FOX 21's success story is about leadership, trust and excellence

I've covered the Twin Ports media market since 1971. During that time, I have watched local television news evolve through nearly every imaginable transformation. I remember when stations shot film and rushed it back to the newsroom hoping it would make the evening broadcast. I witnessed the transition to videotape, the arrival of satellite technology, the growth of cable television, the emergence of the internet and the rise of social media.

I have seen newsrooms expand during prosperous years and contract during difficult ones. I have watched talented journalists leave the profession and young reporters enter it. Through all of those changes, one lesson has remained remarkably consistent: communities benefit when local journalism is led by people who demand excellence.

That is why any honest assessment of today's Twin Ports television landscape eventually leads to FOX 21 News Director Matt McConico. The public sees the finished product every evening. Viewers see the anchors, reporters, photographers and weathercasters who appear on their screens. They see breaking news coverage, local sports reports, investigative journalism and community stories.

What they rarely see are the countless decisions being made behind the scenes that ultimately determine the quality of a newsroom. They do not see the hiring decisions, editorial discussions, mentoring, coaching and strategic planning that shape a station's identity. Yet those decisions often determine whether a newsroom simply survives or consistently outperforms its competition. The best news organizations are not accidents. They are built deliberately and led intentionally.

Over the past several years, FOX 21 has quietly established itself as the strongest television news operation in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. Competition remains healthy in the Twin Ports market and benefits everyone involved. It is an acknowledgment of what has become increasingly evident to longtime observers of local media.

FOX 21 has assembled an experienced newsroom, strengthened its digital presence, maintained a commitment to local reporting and developed a culture that appears determined to compete aggressively for stories that matter to the community. Those accomplishments did not happen by chance. They happened because leadership established expectations and created an environment where excellence became the standard rather than the aspiration.

Newsrooms, like sports teams, eventually reflect the people leading them. Some become comfortable. Others become complacent. The best remain relentlessly competitive. From my perspective, FOX 21 increasingly falls into that final category. The station consistently demonstrates a commitment to local journalism at a time when many communities across America are witnessing a decline in local news resources.

Its reporters show up where the stories are unfolding. Its digital operation continues expanding. Its sports coverage remains comprehensive and relevant. Most importantly, the station appears committed to serving its audience rather than simply filling airtime. That distinction matters. Viewers recognize authenticity. They recognize effort. They recognize when journalists genuinely care about the communities they cover.

If McConico serves as the architect behind FOX 21's success, longtime anchor Dan Hanger has become one of the station's most important pillars. In an industry that can sometimes reward personality over substance, Hanger has built his reputation the old-fashioned way: through preparation, professionalism and consistency.

For decades, viewers throughout the Twin Ports have welcomed him into their homes because they trust him. That trust was not built through a single newscast, ratings period or awards ceremony. It was earned gradually, one broadcast at a time, over many years.

In my view, Hanger remains the gold standard for television news anchoring in this market because he understands something fundamental about journalism. The anchor's role is not to become the story. The anchor's role is to deliver the story with credibility, accuracy and perspective.

Trust remains the most valuable commodity in journalism. It cannot be purchased. It cannot be manufactured through marketing campaigns. It cannot be demanded by management. Trust must be earned through performance, consistency and accountability. That reality has not changed despite the extraordinary technological changes that have transformed the media industry.

"I'm very proud of the newsroom culture I've helped create over my 16 years at FOX 21," said Hanger. "Titles don't mean anything to me. We are a team. The more diverse our newsroom becomes and the more everyone has an equal voice at the table, the better our stories and product become. Keep sensationalism at the curb, focus on the facts and celebrate wins in our communities. It's not that difficult when you treat your audience with respect."

Whether viewers are watching a broadcast on television, reading a story online or receiving updates through social media, they still seek the same thing they sought 50 years ago: information they can trust. Hanger has spent a career earning that trust. McConico has built a newsroom designed to protect and strengthen it.

The broader significance of FOX 21's success extends beyond one television station. At a time when public confidence in media institutions has declined nationally, local journalism continues to perform an essential civic function. Local reporters attend city council meetings, school board sessions and county government proceedings. They cover community celebrations and tragedies.

They inform residents about public safety issues, economic developments and major events. They provide context and accountability. Communities need strong local journalism just as they need strong schools, effective public safety services and healthy local businesses. When local journalism succeeds, communities are better informed and better equipped to make decisions about their future.

That is one reason I find FOX 21's trajectory noteworthy. The station's success demonstrates that there remains an audience for serious local journalism when it is executed at a high level. Despite all the changes affecting the media industry, viewers continue to reward organizations that invest in quality reporting and credible journalism. The fundamentals still matter. Strong leadership matters. Experienced journalists matter. Credibility matters. Community engagement matters. Those principles have not changed, even as technology continues evolving around them.

Having spent more than five decades covering northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, I have had the privilege of observing many talented journalists, newsroom leaders and media organizations. Some left lasting legacies. Others faded over time. The organizations that endured shared a common characteristic: they never stopped pursuing excellence. They understood that success is not achieved once and permanently secured. It must be earned every day. Every newscast. Every story. Every deadline. Every interaction with viewers and readers. Excellence is not an event. It is a habit.

Today, FOX 21 stands as the clearest example of that principle within the Twin Ports television market. Its success reflects the leadership of McConico, the credibility of Hanger and the dedication of an entire newsroom committed to serving its audience. Most viewers will never see the countless decisions and efforts occurring behind the scenes that make successful journalism possible. What they do see are the results. They see professionalism. They see consistency. They see a newsroom that understands its mission.

I have learned that leadership matters, trust matters and excellence matters. FOX 21's emergence as the market leader is ultimately a reflection of those truths.

McConico deserves considerable credit for building that culture. Hanger deserves considerable respect for helping sustain it. Together, they have helped create something every community needs and every newsroom should aspire to become.