2013 Annual Report

MINNESOTANEWS MEDIAINSTITUTE

2The Minnesota News Media Institute (MNI) is the 501(c)(3) training arm of the Minnesota Newspaper Association. Founded in 2010, our mission is to provide education, training and professional development opportunities for the more than 340 members of the Minnesota Newspaper Association, their employees, and news media professionals across the state.

We provide training programs, scholarship and internship opportunities to students and other programming to increase the publics understanding of the role and obliga-tion of a free press in our society. We aim to reach news media professionals with high quality, accessible and affordable educational opportunities.

Message from the MNI President ................................................................................ 3

Message from the Executive Director ......................................................................... 4

Board of Directors and Staff ........................................................................................ 5

2013 Training Programs ............................................................................................... 6

Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program ............................................... 9

Pohlad Internship Program ........................................................................................ 12

Financial Statement .................................................................................................... 14

Donors ......................................................................................................................... 15

Cover Photo byMesabi Daily News, Virginia

Back Cover Photos byKenyon Leader, South Washington

County Bulletin, Cottage Grove, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

Many of the photos featured in this report were winners in the 2012-2013 Better Newspaper Contest.

Table of Contents

About Us

MNI Annual Report printing donated by:

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3Scan this QR code with your smart phone to see photos and a video recap of our Every Member Visits.

Who cares about newspapers anyway?

Why do we do what we do?

This year, the Minnesota Newspaper Association tried to find out, with an Every Member Visit that reached from Canada to Iowa, from the Mississippi River to the Red River, from the Dakota border to the shores of Superior. Speaking on behalf of the MNA Board of Directors, MNA staff, and past presidents who conducted the visits over Minnesotas 87 counties, I think we found out that we all care about newspapers and we do what we do because we all care about our communities.

Personally, I didnt visit a single Taj Mahal newspaper officeseveral, including mine, could use a fresh coat of paint. Others, like my desk, were cluttered. These I sympathized withpeople so busy attending school board meetings, covering their community, and trying to make a difference that clean-up isnt a top priority. One of the deepest memories of the every member visit for me were the number of newspaper people toiling endlesslyseemingly endlessly, at least, I know some long days feel that wayto be the best source of information for their community.

So, what is the Minnesota News Media Institute? In short, we are the nonprofit arm of MNA. Were one, indistinguishable. We have the same staff, we have one office, and we have one missionhelping Minnesota newspapers do their jobs as best they can. MNIs primary role is providing training to help publishers, editors, account reps, reporters, graphic artists, etc., learn new ways to do their jobs better.

Imagine your community without the voice that your newspaper provides. Imagine our great state, or our great country, without a free press. So, who cares about newspapers? We ALL do!

Please take the time to learn more about the Minnesota News Media Institute through our annual report. Then ask yourself this question: If I care about newspapers, should I give to MNI to help them and me, and my newspaper accomplish our joint mission? There are ways large and small to give to MNI (Founders Circle, Legacy Club, Pages Program, other contributions). We appreciate your support!

Thank God we all care about newspapersand about MNA and MNI!

Michael Jacobson, Paynesville Press

MNI President

Message from the President

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4Message from the Executive Director

The Minnesota News Media Institute made great strides in 2013. Building on our successes in the past two years, we expanded our programming partners and strength-ened some already-popular programs.

MNI works hard to offer high quality, affordable training oppor-tunities for our more than 340 member newspapers, and media professionals across the state. More than 100 individuals from member newspapers attended MNI training sessions in person, and online via webinar, in 2013.

We were happy to join the Local Media Association in 2013 as one of its Media Association Partners. This gives MNA members access to a whole world of discounted training programs, from large innovation-focused conferences to small group training sessions, like the Google AdWords Certification Training in Octo-ber, to regular webinars with a focus on technology and sales. We are always looking for new ways to offer enhanced training opportunities to members!

In 2013, we welcomed the ninth cohort of the Editors & Publishers Community Lead-ership Program. This is one of our most hands-on and intense training programs, which consists of several days of in-person training and work outside the classroom as well. Editor-publisher pairs honed their community leadership and vision skills, and developed new strategies for problem solving and community building. The Editors & Publishers Community Leadership program is funded through a generous grant from the Blandin Foundation, who renewed its support of the program recently, through 2016.

Thanks to very generous support from the Pohlad Family Foundation, MNI provided funding for 65 high school internships in 2013. MNI works to place high-school aged interns at member newspapers across the state. Since 2005 when the program began, nearly 700 high school students have taken advantage of this opportunity. Not only does this program provide very unique and meaningful work experiences for young people, it helps shape the future for some. Some interns reported getting more involved with their school newspapers, some signed up to take college courses in journalism and advertising, and others have continued on to careers in the journalism business.

If you havent had the opportunity to support the Institute, please consider joining us this year. Your support through program participation, and financial contributions, make the Institutes work possible. We are excited and proud of our accomplish-ments at MNI and value your support as we work hard to support a bright future for the industry.

Lisa HillsExecutive Director

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5Michael Jacobson, Paynesville Press Chair

Rollin Bergman, Page 1 Publications, East Grand Forks Vice-Chair

Tony Carideo, The Carideo Group Treasurer

Joni Harms, Daily Globe, Worthington Fundraising Chair

Kevin Anderson, Mille Lacs Messenger, Isle

Jason Brown, Long Prairie Leader

Mike Dalton, Cannon Falls Beacon

Pete Mohs, Pineandlakes Echo Journal, Pequot Lakes

Jim Pumarlo, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

Chris Schultz, Herald Journal, Howard Lake

Marge Winkelman, ECM Publishers, Coon Rapids

Lisa HillsExecutive Director

Sarah BauerProgram Director

Debbie EvansAccounting Manager

LuAnn YattawProject Manager

Web: www.mna.orgPhone: 612-332-8844Email: member@mna.org

Staff

2013 MNI Board of Directors

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62013 Training Programs

We provided a wide variety of training options for MNA members in 2013 and expanded our network of training partners. For several years, we have partnered with Online Media Campus to provide high-quality, low-cost online train-ing to media professionals in Minnesota. Building on that successful partnership, we teamed up with the Local Media Association (LMA) as one of its Media Associa-tion Partners. Now, our members can benefit from LMAs wide array of digital and live training programs at discounted rates. We also continued our popular series of in-person training programs. From advertising sales, to editorial skills and design, we covered a lot of ground in 2013.

We know that the media industry is constantly changing, and with that, your needs for training. MNI is always looking for new program ideas. If you have suggestions, or specific needs, please let us know! MNI can also develop individualized programs for your staff or special group training programs, based on your requests.

Reach out to MNA Program Director Sarah Bauer by email (sarah@mna.org) or phone (612-278-0250) with programming ideas and suggestions.

2013 Programs2013 MNA Daily Newspaper MeetingClassified Outbound Calling, Revenue That Sticks!Collaborating for Success: Competitive Business ModelsCovering Health Care Reform: How to inform your readersCreating Direct Response AdsDeveloping a Competitive Sales AdvantageDigital Subscriptions: Highlights, Trends and PotentialEditors & Publishers Community Leadership ProgramFair Game For Republishing In The Digital AgeFive Most Important Questions in SalesGoogle AdWords Certification TrainingHandling the 15- 20 Most Common ObjectionsHow To Reinvent Your News Media BrandHows Business? Help your team answer the hard questions about the media industryIn Cyberspace No One Can Hear You Scream: Trademarks, Copyrights and the InternetMore Detail, Less Clutter In Your WritingOvercome Objections and Close More Sales!Photoshop and Color: Laying a Good FoundationPlate Essentials: Web Press Operator SeriesSavings, Costs and the How-to You Need on Full-Service ImbStep Up! How to Improve Sales Performance by 30% in the next 30 days!The Latest Apps For News ReportingThe Power of Selling Their StoryTime-Saving Tips for InDesign UsersTop Strategies and Tactics for Sales Success!What You Could Be Missing in PhotoshopWrite Better Editorials & Get Creative with your Coverage!

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7Participating NewspapersAlbert Lea TribuneAnnandale AdvocateBarnesville Record ReviewBattle Lake Review

Bemidji PioneerBrainerd DispatchChanhassen VillagerCitizen Publishing, Windom

Citizens Advocate, Henning

Clara City HeraldDaily Globe, WorthingtonDuluth Budgeteer NewsDuluth News TribuneEcho Publishing, Brainerd

ECM Publishers

Eden Prairie NewsThe Exponent, East Grand Forks Fairmont Sentinel

Faribault County Register, Blue Earth

Forum Communications Printing

Fulda Free PressGrant County Herald, Elbow LakeHerald Journal Publishing, Winsted

Hutchinson LeaderJordan IndependentThe Journal, New Ulm Kanabec County Times, MoraLakes Area Review, New London

Lake County News-Chronicle, Two Harbors

Maple Lake Messenger

Marshall IndependentMesabi Daily News, VirginiaMille Lacs Messenger, IsleMorris Sun TribuneNorth Star News, KarlstadNortheaster/North News, MinneapolisThe Northern Light Region, Baudette Parkers Prairie Independent

Pine City PioneerPine Journal, CloquetPress Publications, White Bear Lake

Proctor JournalRenville County Register, OliviaSauk Centre Herald

Shakopee Valley News

Staples World-Devlin Newspapers, Inc.Times Media, St. Cloud

Tri-County News, Kimball

West Central Tribune, Willmar

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82013 Training Programs

The Google Adwords training program through Local Media Association/Minnesota News Media Institute gave me the knowledge I needed to not only become a certified Google Adwords Professional, but also the knowledge and confidence to present the service to our clients, deliver them great results and explain to them what was accomplished through their campaigns. I never thought it was possible to learn so much in just two days!

I highly recommend the course!

Mandi K. Brown Digital Marketing Specialist Big Fish Digital/Southwest Newspapers, Shakopee

In May, I had two of our newest marketing consultants attend the newspaper sales training session with Steve Gall. They had less than two months of experience prior to the training. Now, the previously-inexperienced consultants are two of our top prospectors and reach goal on a regular basis.

The MNI training session helped them develop good habits which have contributed to their success. As more of these trainings are available I will be sending more staff.

Kevin Smith Director of Advertising West Central Tribune, Willmar

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Participants Battle Lake Review

Citizens Advocate, Henning

Fulda Free Press

Maple Lake Messenger

North Star News, Karlstad

Northern Light Region, Baudette

Parkers Prairie Independent

Pine City Pioneer

2013 Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program

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The Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program empowers editor-publisher teams to develop their community leadership and vision skills. The 2013 cohort, the programs ninth, was deeply engaged with their communities and wished to see a vibrant, healthy future for the towns they so love. Not only does the program help editors and publishers realize their potential as community leaders, it also helps each individual hone leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Our ninth cohort tackled issues of creating and maintaining vibrant communities. They developed projects that would help their communities through transitions like highway reconstruction, school additions and infrastructure upgrades. They created game plans to help facilitate the resolution of community conflicts and inspire meaningful community conversations about tough issues. Inspired by the program, they went back into their communities with newfound energy and enthusiasm.

In late 2013, we learned that the Blandin Foundation would renew its support of the Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program. We are excited as we begin work to continue this program, with the support of Blandin, until at least 2016.

Sarah Bauer, Program Director Minnesota Newspaper Association

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The Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program has a unique way of teaching newspaper leaders not only more about themselves and the industry, but about the communities in which they serve. When I signed up for the program, I looked at it as a great opportunity to meet colleagues in the field and learn about how to become a better leader in the newspaper world. However, somewhere along the way I not only learned about how to become a better newspaper leader, but a leader in my community. The program gave me confidence to be assertive and lead while reinforcing many of the skills and attributes that I already possessed, but didnt know how to utilize to their fullest capability.

Chad Koenen, editor and co-publisher Citizens Advocate, Henning

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Pohlad Internship ProgramThe Pohlad Internship Program, funded for MNA members since 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. This special opportunity is available exclusively to MNA member newspapers and is funded generously by the Pohlad Family Foundation. MNA member newspapers have hired more than 665 interns over the past nine years thanks to this program; many interns have gone on to seek degrees and find careers in journalism, advertising and related fields. 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).

2013 Participating NewspapersAitkin Independent Albert Lea TribuneAnnandale Advocate Askov AmericanAustin Daily Herald Barnesville Record-ReviewBattle Lake Review Byron Review Caledonia Argus Crookston Daily Times Daily Globe, Worthington The Daily Journal, Fergus Falls Detroit Lakes Tribune Dodge Center Star Herald Duluth Budgeteer News Eden Prairie News Eden Valley Watkins Voice The Exponent, East Grand Forks Fairfax Standard-Gazette Filmore County Journal, Preston Fulda Free Press Grand Rapids Herald-Review Granite Falls Advocate Tribune Grygla Eagle Hastings Star Gazette Independent News Herald, Clarissa The Journal, International Falls Kanabec County Times, Mora Lake County News Chronicle, Two Harbors Maple Lake Messenger Marshall Independent Middle River Honker Montevideo American News Morgan Messenger Paynesville Press Pelican Rapids Press Perham East Ottertail Focus Pine City Pioneer Pine Journal, Cloquet Portage News, Floodwood Proctor Journal ThreeSixty Journalism, St. Paul The Timberjay, Tower The Times, Blooming Prairie Tracy Headlight-Herald Tri County News, Heron Lake Tri County News, Kimball Verndale Sun Voyageur Press, McGregor White Bear Press, White Bear Lake West Central Tribune, Willmar

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My name is Samantha Downing and I was the intern at the Marshall Independent this summer. Right from the start, I was ecstatic at the possibility of having this summer job. I was even more excited when I found out it was mine.

From day one, I was thrown right in. The first day I wrote a bio of myself that would be in the paper the next day and started the preview for Heart of the Prairie Days in Clarkfield, Minn. I was very nervous about interviewing over the phone. The extent of my interviews in the past consisted of a handful of papers I had written in school. I did not know AP style and was apprehensive about how successful I would be at this internship. Quite honestly, I was thinking the people here at the Independent thought I was a lot more experienced than I was.

Over time, I understood why I was put to work so quickly. I really think it was the best possible way I could learn how to be an effective journalist. There were many times where I had no clue what I was doing, but I always managed to figure it out.

When I first heard about the job I thought I would be filing, answering phones, and other internship-like tasks, but that was not the case. I actually got to learn what it was like to work for a newspaper. I got to take pictures, do interviews over the phone and face-to-face, and travel to various events. Everyone I worked with has been so helpful. Whenever I was lost, I could always count on them for help.

This is easily the best summer job I ever could have had. I feel that I am now more prepared for what it is going to be like when I get a job in the real world. This internship has made me realize that I would like to pursue my interests in communications.

Everyone I worked with has helped me to become better at writing and observing. I feel that I have grown into a more responsible and reliable person as well. I am excited to put my new skills into use.

Working at the Independent made me wonder why our school doesnt have a newspaper. Two of my friends and I will be starting a digital communications club and website the following school year that will include videos, radio and news articles to keep the students at Marshall High School up to date. The idea came in large part from this internship and I cannot wait to get started as my work at the Marshall Independent comes to a close.

I will forever be grateful for the opportunity I had this summer.

Samantha Downing 2013 Pohlad Intern

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Financial StatementRevenue Contributions $276,450.00 Blandin Grant (Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program) 126,000.00 Pohlad Internship Grant 62,985.00 Convention 5,963.00 Training Registration 4,020.00 In-Kind Revenue 600.00 Dividend and Interest Income/(Expense) 17,064.00 Investment Gain/Loss 63,340.00Total Revenue 556,422.00 Expenses Pohlad Internships 57,258.00 E&P Expenses 31,749.00 Administrative 46,606.00 Professional Services 11,228.00 Training 3,919.00 Convention 499.00Total Expenses 151,259.00

Change in net Assets 405,163.00

Net assets, beginning 705,345.00

Net assets, ending $1,110,508.00

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Donors

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MNI Founders CircleFounders Circle members pledge $10,000 or more to support the trainings and resources provided to all MNA members by the Minne-sota News Media Institute.

Forum Communications Co.Minnesota Newspaper Association

Legacy ClubLegacy Club members pledge $1,500 or more to support the trainings and resources provided to all MNA members by the Minne-sota News Media Institute.

Linda & Kurt FalkmanBruce FenskeJoni Harms Lisa Hills & Rick FimanMike JacobsonPeter & Lynn JacobsonMessAge Media Anne OFlynnPage 1 Publications Don & Nancy SmithMarge Winkelman

Pages ProgramThe Minnesota News Media Institute Pages Program ask participants to contribute the net proceeds of one page of advertising at the general rate, once per year.

Enterprise Dispatch, Cokato Herald Journal, DelanoHerald Journal, Howard Lake Isanti Chisago County Star, CambridgeKanabec County Times, MoraLong Prairie LeaderPaynesville Press Pine City Pioneer

MNI Donors The following individuals and organizations donated to the Minnesota News Media Institute in 2013.

Contributions over $40,000Blandin FoundationCarl and Eloise Pohlad Family FoundationMinnesota Newspaper Association

Memorials Kevin Anderson, Deb Anderson Memorial Rollin & Julie Bergman-Page 1 Publications, Deb Anderson Memorial Lisa Hills & Rick Fiman, Deb Anderson Memorial Mike & Geri Jacobson, Deb Anderson MemorialPeter & Lynn Jacobson, Deb Anderson Memorial MNA Past Presidents, Deb Anderson Memorial Chuck & Janis Wann, Deb Anderson Memorial Chuck & Eunice Warner, Deb Anderson Memorial

All Other ContributionsJake Benson Linda & Kurt FalkmanJoni Harms Mike Jacobson Lori NaumanChris SchultzTom WestMarge Winkelman

Thank you to our many member Newspapers that have donated ten percent (10%) of their membership dues to MNI.

There are many ways that you can contribute to MNI. Contact LuAnn Yattaw (luann@mna.org or 612-278-0235) to learn more.

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