Media Liability in Iowa

Iowa allows two years for actions based on injuries to reputation, while a separate statute addresses libel in newspapers, free newspapers, shopping guides, and defamatory radio or television statements when the defendant can show misinformation or mistake. A sufficient written correction demand, where served, and how promptly and prominently a correction runs can affect damages. Media teams should preserve the challenged item and any correction request, then have counsel check the outlet-specific statutory conditions.

What Is Media Liability Insurance?

Media liability can help pay defense costs for claims about content you create or distribute, such as allegations of defamation or infringement. Consider it if you publish or produce content for your business or clients; match the quote to each activity. Read the national Media liability guide.

What Should You Watch for With Media Liability Insurance in Iowa?

Retraction provisions name specific outlets
The special retraction framework expressly names newspapers, free newspapers, shopping guides, and radio or television stations. Do not assume its terms automatically cover every online-only publisher or other media format; ask counsel how the outlet and publication fit the statutory text. ^2,³
A correction demand has formal requirements
For the framework to change the actual-damages limit, the plaintiff must serve notice on the publisher at the principal place of publication or on the station owner at its principal place of business. The notice must identify the claimed libelous statements and ask that they be withdrawn; Iowa’s section 659.3 then measures a correction within two weeks from service. ^2,³
Timing and prominence matter
For print, a correction must appear in as conspicuous a place and type in a regular issue within two weeks; for radio or television, it must air at a time considered as favorable as the challenged statement within two weeks. A correction does not automatically end damages exposure under the statute. ³
Candidate and sexual-misconduct exceptions
For a candidate for office, the retraction must be conspicuously placed on the editorial page and is unavailable if the libel ran within two weeks before the election. Sections 659.2 and 659.3 do not apply to libel imputing sexual misconduct. ⁴

Which Media Liability Insurance Providers Have Iowa License Records?

These providers publish a national listing for Media liability; the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Iowa. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

Coalition
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc.
Coalition’s license page lists producer and surplus-lines licenses for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The page separately lists insurers; this record covers the brokerage entity only. ¹³
Coalition identifies media liability within its Active Cyber policy.
Corgi
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.
Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. ¹⁴
Corgi lists media liability insurance among its coverage offerings.

Who Regulates Insurance in Iowa?

Iowa Insurance Division

The Iowa Insurance Division licenses insurance producers and maintains separate lists for licensed insurers and surplus-lines insurer categories. Its filing page routes most rate, rule and form filings through SERFF and identifies filings requiring prior approval; eligible surplus-lines insurers are not required to file or seek approval of their rates or forms. ^5,^11,^10,^6,⁷

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint
Phone: 515-654-6600

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Iowa

Reported tax rate. 0.925% of surplus-lines premiums when Iowa is the insured's home state, for 2026 ^8,⁹

When Iowa is the insured's home state, the 2026 premium tax is 0.925%, and the surplus-lines producer shall collect and pay it to the state in addition to gross premium. Placement generally requires an eligible surplus-lines insurer and a diligent search showing the full amount or type is unavailable from an admitted insurer; an exempt commercial purchaser may bypass that search only after the producer discloses that admitted insurance may be available and may offer greater protection and oversight, then the purchaser subsequently requests surplus-lines placement in writing.

What Should You Ask Before Buying Media Liability Insurance in Iowa?

Which of our publishing channels and formats did the broker use when reviewing the proposed media liability wording?
Who internally logs correction demands, service details, challenged versions, and when and where corrections appear?
How does the proposed policy address defense-cost decisions when a demand arrives before a lawsuit or a correction is being considered?

Media Liability Insurance in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Iowa allow for an injury-to-reputation action?

Iowa Code §614.1(2) sets two years after accrual for actions founded on injuries to reputation, including those based on contract or tort. Counsel should evaluate when a particular claim accrued. ¹

Does publishing a correction automatically prevent additional damages?

No. Section 659.3 says a timely correction can still leave actual, special, and exemplary damages available unless the defendant shows the statement was made in good faith, without malice, and under a mistake of fact. The separate candidate and sexual-misconduct exceptions also matter. ^3,⁴

Sources for Media Liability Insurance in Iowa

1
2026 Iowa Code §614.1, Period. Iowa Legislature; Subsection 2: actions founded on injuries to a person or reputation, whether based on contract or tort, within two years after accrual. Accessed 2026-09-28.
2
2026 Iowa Code §659.2, Libel — retraction — actual damages. Iowa Legislature; Full current section: covered print and broadcast media, misinformation-or-mistake condition, actual-damages limit, and written withdrawal notice. Accessed 2026-09-28.
3
2026 Iowa Code §659.3, Retraction — actual, special, and exemplary damages. Iowa Legislature; Full current section: prominence and two-week correction timing; damages following failure to retract and effect of correction. Accessed 2026-09-28.
4
2026 Iowa Code §659.4, Candidate — retraction — time — imputing sexual misconduct. Iowa Legislature; Full current section: candidate/editorial-page and pre-election rules; exclusion for libel imputing sexual misconduct. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
Iowa Insurance Division. Iowa Insurance Division; Homepage; official insurance regulator. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
Insurance License Lookup. Iowa Insurance Division; State-designated producer/company search. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
File an Insurance Complaint. Iowa Insurance Division; Eligibility and process: regulated entities/individuals; insurance policy generally must be issued in Iowa, or group policy to Iowa-based employer; out-of-state-issued/purchased policy is not eligible; online form is preferred. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
2026 Iowa Code, Chapter 432. Iowa Legislature; 2026 Iowa Code ch.432 §432.1(3)-(4): premium tax allocated to insured's Iowa home state; 2026 applicable rate 0.925%; §§1(5)-(6) payment schedule. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9
2026 Iowa Code, Chapter 515I. Iowa Legislature; 2026 Iowa Code ch.515I §§515I.3(1)(c), .3(2)(a), .4(3), .9: eligible-insurer and diligence conditions; producer shall collect and pay tax in addition to gross premium; eligible surplus-lines insurer rate/form filing exemption; ECP admitted-market disclosure re possible greater protection/oversight and subsequent written request. Accessed 2026-09-28.
10
Insurers Rate Filing and Policy Form Filings. Iowa Insurance Division; Current DOI filing page: lines 11–34 directs most rate/rule/form filings through SERFF and lists specific rates requiring filing and approval before use; 2026 Iowa Code §515I.4(3) separately exempts eligible surplus-lines insurers from rate/form filing or approval. Accessed 2026-09-28.
11
Insurers. Iowa Insurance Division; Current insurer categories separately list licensed insurers, Iowa-domiciled companies, alien surplus-lines insurers and American surplus-lines companies; lines 16–24. Accessed 2026-09-28.
12
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
13
Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
14
Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
15
About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
16
Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
17
Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
18
Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Media Liability in Iowa

What Is Media Liability Insurance?

What Should You Watch for With Media Liability Insurance in Iowa?

Retraction provisions name specific outlets

A correction demand has formal requirements

Timing and prominence matter

Candidate and sexual-misconduct exceptions

Which Media Liability Insurance Providers Have Iowa License Records?

Coalition

Corgi