Minnesota Newspaper Association & Minnesota News Media Institute

11/27/2024

11/21/2024

It's Give to the Max Day, a great time to support community journalism in Minnesota with a tax-deductible donation to the Minnesota News Media Institute. MNI provides student and professional training, paid internships for high school and college students, innovative programs like Citizen Journalism University, fiscal sponsorship for journalism organizations and advocacy for local journalism in the wider philanthropic community. Follow the link to support quality journalism in Minnesota. Thank you! https://www.givemn.org/organization/Mnainstitute

11/20/2024

GIVE TO THE MAX: Tomorrow is Minnesota's biggest fundraising day of year! Please help support the training, internships and nonprofit advocacy provided by the Minnesota News Media Institute by clicking here - early donations are already under way!

https://www.givemn.org/organization/Mnainstitute

With your support, we can do even more to help MNA members build their skills, provide support for MNI internships, advocate for community news in the state's nonprofit sector and run innovate programs including Citizen Journalism University.

10/28/2024

Congratulations to the Minnesota News Media Institute/Bethel University Citizen Journalism University Class of 2024! Five weeks of intensive training, practical work and mentorship have given these 14 students the skills to help keep their communities informed and connected. Congratulations, graduates!

- Chen Dade, sponsored by the Pelican Rapids Press;
- Michael Ennis, sponsored by the Martin County Star;
- Cordelia Frykman, sponsored by the Elk River Star News;
- Logan Gion, sponsored by Press Publications;
- Norman Hayes, sponsored by the Traverse City Record-Eagle (MI);
- Sidni Hendren, sponsored by the Lake County Press;
- Brittney Nopar, sponsored by Sycamore Media (IA);
- Carin Peterson, sponsored by The Northeaster;
- Lisa Rau, sponsored by the Renville County Register;
- Loria Rebuffoni, sponsored by the Faribault County Register;
- David Salzer, sponsored by The Northeaster;
- Martha Jones Sichko, sponsored by the Albert Lea Tribune
- Daren Strobel, sponsored by the Owatonna People's Press;;
- Shalon Wilber, sponsored by Star Publications.

CJU wouldn't be possible without the generous gifts of time an expertise from our instructors: Bethel University Prof. Scott Winter, Jim Pumarlo, Marie Zimmerman, Brent Schacherer, Doug Hanneman and Lisa Schwarz.

Our mentors provide CJU student with support, advice and an invaluable real-world perspective. Thanks to this year's CJU mentors: Natasha Barber, Scott Tedrick, Kitty Mayo, Sarah Stultz, Trevis Mayfield, Jim Pumarlo, Doug Hanneman, Lou Hoglund, Lisa Schwarz, Chuck Hunt, Jim Boyle, Vince Brown, Shannon Granholm, Brent Schacherer and Rebecca Pierce.

CJU, funded by the Minnesota News Media Institute, Bethel University and participating newspapers, has now trained more than 60 citizen journalists in communities across Minnesota!

10/12/2024

Don't fall behind your neighbors and colleagues - read your local news!

10/11/2024

Every community deserves local news - to know itself, examine itself, and celebrate itself.

10/10/2024

If you're a candidate who is not using newspapers and their digital products to reach voters, you're missing out.

10/09/2024

Even if you're not reading the "newspaper," you're reading us. Newspaper websites, mobile apps, e-newsletters and print editions serve readers of every age.

10/08/2024

People who engage with their newspapers and news websites are also engaged in their communities.

10/07/2024

Eight in 10 Americans read a newspaper or newspaper website EVERY week.

08/20/2024

Great shots!

08/14/2024

Miranda Peterson, a senior at Lancaster High School, is an MNA intern at the Kittson County Enterprise. For years, she has been spotted in Lancaster with her camera taking shots for friends and family at sporting events. She has also been known to create posters, cards and logos.

“I was just messing around with it one day and it stuck,” Peterson said. Her accidental discovery of a love for graphic design has led her to get real-world experience at the Kittson County Enterprise, thanks to the MNA internship program funded by the association’s nonprofit, the Minnesota News Media Institute.
Peterson will be a high school senior at Lancaster this fall, said she found the opportunity interesting to learn more about graphic design and photography in a hands-on and local setting. She will also atttend some local meetings to see how the news is covered.

“Even though I’m not doing the stories, I can still see how you guys do that work – what you’re doing and why you’re doing it,” she said. “When I’m here, I pay more attention. Before, I thought, ‘Oh, it’s a story.’ But now I read them and go through them, because it’s more interesting. Getting that direct experience is different.”
She is considering graphic design programs at University of Minnesota - Crookston and Bemidji State University, but plans to continue looking as her senior year progresses.
>>> The Minnesota News Media Institute (MNA’s nonprofit 501(c)3 training arm) subsidizes up to $1,000 of intern wages each year for 10-12 MNA members. Requests for MNI interns far outpace available funding, most years by 2-3 times. One-time and recurring donations to MNI keep the training and inspiration flowing. Donate here: https://mna.app.neoncrm.com/forms/10

08/06/2024

We suspect today's news will make Governor Tim Walz a tough-to-get guest for the 2025 MNA Convention & Trade Show - the end of an era? We join Minnesotans in wishing him well on the campaign trail.

07/30/2024

From Butterfield to Bethel to The Globe : Meet MNA Intern Aiden Penner of Butterfield. He just completed his freshman year at Bethel University in St. Paul, where he is majoring in journalism with dreams of becoming a sports journalist. He joined the Worthington Globe staff on June 3. “We've had him both reporting on and taking photos at baseball games. He has done excellent work in reporting on news and sports features, and last week, when we had major flooding in southwest Minnesota, Aiden was eager to report on the situation,” Editor Julie Buntjer said. “Aiden is enthusiastic, eager to learn and an absolute joy to have in our newsroom this summer!” He is being guided by Editor Julie Buntjer and Sports Editor Skyler Jackson, and working alongside Community Editor Hope Moural and Reporter Sam Martin.

>>> The Minnesota News Media Institute (MNA’s nonprofit 501(c)3 training arm) subsidizes up to $1,000 of intern wages each year for 10-12 MNA members. Requests for MNI interns far outpace available funding, most years by 2-3 times. One-time and recurring donations to MNI keep the training and inspiration flowing. Click here to help: https://mna.app.neoncrm.com/forms/11

07/18/2024

Madison Melby, an MNI-funded intern reporter for the Alexandria Echo Press, is spending her summer writing news articles, covering town celebrations and festivals, processing news of student accomplishments for publication and handling “any other items the editor throws her way. And she always does so with a smile on her face!” said Celeste Edenloff, special projects editor. “She has been a great addition to the editorial team.”

Madison attends the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, majoring in English and minoring in creative writing and ensemble music. She is planning a career where she is able to work in an editorial capacity, particularly the publication of novels.

The Minnesota News Media Institute (MNA’s nonprofit 501(c)3 training arm) subsidizes up to $1,000 of intern wages each year for 10-12 MNA members. Requests for MNI interns far outpace available funding, most years by 2-3 times. One-time and recurring donations to MNI keep the training and inspiration flowing.