DURHAM, NC (June 17, 2008) – The president of the Associated Press Managing Editors group says that journalists who work for The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, KCGR-TV, and many newspapers in Waterloo, Vinton, Iowa City and other towns have had their homes and personal belongings damaged or destroyed by the severe flooding that's ravaged the midwest and recent tornadoes.
David Ledford, the vice president of news and executive editor of The News Journal in Wilmington, DE, who is APME's president, has asked the journalism community to make a tax-deductible contribution to help these journalists who are in need.
A fund has been established for this purpose, Ledford said. Those wishing to help can make an online donation or send a check. Ledford said part of the effort to help includes assembling two databases: one of the needs of newspapers affected by the flooding, and one of resources being offered by other newspapers.
In The Cedar Rapids Gazette, editor Steve Buttry explained to readers that only citizens who live within an area designated as the 100-year flood plain can purchase flood insurance, but that this years flooding has gone beyond those boundaries (past the 500-year flood plane area). That means much of the damage done by this year's flooding will not be insured. Buttry says that FEMA's assistance will help some, but not nearly enough.
To make a tax-deductible donation, Ledford said checks can be mailed to the Iowa Newspaper Foundation, 319 E. Fifth Street, Des Moines, IA, 50309.
Online donations via credit card can be made at www.inanews.com.
"Thank you in advance for helping colleagues who continue to do their jobs in the face of extraordinary adversity," Ledford said.
For more information contact APME at apme@ap.org.
Here's a look at how some Iowa newspapers have been covering the disasters:
