Minnesota Public Radio Launches MPR NewsQ, Minnesota's Online Source for News That Matters

Jun 25, 2009

As a next step into the digital news world, Minnesota Public Radio announced today the launch of MPR NewsQ--one of Minnesota's strongest resources for statewide online news and commentary. MPR NewsQ--found at mprnewsq.org--is a bridge from Minnesota Public Radio's broadcast and early Web history to its future as a multimedia news provider.

As a not-for-profit option to radically changing commercial newspaper models (resulting from falling revenues and changing consumption patterns), MPR NewsQ is expected to grow in parallel with its robust not-for-profit statewide radio service, while providing a strong option for cross promotion of the radio and Web options.

MPR NewsQ will increase MPR's commitment to quality news in digital online form and commentary from its large network of experts in its Public Insight Network. Expanded reporting will add to MPR NewsQ's ability to contribute quality content. This positions MPR NewsQ to be a leader in the next phase of regional journalism and news distribution and also helps fill the void left as traditional newspapers retrench.

Minnesota Public Radio's Public Insight Network (PIN) recently received a $2.9 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. PIN continues refining its database of expertise --33,600 people in this region with specific topic expertise who work with MPR analysts to better inform MPR journalists' news stories. People in the Public Insight Network will now be invited to use MPR NewsQ to add further depth, insight and knowledge to the day's news in the MPR NewsQ commentary section.

"It's our belief that our emphasis on breaking news, depth, insight and the valuable commentary we have unleashed from the MPR audience will move MPR NewsQ into the forefront of Web-based news dissemination," said Bill Kling, president and CEO of Minnesota Public Radio. "The mandate for our nonprofit news model--to do even more as bankruptcies and falling revenues impact the traditional news sources we have grown up with--is becoming more compelling each day. According to the Arbitron rating service, MPR's Regional Radio News broadcasts reach 527,000 listeners each week--already giving it an audience larger than the circulation of any of the region's newspapers. Now the MPR Board has made the decision to step up to the challenge of also providing a strong news product in text and digital form online."

MPR NewsQ is timely, conversational and smart. It showcases the MPR newsroom (the Twin Cities third-largest newsroom) by featuring a steady stream of breaking news, blogs, multimedia storytelling, video and interactive features.

A new commentary section--edited by former longtime Star Tribune commentary editor Eric Ringham--invites the community to inform issues of the day. The value of this commentary will be enhanced by MPR's audience-engagement process that has allowed MPR to identify experts who aren't often heard in the normal news cycle and give them a platform to make their informed case.

"The launch of MPR NewsQ is only a first step in MPR's expanding role as a leading regional news provider. We are constantly engaging our audience in order to understand their needs, and over the coming months you can expect to see additional features, as well as new ways to engage in conversation," said Mike Reszler, director of Digital Media for Minnesota Public Radio. "We have a long reach. In April 2009, Nielsen ratings showed our reach across all of our Web sites--publicradio.org--to be the second largest in the state--only the Star Tribune surpasses us. When we break our Web sites down by regional reach, in April 2009 MPR News, the only not-for-profit entity in the group, virtually tied with KARE 11 for the number five spot: Star Tribune, WCCO TV, Pioneer Press and KSTP TV are ahead of us, but we are growing at a fast pace."

"We engage audiences in a wide variety of ways," said Reszler. "We have more than 4,000 followers on Twitter, and thousands of people have downloaded our new iPhone application, allowing MPR radio listening on iPhones worldwide. In April 2009, we served more than 400,000 pages on our discussion forums on the social media company we co-founded called Gather.com. With MPR NewsQ, we will continue to find new ways for audiences to interact with each other and us. As one example, through MPR's 'smart games' like 'Budget Hero,' MPR NewsQ audiences will be encouraged to learn about the major issues in a game-like setting while we learn more about their insights."

Blogs such as "News Cut" and "Polinaut"--already online destinations for MPR fans--will be joined by blogs about the arts, weather and the state economy. The site will eventually include cultural events listings in cooperation with Minnesota Monthly magazine, and "The State of the Arts."

Video of MPR News' radio programs such as "Midmorning" with Kerri Miller and "Midday" with Gary Eichten, along with photos of breaking news and statewide news reporting, are also in store in the coming weeks.

The name "MPR NewsQ" signals a distinctly new online service. It plays on the curiosity and intelligence of MPR's audience and the role of journalism to question the issues of the day.

"It's the right time to launch MPR NewsQ," said Tim Roesler, senior vice president and general manager for Minnesota Public Radio. "MPR has a tradition of bringing Minnesotans the news they need, and our audience expects quality reporting. Now they can find our reports throughout a 24-hour news cycle, using a variety of tools--whether through the radio, reading online, watching video or streaming our audio on laptops, iPhones and BlackBerrys."

"MPR's Web sites further our mission and vision," said Roesler. "By being a leader in creating quality online content, we seek to be the most relevant, innovative and insightful media company in Minnesota and a leading national media company."

ONLINE: Explore Minnesota Public Radio's portfolio of Web sites:

* mprnewsq.org: MPR's online news service

* classicalmpr.org: Classical Minnesota Public Radio online

* thecurrent.org: The Current online

* mpr.org: Minnesota Public Radio's corporate Web site

* americanpublicmedia.org: The national programming brand uniting MPR and its sister companies