The Minnesota Independent

{{Short description|American news website}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{italic title}} {{Infobox website | name = ''The Minnesota Independent'' | favicon = | logo = Minnesota Independent logo-20081019.png | screenshot = | caption = | url = [http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/ www.minnesotaindependent.com] | commercial = No | type = Online magazine | registration = To Add Comments | owner = American Independent News Network | author = American Independent News Network | launch_date = August 2006; shut down in November 2011 | current_status = Inactive | revenue = }} '''''The Minnesota Independent''''', formerly '''''Minnesota Monitor''''', and sometimes known as '''MnIndy''', was an independent online news website. It launched in August 2006, with a focus on coverage of political issues. The website was funded by the American Independent News Network. The website was closed down in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brauer|first1=David|title=Minnesota Independent staffer says news site is shutting down|url=https://www.minnpost.com/david-brauer-blog/2011/11/minnesota-independent-staffer-says-news-site-shutting-down|accessdate=10 December 2015|publisher=MinnPost|date=November 16, 2011}}</ref>

==Background==

''Minnesota Independent'' was staffed by both salaried reporters and paid fellows who received a stipend for their writing contributions.<ref>[http://newjournalist.org/programs/ Center for Independent Media » Programs]</ref> The initial pool of writers included a number of journalists and liberal Minnesota bloggers, including original site editor Robin Marty, Somali journalist Abdi Ayne, 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 was edited by Paul Schmelzer, and received about 150,000 unique visitors per month. Traffic surpassed 250,000 in the month preceding the 2008 U.S. elections and surpassed 260,000 unique monthly visits in April 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Minnesota Monitor: This Year's Visits by Month|url=http://www.sitemeter.com/?a=stats&s=s26minnmon&r=36|work=Site Meter courtesy|accessdate=2008-11-11}}</ref> A week after election day, the Center for Independent Media cut funding for two of six full-time staff members, Andy Birkey and Molly Priesmeyer, and for the entire freelance staff.<ref>{{cite news|author=Turck, Mary|title=Minnesota Independent staff slashed, DC office fumbles for explanation|url=http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2008/11/10/minnesota-independent-staff-slashed-dc-office-fumbles-explanation.html|date=November 10, 2008|work=Twin Cities Daily Planet|publisher=Twin Cities Media Alliance|accessdate=2008-11-11}}</ref> Birkey has since been hired back, and a freelance budget, albeit smaller, was reinstated.

==History==

''Minnesota Independent'' broke a number of stories. 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'' was the first to report that Living Word Christian Center may have violated IRS guidelines during a speech at the Church by Michele Bachmann.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} The story resulted in an ethical complaint being filed by CREW against the church.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}

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.<ref>[http://minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1440 Minnesota Monitor:: Bachmann Email May Violate Federal Law, House Ethics Rules]</ref>

''Minnesota Independent'' reporter Andy Birkey won a 2010 Page One Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for best continuing coverage of the controversial Christian ministry You Can Run But You Cannot Hide.<ref>{{cite web|title=Minnesota Independent wins journalism prizes for coverage of Christian ministry, Obama rally|url=http://minnesotaindependent.com/59245/minnesota-independent-society-professional-journalists-prize}}</ref> Media writer Paul Schmelzer won a 2008 Frank Premack Award for Public Affairs Journalism from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism <ref>[http://minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3386 Minnesota Monitor's Schmelzer wins a 2008 Premack Public Affairs Journalism Award]</ref> and a 2nd Place in the 2006 Society of Professional Journalists Page One Awards.<ref>[http://minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1862 Center for Independent Media's 'New Journalist Program' Bloggers Win Journalism Awards]</ref> The site was nominated for the Koufax Award in 2007,<ref>[http://minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1867 Minnesota Monitor nominated for a Koufax Award]</ref> and Andy Birkey was a finalist for the 2007 Online Journalism Award for his coverage of LGBT issues.<ref>[http://journalist.org/awards/archives/000773.php Online Journalism Awards: 2007 Online Journalism Awards - Finalists]</ref> In 2008, the site won three Society of Professional Journalists Page One Awards,<ref>[http://minnesotaindependent.com/4723/minnesota-independent-wins-three-society-of-professional-journalists-awards Minnesota Independent wins three Society of Professional Journalists awards]</ref> and in 2009 increased the number of SPJ prizes to eight, including four first-place awards. Among independent online news enterprises it won best single news story (Paul Demko), best use of multimedia (Newsroom), best use of video (Paul Schmelzer) and best news blog (Newsroom).<ref>[http://minnesotaindependent.com/34923/mnindy-wins-four-first-place-page-one-awards-four-others MnIndy wins four first place Page One awards, four others]</ref>

==Editorial stance==

The ''Minnesota Independent'''s focus and editorial slant was politically left. Fellows were drawn from media outlets including ''City Pages'' and the ''Star Tribune'', as well from the left-of-center blogging community in Minnesota. The site featured 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."<ref>[http://minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=21 Minnesota Monitor:: Code of Ethics]</ref>

==Contributors== * Andy Birkey * Patrick Caldwell * Luke Johnson * Paul Schmelzer (Editor)

== References == {{reflist}}

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minnesota Independent}} Category:2006 establishments in Minnesota Category:2011 disestablishments in Minnesota Category:News magazines published in the United States Category:Online magazines published in the United States Category:Defunct magazines published in the United States Category:Magazines established in 2006 Category:Magazines published in Minnesota Category:Mass media in Minneapolis–Saint Paul Category:Magazines disestablished in 2011