Twin Cities Media Alliance

A N N UA L R E P O RT 2 0 1 2

www.tcdailyplanet.net

local news for global citizens

Twin Cities Daily Planet editors report

ur education coverage really took off in 2012, culminating in our end-of-year series on testing and special education. Other focus areas for our reporting included health policy issues, the Central Corridor neighborhoods, immigrant communities, the environment, racial and ethnic communities and concerns, youth and of course the 2012 elections, especially the Minnesota amendment battles. In all, we published more than a thousand original articles, columns and reviews, as well as republishing more than a thousand articles from community media partners and more than 1500 blog posts. We also published hundreds of community-contributed articles in the Free Speech Zone some reporting, and lots of opinion and commentary and in Neighborhood Notes. We are proud of our success in providing a space for diverse voices in our community, and committed to doing even more in the year ahead.

2012 began a process of transition in our arts coverage, as we aimed to focus even more closely on the Twin Cities underserved communities while continuing to provide distinctive perspectives on a wide range of cultural news and events. Among our many important news stories this year, reporter Sheila Regan broke the story of executive director Janis Lane-Ewart leaving KFAI and sensitively covered a controversy in the American Indian community about a play at the Minnesota History Center; and Logan Adams looked into the rich history and uncertain future of Cedar-Riverside institution, the Viking Bar. In 2013, look for even more news of life and art in the Twin Cities many vibrant communities.
Editor: Mary Turck Arts editor: Jay Gabler

Diversity and outreach

I
n 2012, we again published more reporting and commentary by writers from ethnic and immigrant communities than any other local publication. Highlights included Ifrah Jimales Page One Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for her column Ask a Somali. This past year was also a big one in terms of community engagement. In March, Bruce Johansen, Marcos Lopez-Carlson and Clarence White organized a series of 18 New Normal 2012: Get Connected! community meetings. Planned in partnership with area nonprofits, each meeting was designed to attract residents interested in advocating more effectively for change in the areas of education, work, immigration, the environment, healthcare, and transportation. Partner organizations included The Advocates for Human Rights, Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, Envision Minnesota, and District Councils Collaborative and many more. Meetings took place across the metro area from late May through late October,

and drew up to 60 attendees per event. The capstone was a very successful all-day, election-themed Twin Cities Media Alliance 8th Annual Fall Media Forum. Media Forum highlights included Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchies keynote address, a review of media strategies that contributed to the defeat of two proposed constitutional amendments, and a presentation by photographer Wing Young Huie on engaging communities through the arts. In 2012 we also launched a community asset mapping project with a neighborhood photo walk, and convened a series of election circles that invited citizens to discuss important issues that received minimal play in mainstream media.

mission and vision statements

Mission: The Twin Cities Media Alliance brings together media professionals and engaged community members to improve the quality, accountability and diversity of the local media, and to enable community members to play a more active role in the emerging media environment. Vision: We envision a participatory democracy in which citizens from all segments of society and especially those who have been traditionally denied access are able to use the media to share information, hold the powerful accountable, build community, and work together for the common good.

The year ahead

e have an exciting year ahead in 2013, with a strong focus on community engagement:

The Daily Planets journalism efforts will focus on deepening our relationship to our audience, and increasing the impact of the stories we publish. Expect a more conversational style of journalism to emerge in the months to come, as we listen to the concerns of our community, and provide a space where Twin Citizens can talk about the issues that matter most whether it is on our website, through Facebook and Twitter, or face-to-face in community meetings. Our new community engagement editor, Lolla Mohammed Nur, is developing creative ways to bring new voices and especially those of under-served communities into the conversation. We are also working with our web developer, Steve Hanson of Cruiskeen Consulting, to make the Daily Planet website more user-friendly for readers and contributors.

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Maggie Pearson, our new Community Asset Mapping specialist, is working with neighborhood associations, residents and businesses to increase the visibility of neighborhood businesses and attractions, and make the Media Alliance and Daily Planet more useful tools for supporting the vitality of Twin Cities neighborhoods. And our program manager for training and community engagement, Bruce Johansen, is managing partnerships with 25 local non-profits and neighborhood organizations, providing them with the media skills classes and coaching they need to better serve their constituencies. Our education program has expanded dramatically this year, thanks to a new relationship with the Metropolitan Library Service Agency. TCMA is now offering dozens of media skills classes at branch libraries throughout the metro area, with a focus on classes that support the economic vitality of individuals and communities. You can find these classes listed at www.tcdailyplanet.net/classes.
Executive Director: Jeremy Iggers

2012 Income

Grants: $248,450 Individual donations: $29,806 Fundraising events: $5,502 Program service revenue: $12,281 Interest income: $464 Total income: $296,503

2012 expenses
General operations: $34,603 (13.7%) Fundraising: $21,337 (8.4%) Programming: Twin Cities Daily Planet: $117,633 Education and outreach: $54,478 Citizen journalism initiative: $18,417 Annual forum: $6,327 Programming total: $196,855 (77.9%) Total expense: $252,795

Financial statements are available for review in the Twin Cities Media Alliance of ce, containing all required disclosures and nancial statements.

2012 Twin Cities Media Alliance Board and Staff

Chair Sheldon Mains; independent technology consultant Vice chair Daniel Getahun; Minnesota International Center Secretary Brooke Worden; senior v.p. financial services. Weber Shandwick Treasurer Dennis Schapiro; founder of Jola Publications and editor/publisher of Public School Montessorian Barry Madore; web developer, Advantage Labs Leola Johnson; professor, Macalester College Elizabeth Patton; attorney, Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP Ann Treacy; Principal, Treacy Information Services Mark Weber; director of sales and marketing, Outdoor News Amy Xiong; Digital Media Coordinator at Cornerstone Media Group Staff Jeremy Iggers; executive director. Mary Turck; editor, Twin Cities Daily Planet Jay Gabler; arts editor, Twin Cities Daily Planet Emily Pearson Ryan; operations manager Bruce Johansen; Community Engagement Coordinator Marcos Lopez-Carlson; Neighborhood Engagement Coordinator Clarence White; Community Engagement Specialist Development associate Lisa Steinmann

Supported by
Archie D. and Bertha H. Walker Foundation Bush Foundation Central Corridor Funders Collaborative Minneapolis Foundation Bernice L. Schapiro Shafer Fund of the Minnesota Community Foundation Still Aint Satisfied Foundation

In-kind contributions
Arthur Murray Dance Center Bibelot Shops Birchwood Caf The Black Forest Inn Dan Brady Breadsmith Bryant Lake Bowl Butcher & the Boar Caf Latte Clanceys Meats Coffee House Press Common Good Books Russell Cowles and Josine Peters The DataBank Fringe Festival Arvonne Fraser Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area/Three Rivers Park District Ingebretsens Scandinavian Gifts Jawaahir Dance Company & The Cassandra School Kramarczuks Lake Wine & Spirits Minnesota Twins Baseball Club Minnesota Vikings Mississippi Market Modern Cafe Nates Dogs New Native Theater Ordway Center for the Performing Arts OShaughnessy Peter Rachleff Park Square Theater The Sample Room Schneider Drug Store Seward Co-op St. Paul Saints Billy Treacy Three Sons Meats (Green Ox Provisions) Triangle Park Creative Joel Weisberg Gerald Wilhelm Wet Paint

2012 TCMA Individual Donors

Gifts of $250 and over
Jeanne Andre & Dennis Schapiro Shayna Berkowitz & Phyllis Wiener Carol Bouska Christine & Stephen Clemens Karen Cooper & Bruce Schneier Russell Cowles Eat for Equity Diane Fitzgerald & Alan Shilepsky Jeremy Iggers Donald & Phyllis Kahn Barry Madore & Kirstin Scanlan Madore Beverly & Sheldon Mains Lynnell Mickelsen James Mork Elizabeth & Theodore Patton Clay Steinman Vladimir Sulc Karen (Kaia) Svien Elaine Treacy Mark Weber Maryam Marne Zafar Lara Norkus-Crampton Cynthia Dekay Cyndie DeRidder Diane Dodge Susan Eilertson Janis Lane-Ewart Sarah Farley & Elizabeth Tisel Cynthia Frost Julia Gabler Debra Goldstein Bob Gordon Roger Hagedorn Mike Hazard Nicholas Heille Cynthia Hill Curt Hillstrom David Inman Elaine Wynne & Larry Johnson Margatet Kramer Jan Morlock Lu Lippold Lindsey Loree Catherine Lundoff Linda Martin Ann McKinnon Debbie Meister Karl Meller Mary Moreira Hillary Oppmann Karen Pedersen Sharon Rolenc Jerold Rothstein Laurie Savran Tammy Severe Paul Schadewald John & Susan Schatz Lawrence Schumacher Alan Shapiro Lucia Smith Valerie Steffl Daniel Sugarman Amanda & Mark Tempel Sylvia Burgos Toftness David Unowsky Edith Vargas Jamie Walski Alexis Walstad Luke Weisberg Cynthia Wold

$50-$99
Ann Alquist Wendy Gonzalez-Baez Kenneth Bearman Stuart Borken Kate Brady Jason DeRusha Sharon Emery Katie Fournier Robert Hale Louise Hotka & Jill Meyer Leola Johnson Barb Kattner Michael Kruempel Barry Kryshka Maury Landsman Erica Mauter & Missy Weldy Jeanne Massey Malcolm McDonald Peter Morales Joe Nathan Lynn Ogren Dave & Joan Pasiuk Deb & Mike Pleasants Sheila Regan Lee Ann Schutz William Short Barb Thoman Joel Weisberg Brooke Worden

$100-$249
Luke & Tracy Babler Alan Bauer Pearl Bergad Peg Bouska Gretchen Bratvold Rich Broderick Arvonne & Don Fraser Bill Gabler Jean Gabler Janice Gepner & Eric Newman Daniel Getahun Tom Gupta Jacqueline Hanson Mary Harmon Ruhel Islam Susu Jeffrey Nancy Johnson & Dan Nordley Miriam Karmel & Bill Price Barb Kucera Susan Lesch Frances Li Paul Linnee Martin Lipschultz Jesse Mortenson Patrick ODonnell & Ann Treacy Rosa Maria de la Cueva Peterson & Chip Peterson Philip Platt Peter Rachleff Pat Schaffer & David Weissbrodt Mark Simonson

$0-$49
Kathy Ahlers Jane Austin Richard Baker Nancy Benson Patricia Berg Linda Brown Melisande Charles Pam Colby Brian Corner Dan & Julia Cross Duane Fisher