Iowa State University selects the 2026 Potter Digital Ambassadors

The Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication is excited to announce the first cohort of Potter Digital Ambassadors at Iowa State University, in partnership with the Iowa Newspaper Association (INA). This inaugural group will assist in training local news outlets in digital tools for a week in January.

The selected students are Sarah Bernick, Eliana Compton, Brayden Finley, Katie Nelson, Lauren Ploog, Kiley Trecker, Annika Trost and Jenna Whalen.

“The Greenlee School is committed to providing our students hands-on, real-world training while serving Iowa’s communities,” said Tracy Lucht, interim director of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. “I want to congratulate these students for being selected and thank the Iowa Newspaper Association for giving them the opportunity to show what they can do. I’m excited about this partnership.”

The program originated at the University of Missouri when Walt Potter Jr. partnered with his alma mater to provide digital training to local news outlets on how to optimize their use of social media. After its success, the program expanded to other Midwestern institutions, including Iowa State University and Drake University.

“By bringing the Potter Digital Ambassador Program to Iowa, we’re connecting students directly with newsrooms, giving them meaningful, hands-on experience in local journalism,” said Debbie Anselm, executive director of INA. “At the same time, their digital expertise helps our newspapers strengthen and expand the strategies that keep high-quality community news thriving across the state.”

INA recruited participating news organizations for the Greenlee ambassadors to visit during the winter term, including the Humboldt Independent, the Iowa Falls Times Citizen, the Indianola Independent Advocate and the Decorah News.