2011 Annual Report

MINNESOTA NEWS MEDIA INSTITUTE

Table of Contents
History ...............................................................................3 Message from the Executive Director .............................4 Board of Directors ............................................................5 2011 Training Programs ...................................................6 Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program ...8
Cover Photos by Portage News, Floodwood

Our Mission

Pohlad Internship Program ............................................12 Financial Statement ........................................................14 Donors .............................................................................15

he Minnesota News Media Institute is a partnership of the more than 360 members of the Minnesota Newspaper Association, working and making a difference for the future of Minnesotas news media by providing training to all newspaper and news media professionals, scholarship and internship opportunities to students, and public forums for the general public to discuss media-related issues.

MNI Annual Report printing donated by:

The concept of healthy community, leadership, responsibility and the key role of the newspaper in community have become part of how and why I do things. 2011 Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program graduate

Our History

he Minnesota News Media Institute (MNI) is the 501(c)(3) training arm of the Minnesota Newspaper Association. Founded in 2010, MNI provides training to all newspaper and news media professionals in Minnesota, provides internship opportunities to students at member newspapers and produces public forums for the general public to discuss media-related issues. MNI took over the training and education missions from the Minnesota Newspaper Foundation which now focuses solely on the newspaper museum at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and the Minnesota News Council which disbanded in 2011. In 2011, MNI began to grow into its role and Minnesota media professionals saw a marked increase in training programs available. News media professionals attended more than 32 in-person and online trainings; Cohort 7 graduated from the Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program ready to make a difference in their local communities; and the training provided at the 2011 Minnesota Newspaper Association Convention was a wild success. In addition, 70 high school students gained real world experience interning at 59 MNA newspapers through the Pohlad Internship Program, and members of the public joined MNA members in discussions on public policy as well as the role of social media in newspapers at two public forum events presented by MNI. Building on those successes, 2012 looks to be even more exciting as we continue to expand operations and opportunities for MNA members to get involved.

I learned a lot at this workshopespecially about gaining access to MN courts. I left with some very good story ideas to take back to the newsroom. MNI presents Public Affairs & Courts Reporting in Your Community

Message from the Executive Director

n 2010 Minnesota Newspaper Association formed the Minnesota News Media Institute (MNI) to continue the missions of the Minnesota Newspaper Foundation and Minnesota News Council: training and educating news media professionals in Minnesota. I am proud and excited to report that MNIs success is exceeding our expectations and fulfilling its mission on every level. In 2011 MNI began offering quality, affordable training sessions on a variety of topics. In addition to developing its own training, MNI has partnered with other state and regional press associations offering a variety of webinars and in-person training sessions of interest to Minnesota news media professionals. MNI offers numerous outstanding programs that promote excellence in journalism and leadership. One of those is the Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program. Seven cohorts have graduated from the Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program, and as I write this letter, Cohort 8 is in the midst of their program experience. At its core, this several month long program assists editor-publisher teams in developing their community leadership and vision skills. All costs including tuition, meals and lodging for the entire program are covered by the MNI and a generous grant from the Blandin Foundation. MNI is pleased to once again provide MNA members with a program that reduces the costs associated with hiring high school-aged summer interns. The Pohlad Internship Program is in its eighth year. Thanks to a generous grant from the Pohlad Family Foundation, MNI gives high school students the opportunity to have meaningful summer employment experiences in their communities, working for the local newspaper. More than 500 high school students have been part of this internship program since its inception. Were now finding that many of the program alumni have gone on to seek college degrees and have established careers in journalism and communication-related fields as a result of their internship experience. You will read many testimonials and comments in this annual report. These only represent a small percentage of the positive feedback we receive from those who attend MNI events. Watching participants learn, have a ha! moments, and get rejuvenated and excited about the future has, by far, been the most rewarding part of this journey. Late in the day at one of our first training sessions, which was held on a glorious summer Friday afternoon, I watched as a group of 40 participants sat in a classroom with their eyes glued to the speakers presentation. I knew at that moment we were doing the right thing. MNI is doing excellent work advancing a strong and secure future for newspapers in Minnesota. We have trained hundreds of professionals, helping them remain strong in a competitive and ever-changing industry. There are many ways to contribute and get involved. I urge you to participate and support MNI so it may continue to develop new programs and projects to strengthen the future of the news media industry. We are passionate about what we are doing and it is making a positive difference.

Executive Director

MNI Board of Directors

Michael Jacobson, Paynesville PressChairman Kevin Anderson, Mille Lacs Messenger, Isle Rollin Bergman, Page 1 Publications, East Grand Forks Jason Brown, Long Prairie Leader Tony Carideo, The Carideo Group Joni Harms, Daily Globe, WorthingtonFundraising Chair Matt McMillan, Aitkin Independent Age Pete Mohs, Lake Country Echo, Pequot Lakes Jim Pumarlo, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Scott Schmeltzer, Albert Lea Tribune Chris Schultz, Herald Journal, Howard Lake
Photo by Hutchinson Leader

Staff
Lisa HillsMNA Executive Director Debbie EvansMNA Accounting Manager David KaplanMNA Business Development Manager Sarah BauerMNA Program Director Web: www.mna.org Phone: 612-332-8844

Bill provides lots of great information: ideas I can implement now, and some for later. Presents Selling the Dream with Bill Albrecht Attendee

2011 Training Programs

Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program Openings, Closings, and Overcoming Objections 2011 MNA/MFPA Convention Digital News Content: Immunity, Defamation, and Identity of Anonymous Poster Creating Direct Response Ads Qualities of the Best Sales People Kevin Slimp, Mankato: InDesign, Photoshop, management issues and more! Video Reporting in a Print Environment Social Media Ethics Ad Sales Session: Selling the Dream with Bill Albrecht Precision Journalism Grammar, structure and usage Digital News Content: Copyrights, Trademarks and Right of Publicity Return to Sales Basics Do You Know the Rules? Online Marketing and Privacy Take Your Newspaper Online...The Easy and Affordable Way Session I & Session II A Circulation Tune-Up Creating Better Black & White Photos Reporting and Writing: Just the Facts, Please! Perfecting InDesigns Secret Weapon to Saving You Time Selling to Main Street Growing more local ad revenue Public Affairs and Courts Reporting in Your Community Making Objections Obsolete Leading the Way, Today! Leveraging Facebook to Drive Readership Management Workshop for Ad Directors and Publishers News Judgment 2011 Style Understanding The NEW Local Online Competitors 2011 MNA Daily Newspaper Meeting Anatomy of a Sales Call Understanding the New Business of News Video Marketing Revolution Making Online Video Make Money

Participating Newspapers
Aitkin Independent Age Albany Enterprise Albert Lea Tribune Austin Daily Herald Bemidji Pioneer Blooming Prairie Times Brainerd Dispatch Cambridge Star Daily Globe, Worthington Faribault County Register, Blue Earth Faribault Daily News Herald Journal Publishing, Howard Lake Hermantown Star Home Magazine, Mankato Hutchinson Leader Independent News Herald, Clarissa Kanabec County Times, Mora Litchfield Independent Review Madelia Times-Messenger Mankato Free Press Marshall Independent McLeod Publishing, Glencoe Melrose Beacon Mille Lacs Messenger, Isle Murray County News, Slayton Murray County Wheel-Herald, Slayton New Century Press, Westbrook New Ulm Journal Nobles County Review, Adrian Northfield News Owatonna Peoples Press Page 1 Printers, Slayton Page 1 Publications, East Grand Forks Paynesville Press Pelican Rapids Press Pipestone County Star Post Bulletin, Rochester Press Publications, White Bear Sauk Centre Herald Sebeka Menahga Review Messenger Southwest Newspapers, Shakopee St. Paul Voice Standard-Gazette, Fairfax Staples World/Devlin Newspapers, Inc. Star Herald, Dodge Center The Byron Review The Circle, Minneapolis The New Prague Times Tri-County Record, Rushford Walker Pilot-Independent Warroad Pioneer Waseca County News West Central Tribune, Willmar

Join MNI at the MNA Convention MNI is proud to participate in the annual MNA Convention. Our convention programs include the Silent Auction, Wall of Wine, Tablet Raffles, Media Lab, and exciting forums including Public Policy Breakfasts and Social Media in Journalism roundtables. We look forward to seeing you January 24 & 25, 2013!
Photo by Anoka County Union

he Minnesota News Media Institute always aims to provide relevant and cutting-edge training to MNA members and news media professionals statewide. If you have an idea for a training program, or have a specific area of need at your news organization, let us know! MNI can provide customized trainings for your newsroom or advertising department, or develop large-group training programs based specifically on your needs. If you have a programming idea or request, reach out to MNA Program Director Sarah Bauer by email (sarah@mna.org) or phone (612-278-0250).

Funny! Informative! Exciting! Thank you! MNI Presents Kevin Slimp in Mankato Attendee

2011 Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program

Participants
Independent News Herald, Clarissa Star Herald, Dodge Center Hermantown Star Melrose Beacon Walker Pilot-Independent Warroad Pioneer Press Publications, White Bear Lake Daily Globe, Worthington

The news enterprise is a unique entity. It is a private organization with a very public mission. For the past eight years, the editors and publishers in the Community Leadership Program have continued to impress me with their unrelenting dedication to community service while keeping their businesses in the black. They arrive with their plates full but eagerly engage in the leadership dialogue with peers. They appreciate and absorb new leadership tools and leave with plans to expand their unique position of power to build a healthy community. I am in awe of the compelling examples of how 74 news enterprises have influenced community development by raising overlooked questions, enabling broad-based community attention to major community decisions, initiating relationships between diverse groups and providing information or resources to assist cities and citizens with natural disasters, company closings, contentious referendums and other turning-point events. Mirja P. Hanson, MBA, Ed. D, Instructor Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program

2011 Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program

he Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program gave me, as an editor, a richer sense of purposethe important impact our newspapers have on our communities. Instead of thats good enough I am more particular about the newspapers content and look, and expect more from our staff. The Eight Dimensions of a Healthy Community, presented in the program provide a great framework and guide. Melanie Dobson, editor Melanie and I found the Editor & Publishers Community Leadership Program beneficial for both of us and for our staff. The most important benefit was having (making) the time to write down a Long-Term Leadership Action Plan after having our balcony sessions and bouncing around problems and potential solutions with other participants and, later, with each other. We identified a number of goals both for our business and for our communities which have since been achieved, including: Renovation of our building and office space; Upgrading our computers and software; Upgrading our website; Providing a forum for discussion to facilitate upgrading our local school facilities.

We had our windows and doors replaced, insulated the building, installed all-new electrical, tuckpointed and re-stuccoed the exterior and shall soon finish decorating inside. We got our new computers and software just a week ago. We upgraded our website in October and are continuing to make improvements. We were successful in providing a forum for members of the community to express their opinions on the school expansion and remodeling project for which a $9.5 million bond issue was approved in November. Our work on our building on Main Street, which was done together with a couple neighboring businesses to create a professional building appearance, was instrumental in persuading the Dodge Center City Council to make upgrading Main Street a priority project for the city. Public planning meetings on that project are being held every other week throughout the summer with the goal being to have construction start next spring. Other goals that we identified for our communities are also moving forward. We cant take full credit for any of these projects but, to the extent that we have been a factor in moving them forward, the planning we were able to do as a result of participating in the E & P program and the skills we learned in the sessions have helped us to be more effective in providing community leadership. We are grateful for the opportunity we had to participate and encourage both continuation of the program and participation by other editors and publishers. Larry Dobson, publisher Star Herald, Dodge Center The Byron Review

2011 Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program

hile driving to our first Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program last year, my publisher, Joni Harms, talked about having little idea of what to expect. I think its safe to say we were also a bit wary of both interacting with other newspaper professionals we didnt know, as well as how much of the program might be either boring or just plain not worthwhile. Rest assured, this program was not at all boring and by all means worthwhile and, not to mention, a great opportunity to share ideas and inspiration among newspaper people who have similar professional scenarios, regardless of their newspapers sizes or publication frequency. The best thing about the program? Well, theres not just one. For starters, we worked hard and had fun! (And, not to mention, ate well and enjoyed the fine surrounding of the Ruttgers resort.) Small-group sessions offered a valuable opportunity to learn from one another, and full-group sessions also gave us a chance to brainstorm and share ideas. Our moderator was wonderful, and definitely helped us both enjoy what we were doing while keeping us focused and on task. Thanks to the Minnesota News Media Institute, Joni and I completed the program in agreement we both thought it was the best professional workshop and training wed ever taken. I know I would whole-heartedly recommend it to any newspaper professional. Ryan McGaughey, editor Daily Globe, Worthington

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The program really helped me to realize how important a well-rounded newspaper is to a healthy community. 2011 Editor & Publishers Community Leadership Program graduate

2011 Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program

s a result of our participation in this program, the Daily Globe was able to coordinate and launch its Our Diverse Community series. Our newspaper, beginning last September, began offering readers stories about the national heritage of our communitys people, who are represented by their respective nationalities in Worthingtons Peace Avenue of Flags. The goal: introduce Worthington residents from one nation - one flag - at a time. It was during the Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program when Joni and I were listening to a wonderful presentation from one of the newspapers that had been in the program in the past. They started talking about a project they had done revolving around diversity, and Joni and I just about looked at each other at the same time and said, The flags. The flags have an outstanding history here in Worthington, and we saw our series as a way of celebrating that history while looking forward toward the future. Ryan McGaughey, editor Daily Globe, Worthington
Use your smart phone or QR code scanner to view a video from the Daily Globe

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Pohlad Internship Program

he Minnesota News Media Institute is pleased to partner with the Pohlad Family Foundation to offer the Pohlad Family Foundation Summer Youth Employment Program. This special opportunity is available exclusively to MNA member newspapers. The program, which began in 2005, is designed to provide a wage subsidy to newspapers that hire high school-aged interns over the course of the summer and aims to create meaningful employment experiences for youth in their communities, through this program. If you would like to participate in the Pohlad Family Foundation Summer Youth Employment Program, reach out to MNA Program Director Sarah Bauer by email (sarah@mna.org) or phone (612-278-0250).

Participating Newspapers
Aitkin Independent Age Albert Lea Tribune Annandale Advocate Askov American Balaton Press Tribune Barnesville Record Review Bemidji Pioneer Blooming Prairie Times Browerville Blade Cottonwood Tri-County News Crookston Daily Times Daily Globe, Worthington Detroit Lakes Newspapers Duluth Budgeteer News Echo Press, Alexandria Ely Echo Enterprise-Dispatch, Cokato Farmington Independent/ Rosemount Town Pages Fergus Falls Daily Journal Filmore County Journal, Preston Grand Rapids HeraldReview Granite Falls Advocate Tribune Harmony News-Record Henning Citizens Advocate Herman - Hoffman Tribune Hermantown Star Independent News Herald, Clarissa Tri-County News, Kimball Lake County News-Chronicle, Two Harbors Lake Region Times, Madison Lake Litchfield Independent Review Mahnomen Pioneer Maple Lake Messenger Mille Lacs County Times, Milaca Mille Lacs Messenger, Isle News-Record, Zumbrota Osakis Review Park Rapids Enterprise Paynesville Press Pelican Rapids Press Pine County Courier, Sandstone Portage News, Floodwood Proctor Journal Republican Eagle, Red Wing Sentinel Tribune, Westbrook South Washington County Bulletin, Cottage Grove Star Gazette, Moose Lake Star Herald, Dodge Center Star News, Elk River The Leader Record, Gonvick The Middle River Honker The Morgan Messenger The Tribune, Greenbush The Voyageur Press of McGregor Tri-County Record, Rushford Tracy Headlight Herald Verndale Sun West Central Tribune, Willmar Woodbury Bulletin

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Pohlad Internship Program

Our Pohlad Intern had the opportunity to work in a business environment, take on some new challenges and assignments, see his work published, work under deadlines, and work with other people and supervisors. Our intern had an opportunity to interact with staff in an environment where her contribution was important as well as learn about a career option she was considering. Our intern was helpful in contributing one or two byline stories each week, along with typing short news briefs. He also assisted with photo coverage, especially for weekend events in the area. We had many positive comments from the community about his work and the way he represented our company. Our newspaper benefited greatly from our Pohlad Internship this summer. We lost our photo editor to retirement last spring and budget slumps have not allowed us to replace the position. However, we were able to find an intern with a real interest in photography. It was a good fit because we were able to provide our intern with real working experience in photography and photo editing as well as fill a vacancy (if only temporarily). This program gave us the opportunity to hire an employee that we otherwise would not have been able to. Our summers are busy in our community and it is great to have an extra staff person to cover a few extra events. It was wonderful to have a young person working with us, bringing her enthusiasm, unbelievable work ethic and willingness to learn. Its amazing how little technical training it takes to get someone of her generation up and running. We made a connection with the local high school that we expect to continue throughout this school year. Her enthusiasm is infectious and she has gotten other students interested in doing some writing for the newspaper something we try to do every year but always have trouble accomplishing. The program helps us build stronger community relations with school-age readers and their families and it shows that we care enough to employ a good student. It is great for the rest of the staff as well. Having a young person around the office is a breath of fresh air. I gushed when my intern told me the experience boosted her confidence. I think she got a good look at the variety that this job brings.

Photo by Wright County Journal-Press, Buffalo

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Financial Statement
Revenue Contributions Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program Pohlad Internship Grant Convention Sponsorship Training Registration Minnesota Newspaper Foundation & Minnesota News Council Endowment Transfers Interest/Dividend Investment Gain/(Loss) Total Revenue Expenses Pohlad Internships E&P Expenses Administrative Professional Services Training Convention Total Expenses Change in net assets $19,579 42,000 64,145 5,318 3,000 7,669 599,641 3,623 (2,180) 742,795 $58,314 32,054 45,036 7,967 7,023 2,456 152,850 589,945 3,738 $593,683

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I walked away from this session with new and useful tools to sell web ads. MNI Presents Digital Ad Sales Seminar with Cy Cords

Net assets, beginning Net assets, ending

2011 Donors
Founders Circle Founders Circle members pledge $2,500 per year for four years ($10,000 total) to support the trainings and resources provided to all MNA members by the Minnesota News Media Institute Forum Communications Co.* Balaton Press Tribune Delano Herald Journal Enterprise Dispatch, Cokato The Exponent, East Grand Forks Grant County Herald, Elbow Lake Herald Journal, Howard Lake Hutchinson Leader Isanti-Chisago County Star, Mille Lacs Messenger, Isle Cambridge Page 1 Publications, East Kanabec County Times, Mora Grand Forks Lake Country Echo, Pequot Lakes Tony Carideo Lake Crystal Tribune Linda & Kurt Falkman Litchfield Independent Review Lisa Hills & Rick Fiman Long Prairie Leader Peter & Lynne Jacobson Anne OFlynn Grant County Herald, Mille Lacs Messenger, Isle News-Enterprise, West Concord Elbow Lake Pine City Pioneer Donald Q. & Nancy Smith Proctor Journal David Kaplan & Jennifer Anderson Paynesville Press Sentinel Tribune, Westbrook Staples World Legacy Club Legacy Club members pledge $500 per year for three years ($1,500 total) to support the trainings and resources provided to all MNA members by the Minnesota News Media Institute Pages Program The Minnesota News Media Institute Pages Program, modeled after similar successful programs at other state press associations, asks participants to contribute the net proceeds of one page of advertising at the general rate once per year.

There are many ways to contribute to MNI. Contact David Kaplan (david@mna.org or 612-278-0235) to find out how.
*Given in January 2012

Bills presentation about setting goals and standards of performance with ad staff, I know, will make me a better, more effective manager. MNI Presents Management Workshop for Ad Directors, Managers and Publishers

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