News Council Welcomes Ten New Members
The Minnesota News Council is pleased to announce the appointment of ten new hearing panel members. The new members will be joining the existing panel of journalists and laypersons who consider unresolved complaints from the public at hearings.
The incoming members bring a wealth of new perspectives to the News Council, including online and weekly journalism expertise as well as experience in communications, financial services and access to government information.
Media member Jeremy Iggers directs the Twin Cities Media Alliance, an organization that promotes grassroots journalism through projects like the Twin Cities Daily Planet, an online citizen journalism initiative. Iggers wrote abut restaurants, food and ethics for 22 years at the Star Tribune and has also written several books.
Public member Chris Shields is the Editor & Deputy Communications Director for the local public policy think tank Minnesota 2020. Shields has also worked in broadcast news and holds a journalism degree from the University of Missouri.
Mike Dalton, Vice President and Reporter for the Cannon Falls Beacon, is a fifth-generation newspaper person and writes mainly sports and feature stories for the 130 year-old independent, family-owned newspaper.
Mike Creger, a writer for the Askov American newspaper in northern Minnesota brings a passion for small-town journalism and years of experience in daily and weekly newspapers to the News Council.
Since 2003, Brett Stursa has been editor of the Lakeshore Weekly News, a community newspaper covering the Lake Minnetonka area. Stursa graduated from New York University in 2000 and has also worked as a staff reporter for the Olivia Time-Journal and as an occasional contributor to City Pages.
Elizabeth Costello, who served on the hearing panel as a media member during her tenure at local FOX affiliate KMSP-TV, rejoins the News Council as a public member. Since 2005 she has led Costello Communications, specializing media relations, crisis communications, labor relations, consumer product marketing and internal communications.
Noelle Hawton, Senior Vice President for Tunheim Partners, also brings public relations and communications expertise to the News Council. Hawton specializes in retail, consumer products, entertainment and corporate social responsibility and also serves on the Frank Premack Public Affairs
Journalism Award board.
Public member Heather Harden brings a diverse array of experiences to the News Council. Harden, who began her career in broadcast news, currently works as a financial advisor in private practice; she has also served as a councilmember for the City of Bloomington from 2000-2005.
Media member Issa Mansaray has traveled the world as a journalist, researcher and lecturer. Mansaray is a native of Sierra Leone and is has done extensive research on press freedom issues.
Mary Treacy is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Coalition on Government Information, a nonprofit organization that addresses access to government information issues, particularly at the state and local level. Treacy has extensive experience as a librarian and is a recipient of the John R. Finnegan Freedom of Information award.
Tags: New Members