DM Register’s Editor in Chief: Media Trust, Trump Lawsuit & Left-Bias

Audio version:

The Des Moines Register has built a massive amount of national respect for decades. The new Editor in Chief Rachel Stassen-Berger discusses restoring media trust, the Selzer Poll debacle, and answers a common Republican complaint: do they have a left-bias?

Political operatives have long-recognized the Register as a political powerhouse and Stassen-Berger is well aware of the legacy. She addresses challenging questions and details how she plans on building trust. Gallup records Americans trust congress more than they trust the national media—a fact Stassen-Berger is well aware of and plans to change.

In her first in-depth public conversation as Executive Editor, Stassen-Berger outlines her vision for evolving one of Iowa’s most storied media institutions. A veteran journalist with regional expertise, she emphasizes a leadership approach rooted in community connection, journalistic ambition, and restoring public trust. “We are moving from strong to stronger,” she told host Justin Brady. “Tomorrow should be better than today.”

Stassen-Berger acknowledged the challenges facing modern journalism, including declining public trust and the proliferation of digital channels. Yet she reaffirmed the Register’s commitment to both its traditional principles and adapting to new realities. “Legacy media does not mean we shouldn’t have the startup mindset, which is fail fast,” she said.

Community Connection and New Media Strategy

Highlighting the Register’s increasing focus on community outreach, she cited participation in local platforms like this podcast as part of a broader effort to humanize journalism. “Less PR and more explanatory,” she clarified, adding that journalists must invite the public into the process and demystify their work.

Asked about upcoming changes, Stassen-Berger hinted at evolving storytelling formats. From podcasts to TikTok, she said the Register is active across platforms to meet audiences where they are—especially younger demographics. “We are playing on all of those fields,” she noted, pushing back on the notion that local journalism isn’t technologically savvy.

Navigating Declining Trust and Polarization

Brady pressed her on the erosion of media trust, citing Gallup and Edelman data showing steep drops—especially among Republicans. Stassen-Berger responded with realism and nuance. “People are going to see what they want to see,” she said. She pointed to the greater trust in local media over national outlets as a differentiator for the Register, attributing it to proximity, accountability, and local focus.

She was direct when asked about perceived partisanship. “We talk to Republicans. We talk to Democrats. We try to give them a fair shake,” she insisted. Stassen-Berger also revealed plans to diversify the opinion page, actively soliciting more conservative viewpoints. “If you’re avoiding [writing in], maybe you should try again,” she urged.

The Fallout of the 2024 Iowa Poll

Brady confronted the controversial Iowa Poll that significantly mispredicted election results, a move that drew national scrutiny. While Stassen-Berger had no involvement—she was not yet at the Register—she acknowledged the lawsuit filed by Donald Trump and said the paper is mounting a full defense. She refrained from second-guessing predecessors but noted, “Right now we’re focused on defending ourselves in court.”

When asked if the Register would endorse presidential candidates moving forward, she referenced her prior experience in Omaha. “You already have hard-baked opinions… saying who we think you should vote for isn’t going to change you,” she said. Instead, she advocated for equal-access editorial strategies like “Side-by-Side, You Decide,” offering candidates a platform to make their own cases.

Journalism, AI, and the Paywall Future

In discussing AI, Stassen-Berger sees opportunity—not threat. She has experimented with tools like ChatGPT to enhance internal communication and copywriting, but firmly believes, “It takes journalists to do journalism.” Human instincts—like sensing a buried detail in an interview or portraying the emotion of a softball champion—remain irreplaceable. Addressing the economics of journalism, she defended the Register’s paywall strategy. “The subscription model says, look, it’s not free for us to produce it,” she explained. “Do you think journalists deserve to eat?” With fewer editorial layers than in past decades, Stassen-Berger is focused on optimizing efficiency without compromising standards.