So much progress; so much repetition

I edited the Hibbing Daily Tribune during its last years as an afternoon newspaper in the early 2000s. We had been experimenting with ways to keep that format alive by running earlier deadlines so we could “be on the stands by lunch.” You know, so all the workers out on their breaks would pour quarters… Read More →

AUDIO SPECIAL: Feel lucky? Try my superstition sketch

A while back I stopped posting promos for my appearances on “Between You and Me.” It was hard to make the sentiment “Listen to me! Take interest in my work!” compelling in the blog format, which already implies so much of that. But that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped writing and producing for this unique public… Read More →

Keeping ‘Wits’ about us

I’m late to the party, but I caught the recent buzz over Minnesota Public Radio’s third-year, limited run show “Wits” and finally took in an episode of the comedy variety show. Hosted by veteran public radio anchor and all-around witty guy John Moe the program’s June 30 episode was an enjoyable listen with some hilarious… Read More →

Just say Drano

Apparently there are these things called “Drano Bombs” that people can make and they are very dangerous. The Hibbing Daily Tribune reports: Do you know what happens when Drano, tin foil and a little water are put together in a plastic drink bottle and then capped shut? A dangerous chain reaction occurs, which could cause… Read More →

In honor of a noble life ‘Shooting the Rapids’

Rough days for Itasca County newspapering. Longtime Grand Rapids Herald-Review editor and columnist Ken Hickman died Sunday at the age of 93. He had just retired from his regular column last December. It was a true community column, each paragraph dedicated to someone he talked to or something that happened that week. The Herald-Review published… Read More →

Prostitution scandal knocks newspaper group manager out of job

Todd Keute, the publisher of the Grand Rapids Herald-Review and regional manager of the Superior Publishing Company, is out of a job after his involvement in a prostitution scandal. Officials from SPC’s parent company American Consolidated Media made the announcement of Keute’s departure today. SPC operates nearly all of the small dailies and many of… Read More →

The untold perils of media consolidation

I write a column for the Hibbing Daily Tribune, which is part of the Superior Publishing Group, a division of American Consolidated Media of Texas, itself a division of a vast international company, the name of which I forget. Australian bankers, mostly. When the Superior Publishing group reorganized its management structure a year ago —… Read More →

COLUMN: We don’t get it; any of it

This is my Sunday column for the May 6, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. A version of this piece aired on Northern Community Radio’s “Between You and Me” Saturday morning. We don’t get it; any of itBy Aaron J. Brown Long ago there was such a thing as a “mainstream” in American culture…. Read More →

Keep the internet free

You might notice some changes over at Google or Wikipedia today. Many popular websites are joining in a protest over the SOPA law being debated in Washington, D.C.  I am not “going dark” with my website today, mostly because I’m not convinced I know how to bring it back up. But I would like to… Read More →

The perils of media consolidation and a new hope

I’ve worked in the media since I was 16, starting in the mid-90s. That meant I got to watch what we now call “new media” come of age at same time as me. I worked in a radio station as it first adopted automated technology. I edited a daily newspaper that was switching from paste-up… Read More →