Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists

The Minnesota Star Tribune, Minnesota Public Radio, the Minnesota Reformer, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, Sahan Journal, Center for Broadcast Journalism and Minnesota Newspaper Association today released the following statement: “We strongly condemn the arrest of journalists Georgia Fort and Don Lemon, as well as any attempt to intimidate members of the press. The First Amendment recognizes the press as holding a distinct and protected role in our democracy. In America, we do not arrest journalists for doing their jobs. The Minnesota journalism community stands united in defense of press freedom and the essential role reporting plays in holding power to account.”

The Minnesota Star Tribune, @mprnews.org @minnesotareformer.com , @spokesmanrecorder.bsky.social, @sahanjournal.bsky.social, Center for Broadcast Journalism and Minnesota Newspaper Association today released the following statement:

SPJ strongly condemns today’s arrest of journalists @donlemonofficial.bsky.social and Georgia Fort in connection with their reporting on a Jan. 18 demonstration at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

🔗 Read the full statement: bit.ly/4rrqYAQ

The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists strongly condemns the wrongful arrests of journalists Georgia Fort and Don Lemon for reporting on a church protest in St. Paul.

Read our full statement here: www.mnspj.org/2026/01/30/m...

Thanks for a great time at our Winter Mixer last night! We’re happy to announce that we have opened an MNSPJ scholarship fund. Help us grow the funds to support additional student journalists: donate.stripe.com/28EeV6d03bHj...

2026 MNSPJ Winter Mixer Mingling! Journalism! Free drink ticket! Pizza!

TONIGHT: Mingle with fellow journalists, order a pizza from OG Zaza, and enjoy a free drink at MNSPJ's Winter Mixer. We'll be at Lake Monster Brewing in St. Paul from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Learn more and RSVP here:

The 2026 A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in Minnesota is back after a successful inaugural year, with $15,000 in prize money for journalists and their newsrooms. Submit your entries by February 20.

The 2026 Page One Awards contest is accepting entries! This year, we’ve added more than a dozen brand new categories. MNSPJ will also honor a Student Journalist of the Year. The deadline to enter is Friday, February 20. Learn more and submit your entries: www.mnspj.org/2026/01/11/2...

What are the best practices for staying safe while on assignment? The International Women's Media Foundation and the Minnesota Journalism Center are offering virtual training from 10-11:30 a.m. this Friday. Register here: umn.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists strongly condemns attacks on journalists by law enforcement on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, during a federal operation in St. Paul.

Read our full statement: www.mnspj.org/2025/11/26/m...

2025 Minnesota SPJ Intern Night at Minnesota Public Radio Are you a college student looking for an internship in news media, or an intern looking for your first job? Find out how to break in here!

JOURNALISM STUDENTS: Come to MNSPJ's 2025 Intern Night on November 13 at MPR News in St. Paul. It's a chance for you to mingle with hiring managers from Twin Cities media organizations. Free to attend, but registration is required!

Looking for more ways to engage with MNSPJ? We're hosting our annual meeting on Thursday, September 25 in St. Paul! Come discuss future plans and socialize with our new board.

More details: www.mnspj.org/2025/09/15/j...

Please join MNSPJ's annual meeting on September 25 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at SPNN/Sahan Journal offices in St. Paul.

This will be a great opportunity to find ways to get involved and meet the new board. After, we’ll head next door to Lake Monster Brewing for socializing.

www.mnspj.org/2025/09/15/j...

Thank you to all of our members who voted in our recent board election. MNSPJ is excited to announce the results and welcome our 2025-2026 Board of Directors: www.mnspj.org/2025/09/15/m...

Join @spj-posts.bsky.social at MediaFest25 on October 15–18 in Washington D.C. for hands-on training, student journalism programming, networking, and press freedom conversations.

Early-bird pricing ends Monday, Sept. 15. Register today: mediafest25.com

More info: www.mnspj.org/2025/07/16/m...

Today is the last day to submit your application to join MNSPJ's Board of Directors!

If you’re interested, please send a short professional bio and candidate statement to minnesota.spj@gmail.com.

We’re seeking candidates to serve on MNSPJ’s board of directors for two-year terms beginning in September 2025. Please apply by Wednesday, August 6! Learn more here: www.mnspj.org/2025/07/16/m...

"Dig Deeper: Using Google Tools to Find and Organize Information" Sign-Up Please fill out this form to reserve your spot at the MNSPJ/MJC's Google Tools training event on Tuesday, August 5th at 6 p.m. at Murphy Hall on the University of Minnesota main campus. Detailed infor...

Join MNSPJ and the Minnesota Journalism Center on Tuesday for hands-on training in using Google Pinpoint and Google Public Data Explorer for investigative reporting.

Free, in-person from 6-8 p.m. at Murphy Hall at the U of M. Limited spots still available: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

"Dig Deeper: Using Google Tools to Find and Organize Information" Sign-Up Please fill out this form to reserve your spot at the MNSPJ/MJC's Google Tools training event on Tuesday, August 5th at 6 p.m. at Murphy Hall on the University of Minnesota main campus. Detailed infor...

MNSPJ and the U’s Minnesota Journalism Center is hosting a free Google tools training session for Pinpoint and Google Public Records Explorer on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 6-8 p.m. at Murphy Hall on the University of Minnesota main campus.

Register now: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Applications are now open to join MNSPJ's Board of Directors! We're seeking candidates to run for five open director seats. Email us your bio and candidate statement by Wednesday, August 6.

More details here: www.mnspj.org/2025/07/16/m...

🥉Third Place: @deenawinter.bsky.social and J. Patrick Coolican of @minnesotareformer.com for their investigative series uncovering a vast network of fraud across multiple state programs, stemming from a $250 million pandemic scam.

minnesotareformer.com/2024/09/20/h...

🥈Second Place: @nateoneal.bsky.social, Casey Hooker and Joe Augustine of @fox9mn.bsky.social for their “Costly Crisis” series uncovering a Ramsey County policy to bill people who called a crisis hotline for help.

www.fox9.com/tag/series/i...

🥇First Place: @ajlagoe.bsky.social, Steve Eckert, @gprep.bsky.social and @kellydietzkare11.bsky.social of @kare11.bsky.social for their “Recovery Inc.” series exposing fraud and exploitation within Minnesota’s addiction recovery industry.

www.kare11.com/recoveryinc

MNSPJ was proud to award the inaugural @amarkfoundation.bsky.social Prize for Investigative Journalism in Minnesota, which recognizes outstanding work in our state with $15,000 in prize money for journalists and their newsrooms. Read more about the winners here: www.mnspj.org/2025/06/26/m...

Peter S. Popovich Award: The staff of @minnesotareformer.com

Best Use of Public Records: @bzosiad.bsky.social and @cynthiatu.bsky.social of @sahanjournal.bsky.social for “A $132 million loophole in Minnesota's anti-corruption laws”

sahanjournal.com/education/mi...

Best Beat Reporting: Kim Hyatt of @startribune.com

Young Journalist of the Year: Mara Klecker of @startribune.com

Journalist of the Year: J. Patrick Coolican of @minnesotareformer.com

Thanks to all who joined us to celebrate the best of Minnesota journalism tonight at our annual Page One Awards banquet at Nicollet Island Pavilion! Congratulations to all the winners — read the whole list here: www.mnspj.org/2025/06/26/m...