TRAER — The American Legion Auxiliary, Kubik-Finch Unit No. 142 is pleased to sponsor a Humanities Iowa educational program on Thursday, Dec. 7 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Traer Public Library. Jeff Stein, a Toledo native, will screen his documentary, “From the Battlefront to the Homefront: Iowa Broadcasters Go To War.” This project was funded in part by Humanities Iowa. The presentation is free and open to the public.

From the Battlefront to the Homefront: Iowa Broadcasters Go To War

The bravery of American military members has been well-documented, often due to the unique reporting done by Iowa-based broadcasters on the scene. This presentation includes segments from a documentary by the same name, featuring vintage broadcasts and interviews with the journalists who covered conflicts from World War II to the first Gulf War: a 50-year span. Iowa broadcast historian Jeff Stein, the documentary producer, tells of the challenges the reporters faced in doing their jobs relaying information to a waiting audience and, at times, reassuring them of the safety of Iowans serving thousands of miles away.

Stein is an author, historian and broadcaster. A 2011 recipient of The National Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History, he is recognized as the foremost broadcast historian in Iowa. His daily radio feature on Iowa history, ”Iowa Almanac”, airs on 30 stations statewide. A past member of the State Historical Society of Iowa board of trustees, Stein taught at the college level for 25 years, including at Iowa State University, Buena Vista University-Marshalltown Center, William Penn University and Wartburg College. His book “Making Waves: The People and Places of Iowa Broadcasting” is the only comprehensive history ever published of radio and television and their impact on the state of Iowa, while “One Week in June: The Iowa Floods of 2008″ was a Barnes & Noble #1 best seller. His latest book is “The Floppy Show,” telling the story of the iconic Iowa children’s television program. Stein has also produced a number of award-winning radio and television documentaries. His daily interview program can be heard weekday mornings on News/Talk 1540 KXEL, a legendary 50,000-watt radio station based in Waterloo, where he serves as news and program director.