March 28, 2024

NDN welcomes newest staff writer David Hon

The phrase “fit like a glove” has lost some credibility since the first OJ Simpson trial, but in the case of the newest Newton Daily News Staff Writer Dave Hon, it just happens to be true.

“Crimes, courts, city government, those are kind of like dream beats for me,” Hon said. “They are really awesome beats; it’s like choosing between your two favorite children.”

Hon will be covering business, courts, crime, city government, church, and alternating on the “Called to Serve” veterans features here at the Daily.

Hon is a recent graduate of Missouri Western University and worked as freelance journalist for the St. Joseph News-Press in Missouri.

He started here at the Daily on Monday.

“The first day at any job is pretty nerve wracking,” Hon said. “Getting briefed on two beats and just going home and doing a lot of homework on what’s been written in the past about those. I feel like I have got a lot of catching up to do before I am settled in.”

An avid Star Trek fan, he even has a magnetic “Trek” fish magnet on his car, Hon should settle in nicely in the newsroom at the Daily.  The Daily’s newsroom is the source of constant nerd debates, Bane impressions and boasts  a healthy plethora of pop culture goodies from franchises such as Batman, Star Wars, Popeye the Sailorman, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

“I’m kind of geeky,” Hon said. “I think every journalist has a little bit of geek them.”

Hon is excited about the potential of stories in Jasper County and doesn’t want to limit himself to just his beats.

“I consider myself an explorer in journalism,” Hon said. “I think the whole idea of journalism is exploring humanity and getting out there and learning new things about new people and new places. I’m open to all sorts of ideas. I might be one of the most open minded people you will meet.”

“Not just because of my chosen profession, (it’s) just naturally who I am,” Hon said. “I guess to my readers that are reading this, please, I welcome any story idea regarding anything. I will listen with a non-judgmental ear, no matter what it is.”

Hon’s open minded nature and an assist from journalismjobs.com led him to the Daily.

“I expressed interest because I started to look at the Newton Daily News a bit more closely and I like its size,” Hon said. “It’s not too small and it’s not too big.  I think a lot of college graduates get out and they want to work for the New York Times and Des Moines Register. Sometimes it’s not about the brand name, you can tell a good story anywhere.”

Staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.