The end of January is an exciting time for people in the newspaper industry in Minnesota as we anticipate the annual Minnesota Newspaper Association Convention.

This year’s convention is Thursday and Friday, and myself, Publisher Crystal Miller and Retail Advertising Manager Angie Hoffman will travel up to Bloomington to mingle with others in the industry and to attend classes from some of the state’s newspaper leaders.

It’s something we look forward to every year.

This year, I am planning on attending sessions on newspaper ethics and social media, and there are others on everything from political coverage to Photoshop tips, taking video on the go and how to lead successfully.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale and Minnesota native Jim Brandenburg, a National Geographic Magazine photographer, are also slated to speak at the conference.

In addition to classes and networking, the convention is a time when we learn exactly how we fared in the annual Better Newspaper Contest. Photo Editor Colleen Harrison will join us for the contest banquet. Look to an article in Sunday’s edition for the Tribune’s results.

Needless to say, I hope to come back from the convention inspired and rejuvenated to better serve the community and this industry.

Look to my column next week for what I learned.

Aside from the convention this week, we are deep in the middle of work for our annual Progress edition, along with gearing up for another magazine.

Until next time, I leave you with a few quotes about the newspaper industry.

 

“I became a journalist to come as close as possible to the heart of the world.”

— Henry Luce

 

“Journalism can never be silent: That is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air.”

— Henry Anatole Grunwald

 

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune. Her columns appear every Tuesday.