September 24, 2025

📻 Newsroom to classroom: Ty Rushing on teaching journalism - Cornhole Champions #40

32 minutes

Ty Rushing made history as the first Black reporter and editor at eight different Iowa publications, but his journey from breaking barriers to breaking down stories reveals something deeper about the evolution of journalism. From covering northwest Iowa's "playground" of small towns to mentoring the next generation at the University of Iowa, Rushing offers some insight into what shoe leather teaches about the craft.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith dives deep with the Emmy-nominated documentarian about the art of local journalism, the challenge of "parachute reporters," and why every gas station should have decent coffee.

Toss some bags at making the jump from veteran reporter to rookie professor… The real difference between local and parachute journalism… And why Mike Jones references don't land with Gen Z students…

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*

00:00 From Local to Statewide: Expanding Your Coverage Playground

02:30 The "Helicopter Journalist" Problem in Iowa

05:00 Defending Iowa from Coastal Elite Takes

07:30 Transitioning from Top Reporter to Rookie Professor

10:30 Teaching Local Government: More Than Just Meeting Coverage

16:00 Preparing Students for a Consolidated News Industry

18:00 The Time-Consuming Reality of Academic Grading

23:00 Generational Gaps: Mike Jones vs. Gen Z Students

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By Zachary Oren Smith

4.9

1919 ratings