Minnesota SPJ to host Pulitzer panel

The Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists invites you to a Pulitzer Centennial event. Is Trust Busted? Minnesota’s Pulitzer Prize Winners Weigh Journalism’s Role in an Era of Disbelief. The Pulitzer Prize celebrates 100 years just as polls show declining trust in the media. Join Minnesota’s Pulitzer winners to recognize great work from the past and the potential…

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Intern Night draws 60 students

About 60 students from Minnesota colleges and universities joined the Society of Professional Journalists on Oct. 20 for the organization’s annual Media Intern Night. The students gathered at WCCO-TV headquarters in Minneapolis and met with intern managers from the Associated Press, KARE 11, the Star Tribune and other media outlets — networking and learning about internship opportunities across the state. SPJ’s…

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SPJ’s annual Intern Night set for Oct. 20

Are you a journalism or communications student interested in learning more about internship opportunities?  Then join the Minnesota pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for its 2016 Media Intern Night. Intern Night is a great opportunity for students to learn about journalism internships across the state, network with media professionals and meet fellow journalism students from Minnesota colleges. Where: WCCO-TV,…

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Duluth News-Tribune highlighted in September Sampler

In this month’s Minnesota Sampler, Peter Passi at the Duluth News-Tribune looks at the potential for an electrical grid disruption in northern Minnesota in the event of a major, once-in-a-century solar storm.  A study by the U.S. Geological Survey indicates that the region, because of the conductive nature of its crust and geomagnetic forces, is perhaps the most likely place…

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MNSPJ disappointed in Supreme Court decision in Metro Transit case

The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists is disappointed in the 3-2 decision of the Minnesota Supreme Court to deny KSTP-TV access to public information regarding public safety on a Metro Transit bus. We agree with the dissenting opinion of Justice David Lillehaug and Chief Justice Lorie Skjerven Gildea, who agreed with an earlier ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeals…

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Minnesota Sampler

St. Cloud Times reporter Mitch LeClair took a closer look at the challenges people face in overcoming criminal backgrounds after two schools in his newspaper’s coverage area, the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, signed the White House Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge.  The pledge encourages schools to fairly consider applications from people with criminal records. LeClair’s subsequent…

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Congratulations to MNSPJ’s new board members

The Minnesota Pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists held its annual meeting Wednesday night, where it counted and announced the results of its annual election. Members elected Jenna Ross, a reporter for the Star Tribune, as president-elect, re-elected Chris Snowbeck, a reporter for the Star Tribune, as treasurer and elected Joe Spear, Mankato Free Press managing editor, as…

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June Sampler: Medical marijuana too costly for many

Each month, SPJ’s Minnesota Samper highlights a work of journalism from around the state. In this month’s Sampler, Brian Arola of the Mankato Free Press shares the story of local couples that would like to treat their ailing children with cannabis now that Minnesota has legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes.  One problem: the families can’t afford medical cannabis, and their health insurers won’t cover it. See…

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St. Cloud Times staff, Star Tribune reporters garner top 2016 Page One awards

A newspaper confronting fear and misconceptions about refugees in its town, a veteran reporter who’s churned out countless investigative stories, and a digital journalist who teaches the next generation of news hounds were among the big winners Wednesday at the 2016 Minnesota SPJ Page One Awards. The St. Cloud Times’ wide-ranging exploration of immigration issues, which included a special fact-checking series, was…

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