Minnesota Independent

Infobox Website
name = Minnesota Independent
favicon =



caption =
url = http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/
commercial = No
type = Online Magazine
registration = To Add Comments
owner = Center for Independent Media
author = Center for Independent Media
launch date = August 2006
current status =
revenue =

"The Minnesota Independent", formerly "Minnesota Monitor", and sometimes known as MnIndy, is an independent online newsmagazine. It launched in August 2006, with a focus on coverage of political issues. The newsmagazine is funded by the Center for Independent Media, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that supports community-based reporting from a left-leaning perspective. The site publishes daily and is free to view.

Background

"Minnesota Independent" is staffed by paid fellows who receive a stipend for their writing contributions. [ [http://newjournalist.org/programs/ Center for Independent Media » Programs ] ] The initial pool of writers included a number of liberal Minnesota bloggers, including original site editor Robin Marty, Somali journalist Abdi Ayne (now working for the BBC), Joe Bodell and others. Later, the site brought on board professional journalists, such as Eric Black, who had written for the Star Tribune, and former City Pages writers Paul Demko and Molly Priesmeyer.

The site is currently edited by Steve Perry and managing editor Paul Schmelzer, and boasts traffic of about 50,000 unique visitors per month.

History

"Minnesota Independent" has broken a number of major stories in its brief existence. During the Keith Ellison Qur'an oath controversy, the Independent's Abdi Aynte reported that Keith Ellison would not change his mind about being sworn in on the Qur'an. The Independent also was the first to report that Living Word Christian Center may have violated IRS guidelines during a speech at the Church by Michele Bachmann. The story resulted in an ethical complaint being filed by CREW against the church.

The site also broke news that Minnesota United States Attorney Rachel Paulose was under investigation for mishandling classified information, and that a staffer for Rep. Michele Bachmann had sent out an emailed plea for support that violated house ethics rules. [ [http://minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1440 Minnesota Monitor:: Bachmann Email May Violate Federal Law, House Ethics Rules ] ]

"Minnesota Independent" writers have won several awards. Media writer Paul Schmelzer won a 2007 Frank Premack Award for Public Affairs Journalism from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism [ [http://minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3386 Minnesota Monitor's Schmelzer wins a 2007 Premack Public Affairs Journalism Award ] ] and a 2nd Place in the 2006 Society of Professional Journalists Page One Awards. [ [http://minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1862 Center for Independent Media's 'New Journalist Program' Bloggers Win Journalism Awards ] ] The site was nominated for the Koufax Awards in 2007 [ [http://minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1867 Minnesota Monitor nominated for a Koufax Award ] ] , and Andy Birkey was a finalist for the 2007 Online Journalism Award for his coverage of LGBT issues. [ [http://journalist.org/awards/archives/000773.php Online Journalism Awards: 2007 Online Journalism Awards - Finalists ] ]

Controversy

The "Minnesota Monitor" came under fire from Minnesota blogger Michael Brodkorb in October 2006. He asserted that the Center for Independent Media was funded by Media Matters for America, and by extension, George Soros. [ [http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2006/10/02/mde-exclusive-minnesota-monitor-center-for-independent-media-exposed/ Mde Exclusive: Minnesota Monitor & Center For Independent Media Exposed | Minnesota Democrats Exposed ] ] In a response, "Monitor" editor Robin Marty stated that "the Center for Independent Media is not receiving funding from Media Matters for America." [ [http://minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=432 Minnesota Monitor:: Brodkorb Gets It Wrong Again ] ] . The Center has since published a list of its donors, which includes 15 named foundations [ [http://newjournalist.org/donate/ Center for Independent Media:: Donate page ] ] , among them the Open Society Institute, a nonprofit founded by George Soros. Because of this, conservative bloggers have taken the former editor's unwillingness to explain the site's funding sources as license to refer to "Monitor" staffers as "Soros employee [s] ." [ [http://www.shotinthedark.info/archives/008059.html Shot In The Dark: Fact-Checking The Fact-Checkers For "Facts" That Aren't Facially Actually Factual ] ] One "Monitor" fellow, Jeff Fecke, has joked about receiving the "sweet, sweet Soros money." [ [http://moderateleft.com/?p=2881 The Fifth Annual Golden Brownies 2006 Extravaganza | Blog of the Moderate Left ] ]

Editorial Stance

The "Minnesota Independent"'s focus and editorial slant is politically liberal. For the most part, fellows have been drawn from the liberal blogging community in Minnesota. However, the site features a code of ethics that reads in part, "New Journalist Fellows should be honest, tireless, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information for the public." [ [http://minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=21 Minnesota Monitor:: Code of Ethics ] ] While the site leans left, it attempts to be more fact-based than a typical weblog.

Contributors

* Andy Birkey
* Joe Bodell
* Tom Elko
* Dan Haugen
* Robin Marty (Editor Emeritus)
* Steve Perry (Editor)
* Molly Priesmeyer
* Paul Schmelzer (Managing Editor)
* Chris Steller

References

External links

* [http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/ The Minnesota Independent]