FOX 21'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.
“Since Xavier started with us as a production assistant, it was evident he cared about the community, good reporting and serving viewers. I’m excited for this opportunity for him, and I know his family is very proud.” -- Fox 21 News Director Matt McConico
For readers in the Duluth market, the takeaway is pretty simple. The FOX21 site now looks and feels like a modern news operation. Clean design, smoother navigation, stronger technical backbone — all of it working together to deliver stories more efficiently.
Under McConico’s leadership, FOX 21 has leaned into practical, service-oriented journalism: weather that matters, road conditions, public safety alerts and local government actions that affect daily life.
“The Northland is home to me, from my hometown of International Falls to the Iron Range and rural areas of northwestern Wisconsin." -- Maria Vollom
If you watch Hanger closely, you’ll notice he occasionally glances at the prompter with a smirk, like he’s reminding himself not to take any of it too seriously. That’s a healthy instinct in an industry where self-importance runs rampant.
