Minnesota News Media Institute

Editors & publishers community leadership program: mni's unique e&p program, sponsored in part by the blandin foundation, engages Minnesota editors and publishers from all backgrounds to participate in a year-long study of community leadership and how to make and support positive change in their communities. The e & p is in its 18th year. At its core, the program assists newspaper publishers and editors in developing their community leadership and vision skills using the blandin foundation's nine dimensions of a healthy community. Cohorts learn they have the power to frame issues in their community and mobilize action. The program helps editors and publishers develop and strengthen social capital within their towns, in turn helping them advance the health and vibrancy of Minnesota rural communities.

Mni internship program: the mni-sponsored internship program provides wage subsidies for high school or college aged summer interns at mna member newspapers. The goal is to help the student gain skills to succeed in the workforce and encourage them to pursue careers as News Media professionals. In 2023, the program provided a 75% intern wage subsidy, up to $1,000, for 12 internships. Due to high demand, the 12 mna member newspapers to host mni interns were chosen by lottery.

Citizen journalism university was launched in 2022 by mni, in partnership with bethel university's journalism program, in response to an obvious labor crisis among Minnesota's community newspapers. Cju is an intensive, five-week online training program that takes community members from interested bystanders to fledgling reporters who are equipped to report on community topics for their sponsoring newspaper. The cju course is taught online by seasoned Minnesota newspaper professionals and bethel university faculty. Students are supported throughout by volunteer mentors. Twenty-one people successfully completed the course in 2023 and earned certification to report for Minnesota newspapers. Mni pays half of the tuition, sponsoring newspapers pay the other half; there is no cost to students.

On-demand and in-person training for News Media professionals: annually, mni presents more than 30 training programs, seminars and webinars, reaching our members from wide variety of Media outlets. These programs cover a range of topics essential to helping professionals in the field improve their job performance and serve their communities. Mni support creates no-cost training opportunities for hundreds of sales, editorial and News business professionals through online Media campus, digiversity tv, mni student sessions and in-person and online mni professional sessions.

Minnesota News Media Institute works with the Minnesota newspaper association to present an annual convention. The 2023 convention was a three-day event in brooklyn park, mn. Approximately 600 News Media professionals and students attended training sessions covering: increasing revenue; best practices; reporting; circulation; legal issues; photography and newspaper design. The better newspaper contest awards celebrate excellence by recognizing award winning newspapers and News Media professionals.