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Hi – the journalists of @mprnews and @apmreports have been working like crazy the last few months. We usually let our work stand on its own, but with our company facing budget problems, we need to recognize some things publicly and ask for your help. (thread)
People are reading and listening to our journalism at levels we’ve never seen before. The news is so important right now. Its significance is immediate. And we have been producing these stories under conditions we’ve never experienced.
We’re broadcasting from closets. We’re doing interviews with children underfoot. We’re dodging rubber bullets and tear gas as buildings burn around us, working in pairs for safety. We’re worried about getting COVID-19 in the process.
Those live broadcasts you hear on the air are handled by capable engineers, hosts and producers. It may sound easy but it takes a lot of work.
Those stories on the pandemic? They require solid reporting and editing. It’s hard to explain the unexplainable.
Those stories on the pandemic? They require solid reporting and editing. It’s hard to explain the unexplainable.
Journalists like @CatRichert revealed that one Rochester house party may have created a cluster of COVID-19 cases. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/05/14/county-health-official-rochester-house-party-spawned-cluster-of-covid19-cases
Speaking of clusters, @AngelaTCR, @sashaaslanian and @craftworksxyz showed how an international conference in Las Vegas may have helped spread the virus. https://www.apmreports.org/story/2020/04/23/covid-infected-attendee-ces-tech-conference
. @curtisgilbert showed that 11 states didn’t track or report COVID-19 hospitalizations, a major problem when you’re trying to monitor a highly contagious virus. https://www.apmreports.org/story/2020/03/26/states-tracking-coronavirus-hospitalizations-map
As concerns about testing grew, @tomscheck and @geoffhing showed that public health labs saw funding cuts despite warnings about a looming pandemic. https://www.apmreports.org/story/2020/04/27/public-health-lab-funding-cuts-coronavirus-pandemic
. @stowydad and @timpugmire broke news and made sense of all the legislative and funding proposals at the Capitol.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/04/21/minnesota-put-200-million-into-a-covid19-fund-where-is-it-going | https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/03/12/walz-proposes-slim-budget-as-coronavirus-situation-worsens
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/04/21/minnesota-put-200-million-into-a-covid19-fund-where-is-it-going | https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/03/12/walz-proposes-slim-budget-as-coronavirus-situation-worsens
. @peterncox has looked at the impact on nursing homes.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/05/08/deaths-in-nursing-homes-spur-officials-to-increase-testing-bolster-staff-levels | https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/06/12/new-mdh-data-longterm-care-facilities-account-for-half-covid19-deaths-in-minnesota
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/05/08/deaths-in-nursing-homes-spur-officials-to-increase-testing-bolster-staff-levels | https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/06/12/new-mdh-data-longterm-care-facilities-account-for-half-covid19-deaths-in-minnesota
Others like @HannahMYang and @kirstimarohn reported on outbreaks at meatpacking plants in Worthington and Long Prairie.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/04/21/it-was-expected-worthington-pork-plant-closes-indefinitely | https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/06/10/long-prairie-beef-processor-among-latest-swept-by-covid19-despite-significant-prevention
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/04/21/it-was-expected-worthington-pork-plant-closes-indefinitely | https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/06/10/long-prairie-beef-processor-among-latest-swept-by-covid19-despite-significant-prevention
. @HannahMYang and @RihamFeshir also looked at how Asian Americans have been targeted during the pandemic. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/03/25/asian-americans-in-minnesota-confront-a-covid19-backlash
. @john_enger shared the worries and fears he felt for his wife and family as they awaited the arrival of their newborn daughter. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/04/01/essay-a-fathers-wait-and-worry-for-babys-arrival-during-pandemic
Meteorologists @paulhuttnerwx and @RonTrenda have looked at how climate change is tied to the pandemic, while also providing daily forecast updates and analysis on their award-winning Updraft blog.
https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2020/06/04/doctor-preventing-the-worst-effects-of-climate-change-the-next-pandemic-go-hand-in-hand | https://www.mprnews.org/weather-and-climate/updraft
https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2020/06/04/doctor-preventing-the-worst-effects-of-climate-change-the-next-pandemic-go-hand-in-hand | https://www.mprnews.org/weather-and-climate/updraft
As Minnesota loosens its COVID-19 restrictions, @dan_kraker has been answering reader questions about what is and isn’t open, and what to consider before going out.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/05/14/what-you-need-to-know-about-minnesotas-stay-safe-order | https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/05/21/covid-what-to-consider-social-interactions
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/05/14/what-you-need-to-know-about-minnesotas-stay-safe-order | https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/05/21/covid-what-to-consider-social-interactions
The pandemic has had a huge impact on the way we work and the world’s economy. Many employees are logging in remotely — although some are being told they must go in. They shared their concerns about their health and workplace safety with @EuanKerr. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/03/18/frustration-and-questions-among-some-who-are-still-in-the-workplace
In northern Minnesota, where tourism is a big slice of the economy, resorts are worried about surviving, @gundersondan found. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/05/06/sorry-we-have-to-cancel-minnesota-resorts-worry-about-their-survival
So are smaller retailers, especially those who weren’t allowed to open during the early days of the pandemic, even though their “essential” competitors were, reported @MarkZdechlik. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/05/06/competing-against-essential-big-boxes-small-retailers-cry-foul
Other businesses thrived during the pandemic, whether through skill or luck — or a combination of both, according to Martin Moylan. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/05/26/some-businesses-thrive-despite-pandemic
And as the country slowly tries to reopen, journalists like @MarkZdechlik will continue to look at the impact on the economy and the nation’s health. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/06/10/restaurants-other-businesses-cautiously-ready-to-let-customers-in
MPR and APM have also experienced budget difficulties as a result of the pandemic. Six journalists with @mprnews (including union members Martin Moylan, @EricRingham and @JBickal) took buyouts last month to help the station manage its budget difficulties.
While that may seem like a lot, the killing of #GeorgeFloyd at the hands of Minneapolis police also forced many journalists to work overtime.
After Floyd’s death, our journalists jumped on the story. @BrandtMPR, @timnelson_mpr, @msepic, @JonSCollins @ninamoini @meburks, @akpix @peterncox and more were at the scene covering the death, the protests and the subsequent rioting.
We received security training, were given protective masks to avoid exposure to the virus and got to work.
Photojournalists @efrostee and @xinewin also hit the streets, capturing images of the protests, the marches and the riots. Here’s Evan Frost shooting video of neighbors protecting a local store.
Online editors and producers like @PaulTosto @ContrarianDave @codyleenelson @SaraSporter @ChoiGEE1 @mikusmatt and @n_yang pushed the information out on http://mprnews.org and social media.
Producers @kyleshiely @MEBurks @marchetafornoff @karenanelzamora @kellygordonmn @katecmoritz @bschossow @juliamfranz @aronwolde and Sara Meyer booked guests & produced segments that provided valuable insight & analysis on racism, civil rights probes and the use of police force.
Voices your trust like @philpicardi @jmwanamaker @emilykbright @stevenjohnMPR @perryfinelli kept the information flowing during fast-changing newscasts.
Hosts @cathywurzer, @kerriMPR, @tomcrann and @AngelaDavis stepped up their coverage, anchoring breaking news late into the night.
As cleanup continued, @alexbaumhardt highlighted all the helpers. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/06/03/north-minneapolis-church-offers-food-lifeline | https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/06/04/helping-to-get-the-rebuilding-going
It was an international story that required local perspective. And international outlets, like the BBC, called on us to tell that story to their viewers.
Take for example, @BrandtMPR. He’s covered community policing and race relations in Minneapolis for more than 20 years. His perspective is unparalleled.
. @AngelaDavisMPR hosted a livestream virtual conversation on black trauma and policing. https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2020/06/05/call-to-mind-spotlight-on-black-trauma-and-policing
Mental health reporter @alisa_roth also took a deeper look at the trauma of watching another black person die. One recent study said police shootings can affect people’s mental health for three months or more, and repeat trauma makes it worse. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/06/15/she-saw-me-in-george-floyd-the-trauma-of-watching-another-black-person-die
The journalists at @inthedarkAPM also stepped up to help with the George Floyd coverage. And they produced a special podcast on how the pandemic is playing out in the Mississippi Delta.
And as local government officials continue to grapple with the best way to fund policing, our reporters like @timnelson_mpr will be there to watch it. https://twitter.com/timnelson_mpr/status/1269397568255135744
You rarely see their names but editors like @bwareham, @laura_yuen @MPRsMikeMulcahy @ContrarianDave @C_E_Winter have led the way, shaping what you hear on the radio and see online.
Newsroom coordinator @from_washington has been making sure reporters get connected to readers and listeners who have stories to tell.
It hasn’t been easy work. Some of those journalists who were covering the protests are now being tested for possible exposure to COVID-19. https://twitter.com/BrandtMPR/status/1271471883116937216
Other outlets are also recognizing our work. In the Dark ( @madeleinebaran @sfreemark @aakruse @C_E_Winter @natjablonski @RehmanTungekar @parkeryesko @craftworksxyz @curtisgilbert @ContrarianDave) was recently awarded several national awards including the Peabody, duPont and RFK
. @MarianneSCombs was named @mnspj’s journalist of the year. This comes a year after @efrostee won young journalist of the year.
This year, SPJ honored @efrostee for best news photography. @RihamFeshir took home best beat reporting. @mprnews won best website and social media account. . @ElizShockman, @MarianneSCombs, @timnelson_mpr and @msepic took home first place awards for their radio reporting.
. @ehanford won a Gracie Award for her work on how schools are failing to teach reading. https://allwomeninmedia.org/gracies/2020-gracie-winners/
MPR News also won several Edward R. Murrow Regional awards, including multimedia, continuing coverage of another high-profile fatal police shooting, and for its investigation into sexual abuse at the nationally renown Children’s Theatre Co. https://www.rtdna.org/content/2020_regional_edward_r_murrow_award_winners#Region%204
One reason we’re touting our work is because Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media are facing budget troubles due to the recession. We’ve already lost colleagues to buyouts, and the company has signaled further staff reductions are coming.
We have urged them not to lay off journalists amid the biggest news stories of our lifetimes.
Please let them know that you agree. And if you have the means to do so, please donate to MPR/APM. https://support.mpr.org/mpr-app
Please let them know that you agree. And if you have the means to do so, please donate to MPR/APM. https://support.mpr.org/mpr-app
Thanks for reading. We are now going back to covering the news.
