Jackie Schmillen Joins WHO 13 as Contributor
The veteran broadcaster and public affairs director brings nine years of local media experience to the WHO 13 news team.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Military Jobs
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Jackie Schmillen has joined WHO 13 as a contributor, marking her return to broadcast media. The move follows her nine-year tenure at WOI Local 5 and her current leadership role with the Iowa National Guard.
Why it matters
For media operators, the addition highlights the ongoing movement of talent between public affairs, military communications, and local news organizations in the Des Moines market. It also reflects how established local media brands are leveraging experienced, recognized regional figures to support evolving content formats on legacy and digital platforms.
Schmillen brings nine years of experience from her previous role at WOI Local 5 to WHO 13. She returns to the screen after a four-year hiatus from television broadcasting.
The players
Jackie Schmillen
A seasoned Des Moines broadcast professional and current director of public affairs for the Iowa National Guard.
WHO 13
A prominent local news station in Des Moines serving as a primary broadcast outlet for the regional market.
Iowa National Guard
The state-level military organization that manages public affairs and community relations.
WOI Local 5
A Des Moines-based local television station that employed Schmillen for nine years.
The details
Schmillen currently serves as the director of public affairs for the Iowa National Guard, a position she reached after becoming the first civilian appointed to the role. She now contributes to WHO 13 and its associated digital platform, WHO 13+, as her public affairs schedule permits. Her media background includes previous work at KCCI and a nine-year stint at WOI Local 5.
Timeline
2013: Schmillen began her nine-year tenure at WOI Local 5.
2022: Schmillen concluded her position at WOI Local 5.
October 23, 2026: Schmillen made her first appearance on Today in Iowa.
October 27, 2026: WHO 13 officially confirmed the hiring of Schmillen.
October 28, 2026: WHO 13 announced the new contributor arrangement.
Market Landscape
The hiring of a director of public affairs as a media contributor follows a common pattern of local news stations embedding regional institutional leaders within their content strategy. This strategy allows stations to maintain access to high-profile industry voices while navigating the changing demands of local audience engagement.
Operators in the Des Moines media market should track how the inclusion of public affairs officials impacts station reach and audience sentiment. This trend suggests a strategic shift toward utilizing high-trust institutional voices to bolster content reliability.
The takeaway
The move underscores the growing value of institutional experience in shaping local media narratives. Managers looking to refresh their own content strategy should monitor how public affairs integration influences local engagement and regional brand authority.
Further reading
For more on how local news operations are shifting their talent strategies, see the Military Jobs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Des Moines Register.
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