Des Moines Register publisher speaks with Oracle staff

David+Chivers+speaks+to+The+Oracle+editors+on+November+20+after+the+question+and+answer+session.+

Taj Milton

David Chivers speaks to The Oracle editors on November 20 after the question and answer session.

Kathleen Tran, Reporter

On November 20, David Chivers, president and publisher of the Des Moines Register visited North High School to chat with the Oracle staff. Being an alumnus of a North High, this was a sentimental experience for him. He spoke about the future of journalism, his experiences, his view on technology along with advice for students.

Chivers spent his high school career involved in yearbook and newspaper, becoming editor his junior and senior year. Going into college, he wasn’t involved in any groups related to journalism. However, he was still very interested in design and continued doing that, yet never considering a career in it. Eventually, he realized how much he enjoyed it and pursued that route.

Chivers has always been fascinated by technology even before computers began to advance. That being said, choosing a career in digital journalism rather than print journalism was difficult. Print journalism was where it was at back then, but he believed digital was going to go somewhere big.

“Technology is going to change the world and I think that it has and it will continue to do so,” he said.

Still, today, technology is evolving. In journalism, journalists communicate ideas to each other, but with the addition of technology they are able to do much more.

“Readers are no longer passive — they are creating content with you… if they see an article or photo they like they now have a platform to retweet it, talk about it and give you feedback as a writer or photographer in ways that didn’t exist before,” he said about how technology benefits journalism.

A single piece of advice he gave to students is to “be open to the world and take risks.” What you’re doing might not work out, but it’s the experience that counts.

Chivers became president and publisher of the Des Moines Register in May, just six months ago. He never dreamed of being where he is now and admits he’s still learning new things to this day. And despite the many challenges and difficult situations his job carries, Chivers still enjoys it and sees himself there in the future.