John Pemble
Technical Producer, NewsExpertise: Audio recording and production, hosting, reporting
Favorite Iowa Destination: The many trails in the Central Iowa Trails Association
Experience:
- Has set up and recorded, mixed, and edited audio from studios and at events across Iowa
- Has developed expansive technical knowledge with various audio recording and broadcasting gear
- Has covered arts and culture, including opera, video gaming and the Iowa State Fair, as well as history and other topics as a reporter
- Serves as a substitute daytime host, and has hosted jazz, classical and contemporary instrumental music programming
- Produced IPR's award-winning Caucus Land podcast, and has hosted an produced IPR's From the Archives and Under the Golden Dome podcasts
- Multi-award-winning journalist and producer, including two first place Eric Sevareid awards for podcasting with Caucus Land and a first place Feature Reporting award from the Iowa Broadcast News Association for "Video Game Places Player in a Cancer Drama"
- Served as a mentor for NPR’s Next Generation Radio in Iowa
- Served as an adjunct professor with Iowa Central Community College
My Favorite Stories and Episodes
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The space probe Cassini has been exploring Saturn since 2004. One of the instruments on the two story tall spacecraft is from the University of Iowa… -
Presidential candidates have been rewarded in the Iowa caucuses for spending a lot of time traveling the state and meeting with voters. That strategy doesn’t seem to be working for those running against former President Donald Trump in 2024. A runaway victory for the former president could mark a major shift for campaigns and could spell even more trouble for the future of the Iowa caucuses. -
World heavyweight champion boxer Muhammad Ali was at the top of his game in the 1960s. After Ali refused to serve in the Vietnam War for religious reasons, he was arrested and convicted of draft evasion, facing five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. His boxing license was suspended, and he was barred from leaving the country. With his boxing career on hold and his future uncertain, the champ began speaking at college campuses around the country, including in Iowa City.
My Latest Stories
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One of the Iowa's most generous philanthropists has died at the age of 79. Richard Jacobson grew up in Belmond. He died today at his home in… -
Fifty years ago this week, students in the Des Moines school district were suspended for wearing black armbands to silently protest the Vietnam War. They… -
My Latest Podcasts
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Around this time, legislators who have announced they aren’t seeking re-election in the Iowa legislature are granted a “retirement” speech from the chamber floor. Between the House and Senate, around 35 legislators are not running for re-election. A few are seeking to run in the other chamber and there are some running for congressional seats. Some of these decisions are also due to redistricting. Also, many large budget bills have passed in the House, but so far the Senate has not taken them up. With the legislature near the end and moving at a slower pace, this podcast will pause until the session has gaveled out for the year. -
Proposals about public schools pass in the Senate and House requiring online publishing of curriculums. Private schools are exempt from doing the same. Unlike the House version, the Senate’s includes millions of dollars in scholarships for students attending private schools. One Republican says this is necessary after accusing some public schools of promoting a “leftist agenda.” And the House passes a budget with no increase to the regents universities’ general fund. But the bill does propose appropriating $12 million for new scholarships. -
A bill requiring teachers to post everything they use in a classroom online before a semester begins, advances. After a committee, it now has something that may let teachers update that information as they teach. Budgets are now starting to pass out of the House. Democrats say the $1 billion surplus should be used to provide more funds to state departments. And the longest debate so far this year is for a bill about unemployment benefits. It reduces the maximum number of weeks for unemployment. Republicans say it’s part of a solution for a workforce shortage, but Democrats strongly disagree.
