Steve Berry, School of Journalism and Mass Communication - Faculty Say... - Admissions

Berry is a professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. His journalism career includes work at four newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and Orlando Sentinel, where he earned the 1993 Pulitzer Prize in investigative reporting. Berry teaches advanced, in-depth, and basic reporting and writing courses. He began teaching at The University of Iowa in August 2003.

Bringing practical experience to the classroom
I enjoy being in the classroom talking about investigative reporting, or in my office chatting with students about their projects. In the classroom, I teach with class discussions, brainstorming, lectures, and case studies. With the case studies, I use real newspaper investigations, including my own, and walk the students through them step-by-step, prompting students to discuss how they would approach and investigate an assignment.

Teacher and mentor

Right now, I am working closely with a master’s professional student as her project committee chairman and as her supervisor in an apprentice program. She is a veteran reporter from India and was interested in a very complex and ambitious project that will take her back to her home country. She said she asked me to advise her on the project because of my many years as a professional reporter. I eagerly accepted the opportunity to have a professional reporter work with me on one of my projects. It was a perfect match.

Advice for students
I would encourage incoming students to focus on learning and exploring so that they will have a better chance of finding a career that will make them happy and match their strengths.

Undergraduate Major in Journalism
School of Journalism