I’m grateful to Publishers Hal and Deidre Kettunen for allowing me to attend the Minnesota Newspaper Association (MNA) Convention at the end of January to accept three awards for the Cook County News-Herald. It is rewarding to be recognized by our industry peers, but what I enjoy even more is the networking with other newspaper people.
It was fun to be able to see our new staffer, Abby Fincel, our advertising representative and writer, at workshops and visiting with other news people—myself included. We don’t have much time for casual conversation at the office, so it was nice to enjoy dinner and lunch with Abby at the elegant Bloomington Doubletree Hilton.
We had a nice time at the vendor display area, checking out various newspaper related products. There were even appearances by some characters hoping to gain the attention of the reporters and publishers at the convention—we met a lovely queen and princess inviting us to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival; the Peanuts cartoon dog, Snoopy, hawking the Mall of America; and a Minnesota Twins mascot.
One of the things I most enjoyed though was catching up with some of the people I met at the Blandin Foundation/MNA Editors and Publishers (E&P) Leadership Training in 2014. Like other Blandin Community Leadership groups, the E&P group looks at what the Blandin Foundation has deemed the “eight dimensions of a healthy community.” The dimensions are Life- Long Learning; Inclusion; Spiritual, Recreational and Artistic Opportunity; Environmental Stewardship; Infrastructure and Services; Safety and Security; Community Leadership and Economic Opportunity.
At Blandin Foundation Leadership training, community members gather and consider how well the place they call home is doing in each of these areas. Participants in the Blandin Leadership training ask if their community offers a variety of meaningful spiritual, recreational and artistic opportunities. They consider the infrastructure and service needs of the community and brainstorm about possible improvements. They tackle community safety and security concerns and much more.
It’s an informative and inspiring process. Cook County citizens who have attended Blandin Leadership training have used what they’ve learned at their jobs at local schools and nonprofits. Some have run for elected office. All are trying to make the community a better place for all.
At the Editor and Publisher Leadership training, we didn’t focus on how our community is doing in these areas. Instead we studied newspapers— our own and those of our colleagues at the training—to see how well we are covering the eight dimensions. We were asked to review our papers, asking if we are sharing information about life-long learning, covering community environmental concerns or triumphs, and otherwise exploring the eight dimensions.
I came away excited about our newspaper’s role in the community. It was a wonderful experience and one that brought some changes in how I do my job. But I’ve also had the same experience as some other Blandin Leadership graduates in the community—as time went by the conversations and concepts fade and the busyness of work overtakes the good intentions.
So it is wonderful to once again see my E&P friends, to compare notes and to hear how they have been able to put what we learned in action. Everyone can use a refresher now and then.
I was also delighted when the Minnesota Newspaper Association announced that a special award was to be presented at the banquet—the “Friend of Minnesota Newspapers” award. The award is not given every year; frequently many years go by without an honoree. But this year the award was presented to the Blandin Foundation for its partnership with MNA in offering the E&P Leadership training. When Blandin Foundation President Dr. Kathy Annette came forward to receive the award, I joined the crowd—including many participants from the 11 years of E&P trainings— in a heartfelt standing ovation.
Dr. Annette noted the historic connection between the Blandin Foundation and community newspapers. Foundation founder Charles K. Blandin was a prestigious Minnesota newsman. Blandin began his career as an apprentice at the New London Times at just 12 years old. He went on to work at the Sanborn Sentinel, then the Olivia Weekly Press and finally the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Annette told MNA banquet attendees that in 1927, Blandin addressed the Minnesota Editorial Association. His speech title? The Value of Country Newspapers.
Dr. Annette said she was honored to stand before the state’s newspaper association as C. K. Blandin did nearly 90 years ago. She echoed his thoughts on the value of community newspapers and said, “For rural communities to thrive, a strong community information ecosystem is a must. Small-town newspapers function as connective tissue—linking people to the news and events they need to fully experience community life.”
A meaningful reminder of the important work done by community newspaper, thanks to Charles K. Blandin and the Blandin Foundation.
Clearly it seems to me the audience
here is the winner. The thing that
newspapers do better than anybody
else is the gathering and editing of
local news.
John Kimball,
National Newspaper Association
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