The MJC Newsletter: Light in the darkness | | |
Hey, all –
Here we are, still in dark times, and it got me thinking about the winter solstice. We’re more than a month past the actual solstice, but it still feels like we’re stuck at a metaphorical one, and so we can take some solace from this lovely essay, “A solstice meditation for a year that asked too much of us.” Even if you don’t have the brain space to read it all, take this in:
“On the solstice, we live inside the longest night. And yet, this is also the moment when the Earth begins its slow tilt back toward the sun. The turn is subtle, almost invisible, but it marks a truth older than language: Even in the deepest dark, something in the world is quietly choosing light again.”
– Charles J. Divencenzo, Jr.
Breathe. Then take a moment and crank up Minnesota artist Peter Mayer’s homage to the longest night.
The sun is coming.
– Regina
P.S. If you’re not in the mood for reflection, Jeremy Messersmith’s latest song may suit you better. On to the newsletter!
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A moment of winter stillness from John Borge, a photographer based on West Silent Lake east of Pelican Rapids. @johnborge
This month’s newsletter is a little tighter than usual because we know you’re swamped. Still, there’s:
- Info on help and training
- Jobs
- News of colleagues
- The nation’s talking about us. We thought you might want to read a little of it.
If your email is clipped, click the link at the bottom to read it all. And connect with us on LinkedIn for updates throughout the month.
The MJC is: Gayle (G.G.) Golden, associate director of student educational initiatives, Regina McCombs, associate director of outreach and training and Meg Martin, associate director of pretty much everything. Our director, Ben Toff, is on sabbatical this year, so we’re joined by interim director Matt Carlson.
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Safety and well-being
Given everyone’s time demands right now, we’re focused on providing resources to help you in the field. Likely most of you got the email over the weekend with our latest tip sheet and we’re listing others below. Keep them handy! (And let us know if there are any other resources that would be useful.)
📝 File a harm report
Our partners at the Minnesota SPJ and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press are tracking incidents of attacks on the press. If you or a journalist you know has experienced harm during federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, please email minnesota.spj@gmail.com. And the National Press Photographers Association Seeks Member Input on DHS and FPS Interference with Newsgathering
💵 Request PPE
Our partners at the International Women’s Media Foundation operate an emergency fund for U.S. journalists — which supports journalists’ applications for PPE and other supplies.
🗣️ Get free therapy
If you or your colleagues could use additional support, take advantage of the Journalist Trauma Support Network’s new program, which is offering free, time-limited therapy to U.S. journalists. The JTSN is made up of therapists who have been trained in the specific needs of journalists. To request services, contact the International Women’s Media Foundation by emailing support@iwmf.org.
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Heads-up: Our colleagues at the International Women’s Media Foundation have updated their guidance on PPE in response to what we’re seeing on the ground. Take a moment to review the recommendations.
We’ve been inundated with offers of support and appreciation for your incredible work from colleagues around the country — including our partners at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Global Center for Journalism and Trauma and the International Women’s Media Foundation.
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Those safety and support partners are working with us on several fronts, including connecting folks to resources, safety equipment and expert support — as well as training.
Here are a few opportunities coming quickly
▶️ THIS FRIDAY (Jan. 30) at noon — How editors and news leaders can keep their teams safe — A session for editors and news managers on best practices for keeping teams safe in the field. Join us for a short talk followed by an open conversation with Stevo Stephen, an international security and risk management professional with extensive experience in high-risk and conflict-affected environments across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. He’ll answer questions on security decision-making, risk trade-offs, misinformation and perception versus reality on the ground, and what journalists should understand about safety, access and operating constraints.
▶️ NEXT TUESDAY (Feb. 3; timing TK) — Peer support: How editors can help support their teams’ resilience in challenging times — Bruce Shapiro, director of the Global Center for Journalism and Trauma (formerly the Dart Center), will lead a session for newsroom managers, editors, team leads and peer leaders on coping with stress, burnout and trauma. The session will offer guidance for enriching leaders’ coping skills and wellness, and for building resilient news teams.
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REPLAY | Staying safe on any assignment: Situational awareness training for journalists
The password-protected recording of the training session will be available for a few weeks. Feel free to share with your journalism colleagues — we only ask that you (and they) not post it publicly or share on social media.
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Twin Cities news leaders: Safety coordination
At the suggestion of several Twin Cities-based news managers, we’ve gathered the news leaders from more than a dozen newsrooms in the region to connect over safety planning and coordination.
They jumped into the new Signal group chat and are working together to talk about keeping folks safe, and to create pooled coverage for press conferences to lighten the workload for everyone. As time goes on, we hope it will be a way for editors and news directors to share best practices and communicate across organizations during emergencies and big news events.
With all the ways Minnesota journalists are working on sharing information and resources, we think you’re all pretty cutting-edge! From NiemanLab’s 2026 predictions: “In this critical moment where resources are scarce and journalists are desperate to offer deeper, more impactful content, 2026 must be the defining year for strategic mergers and radical resource sharing.”
Interested? We’re building as we go, so if your newsroom would like to get involved, please email Meg at martinme@umn.edu.
JAM: Our nonprofit and community-supported news cohort
Dear JAM friends, we haven’t forgotten about you!
We’d planned to launch a story-sharing effort this month — in partnership with Plucky Wire — but have postponed the project while we collectively navigate this moment.
Sharing for all
In the meantime: Our colleagues at MinnPost, Sahan Journal, Minnesota Reformer and Minnesota Women’s Press have launched a Minnesota newswire focused on immigration enforcement coverage. They’re sharing stories and photos for free on PluckyWire.
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New to PluckyWire? Check out this NiemanLab story.
If you’re interested in running the wire’s stories, you can create an account on PluckyWire, and join the Twin Cities Newswire. After you create your account, scroll to the bottom of the Newswire’s landing page and click the “Join” button.
If you’d like to share your own organization’s stories on the wire, or have questions about the platform, contact Plucky Wire’s Johnny Bassett (johnny@pluckyworks.org), who has offered to help us navigate the process.
Coming up next: We still have plans to spin up the story-sharing network yet this winter and we hope to gather JAM collaborators in February to launch. If you’re interested in joining, you know the drill – contact Meg!
| | Other training and events | | |
Even though everyone is absolutely slammed, the MJC’s curated training and events calendar has opportunities to give you a mental break. Here are a few highlights (all times Central):
MNSPJ’s Winter Mixer, a night of mingling, drinks and pizza.
When: TONIGHT — Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Lake Monster Brewing in St. Paul
Cost: Nothing, plus a free drink ticket
RSVPs are strongly encouraged. Learn more and register here!
Virtual training opportunities
Virtual opportunities for taking care
Upcoming application deadlines
Lead with Influence — for project leaders and ambitious media professionals. Discover your leadership style, master feedback strategies and build influence through weekly interactive sessions and peer challenges. March 3 - April 7, 2026 (six 90-minute online sessions). Apply by: Feb. 16, 2026
Essential Skills for New Managers at Poynter, for new managers with up to 5 years of experience. Build your leadership foundation with strategies for managing former peers, delivering effective feedback and establishing credibility — guided by personalized assessments and a cohort of rising leaders.Program dates: May 18-22 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Deadline: Jan. 30.
Mark your calendar: Health Journalism 2026 will be in Minneapolis May 27-30; early bird discount until March 13. AAJA 2026 will be in Minneapolis June 24-28; early bird registration continues through May 6.
Find more on our curated calendar — which you can subscribe to or share. And let us know what else to add by responding to this email.
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The Star Tribune is hiring a sports editor, and as part of Report for America, a business of sports reporter.
MPR News has openings for a deputy managing editor, culture and community, a senior editor for investigations, a newscaster, an investigative reporting intern, a senior producer for weekends, a reporting intern and regional manager in Rochester.
APMG is hiring a communications intern, a media productions an operations intern and a broadcast engineering intern.
KARE needs a news anchor and a photographer/editor for mornings.
The Timberjay in Tower is looking for a reporter through Report for America.
KAAL in Rochester is looking for a content desk manager, meteorologist and a multimedia journalist.
KSTP has openings for a traffic anchor/reporter, assistant news director, TV reporter and a meteorologist.
KAXE/KBXE is looking for a director of audience engagement, a development director, and, as part of Report for America, a beat reporter covering the Mississippi River headwaters region.
WDAY in Fargo is looking for a videographer and a reporter/multimedia journalist.
Adams Multimedia is seeking a managing editor for its southern Minnesota regional publications, a part-time assistant editor in Virginia, an associate editor in Caledonia, a full-time reporter in Owatonna and a part-time reporter in Aitkin.
MinnPost is looking for its next community health reporting fellow, a one-year position, and, as part of Report for America, a beat reporter covering drinking water in Minnesota.
The Associated Press, through Report for America, has an opening for a photojournalist.
AMPERS is looking for a contract reporter/producer/anchor and contract news producers for North Star Stories. (h/t Joel Glaser)
Interesting remote jobs
Open Secrets needs a senior reporter.
Marketplace is hiring a temporary newsletter writer.
ProPublica has a remote opening for Local Reporting Network Fellow.
The Examination is looking for an Investigative editor and a reporter for their food team.
Axios has an opening for a senior technology reporter.
Open Campus is hiring an engagement reporter focused on rural communities and their workforces.
Freakonomics Radio Network needs a social media producer.
The Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) is seeking a program manager.
Fellowships, grants and other opportunities
The Lenfest Expert Network is a free service connecting local news organizations with consultants for short-term engagements focused on sustainability, audience growth and digital transformation. Up to 40 newsrooms will be selected per round.
The Reynolds Journalism Institute and Local Media Consortium launched the News Media Help Desk for Local Newsroom Sustainability, “a centralized hub to provide local newsrooms with access to essential resources, expert assistance and fractional services.”
OpenAI Academy for News Organizations is a new learning hub for journalists and publishers using AI that includes on-demand training, use cases, open-source projects, shared resources and guidance on responsible uses.
The Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) is offering seed grants of up to $2,500 to cover the expenses of preliminary investigative reporting such as open-records requests and initial reporting trips, primarily for freelance journalists and those not in full-time staff roles. Pitches for radio stories and podcasts are welcome. Deadline Jan. 29.
Columbia’s Knight-Bagehot Fellowship is a 9-month fellowship for reporters to study business and economics at Columbia Business School and Columbia Journalism School. Fellows receive full tuition, health insurance and stipend of $70,000. Deadline Jan. 31.
There’s still time to apply for the Knight-Wallace Fellowships at the University of Michigan. U.S. fellows deadline Feb. 1.
The Moynihan Public Scholars Fellowship supports mid-career academics and journalists committed to fostering substantive dialogue across ideological divides. Fellows receive $30,000 awards and join an intellectual community centered around a weekly Public Scholars Seminar. Deadline Feb. 9.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism Journalist Fellowship is open for mid-career journalists to take some time out from their day jobs to explore journalism in depth. Deadline Feb. 13.
This year’s photojournalism competition for Alexia Grants includes six “pop-up” grants, two for professionals and four for students. Grants range from $250 to $20,000. Deadline Feb. 13.
The Harvard Center for Health Communication is hosting the 2026 Health Coverage Fellowship, a nine-day program at the Chan School of Public Health in Boston. Deadline Feb. 13.
The American Political Science Association’s Congressional Fellowship Program provides journalists with an opportunity to work on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide. Journalism fellows are early and mid-career print, digital and broadcast journalists who have a professional interest in Congress. Deadline Feb. 13.
Marquette University’s O’Brien Fellowship is a nine-month, full-time reporting residency that provides a $75,000 stipend to complete an in-depth public service journalism project. Fellows spend the academic year in Milwaukee while reporting nationally or internationally. Deadline Feb. 15.
The Wake Forest University Environmental and Epistemic Justice Initiative’s 2026 Summer Institute Journalism Fellowship includes a $3,000 reporting stipend and expenses to attend the summer program June 1-4 in London. Deadline Feb. 15.
IJNR Field Reporting Grants can help defray the costs of reporting projects that focus on natural resources, the environment, energy, development, agriculture, environmental justice, and public health. Up to 20% of the grant amount ($500-$2,500) may be used for compensation. Deadline Feb. 27.
NABJ is accepting applications for the 2026 Ethel Payne Fellowship, which provides an opportunity for a member to gain foreign correspondence experience and the necessary assistance to complete a project or singular report. Deadline Feb. 27.
Contests and awards
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The National SPJ awards contest is also coming up. The Sigma Delta Chi Awards recognize integrity, courage and creativity in professional journalism across print/online, audio, TV and more. Freelance work also is eligible. View contest requirements, rules, past winners and more. Deadline Feb. 18.
More contests in order of deadlines, some of which are tight!
The Gracies are international awards for or about women in television, radio and digital media. There are also student awards in both radio and digital media sections. Deadline Jan. 30.
The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Book and Journalism Awards honors a free and fair press and celebrates media professionals whose work explores issues of human rights, social justice, and the power of individual action. Deadline Jan. 30.
RNA Awards for Religion Reporting Excellence is a competition hosted by the Religion News Association, recognizing religion journalism excellence. Applicants must be RNA members, but applicants who are new to RNA may request a complimentary one-year membership. Deadline Jan. 31.
The University of Michigan’s Wallace House Center for Journalists is accepting entries for the 2026 Livingston Awards for Young Journalists, which honor journalists under 35 for outstanding achievement in local, national and international reporting across all mediums. Deadline Feb. 1.
NABJ’s Salute to Excellence Awards recognize journalism that best covers the Black experience or addresses issues affecting the worldwide Black community. Deadline Feb. 18.
The Edward R. Murrow Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in broadcast and digital journalism. There are also student awards. Deadline Feb. 19.
The Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism honor the best international health reporting in print, broadcast, and online media. There is also a student reporting category. Deadline Feb. 20.
The NLGJA Excellence In Journalism Awards recognize excellence in journalism on issues related to the LGBTQ+ community. Deadline March 1.
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We just got word that Ron Handberg, WCCO’s longtime news director, then vice president and general manager of the station, has died. He became a novelist in retirement, and went on to write seven thrillers, many based in TV newsrooms.
Tim Bitney, who led the Star Tribune photo and graphics team and was a UMN and Minnesota Daily alum, passed away in December. He sailed his way into retirement.
Glenda Martin, co-founder of the Minnesota Women’s Press, also died in December. She was an educator, publisher, bookseller, book-group leader and writer.
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Mark Baumgarten is the new outdoors editor at the Star Tribune.
Andy Mannix joins ProPublica’s Midwest Unit.
Jane Messenger, promotion creative director, retires from the Star Tribune.
MPR News names Darius Walker managing editor and Curtis Gilbert is promoted to deputy managing editor, investigations.
Four TV journalists say goodbye to Twin Cities viewers: KARE sports director and anchor Reggie Wilson and Sunrise team reporter Michelle Baik; FOX 9 reporter and anchor Se Kwon and KSTP traffic reporter Hanna Conway.
Allie Shah, deputy editor for food and culture at the Minnesota Star Tribune, and Vanan Murugesan, executive director at the Sahan Journal, have been named to the Media Transformation Challenge’s MTC @ Medill Executive Fellowship Program.
Subhanjana Das, Sahan Journal, and Kyeland Jackson, Minnesota Star Tribune, have been chosen for the National Press Foundation’s Widening the Pipeline 2026 Class.
Alex Karwowski has been promoted to weekend anchor/reporter at KAAL.
Have updates to share in the next MJC newsletter? Tell us! Reply to this email — or send along your notes to Regina at rmccombs@umn.edu.
News about your news coverage
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“For their comprehensive, visually driven coverage of breaking news developments during a tense week in Minneapolis and securing several exclusive angles, Mark Vancleave, Mike Householder, John Locher, Tom Baker, Adam Gray and Jen Golbeck win Best of AP — First Winner.”
Steve Grove talks about being caught up in a coordinated disinformation campaign around the shooting of Renee Good. The New York Times covered the incident in Disinformation in Minneapolis Shooting Points at People Who Were Not Involved
National media swoops into Minneapolis to cover our latest tragedy, Star Tribune
Roosevelt High School journalist Lila Dominguez gets national attention for her editorials. Read her work:
In Minneapolis, every editorial choice is under scrutiny, Poynter
The Minnesota Star Tribune sues Minneapolis for allegedly withholding public information, Star Tribune
When just showing the video isn’t enough: Minneapolis shooting puts news organizations to the test, Nieman Lab
Laurels and Darts: This is not a conspiracy—just ask local Minnesota journalists, CJR
Photographer Tosses His Leica Away From ICE as He’s Tackled to the Ground, Petapixel
Sahan Journal Is Built for When the National Media Leaves, CJR
“We’re not trying to recreate social media”: How Minnesota’s Star Tribune navigates a local crisis, Semafor
Why videos of ICE in Minnesota are a ‘breakthrough moment’ online, Star Tribune
News about the news people
'Minnesota Bound' ends 30-year run on KARE, moves to KSTP, Star Tribune
WCCO’s Amelia Santaniello explains her disappearance from TV screens, Bring Me The News
Forum Communications purchases 7 newspapers, including 3 in North Dakota, InForum
KSTP meteorologist Ken Barlow diagnosed with spinal stenosis
Minnesota Star Tribune closes Minneapolis printing plant as staff reflect on the end of an era, Star Tribune
The West St. Paul Reader received an inaugural good neighbor award from the city.
Press Forward Minnesota Awards over $500,000 to Local Public Media Stations. Grantees are KKWE Niijii Radio on the White Earth Nation, Lakeland PBS in Bemidji and Brainerd (KAWE), KOJB The Eagle on the Leech Lake Reservation, PBS North in Duluth (WDSE) and Pioneer PBS in Granite Falls (KWCM).
Former broadcaster Michele Tafoya launches Senate bid in Minnesota, Star Tribune
And some odds and ends...
Newsroom-specific mental health terms, and strategies to cope
This moment will be defined by what we choose to record, Poynter
“SEIZED,” a documentary about the illegal August 2023 police raid on the Marion County (Kansas) Record, will make its world premiere in the U.S. Documentary Competition at Sundance 2026 and will be available online from Jan. 29-Feb. 1.
Trump first-term records will soon be subject to FOIA, MuckRock
Citizen video challenges the administration’s account of a fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis, Poynter
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We’re wrapping it up here today. If someone shared this newsletter with you, you can sign up for your own copy here.
And one more thing from the lovely essay above that seems particularly applicable to journalists right now. “The solstice teaches subtly: Hope does not arrive with applause — it glows. Belonging is not demanded — it accumulates. And courage, more often than not, looks like simply continuing.”
Breathe.
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