Jacob Rice

Hey, I’m Jacob Rice. I’m the Visuals Editor and a photojournalist for the Iowa State Daily and I also work as a photography intern for Cyclones.TV. I’m studying journalism and mass communication with a minor in design studies. If you couldn’t tell already, I like taking pictures.

I’ve always loved visual media. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a comic book artist. I’d fill stacks of paper with stories and drawings of the future I dreamed about. I’d show them to classmates, hoping for a reaction filled with the same excitement I felt while making them.

In middle school, I decided I wanted to perform. Through high school show choir, I got to sing and dance in front of thousands of people, usually to some pretty cringey songs, but it was fun and I was surrounded by friends. Eventually, I realized that was all it would be for me, fun. Not a future.

I found photography the same way a lot of us do; I received a hand-me-down camera from my mom and started messing around with it. I brought it to show choir events and unofficially assigned myself as the team photographer. I’d take pictures of our performances, then get up and perform. By senior year, I realized I liked capturing and editing those moments more than actually being in them.

After show choir season ended, I started photographing basketball, following both the girls’ and boys’ teams all the way to state. Being able to tell a full-season story through my photos made me think maybe I could work in sports.

As high school came to a close, I applied for the Multicultural Vision Program scholarship. It was the deciding factor between attending Iowa State or DMACC. Without that scholarship, I honestly don’t know where I’d be. When I told my mom I got it, she hugged my dad and cried. Then she turned to me and said, “You better not fuck this up, Jacob.”

The summer before freshman year, I emailed the Daily’s summer editing staff asking if I could shoot for them that fall. I didn’t expect much. Instead, I got an assignment. Just three hours after moving into Larch Hall, I was at Hilton Coliseum photographing volleyball. From there, I built relationships with the photojournalists and the sports desk. Eventually, I covered nearly every sport Iowa State offers, except golf. (Sorry, golf.)

My first football game changed everything. It was Iowa State vs. University of Northern Iowa. That day taught me what school spirit actually feels like. The intensity of Jack Trice, the roar of the student section, the quiet focus of the sideline photographers. Everyone there was part of something bigger than themselves. That’s when I really understood the magic of sports storytelling. 

I came to Iowa State as a design major. My plan was to be a graphic designer and maybe take photos on the weekends. Additionally, there is no dedicated photography major so design was the next best thing. I didn’t even realize photography could be a “real” job. But the Daily gave me the space to grow, to take chances and to believe in my voice as both a writer and photographer.

During the spring of my freshman year, I called my dad and told him I hated the design program and wanted to switch to journalism. I called him first because I didn’t want to disappoint my mom since her “don’t mess this up” line was still echoing in my head. But what I didn’t realize until it was plainly stated by them was that my parents just wanted me to be happy. So, I made the switch. And it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Somewhere in the middle of college, I learned to say yes. If an opportunity showed up, I took it. I kept asking myself, “Will I ever get this chance again?”

That mindset led me to some pretty interesting photo opportunities: joining the athletics program creative intern team, photographing students sweating in their dorms during heatwaves, covering protests on global issues, going behind the scenes with Cy the mascot and traveling across the country to capture Cyclone football games.

The Daily has taught me so many things, both technical and social. A major one was how to lead a team even when you feel like you have no idea what you’re doing.

I won’t say I’m a great leader. But I’ve learned how to fake just enough confidence to be a decent one. I’ve been the Visuals Editor for three and a half years. Early on, I was so nervous about attending content meetings and making  a fool of myself, that I’d sit still at my desk completely unaware I was expected to be in the room. Now, I can walk into any space, not knowing anyone or anything and just figure it out as I go. 

Being at the Daily taught me how to adapt, trust myself and help others do the same.

Every professor and adult I’ve met has told me the same thing, “It’s all about connections.” I used to think that was cliché. But it’s the truth. Every opportunity I’ve had, whether it was the Daily, Cyclones.TV, freelance gigs or class, it came from people who believed in me.

The Iowa State Daily has been my second home during my college career. 

The Daily shaped me, from a wide-eyed freshman with a camera to someone confident enough to lead, to take risks and to chase the next best photo.

Now, as I walk around campus during this perfect spring weather, I’m still stumbling upon buildings that I’ve never seen before. And that’s because I spent most of my college career in the newsroom. At my desk. With my camera. With my people.

And honestly? I’m completely fine with that.