Job: Political Reporter
Year in the Register: 6 months.
I grew up: Cedar Falls, Iowa
I live in: Downtown Des Moines
I graduated: I graduated from Cedar Falls High School and studied high school third year in Lyon, France through the Rotary Youth Exchange. I recently completed my dual bachelor’s degree in journalism and international studies from the University of Iowa.
Family: My family lives far from Iowa City to Cedar Falls, Massachusetts, Hungary and Belgium. You can’t forget about bugs, tuxedo cats, parents’ pets, Strika (rescue greyhound) and dirino cuts.
Email: sabine.martin@gannett.com
Why journalism? My love for journalism began in high school when I reported on some research projects in the Midwest. These projects took me through the newsroom of my high school newspaper every week. Our investigation even led to Iowa legislators who introduced the law. That was when I realized that journalism was a career for me, and that was what I continued to attend university during my fourth year as a reporter and executive editor for the Daily Iowa Student Newspaper.
I like my beat. Because whether I’m covering protests, complicated bills or writing long-form stories about how policies affect Iowan life, I’m always learning, and every day is different as a political reporter.
Some of the major stories I’ve covered recently: My first major mission after the 2024 election was to look into how the Trump administration’s immigration policy would affect Iowa. I spoke with my colleague Jose Mendiola with DACA recipients and religious leaders in Iowa. He also wrote a lengthy article on how abortion policy is a problem.
Some of the stories I’m working on: I’ve been working on continuing compensation for bills related to pesticide manufacturer parents and reporting on the daily events of the State Capitol and how Washington, D.C. policies are affecting Iowanians.
When I’m not working, I like: I love trying new recipes, hosting friends and family at my place for dinner, playing pickleballs, and taking pottery classes at the studio at Volley Junction recently.
My Favorite Iowa Haunt: The Lunch Buffet at Iowa City’s Massalinedian Cuisine is a great place.
Fun facts about me: My first journalism signature was a letter to the editor of my hometown newspaper when I was in fourth grade about the closure of my elementary school.
Sabine Martin covers the politics of the register. She may be contacted by email at sabine.martin@gannett.com or by telephone at (515) 284-8132. Follow her on @sabinefmartin’s X.
