Apply now for Doc U, Saint Paul Neighborhood Network’s digital documentary filmmaking mentorship

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The power of the documentary film is its ability to shine a spotlight on issues, stories, and perspectives that would otherwise go unheard and thus unnoticed. Because of our belief in this power, SPNN created Doc U, a mentorship in digital documentary filmmaking for low income adults. Now entering it’s second year, this intensive mentorship program guides participants through the process of creating a 10-minute documentary on the topic of their choosing. In 15 weeks, participants will learn how to shape a story and conduct interviews, along with basic camera operation and non-linear editing, through classes, workshops and mentorship.

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“Busted Paper” and other mugshot magazines: Why they are—and will likely remain—legal

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The faces stare up at you from the folded tabloid newspaper on sale at the your nearest convenience store: hundreds of photos of people at what might be the worst moment of their lives, available to anyone with a dollar. Busted Paper, on sale in the Twin Cities for the last four years, is just a small part of a new and rapidly growing industry dedicated to publishing booking photos, commonly called mugshots, in tabloids and online.The Minnesota edition, published twice monthly, includes 17 pages of mugshots from Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, and Dakota counties.Scattered among the local photos are crime-related articles (“Florida Man Stabs Wife Over a Hamburger”) and mugshots designated for special attention in features like “Hottest Chicks” and “Muggin’ Maniacs.” There is even a recipe of the week. While a full page is devoted to the advantages of advertising in Busted, most editions contain no advertising. “We’re in a lull,” says Ryan Chief, the tabloid’s co-owner and advertising manager.Chief says that the Minnesota edition sells 12,000 copies every two weeks and says that his readers appreciate the paper. Continue Reading

Lolla Mohammed Nur selected for New America Media fellowship

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Congratulations to TC Daily Planet community engagement editor, Lolla Mohammed Nur! She’s been selected for a New America Media fellowship program, and will head off to Washington DC for a two-day training at the end of April.  This is the second year of the fellowship program, which aims to expand news reporting on the intersection of immigration and gender. As part of the fellowship, Mohammed Nur will produce stories for publication on New America Media and, of course, on TC Daily Planet. “I’m really excited for this opportunity, both professionally as a journalist, and also as a woman who comes from an immigrant family and is a first-generation immigrant myself,” Mohammed Nur said. “I see this fellowship as an exciting opportunity that is part of my work and what I’m passionate about, and also part of my lived experiences. “I know I’m going to learn a lot from this experience, from the mentorship from both the Twin Cities Daily Planet and New America Media. Continue Reading

Minneapolis Somali TV host and producer celebrates a decade of community news coverage — without a paycheck

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A well-known face to Somali television viewers in Minnesota, Liban Hussein brings the community news stories unfolding both in the Twin Cities and in the war-torn Somalia he fled decades ago.Hussein’s been hosting weekly “Mai TV,” a Somali-speaking program on Minneapolis Television Network (MTN), aired at 9:00 p.m. Fridays on channel 16.He’s done it for 10 years — and without pay.“That’s what you do when you do what you’re passionate about [an opportunity],” said 46-year-old Hussein of the programs he produces. “It’s important to inform people about what’s going on in their communities.”Before he escaped Somalia’s 1991 civil war, Hussein loved to watch television reporters and anchormen presenting news and other programs. He didn’t know of schools he could attend in Somalia for broadcast journalism training. Hussein waited for an opportunity from radio or television stations there, but to no avail.In 1999, Hussein arrived in Maryland en route from a refugee camp in Kenya. He spoke no English. He wanted to work in order to assist his parents and siblings in Somalia. Continue Reading

MPLSzine: A great way to get involved with the Twin Cities creative community

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Hello, all. Today I thought I would change it up a bit and tell you about a local writing opportunity. The collaborative submissions based digital publication MPLSzine is now accepting submissions for their 13th issue, “Movement.” This is not a paid writing gig, but it is a great way to get your writing out to an audience, add something to your résumé, and contribute to a great local creative project.I don’t often get to write self-deprecating humor pieces about Facebook espionage and opening Champagne bottles with one’s ass; my MPLSzine article was the closest I’ve come to feeling like David Sedaris, and that is a good thing. It was also the first time I ever e-mailed ten warped camera phone photos of my face to someone without any irony…it will also be the last time I do that. I like how open the MPLSzine editors are about the content they are seeking: pretty much anyone who makes anything that can be transferred to a digital format gets a chance to shine. The artistic and literary community needs more endeavors like this; local artists and writers coming together to create opportunities that anyone with a creative drive can participate in. Continue Reading

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK | Mug shot magazines: Why are they legal? Should they be?

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In Minnesota, as in most states, booking photos—a.k.a. mug shots—are part of public record. Recently, private organizations have been making the most unflattering of these available online or in printed tabloids, sold mostly in convenience stores for a small profit. Some of these will remove photos for a payment.Should these mug shots be released to the public before a conviction? If these tabloids are banned, what about a mug shot appearing in a legitimate news story—the photo of an arrested school shooter, for example. Which is more important, privacy for the not yet convicted, or the right of the public to know?I’m reporting this story for the Twin Cities Daily Planet, and I’ll be contacting law enforcement authorities among others. Continue Reading