Photography project examines rural sexual assault in Iowa

Photo by Jacob Fiscus

Rebecca McKinsey, a reporter at the Daily Times Herald and Jacob Fiscus, owner of the Photography by Fiscus studio in Carroll, Iowa, (pop. 10,103), have teamed up to produce a heart-wrenching photo project about rural sexual assault survivors.

The project is called Every 98 Seconds because someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted every 98 seconds, on average. It features interviews and photos of 13 western Iowa residents who have been sexually assaulted or are parents of children who were assaulted, ranging from a 13-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy to a 53-year-old woman. The photos are expressive and personal without revealing the subjects' identities. The project was released in April to coincide with Sexual Assault Awareness Month and aims to remind viewers that sexual assault can happen to anyone, even friends, family and neighbors.

McKinsey and Fiscus previously collaborated on two other photo projects: People of the Library, which featured locals who use the Carroll Library and helped ensure the success of a library modernization referendum, and Hindsight, which captured the memories, insights and wisecracks of Carroll residents age 90 and over. All three projects can be seen at The Faces of Iowa.