Building Trust: MPR’s Most Important Work
Sep 26, 2023
I heard a comment by a news pundit recently that caught my ear.
He said the idea that all politics is local is no longer true. The erosion and loss of local news coverage—small town and neighborhood newspapers, local radio stations, and other vehicles for local news and political coverage—means all politics has become national. He suggested that more people today follow national coverage and choose their sources of news to match their preferences.
Too many news outlets have tilted away from straightforward reporting and toward hours and hours of hosts and reporters bantering and infusing their opinions into their coverage. We do not center our opinions at MPR News. Rather, our staff works hard to seek out thoughtful, informed people with a range of experiences and perspectives to tell their stories and express their views. You hear them in reported stories as well as on our call-in shows and magazine programs.
Our goal is to reflect the diversity of who we are as Minnesotans by putting our mics and our cameras in front of people with relevant lived experiences on the most important issues of the day. We don’t want our hosts or reporters to take positions on issues and tell you what they think or what you should think. We want them to amplify the voices of those in the thick of those issues, so you come away with a better sense of how and why those folks see things the way they do, regardless of whether you agree with them. We act from the knowledge that there are plenty of thoughtful, informed people across the state who will provide their voices, so you hear perspectives that help you make your own decisions.
Here at MPR, we continue to focus on being a primary source of statewide local news, music, and entertainment. We’re dedicated to that mission—committed to creating an organization that focuses on what’s essential and special about our region, reflects our region, and grows our community connections. We work to stitch us all together in healthier ways. When we do that and do it well, we build your trust. And across our network, trust is our most important work.
Our staff has worked to hone our news ethics standards. It is a living document and one we’re proud to share with you. Here is an excerpt from it:
“…standards, and ethics are what sets journalism apart. For people to trust the news and information we report, they must have faith in our integrity. We should never give them cause to doubt that our first loyalty is to the public — not to our bank accounts, our political agendas, our friends, our funders, or any other cause or purpose. Public service should be the goal of any journalist, but it has special meaning for us because we call ourselves ‘public media.’ We are here to inform the public by considering multiple perspectives but ultimately presenting fact-based truths. Our communities support us in that effort. That gives them the right to demand that we adhere to the highest standards of practice and behavior.” You can learn more about our News Ethics Guidelines here.
We also seek to engage with the communities we serve and to listen to them. I shared some insights on media and diversity recently as a guest on the Conversations on Race podcast hosted by Glen Gunderson, president of the YMCA of the North. This podcast engages local and national leaders about their experiences, insights, and aspirations. Take a listen.
As we move deeper into the election cycle and live in an era scarred by misinformation, trust is on my mind. Everyone here at MPR pledges to do everything in our power to lead with integrity and earn your trust every day. It’s our reason for being your statewide source.
Thanks for your steadfast support and trust. And thank you for being an essential part of what we do.
Duchesne Drew
President, Minnesota Public Radio
About Duchesne Drew
Duchesne Drew is Senior Vice President of American Public Media Group and President of Minnesota Public Radio. In this role, he leads the teams that produce MPR News, The Current, APM Reports and Marketplace. Additionally, he oversees YourClassical MPR as a part of Minnesota Public Radio.