“At moments like this, people everywhere are paying attention. They’re asking why they should care, where to turn, and who they can trust. This campaign reflects the importance of local journalism when the world is watching.” -- Chris Iles, vice president of communications and brand marketing
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.
MINNEAPOLIS — At a time of heightened uncertainty across Minnesota, the Minnesota Star Tribune announced new steps to broaden access to its fact-based, independent local journalism. The Star Tribune has made its live breaking-news blog available outside the paywall, allowing all readers to follow a continuously updated stream of
The Bellville and Baumgarten hires reflect a newsroom making deliberate bets: on audience intelligence, on subject-matter authority, and on leadership that understands journalism doesn’t succeed just because it’s good — it succeeds because it reaches people where they actually live now.
“The Northland is home to me, from my hometown of International Falls to the Iron Range and rural areas of northwestern Wisconsin." -- Maria Vollom
The loudest voices warning that artificial intelligence will “destroy journalism” are almost never talking about journalism. They’re talking about control. Newsrooms are entering a period they’ve avoided for two decades: a genuine reckoning with what readers actually value. And the uncomfortable truth is this — readers do not care
Veteran print journalists Jana Hollingsworth and Christa Lawler, elite writers formerly with the legacy local newspaper, don’t parachute in. They don’t rewrite press releases. They don’t treat northern Minnesota as an afterthought or a curiosity.
Public records aren’t optional. They’re not favors. And they’re not something a police department gets to release once the inconvenience wears off. The law is clear — even if compliance apparently isn’t.
Swim Creative delivered a fully custom site featuring rich visuals, storytelling rooted in Minnesota’s folklore, and an interface designed for both exploration and ease of use. The project also emphasized mobile-first design, search optimization, and user accessibility.
“We are so happy for Darren and his wife Vicki to be embarking on their great adventure of retirement.” -- WDIO General Manager Deb Messer
MINNEAPOLIS — The Star Tribune will host the second annual edition of The Wrap on Saturday, Jan. 3 at the newspaper’s Heritage printing facility in Minneapolis’ North Loop. The immersive year-in-review event offers a look back at Minnesota’s most defining stories of 2025 through interactive exhibits, live
You can sense Lee's broadcast discipline the moment the red light clicks on. Her voice carries polish without pretense, her cadence deliberate but not cold. She has that calm, centered presence that suggests she’s not there to perform — she’s there to communicate.
That perfectionism has made WDIO what it is — the region’s dominant newscast for years running. Viewers know exactly what they’ll get: no chaos, no stunts, just clean, confident journalism. Danielson’s the face of that brand, but also its conscience.
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.
“We are so fortunate and proud to have not one but two AMS-certified meteorologists. Justin and Sabrina have the passion and dedication needed to provide incredible forecasting to our community.” -- Debra Messer, WDIO's Vice President and General Manager
The Star Tribune, founded 158 years ago, is Minnesota’s largest news organization and has earned seven Pulitzer Prizes. Its parent company describes its mission as “building the leading model for local news in America.”