Minnesota Brown

Minnesota Brown: Modern Life on the Iron Range

Category: media

  • Come Home, Bob!

    You might know that in addition to writing, teaching and whatever it is you want to call doing this blog I am one of the organizers of Dylan Days in Hibbing, Minnesota. This year the Iron Range Convention and Visitors Bureau is going all in to get Bob Dylan back to the Iron Range. They’re…

  • Tour the Scenic Range, explore the issues of our times

    Tour the Scenic Range, explore the issues of our times

    Last week I began an exciting new endeavor that marries this fancy, 21st century blog with a small town weekly newspaper. (Or, as the kids say, we’re going to hook up somewhat regularly for the foreseeable future). Electrons and ink! Quaint small town meeting notices and snark from around the globe! Every month I’ll be…

  • Al Franken joins Google Twin Ports coalition of the willing

    Another clever video from Google Twin Ports, seeking the selection of Duluth, Minn., as the Google Fiber test city. Kudos to Sen. Franken for lending his efforts to this one. Related posts: No related posts.

  • Funny, true, thus sad

    A little bit o’ the profanity, but a worthwhile summary of cable news: (h/t Sullivan) Related posts: No related posts.

  • Your job today is to join KAXE

    Your job today is to join KAXE

    Do me a favor. Go over and look at the website for 91.7 KAXE. If you’re in northern Minnesota, tune in to 91.7 FM or, if you’re anywhere else, stream the audio feed (click “Listen”). Spend some time looking at that website. Read the blogs. Read about the people. Read about some of the programs.…

  • Employees picket the Duluth News Tribune

    Employees picket the Duluth News Tribune

    Employees at the Duluth News Tribune picketed the building today in protest of continued job cuts at the Forum Communication-owned property. The entire newspaper industry is enduring economic hardship, particularly at dailies, but the cuts at the DNT have been staggering over the past few years, lately augmented by an increasingly tense relationship between management…

  • Northern Minnesota journalists to buy Business North

    Northern Minnesota journalists to buy Business North

    There’s a notable sale in northern Minnesota media. Founder and publisher Wayne Nelson is selling his monthly publication Business North to veteran newspaper journalists Beth Bily and Ron Brochu. According to Business North, Nelson will remain editor of the publication during the transition. Nelson built Business North into a respected and authoritative voice on business…

  • Owner of Iron Range papers faces default

    Owner of Iron Range papers faces default

    Offered without commentary because of its potential significance to local media: “Superior Publishing owner faces technical default” (Business North, Oct. 13, 2009) In another sign of distress in region’s newspaper industry, the owner of 11 dailies and weeklies in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin confirmed it expects to be in technical default on loan covenants…

  • The Stewart generation?

    The Stewart generation?

    This Time. com graphic has been traveling around the web today. No doubt not all agree with Stewart’s politics, but he shows tenacity in asking actual questions and using evidence to demonstrate hypocrisy (on both sides). Network news is pretty mopey. What’d that crazy lady say about dead fish? Anyway…(h/t Daily Dish) Related posts: No…

  • Now what?

    And so ends an era. RIP Walter Cronkite, the voice of America. Related posts: No related posts.

  • No pot shots here

    No pot shots here

    I guess I won’t make any jokes the next time lightning hits the Mesabi Daily News printing plant. But in this unfortunate weather-related event there was a silver lining for those of us who passionately believe in the future of newspapers, particularly local community newspapers. To those who have taken ridiculous pot shots speaking of…

  • Woes of the Fourth Estate (north version)

    As the Hibbing Daily Tribune, Mesabi Daily News and Superior Publishing group recover from their lightning strike, Business North‘s Wayne Nelson explores the enormous challenges facing northern Minnesota newspapers. Worth a read. UPDATE: Byline on story has been corrected. Related posts: No related posts.

  • Brown on the Air (Live!): NEW MEDIA

    Brown on the Air (Live!): NEW MEDIA

    This (Thursday) morning I’ll be appearing on a special panel discussion on the 91.7 KAXE Morning Show to discuss new media, journalism and bias in 21st century reporting. I’ll be representing bias. Ha Ha! Just kidding! (sort of) Seriously though, northern Minnesota business reporter (and former newspaper editor colleague of mine) Beth Bily will be…

  • NOT JUST NEWSPRINT!

    NOT JUST NEWSPRINT!

    Here’s a classified ad from Wednesday’s Duluth News Tribune. What is this? WANTED: Editor / Content Manager We want a person who will head up our news gathering organization and deliver news, while it is still NEWS. If your focus is to DELIVER COMPELLING AND QUALITY NEWS and NOT JUST NEWSPRINT, then respond to this…

  • Where’s my money?

    So I guess this is what the Duluth News Tribune does when someone owes them money. Beats a bat to the knee, I guess. Related posts: No related posts.