On June 16 as Ryan Blaney did a burnout on the frontstretch of the Iowa Speedway after winning the Iowa Corn 350, I laughed at the absurdity of running onto an active pit road as cars rolled in.
“I love my job,” I told myself.
Four weeks later David Letterman introduced himself to me on pit road, and we chatted about journalism for 10 minutes before an NTT IndyCar Series race.
“I love my job,” I told myself again.
After years grinding at small papers in Santa Barbara, California, and Jefferson City, Missouri, I found a home at the Des Moines Register.
Job: Retail and real estate reporter
Years at the Register: Five
I grew up in: Sioux City
I graduated from: Sioux City East and the University of Missouri
Family: Mom, Susie; dad, Al; stepmom, Melissa; brother, Kevin; and sister, Rachel
Email: [email protected]
Why journalism: My dad is a TV anchor. My mom’s dad, whom I’m named after, was a radio newsman. My parents met when one of his colleagues interviewed my mom. As their first-born kid, I was bound for this field.
Every day is an adventure. I look for complex, long-form stories to tell. The Register lets me do that. My dad taught me that nothing is better than a good feature story. I never forgot that.
I like my job because: I wear a different hat every day. I have many interests, from science to math to religion to courts to sports to motorsports. Most reporters get ahead by specializing in one topic. I always wanted to be a utility man who could cover any topic.
Once I proved myself here at the Register, my editors mostly let me cover anything I’ve wanted to. This year I’ve covered everything from federal courts to the Iowa Caucuses to the Indianapolis 500.
Some of the major stories I’ve covered recently: I will long be known most for my 2021 investigation into the plight of sex trafficking victim Pieper Lewis. It became a national story in ways few stories about Des Moines, not involving presidential politics, ever do.
I was at Perry High on the day of the Jan. 4 shooting and led our coverage for months. This year I spent two days covering Indianapolis 500 qualifying. Then I covered the IndyCar and NASCAR weekends at Iowa Speedway.
Iowa Speedway designer Rusty Wallace reflects before first Cup date
On June 15 at Iowa Speedway, before its first Cup Series Race, I interviewed NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace as he reminisced about designing the speedway. Wallace repeatedly told my contact at NASCAR he was excited to see the story. Talk about pressure.
Philip Joens, left, interviewing NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace, right, on June 15, 2024 at Iowa Speedway.
Some stories I’m working on next: In January I’ll have our annual story about most expensive homes sold in the metro area and other real estate trends.
I’ve already outlined long lists of feature stories about IndyCar, NASCAR and RAGBRAI I want to write next summer. So watch for those.
When I’m not working I like to: Most of the time I’m officiating or umpiring basketball, hockey, football, baseball or softball. I officiate because it gives me an adrenaline rush few things do. Officiating forces me to work with teammates and handle irrational, emotional things in rational ways.
In my downtime I like to go to races. The Indy 500 and trips to Kansas Speedway are now yearly pilgrimages. At other times you’ll find me at Missouri Tiger football games, St. Louis Blues games and Iowa Wild games.
Philip Joens officiating at Colo-Nesco on Aug. 20, 2024
My favorite Iowa haunt: In September I stayed alone at my grandpa’s farmhouse near Manilla the night before his funeral. At 2:30 a.m., a lamp in his office came on. I thought the house was haunted until my dad told me the light was on a timer.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Meet the Des Moines Register staff: Retail reporter Philip Joens
