M I N N E S O T A

N E W S  M E D I A
I N S T I T U T E

2017 Annual Report

About Us

T
he Minnesota News Media Institute (MNI) is the 501 (c) (3) training
arm of the Minnesota Newspaper Association. Founded in 2010,
MNI’s mission is to provide education, training and professional
development opportunities for the more than 320 members of the
Minnesota Newspaper Association, their employees and news media
professionals across the state.

MNI provides training opportunities for members and programming to

increase the public’s understanding of the role and obligation of a free
press in our society, reaching news media professionals with high-quality,
accessible and affordable educational opportunities.

2017 MNI Annual Report printing Donated by: Photo credits, this page: Pipestone County Star
Front cover: Northeaster, Minneapolis
Back cover: Brainerd Dispatch

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Message from the President
2017 was another great year for the Minnesota News
Media Institute (MNI), the nonprofit arm of MNA. It would
not be possible without your support.
MNI’s mission is to help our news media professionals
be better at their jobs by offering educational training
and networking opportunities. The annual convention, the
Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program and
our many regional trainings continue to be well attended.
Over MNI’s history, funds have been built to support the
mission of MNI. The MNI board of directors has and will
continue to prudently manage the financial resources of the organization.
Thank you to each and every one of you who has supported MNI through your
donations in 2017. Whether you made a purchase at the Wall of Wine during the
convention, won a silent auction item, purchased a plaque commemorating MNA’s
150th anniversary, are a Founders Club or Legacy Club member or donated an
additional 10 percent of your MNA dues to MNI, we thank you! MNI’s vision
wouldn’t be possible without your support. An organization is only as good as its
members.
 Karin Ramige, The McLeod County Chronicle and Arlington Enterprise
MNI President, 2016-present
MNA Board, 2014-present

MNI Board of Directors

Karin Ramige, McLeod County Chronicle, Glencoe – President
Chris Schultz, Herald Publishing, Howard Lake
Mike Dalton, Cannon Falls Beacon
Chris Knight, APG Media of Minnesota
Justin Lessman, Jackson County Pilot
Crystal Miller, Albert Lea Tribune
Diann Drew, Alexandria Echo Press
Chad Koenen, Citizen’s Advocate, Henning
Jim Pumarlo, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Chris Ison, School of Journalism & Mass Communications, U of M
Michael Jacobson, Paynesville Press

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Message from the Executive Director

T
he Minnesota News Media Institute had another out-
standing year presenting quality and affordable webi-
nars and in-person training opportunities to MNA’s
newspaper members.
More than 150 individuals from member owned newspa-
pers attended MNI training sessions. We are always looking
for new ways to offer enhanced training opportunities to
members; your suggestions for programming and training are
encouraged and welcome.
The Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program
completed its 13th year in 2017. This program is funded in
part by a generous grant from the Blandin Foundation. The program helps news
enterprises develop leadership skills and vision to advance the health and vibrancy
of their communities.  Since its inception in 2005, newspapers from all corners of
the state have participated in the program.
MNI celebrated its continued partnership with the Pohlad Family Foundation,
which helped fund summer internships for 42 school-age interns at Minnesota
newspapers. MNA member newspapers have hired hundreds of interns since the
start of this program. Many interns have reported seeking degrees and going on to
careers in journalism and other communications-related fields following completion
of their internship.
MNI continues its excellent work advancing a strong future for newspapers in
Minnesota. I encourage you to support MNI through program participation or
through one of our giving opportunities. Your support and contributions make the
Institute’s work possible.
Lisa Hills, Executive Director
Minnesota Newspaper Association

MNI Staff
Lisa Hills – Executive Director
Debbie Evans – Accounting Manager
LuAnn Yattaw – Project Manager

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

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Programs

I
n 2017, the Minnesota News Media Institute offered an array of training pro-
grams in person and online via webinars, covering relevant issues for news media
professionals. Thanks to our program partner, Online Media Campus, we were
able to offer many timely topics from industry experts. The Minnesota News Media
Institute is always looking for new program ideas to cover the needs of our mem-
bers. If you have any suggestions, or specific needs, please let us know.

You can contact MNA at member@mna.org or 612-332-8844.

A few of the 2017 programs:

 Public Health – Tools from MDH
 Drone Journalism Training
 Daily Meeting
 Editors & Publishers Community Leadership
 Advertising Sales Training
 Successful Negotiating
 Best Practices for Public Notices
 Engaging Readers Through Editorial Pages
 Communicating Across Generations
 Digital Projects – Starting from Scratch
 Environmental Records & Government Data Cogitation
 How to Start and Market a Podcast
 Effective Prospecting: Five Steps to More Conversation
 Headlines that Pop
 Reporting on Protests
 Doing More with Less in Your Newsroom

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2017 Pohlad Family Foundation
Youth Internship Program

S
ince 2005, MNA has partnered with the Pohlad Family Foundation and its
Summer Youth Employment Program to offer wage subsidies to Minnesota
newspapers that hire high school-aged interns for work during the summer
months.
The Youth Internship Program helped MNA member newspapers provide a
meaningful employment experience for young people in their communities. This
special opportunity was available exclusively to MNA member newspapers and
funded generously by the Pohlad Family Foundation.
In 2017, the Pohlad Family Foundation completed its new strategic planning
process. While the Foundation team is excited to share and launch its new focus
in the coming months, they are aware of the impact the new direction will have
on currently funded programs and grantees.  Historically funded programs by the
Pohlad Family Foundation, including Youth Advancement, will end in 2018.
MNA/MNI is grateful to the Pohlad Family Foundation for its generous support
of this program. MNA newspaper members have hired over 750 interns over
the years; many have gone on to seek degrees and find careers in journalism,
advertising and related fields.

2017 Participating Newspapers

Annandale Advocate Tri-County News, Heron Lake
Albert Lea Tribune Dodge County Independent, Kasson
Echo Press, Alexandria Litchfield Independent Review
Askov American Marshall Independent
Farmers Independent, Bagley Middle River Honker
Barnesville Record-Review Montevideo American News
Battle Lake Review Montgomery Messenger
Steele County Times, Blooming Prairie McIntosh Times
Independent News Herald, Clarissa Oklee Herald
Pine Journal, Cloquet Osakis Review
Crookston Daily Times Park Rapids Enterprise
Detroit Lakes Tribune Red Lake Falls Gazette
Star Herald, Dodge Center Post Bulletin, Rochester
Eden Valley Watkins Voice ThreeSixty Journalism, St. Paul
Standard-Gazette & Messenger, Fairfax Tracy Headlight-Herald
Fergus Falls Daily Journal Twin Valley Times
Grand Rapids Herald Review Lake County News-Chronicle, Two Harbors
Leader Record, Gonvick Verndale Sun
Granite Falls Advocate Tribune Herald Journal, Winsted
Grygla Eagle The Globe, Worthington
Citizens Advocate, Henning

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2017 Editors & Publishers
Community Leadership Program

T
he Editors & Publishers Community Leadership Program celebrated its 13th
year in 2017.
Annually, MNA recruits editor-publisher teams who want to develop their
community leadership and vision skills. Participants focus on making their communi-
ties more healthy, prosperous and inclusive places to live. This group of 9 individuals
from five newspapers took the skills they learned in several intensive leadership
workshops and went enthusiastically back into their communities to put these skills
and resources to good use.

2017 Participants
Brainerd Dispatch
Detroit Lakes Tribune
Kanabec County Times, Mora
Sauk Rapids Herald
The Tribune, Greenbush

“The E & P Leadership Program is one of the best investments you

can make for yourself, your newspaper and your community. You will
recharge your mental batteries with ideas on how you can affect pos-
itive change for your readers and be reminded of the important role
newspapers play in a healthy community. I know you are busy. I also
know taking the time to do this is worth it.”
- Melissa Swenson, Publisher, Detroit Lakes Newspapers,
2017 Graduate

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Financial Statement – 2017
Revenue
Contributions $22,637
Blandin Grant (Editors & Publishers Community
Leadership Program) 0*
Editors & Publishers Alumni Event 0
Pohlad Internship Grant 50,000
Convention 8,975
Training Registration 4,295
In-Kind Revenue 2,039
Interest/Dividend 27,580
Investment Gain/Loss (Net) 93,820
Total revenue 209,346

Expenses
Pohlad Internships 36,890
Editors & Publishers Program & Alumni Event 30,269*
Administrative 50,187
Professional Services 8,504
Training 4,400
150-Year Celebration 11,563
Convention 1,035
Total expenses 142,848

Change in net assets 66,498

Net assets, beginning 1,188,965

Net assets, ending $1,255,463

* $126,000 in revenue from a three-year grant was recorded in 2016 and provided revenue for the
2017 Editor & Publishers programs.  

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150th Anniversary Donations
The following individuals have purchased a MNA 150th Anniversary Plaque.

2017 MNA Staff

Kevin Anderson
Jeffrey Athmann
Julie & Rollin Bergman
Robert Bradford
Cannon Falls Beacon
Carol Duff
Linda & Kurt Falkman
Bruce Fenske
Forum Communications Printing
Jody Hanson
Joni Harms
Lisa Hills
Chris Ison & Nancy Cassutt Ison
Michael & Geri Jacobson
Peter & Lynn Jacobson
Charles R. Johnson
Chris Knight
Laurie and Joel Kramer
Carole & Don Larson
Livewire Printing Co.
Matt McMillan
Pete Mohs
Jim Pumarlo
Quinco Press, Inc.
Karin Ramige
William Ramige
Bob Shaw
John R. and Mary A. Stone
Owen Van Essen
Chuck & Jan Wann
Chuck Warner
Wade Weber & Susan FranceWeber

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2017 MNI Donors
The following individuals and organizations donated to the Minnesota News Media
Institute in 2017.
Blandin Foundation Crystal Miller
Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation Pete Mohs
Kevin Anderson Karin Ramige
Peter John Bean Chris Schultz
Mike Dalton Don Smith
Linda Falkman John Stone
Jody Hanson Albert Tims & Kathleen Hanson
Joni Harms Chuck Wann
Livewire Printing Co. Wade Weber
Matt McMillan

Memorials: Donations to MNI in memory of those we’ve lost.

Margo Ashmore – in memory of Kerry Ashmore
Debbie Evans – In memory of Eileen Olson (LuAnn Yattaw)
Joni Harms – In memory of Dorothy Petri (Jan Wann), Eunice Warner, Bruce
Fenske & Clifford Nordine (Julie Bergman)
Lisa Hills – In memory of Dorothy Petri (Jan Wann), Clifford Nordine (Julie
Bergman), Eunice Warner, Bruce Fenske & Eileen Olson (LuAnn Yattaw)
Michael Jacobson – In memory of Bruce Fenske
Peter & Lynne Jacobson – In memory of Bruce Fenske
Carole Larson – In honor of Don R. Larson
Don & Nancy Smith – In memory of Bruce Fenske
Karin Ramige – In memory of Bruce Fenske
Chuck & Jan Wann – In memory of Eunice Warner & Bruce Fenske
LuAnn Yattaw – In memory of Bruce Fenske

In-kind Donations:
Better Business Bureau
Forum Communications Printing
HJ Marketing / Herald Journal
St. Cloud Times / Times Media

Thank you to all of our MNA newspaper members that have generously
donated 10% of their annual dues to MNI.

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Celebrating 150 Years

M
innesota News Media Institute helped Minnesota Newspaper Association
celebrate its year-long 150th Anniversary by partnering on projects
promoting the First Amendment and the importance of a Free Press. The
celebration kicked off with a special performance by Freedom Sings during the
MNA Convention. Freedom Sings is the entertaining and inspiring story of free
speech in America told through rock, pop, hip
hop and country music.

In August, MNI again combined forces with

MNA to remind Minnesotans of the important
role newspapers play in writing the first draft
of history and telling stories about their
communities. More than 200 newspapers
across the State of Minnesota published no
news on their front pages during Minnesota
Newspaper Week.
This was a statewide initiative to remind individuals of the importance of a free
press. The week was proclaimed Minnesota Newspaper Week by Governor Mark
Dayton.

To commemorate MNA’s 150 years, a large plate

was commissioned that is a part of the Don Brown
printing press which sits in the MNA office. The sale
of these engraved brass plaques, uniquely messaged
by you, are 1x3 inches each and will hold up to
three lines of your personalized engraved text. The
plaques are sold for $1,000 each, with the proceeds
benefiting the Minnesota News Media Institute.
Your contribution is tax-deductible and will be
used to fund quality educational programming, to
ensure a bright future for Minnesota’s newspapers
and the communities they serve.

To purchase a plaque or if you have any questions – please feel free to contact
LuAnn Yattaw (luann@mna.org or 612-278-0235) for additional information.

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