Greek and Roman structures—so get ready for a lot of columns.
And that was just one executive order out of 52. He’s also declared multiple national emergencies, each of which gives Trump extra powers few fully understand. He reinstated the death penalty. He created a task force—an actual task force call Task Force 250—to plan the country’s 250th birthday. And in creating the Department of Government Efficiency (EO 14,158), he stuck in a language that blocks the media from finding out exactly what Musk and his crew are up to. The executive order places DOGE under the Executive Office of the President. The move means that journalists can’t use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to request documents, emails, texts or any other related to materials regarding the actions of DOGE employees or appointees. That went unnoticed by most.
Worse yet, Trump is not only overwhelming the media, he’s also actively intimating news organizations. His recent string of lawsuits has the media worried—and could force some organizations to minimize negative coverage.
When ABC settled for $15 million with Trump over a defamation lawsuit brought against anchor George Stephanopoulos, it wasn’t because they would have lost. The case revolved around Stephanopoulos saying Trump was “found liable for rape” and “defaming the victim of that rape” in the E. Jean Carroll case during a March 10, 2024, segment of “The Week.” Technically, Trump was found liable for “sexually abusing” and defaming Carroll. And while a New York judge ruled that it was accurate to say that Trump had been found liable of rape in “common modern parlance,” ABC decided it was better to settle than to risk a jury trial that could have resulted in some significant knock-on effects.
Currently, CBS News’ parent company Paramount is weighing the same option. Trump’s team is suing CBS over the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. They allege that since the network chose to air the first part of Harris’ answer to a question regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a preview clip during “Face the Nation” but ran only the second part of her answer during the “60 Minutes” interview, it amounted to collusion. Trump’s legal team is using a Texas consumer protection provision, which was designed to safeguard the public from “false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices”—ostensively a truth-in-advertising law—to make the claim editing Harris’ answer harmed Trump’s campaign. CBS is arguing that its editing of the interview falls squarely under First Amendment practices—which it likely does. But after releasing the full transcripts of the interview last week, Trump’s team has expanded the lawsuit, asking now for $20 billion in damages. New Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr has also opened an investigation into CBS over what he calls “news distortion,” adding to Paramount’s woes.
And let’s not forget Trump’s lawsuit against the Des Moines Register, its parent company, Gannett, and pollster J. Ann Selzer. He claims that an Iowa Poll released by Selzer and the Register that showed Harris ahead shortly before the Nov. 5 election amounts to election interference under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act. That act has similar language to the Texas law, and since Trump won Iowa by 13 percent, he claims the poll was misleading and designed to suppress voters. Two others, U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who won her seat in 2024 by less than 800 votes, and former Iowa state Sen. Brad Zaun, who lost his reelection, have also joined the lawsuit, claiming the poll was negligent. Gannett has pledged to fight the lawsuit on First Amendment grounds.
It’s well documented that legacy media is struggling. Countless rounds of layoffs and reductions have left many news organizations understaffed and unequipped right at the time we need them. And Trump’s two-pronged attack on media, overwhelming reporters from one side, and using lawsuits to make media companies hesitant of negative coverage on the other, will result in critical stories being missed.
Yes, we live in a time when there is more information in the world than ever before. And yes, there are still plenty of media folks doing their best to hold the line against Trump’s raging wildfire. But a quarter of the country is getting its news from social media news influencers, many of whom deal less in real facts than false narratives and conspiracy theories. And when there’s so much news that even legacy media can’t keep it contained, let alone correct those polluting the waters with misinformation, it’s getting harder and harder for the public to keep track of what its government is really doing.
So, like those firefighters in California who risked it all to stop what seemed unstoppable, we need to support journalists who are on the frontlines, trying desperately to keep up with this blaze. As citizens, we need facts. We need the media to hold power to account. We need journalists willing to root out corruption. And as news consumers, we need to be smart enough to know that when someone tries to suppress the media, they’re doing it to rob us of information, varied viewpoints, and government transparency. And if we don’t demand all of that, this whole thing just might go up in smoke.
A Massive Haul
Drake student media had—well, we had a very good night. Last week, the Iowa College Media Awards announced its winners for the year. Drake ended up with 24 various awards, including seven first place prizes. That beats out last year’s haul of 17 awards and five first places. Here’s the complete list:
First Place
Best Print/Online Investigative Reporting, Urban Plains, “What Can a City Do When Its Sister Is In Trouble?” Andrew Kennard
Best Print/Online Sports Reporting, Urban Plains, “The Pressure to Perform,” Lia Reichmann and Madeline Cisneros
Best Written Feature Reporting, Urban Plains, “What Silence Actually Sounds Like,” Nate Eisenmann
Best Headline Writing, Urban Plains, “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Warehouse Fish?” Nate Eisenmann
Best Online Design, Urban Plains, Will Erbes, Webmaster
Best Graphic or Illustration, Drake Mag, “Accessibility in Cities,” Princess Hart
Best Print Design, Drake Mag Spring 24, Lily Eckenrode, Art Director
Second Place
Best Long Form Video Documentary, Urban Plains, “Keep It Tuned,” Erica Sawyer
Best Print/Online News Reporting, Drake Political Review, “To be a Teacher in Iowa,” Jack Malinski
Best Magazine Cover, Drake Political Review Fall 23, Paige Minor, Art Director
Best Graphic or Illustration, Times-Delphic, “TD Anonymous Survey,” Veronica Meiss
Best Print/Online Profile, Times-Delphic, “On the shoulders of giants’: Roscoe Jones Jr. to enter Drake Law Deanship,” Morgan Neuhauser
Best Headline Writing, Times-Delphic, “Earth, woodwinds and fire: Leslie Marrs plays four elements recital,” Lily Wasserman
Third Place
Best Print Design, Drake Political Review Fall 23, Paige Minor, Art Director
Best Video Newscast, DBStv, “Relays Live: Pre-Lays,” Emma Stroner and Bryson Rea
Best Review, Times-Delphic, “Percy Jackson Revival Slaps in the Wake of the PJO Movies,” Morgan Neuhauser
Best Use of Social Media, Times-Delphic, Seth Coughlin
Best Opinion, Times-Delphic, “Romance Isn’t Romance When It Looks Like This,” Divyanshi Srivastava
Best Short Film, DBStv, “A Break From Routine,” Bryson Rea, Tim Frantz, Oliver Williams, Hailey Grotluschen, Talissa Rodriguez, Jack Geppert
Honorable Mention
Best Online Design, Times-Delphic, Lia Reichmann and Mack Swenson, EICs
Best Sports Feature Reporting, Urban Plains, “The Pressure to Perform,” Lia Reichmann and Madeline Cisneros
Best Media Website, Times-Delphic, Lia Reichmann and Mack Swenson, EICs
Best Magazine Cover, Drake Mag Spring 24, Lily Eckenrode, Art Director
Best Print/Online Profile, Urban Plains, “The Gender Affirming Oasis of Identity Salon,” Sarah Jamil
Be a Dotdash Meredith Apprentice
You can work for the largest magazine media company in America. The DotDash Meredith Apprenticeship Program allows ambitious journalists and graphic designers the opportunity to earn both academic credit and gain professional, portfolio-level work experience.
Selected students commit to working 15-20 hours per week at DotDash Meredith both semesters of either their junior or senior year. Apprentices earn a minimum of $15 an hour as well as up to three credits per semester.
To apply either share a Google Drive link or send an email to jeff.inman@drake.edu containing a cover letter, resume, and (if applicable) up to five work samples all contained in one PDF by 5 p.m. Fri., March 14. Interviews will be held the last week of March. For more info contact Prof. Inman at the above email address.
Internships, Fellowships, and More
• Science needs a New Writer intern. The full-time six-month position comes with pay ($19.50 an hour) and benefits. It runs July through December. Hybrid, based out of the brand’s Washington, D.C., office, is preferred, but fully remote candidates will be considered. Click here for more info.
• The Quad City Times is looking for a summer news intern. The full-time 10-week position will have you crossing the Mississippi multiple times, covering news in the Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, and Rock Island for the print and digital editions of both the Quad-City Times and the Dispatch-Argus. Fair warning: You’ll work some nights and weekends. No word on pay. Click here to apply.
• The Walt Disney Company wants a summer research and analytics intern. You’ll work on consumer insights and analysis in Burbank, Cali., for three months dependent on your start date. Pay is $22 an hour and the position is full-time. Get more info here.
• CNN is looking for an intern for “Fareed Zakaria GPS,” the network’s weekly world affairs show. The 11-week internship starts in June and will have you pitching ideas, researching guests, and more. You must be a rising junior, senior, or graduate student for this 35-40 hour per week gig. Pay is $19 an hour for undergrads, $25 per hour for graduate students. You also need to be able to be in the CNN’s New York studios Thursdays, Fridays, and occasionally Sundays. Deadline to apply is Feb. 28. Get the full rundown here.
• CNN also needs a social publishing and newsletter intern at its Atlanta headquarters. Same deal: 11-week gig starting in June; 35-40 hours per week; hybrid set-up; rising junior or senior or graduate student requirement; deadline to apply is Feb. 28. No pay listed on this one, though. Get more info here.
• The Cato Institute is looking for multiple summer intern. Positions include working as a Cato Press Intern, a government affairs intern, or even a Libertarianism.org editorial intern. Positions run May 20-Aug. 8. Interns work 25 hours a week. The must be available to work in Washington D.C. Pay is $15-$20 an hour. Deadline to apply is Feb. 18. For more information, check out Handshake. To apply, click here.
• KCCI-TV Channel 8 in Des Moines is looking for news interns. The spring in-person positions are part-time, while summer positions are full-time. You’ll work as either a producer, a digital editor, reporter, or photographer. The position is paid, though the specific amount is not listed. Click here to apply.
• Warner Bros. Discovery has 117 summer internships listed, including positions like the Food Network & HGTV Commerce Editorial internship and a Documentary Production internship. Seriously, there’s a ridiculous number of cool gigs here. And they are paid, though that depends on the job. Positions are available in New York, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, and other cities. For the full list, click here.
• The American Prospect is looking for summer editorial interns that can create narrative interpretations of complex issues. Summer interns can be remote, hybrid, or based in Washington D.C. and work May through August. Full and part-time positions are available. Pay is $17.50. Deadline to apply is March 17. Get more info here.
• DotDash Meredith has posted a slew of summer internship opportunities including video, strategy, editorial, and social media positions. All 14 positions are based in New York City. The full-time gigs are paid $20 an hour, run June 9-August 8, and include extra learning opportunities outside of your position. Deadline to apply is Feb. 14. Check out the complete list here.
• The Conversation US wants a summer editorial intern to help edit local news stories written by academics targeted at either Detroit or Philadelphia—very specific. Preference will be given to those with ties to the area. The full-time gig pays $15 an hour. The position is remote but with the option to work in-person in Boston or New York. Deadline to apply is March 7. For more info or to apply, click here.
• Sports streamer GameChanger is looking is looking for a summer Social Media intern to help create content for Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. The full-time gig pays $30 an hour (yes, you read that right) and runs June 8-Aug. 15. The positions is remote, but includes a trip to New York City for training. For more info, click here.
• American Public Media, home of Marketplace and Minnesota Public Radio, is looking for multiple summer interns to work remote, hybrid, or in-person internships in Minneapolis. Positions include internships in video production, digital reporting, investigative reporting, social media, podcasting, brand marketing, digital fundraising and more. Position start dates vary, as do the length of commitment. Get the full rundown of all the positions here.
• Dropbox needs a summer social media intern that can help create social videos for the brand. The position is remote. Pay is $4,500 per month. You must be a current student graduating by 2027. Your start date is flexible based on your school schedule, ensuring you get a full 12 weeks working for Dropbox. Get more info here.
• My Fitness Pal is looking for a News & Trends intern for this summer. The remote-friendly position will have you monitoring health and wellness content across social platforms and pitching content that aligns with the brand’s mission. Pay is $25. You must be a rising junior or senior. There may be an opportunity for the position to transition to full-time. Get more info and apply here.
• Newsday is looking for summer editorial and social media interns. The 10-week full-time positions are based at the brand’s Melville, NY, headquarters. Pay is $20 an hour. Applicants are limited to juniors, seniors, and recent grads with at least one internship at a professional news organization. Click here for more info.
• For even more internships, check out MEO’s internship post on LinkedIn, which features 180 positions.
Heard a Real Doozy?
Do you have some essential info or did you just get a massive business story published in Cityview like junior Gunner Onkst (MBM)? If so, then let JMM know by sending that juicy news on over to jeff.inman@drake.edu. JMM will treat it like this great story of perseverance from Drake’s own Director of Crew Scholars Jazlin Coley (PR, ’19) and tell everyone about it.
Finally, don’t mess with cats on Tinder.