Public Media for All

HIGHLIGHTS:

Public media is a network of local media made possible through a public-private partnership that has successfully brought people together in communities big and small across our country to learn, to debate, to celebrate and to find joy. Minnesota Public Radio strengthens local communities by connecting people to something larger than themselves; engaging with their community, its culture, each other and the world in ways that offer rich meaning to their lives. No other media shares our mission of providing high-quality, commercial-free, not-for-profit service to every American community: rural and urban, wealthy and working class.

As part of the public media ecosystem, MPR | APM holds a unique role in our media landscape, ensuring universal access to trustworthy news and information, education, resources, local content, music and cultural programming. Each of our brand areas emphasizes programming that focuses on local communities as well.

For nearly 60 years, MPR has been a trusted source of community connections, fact-based journalism and in-depth storytelling. From reporting on COVID-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests, the 35W bridge collapse and other historical moments important to Minnesotans and beyond, to projects and series like North Star Journey and Talking Volumes, MPR News helps Minnesota better see, understand and value itself.

In addition, we report on news that is important to ALL Minnesotans.
The Native News initiative is a new enterprise that helps people stay informed with the latest news about local and national Native American communities, highlighting stories and issues important to Native American communities in Minnesota and beyond. Our coverage includes cultural events, policy updates, community stories and more to provide a platform for Native voices, perspectives and important news. This team has already been recognized locally and nationally for their work and for making meaningful connections with tribal communities and leaders.

We also make news accessible for younger audiences on multiple platforms. Reverb is an initiative and a reporting team from MPR News focused on serving younger and young-at-heart Minnesotans. We know Minnesota is changing and younger adults want news in new, more accessible ways expanding our reach outside of radio. Reverb covers trending topics, local issues and stories that matter to Minnesotans.

YourClassical

One of YourClassical’s goals is to look at local projects and determine whether they can have an impact nationally. For example, Cantus and Vocal Essence, both nationally renowned vocal ensembles based in Minnesota, are partnering with YourClassical to produce national specials. YourClassical also partners with various arts institutions around the state, including the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Opera to air special broadcasts of performances and programming that would otherwise not be widely available.

The Current

The Current supports new and local artist development in several ways, including airplay on the radio and digital channels, in-studio sessions, at live events and through content production, which is often not accessible on commercial radio for many emerging artists. Local engagement includes the Emerging Artists Showcase, summer happy hours and The Local Show with Diane, which dedicates five hours a week to local musicians and explores Minnesota’s local music scene.

The station has become a launchpad for the careers of many local artists including Lizzo, Cloud Cult, Trampled by Turtles, Dessa, Hippo Campus, and has been an early amplifier of well-known artists like Mumford and Sons, Adele, Kendrick Lamar and Bon Iver.

APM Studios

APM is the distributor of several public radio programs reaching 16 million listeners on nearly 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week, and its suite of podcasts delivers over 18 million downloads every month. One of these programs, The Splendid Table, hosted by award-winning food writer Francis Lam, is an original weekly companion that has been celebrating the intersection of food and life for more than 30 years. The Splendid Table is on tour this year to bring the beloved broadcast show to cities across the country, largely in partnership with local stations, including WFYI in Indianapolis, LAist, KUOW in Seattle, WOI-AM in Iowa City and WUSF in Tampa. The Indianapolis show highlighted local restaurants, chefs and how local farms created food that was different than other cities.

Emergency Services

Public media is also the backbone of the Emergency Alert System, a statewide emergency service. We offer fundamental and irreplaceable services and play a critical role in keeping Americans informed and safe during emergencies. Our locally targeted emergency alerts remain operational and reliably fact-based, even when other networks fail, ensuring reliable communication during crises and disasters. One recent local example is an Amber Alert issued that saved the life of a pregnant mother and four children who were abducted at gunpoint in Brainerd, Minn.

Finally, when much of Los Angeles lost power, people relied on our sister station, LAist, and public radio to stay informed and safe. The team provided heroic coverage and exceptional, block-by-block reporting, even as many employees were evacuated, and some lost their own homes to the fires.

Marketplace

Through its wide range of programs and podcasts, Marketplace from American Public Media shares economic perspectives and realities relevant to all communities, while pursuing its mission to raise the economic intelligence of the country. Most recently, Marketplace Morning Report aired an episode in the wake of the devastating fires in Los Angeles, where host David Brancaccio returned to the site of his Altadena home, which was destroyed in the fires. The episode provided a firsthand account of the challenges ahead for David and his community, as well as what it takes to rebuild structures and the financial toll large-scale disasters have on communities.