By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

Among the keynote speakers at this year’s annual Minnesota Newspaper Association (MNA) convention in the Twin Cities was Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, daughter of the late Star-Tribune columnist Jim Klobuchar.

“You as small town journalists are telling the stories that maybe not everyone knows about, that they don’t read on Facebook,” she said. 

“Many of your stories uncover what happened at the city council meeting and tell people which business is opening and closing. There are a lot of stories of joy, positive stories of our communities – whether they’re big or small,” Klobuchar said.

She urged small town newspaper reporters across Minnesota to continue telling the stories of regular citizens in the communities in which they serve. 

“What you do as newspaper editors and reporters brings strength and brings people together in a big way,” Klobuchar said, “just as much as your role of uncovering the truth for us. You are the thread that brings people together.”

Klobuchar, as a member of the U.S. Senate, continues to address the power of dominant online platforms over news organizations. 

“At a moment in time when newspapers are going out of business across the country, big tech platforms are benefiting more than ever from the content these publishers produce online,” Klobuchar said. “Local news deserves a seat at the table to negotiate a fair deal.”