Emma Habinck, née Brustkern, is a people-oriented newsroom leader with over four years of experience producing and leading digital content in a fast-paced newsroom.
As Digital Executive Producer at Local 5 News (WOI), Emma is experienced in developing early-career journalists, driving multi-platform strategy, leading breaking news coverage and improving newsroom workflows.
A graduate of Drake University, Emma is committed to telling stories with accuracy, nuance and compassion. Her work as a journalist is driven by a love of learning and a love of humanity.
THEN
Hailing from the Iowa City area, Emma began her journalism career in 2015, when an “Introduction to Journalism” course ignited her passion for reporting.
Emma’s love of journalism is what led her to attend Drake University. There, Emma wrote for every student publication she could, including the weekly student newspaper, The Times-Delphic.
As News Editor of The Times-Delphic, Emma covered COVID outbreaks in the residence halls. Her work inspired a petition signed by more than 1,000 individuals, urging Drake to release COVID case numbers. Her coverage of the controversy also led to a subsequent article by the Des Moines Register and the eventual release of weekly COVID-19 updates by the university.
As a senior, Emma served as the paper’s editor-in-chief, during which time she dedicated herself to improving the paper’s digital strategy. Her pet project, The Weekly Wrap-Up, was a weekly newsletter promoting the TD’s best work from throughout the week.
NOW
As Digital EP at Local 5 News, Emma leads a team of journalists responsible for creating compelling, audience-focused content across web, streaming and social platforms.
In fall of 2025, Emma spearheaded Local 5’s vertical video strategy, training journalists and integrating short-form video into daily coverage. Less than a year later, that workflow has produced more than 4,000 vertical videos, appearing on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Emma also leads streaming strategy and operations, including 24/7 programming and livestreams during breaking news and severe weather. Under her leadership, the newsroom is on track to see its best streaming performance on record in 2026.
Most recently, Emma worked to reimagine her newsroom’s daily editorial meetings, training journalists to develop stronger, multi-platform story pitches while streamlining workflows to make meetings more focused and efficient.
In her free time, Emma can be found reading, going to estate sales, watering her (many) plants, watching women’s basketball or spending time with her wife and their two cats, Georgia and Willow.
