An unfortunate issue
We often share stories in this newspaper that are fun and entertaining. Be it our State Fair Fashion Guide or our annual April Fool’s issue, we poke fun at recent happenings. In doing so, we irritate an occasional reader, too. That’s part of the equation for any alternative newsweekly.
There are also times to educate, to take matters seriously. This week’s cover story is a perfect example, as we focus on the issues of child abuse and parental termination in our state.
Herb Strentz, a retired administrator and professor in the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication, first contacted me with the subject matter as a column idea. I felt it merited more than a column and would be worthy of a cover story. He proved it was.
Hundreds of Iowa children are taken away from their parents each year, but the media rarely reports on these cases. In Herb’s effort to tell why, he uncovers more questions than answers. That is the dilemma that those charged with fixing these sad situations must deal with each day. In our ever-changing world, there is no easy fix. And that is the most unfortunate part of the story.
Thanks for reading. CV
