Katherine Kersten named Strib metro columnist(Red Star hires a conservative)

Poynter ^ | 03/22/05 | Poynter

[Pikamax]

Topic: Memos Sent to Romenesko Date/Time: 3/22/2005 2:05:21 PM Title: Kersten named Strib metro columnist Posted By: Jim Romenesko

Memo from Minneapolis Star Tribune editor Anders Gyllenhaal

I’m pleased to announce that Katherine Kersten, a high-profile newspaper and broadcast commentator in the Twin Cities and a Star Tribune editorial page columnist for eight years, will join the newsroom staff as a Metro columnist.

Katherine brings a wealth of experiences and local connections to the job. In addition to writing for the Star Tribune and other newspapers and magazines, she has worked as a commentator for "All Things Considered,’’ practiced law, co-written a book, worked as a banker, home-schooled one of her children and served as a fellow for the Center of the American Experiment.

Katherine will join the Star Tribune in May, writing two columns a week, plus a Sunday column every third week or so, working in a part-time role, four days a week. This will mean our rotation will now include columns every day of the week, along with multiple columns on most Sundays.

"I want to bring a perspective to Minnesota news, and Minnesota stories, that’s often been in short supply,’’ Katherine said. "I want to enhance the paper’s capacity to speak to a broad community, to all the people of this state.’’

A graduate of Notre Dame and Yale universities, Katherine began her career as a financial analyst with a Chicago bank, then became a budget planner with the University of Wisconsin system in Madison before moving to the Twin Cities, where she graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School and began work at a Minneapolis firm. She stopped working when her second child was born in 1985, which eventually led to her work as an opinion writer and commentator.

Over the past decade, Katherine has written for publications from the Wall Street Journal to Christianity Today. She wrote a column for the Star Tribune’s editorial pages from 1995 to 2003. She has made numerous appearances on such national programs as MSNBC, CBS, NBC and the Canadian Broadcasting Company as well as becoming a regular speaker around the Twin Cities. As a mother of four (now 15 to 21 years old) and a long-time resident of Edina, Katherine has also been active in a long list of educational and civic groups. She was a founding member, chairman and senior fellow at the Center of he American Experiment, which she left last year to pursue writing opportunities.

"Over the past 20 years, I’ve gotten to know people across the state in public policy, business, non-profits, religious groups and parent and educational organizations,’’ she said. "As I write the column, I’ll be drawing on all these contacts.’’

Her column fits into the Star Tribune’s commitment to expanding the reach of the paper, adding new voices to our pages, taking some untraditional approaches where they will strengthen the newspaper.

In her proposal, Katherine outlined a column with a deep and broad range, built on thorough reporting. She listed a myriad of good ideas it might take up, from issues of the day, to profiles, to precious finds from the circles in which she travels.

Katherine will start around May 1, and her column will begin after a few weeks of orientation and preparation with Doug Tice, who will be her editor. "There are so many great stories out there that are waiting to be told,’’ she said, "and I’m eager to start telling them.’’

-Anders

[MplsSteve]

I'm a subscriber to the Red Star...something I question every time my suckscription comes due.

I read it primarily for the local and national news.

But the addition of Kathy Kersten to an overwhelmingly hostile left-wing newspaper does little to make it more palatable.

[jjmcgo]

Somebody who wrote for All Things Considered is a conservative???? In Minnesota maybe.
Jeez. Have I stumbled into Alice in Wonderland?

[shrinkermd]

I agree. Kersten is tepid in her conservative views at best and really has little feel for the suburbs.

[wallcrawlr]

kinda brave of you to admit subscribing to it.

dump that paper. all the news you need is online.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Why not read it online, and avoid all the trash and bills?

[Caleb1411]

She's written some pretty solid stuff. When she was about an every-other-week Strib columnist, I remember liberal Strib readers regularly writing apoplectic letters to the editor responding to those articles. Check out some of her culture and religion writings on The Center for the American Experiment's web site [publications].

[AmericanChef]

If she has any real conservative writings, they'll be buried on page 94-D.

[JLO]

To: MplsSteve

kinda brave of you to admit subscribing to it.

dump that paper. all the news you need is online.

5 posted on 03/22/2005 4:47:19 PM CST by wallcrawlr (http://www.bionicear.com)
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To: MplsSteve

Why not read it online, and avoid all the trash and bills?

6 posted on 03/22/2005 4:48:10 PM CST by Beelzebubba (

[JLO]

Minneapolis Star Tribune does not allow links to their oh - so precious aticles.


Arrgh!