Nikoel Hytrek

Resume

 Nikoel Hytrek
Des Moines, IA
nikoelhytrek@gmail.com

Skills

Writing                                                                                  Editing

Research- Interviewing
archives, documents, court rulings                      

Video editing                                                                        AP style            

Beat coverage                                                                      Graphics–
Canva 

Legislative coverage Data Visualization

Social Media- Reading legislation
Instagram, Facebook, TikTok

                                                                                                                                                        

Experience

Multimedia Reporter, Iowa Starting Line, Des Moines

May 2021-Feb. 2025                        

-Contributed to government accountability reporting, including tracking votes and bills

-Documented rising extremism from groups like Moms For Liberty in Iowa politics

-Led coverage of reproductive rights including the proposing and passing of restrictions that became go-to information nationally

-Led coverage of LGBTQ rights and book bans picked up nationally

-Produced high-performing videos and graphics for social media

Reporter, Iowa Feminist, remote

July-Nov. 2020:                                      

-Covered political figures running for the state legislature, including their plans for office, focused on women’s rights issues

-Explored possible next steps for Iowa’s Democratic Party

COVID-19 Reporter, Iowa Starting Line, Des Moines

April-May 2020:                                     

-Followed outbreak trends in the state

-First to warn of outbreak potential in Western Iowa

-Covered daily press conferences, new developments

Beat/Caucus Reporter, Iowa Starting Line, Des Moines

-Covered courts, reproductive rights, voting rights, campaigns

-Documented federal judicial confirmations, recorded Iowa’s senators’ votes

-Explained reform ideas, the impact of federal judges, plans to tackle corruption

-First to accurately report a judge’s ruling on Iowa voter ID laws

-Documented changing abortion laws in the Midwest, particularly Iowa

Reporting Intern, Grand Island Independent, Grand Island, NE

May-Aug. 2018:                     

-Interviewed political candidates running for federal office

-Covered local issues

Reporting fellow, Omaha World-Herald, Omaha, NE

Jan.-May 2018                                         

-Helped create a database of historical events with past coverage in archives

Reporting intern, Norfolk Daily News, Norfolk, NE

May 15-Aug. 2017                                

-Conceptualized and delivered an original week-long series featuring area history museums

Education

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska

Aug. 2015-May 2019

Bachelor’s of Journalism

Minors: History, Political Science

Certificates

Poynter-ACES Certificate in Editing, March 2025