MINNESOTA NEWS COUNCIL:

The Minnesota Press Council, founded in 1971, was created at the December 4, 1970 directors' meeting of the Minnesota Newspaper Association to mediate disputes between the public and the press. At the first meeting of the board (March 24, 1974) the council was organized to include 18,024 members, half of whom would come from the mass communications media and the other half from the public. The council consists of twelve media representatives and twelve individual citizens. Cameron Blodgett served as executive director from 1977 to 1984, succeeded by Thomas Patterson. In 1977 the name was changed to the Minnesota News Council to reflect the inclusion of the broadcast media. The council is the only such state organization in the country. A National News Council functioned from 1973 to 1984.

Historical information was taken from the collection.

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Administrative records include articles of incorporation and bylaws, mission statements, minutes, correspondence, annual reports, topical reports, financial records (especially fund raising materials), brief committee files, and newspaper and magazine clippings. Although the administrative records are incomplete, they contain much information on the activities of the council.

Of particular interest are files, including audio and video tapes, which document the council's public service announcements program. Made for radio and television distribution, these announcements were recorded by the high-profile personalities of Hodding Carter, Harrison Salisbury, and General William C. Westmoreland. The newspaper clippings and magazine articles (1971-1991) detail the activities and formation of the Minnesota News Council and also contain information on the media in general.

The majority of the collection consists of 137 mediation case files covering a wide range of complaints against Minnesota newspapers, magazines, and broadcast media. The files include information on news reporting of political events and issues such as homosexuality (no. 51), abortion and birth control (nos. 135, 144, 441), teen pregnancy (no. 1050), opposition to the Minneapolis Metrodome (nos. 199-200), fluoridation of Brainerd's water system (no. 35), and other topics. Complaints from individuals who were subjects of news stories; from city councils and other municipal entities; and from real estate firms and other commercial establishments are also common. A majority of the complaints were issued against the major twin cities daily newspapers: Minneapolis Tribune, Minneapolis Star, St. Paul Pioneer Press, and St. Paul Dispatch, as well as many out-state newspapers. Other publications frequently cited were the St. Paul Union Advocate, Catholic Bulletin (St. Paul), and the Minnesota Daily (University of Minnesota student newspaper).

Also included within the mediation files are files detailing the Council's grievance procedures and reports summarizing the Council's casework.

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Access Restrictions:

Access to financial records less than ten years old requires written permission. Please contact the reference staff for more information on access to these materials.

Use Restrictions:

Quotation or publication, beyond the fair use provisions of the copyright law, of anything in or based on the restricted records requires written permission. For further information concerning copyright status and/or permission to publish, please contact the reference staff.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minnesota News Council Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession Number: 14,858

Processing Information:

Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, April 29, 1993; Monica Manny Ralston, March 1999

Catalog ID number: 990017298710104294

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Abortion -- Minnesota.

Broadcasting -- Minnesota.

Freedom of the press -- Minnesota.

Hmong (Asian people) -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.

Homosexuality -- Minnesota.

Journalism -- Minnesota -- Social aspects.

Journalistic ethics -- Minnesota.

Mass media -- Minnesota -- Objectivity.

Mass media criticism -- Minnesota.

Newspaper editors -- Minnesota -- Professional ethics.

Press and politcs -- Minnesota.

Press councils -- Minnesota.

Radio criticism -- Minnesota.

Radio journalism -- Minnesota.

Sports facilities -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.

Television and politics -- Minnesota.

Television broadcasting of news -- Minnesota.

Television criticism -- Minnesota.

Water -- Fluoridation -- Minnesota -- Brainerd.

Places:

Brainerd (Minn.)

Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (Minn.).

Persons:

Blodgett, Cameron.

Carter, Hodding.

Fanning, Pamela S.

Patterson, Thomas.

Salisbury, Harrison Evans, 1908- .

Westmoreland, William C. (William Childs), 1914- .

Organizations:

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minneapolis, Minn.).

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life.

Minnesota Newspaper Association.

Minnesota Press Council.

Minnesotans Against the Downtown Dome.

Types of Documentation:

Audiotapes.

Video recordings.

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