Brown named contributing columnist for Minnesota Star Tribune

Today, I bring news for longtime readers of MinnesotaBrown.com. Starting next week, I join the Star Tribune as a contributing columnist. My columns will appear twice a month on the opinion page and StarTribune.com.

This is a lifelong career goal I’ve been trying to manifest for at least 10 years. The Star Tribune is the state’s largest and most-read media organization. My columns will find new readers who I hope will enjoy my political analysis and tales of life in the woods and mining towns of northern Minnesota.

Some things won’t change. I will continue writing a weekly column for the Mesabi Tribune and occasional pieces for the Minnesota Reformer.

I’ve been writing columns for the Mesabi Tribune (and one of its predecessors, the Hibbing Daily Tribune) for 23 years, now more than half my life. It’s the last daily newspaper in northeastern Minnesota. I love the Iron Range, my forever home.

Likewise, I remain indebted to the Minnesota Reformer, and in particular its editor Patrick Coolican and deputy editor Max Nesterak. Patrick’s editing made a big difference to my development as a writer these past few years. Furthermore, the Reformer stands as a fiercely independent and unsparing source of investigative and political journalism. I hope to continue producing some of the long-form essays I’ve been writing there since 2021.

MinnesotaBrown.com remains a central hub where you can follow my work. It’s become more of an author page than a blog these days. Nevertheless, you’ll still see new and compelling work about my favorite topics: Northern Minnesota news, politics, history and culture. In this era of social media algorithms and A.I. search engines, the most important way you can follow and support my work is to subscribe to my e-mail list. It’s free. I will never use the list for anything but occasional updates.

I hope to share some cool giveaways and deals with my free subscribers when my next book comes out, perhaps as soon as next year. I’m in the editing stages of this mostly unknown true story about Victor Power, the mayor of a small mining town who took on the world’s largest corporation (and won!) at the dawn of the 20th Century. The book, tentatively titled “Power in the Wilderness,” will be published by the University of Minnesota Press. This eight-year project might be the best professional thing I’ve ever done, though I have no way of proving that.

Oh, and by the by, I remain a full time faculty member and academic leader at Minnesota North College, based on the Hibbing campus. Writing is still technically my side hustle (though lately that feels less true). Fall classes start August. 26.

This new editorial schedule will push me. I truly love this work, though. Only time, mental capacity and need for sleep stand in my way. If necessary, changes will be announced at a later date in this space or in the obituary section of the local newspaper.

Thanks for reading!