Based on statewide listening sessions and direct stakeholder input, True North supports policy proposals that strengthen local news and civic information systems in three core areas:
Workforce: People to Report, Operate, and Sustain Local Newsrooms
True North believes that no policy solution succeeds without people. Local journalism cannot function without reporters, editors, producers, engineers, and operational staff who can build and maintain newsrooms over time.
The alliance will support policies that:
- Strengthen workforce pipelines into local journalism, including fellowships, mentorships, and retention strategies that allow local outlets to operate sustainably
- Stabilize newsroom staffing, particularly in Greater Minnesota and underserved communities
- Improve retention so journalism remains a viable long-term career
- Reduce structural barriers, including educational debt, that push talent out of the field
Media Literacy: Navigating AI and Misinformation
True North believes that access alone is not enough. Minnesotans need tools to evaluate information, understand how content is produced and distributed, and navigate an information environment shaped by algorithms and artificial intelligence. We do not want to regulate content or outlets.
The alliance will support policies that:
- Expand media and social media literacy education
- Help communities understand and identify misinformation and disinformation
- Address the impacts of AI on information quality and public trust
- Strengthen civic education that connects residents to credible local sources
Fund Civic Information for Both Everyday and Emergency Needs
True North believes civic information is a public good, essential during elections, emergencies, and the day-to-day life of communities.
The alliance will support policies that:
- Treat civic information as essential infrastructure
- Ensure communities receive timely, accurate information during emergencies
- Strengthen coverage of local government, public services, and community events
- Invest in systems that help local outlets share information efficiently and collaboratively
- Create new revenue streams for local news
How This Framework Is Used
This framework guides which proposals the True North News Alliance will endorse, co-lead, or support. It allows for multiple policy approaches while maintaining clear alignment around shared goals: a stable workforce, informed communities, and reliable civic information statewide.
Advancing the 2026 Agenda
The legislative session runs from February 17 to May 18, 2026, and it will be a packed three months. Our Steering Committee will finalize an agenda designed to unify media sectors and community audiences, focusing on workforce support, civic engagement, identifying new revenue streams, and boosting operational capacity.
Our primary goal this session is to champion this agenda, establishing the relationships and legislative groundwork necessary for 2027 and beyond, where we aim to pass larger legislation that partners philanthropy, policy, and business.