Independent Lens Season 23 Episode 2 Storm Lake

In the second episode of season 23 of Independent Lens, viewers are taken on a journey to Storm Lake, Iowa, a small town where the community's changing demographics have caused tensions to arise in recent years.

As the episode begins, we meet the Bergstrom family, who have owned the local newspaper, The Storm Lake Times, for generations. The patriarch, Art, is a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist who has been reporting on the town's happenings for decades. However, in recent years, Storm Lake has undergone a transformation, with a growing Latino population and a decline in the white population. This shift has led to some members of the community feeling uncomfortable and uneasy about the changes happening around them.

Despite this tension, the Bergstroms remain committed to reporting on the town's stories, including those that touch on issues of race and immigration. Art and his son Tom, who now runs the newspaper alongside him, work tirelessly to ensure that both sides of these issues are represented in their reporting, even when it comes at a personal cost. They receive angry letters and phone calls from readers who don't like what they're reporting, but the Bergstroms believe that it's their duty as journalists to tell the truth, even when it's difficult.

Throughout the episode, we hear from a number of other Storm Lake residents, including Latino residents who are working to make their voices heard in a town where they often feel like outsiders. We meet Yesenia, a local teacher who is a naturalized citizen and who worries about the Trump administration's rhetoric around immigration. She says that she often feels like she has to prove her worth to her students and their families, despite having lived and worked in Storm Lake for years.

We also meet Art Cullen, another Pulitzer-prize winning journalist who runs the Storm Lake Times' biggest competitor, The Buena Vista County Times. While Cullen and the Bergstroms are friendly, they have different approaches to reporting on the town's changing demographics. Cullen believes that the town needs to do more to protect its white residents, while the Bergstroms believe in representing all voices equally.

As the episode goes on, we see tensions in Storm Lake rise and fall, sometimes based on events happening in the wider world. For example, when Donald Trump is elected president in 2016 and begins enacting harsh immigration policies, many Storm Lake residents feel under attack. However, when the town hosts a barbecue festival that brings people from all walks of life together, there's a sense of unity and community that feels hopeful.

Ultimately, the episode serves as a portrait of a changing America, one where small towns are grappling with issues of race and identity in ways that they never have before. Through the lens of Storm Lake, viewers get a glimpse of what it's like to live in a community that's in flux, where some are resistant to change while others are striving to build a more equitable and diverse town. Despite the challenges, however, it's clear that the people of Storm Lake love their town and are committed to making it a better place for everyone who calls it home.