The Minnesota Newspaper Association offers annual membership to applicants who meet eligibility requirements and qualification standards in the following classifications:
- Newspapers published in Minnesota.
- Online-only newspapers
- Out-of-State newspapers
- College newspapers, journalism schools, and students.
- Magazines published in Minnesota.
- Groups, companies, and organizations with an interest in newspapers.
- Individuals in a related craft, trade or profession (including employees of newspapers)
ACTIVE NEWSPAPER MEMBERSHIP
Eligibility: Any general interest newspaper with individually paid circulation in Minnesota which meets MNA Active Member qualification standards, or a free publication that qualifies as a legal newspaper.
Qualification Standards:
- Approval by the MNA Board
- Total of 1,000 square inches of printed material per issue
- Regular periods of publication / minimum of 25 issues per year
- Maintain at least 25% non-advertising material, a substantial portion of which is locally written news
- Have either a mailing permit or a circulation audit by a recognized circulation auditing agency
- Be a Minnesota newspaper complying with M.S. 331A.02
Benefits of Membership:
- Voting privileges
- Full legislative representation
- Access to the Legal Hotline
- Weekly MNA Member Bulletin
- Access to convention and meetings
- Central Office consultation and services
- Advertising representation
- Participation in MCAN
- Participation in MDAN
- Participation in MINN
Dues: Please call for details
ASSOCIATE NEWSPAPER MEMBERSHIP
Eligibility: Minnesota newspapers which do not qualify for MNA Active Membership.
Qualification Standards: Approval by the MNA Board
Benefits of Membership:
- Full legislative representation
- Access to the Legal Hotline
- Weekly “MNA Member Bulletin”
- Access to convention and meetings
- Central Office consultation and services
- Advertising representation
- Participation in MCAN
- Participation in MDAN
- Participation in MINN
Dues: Please call for details
ONLINE NEWSPAPER MEMBERSHIP
Eligibility: Any online publication that meets the following criteria:
- Must have been published for the previous 12-months period.
- Must be published using recognized standards of professional journalism; content must be revised on a regular basis, not less than once per week; and shall bear a fixed title or name and datelines.
- Must abide by copyright laws.
- Must be principally devoted to the dissemination of local or general news with at least 50 percent of all editorial (non‐ad) content reported and original and must be available to the general public via the World Wide Web.
- Must be registered as a Minnesota state corporation with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office and have a known Minnesota‐based office of publication, open to the public, where business is transacted during usual business hours with a local telephone number and must list contact information in each updated publication.
Membership Qualification Standards: Approval by the MNA Board
Benefits of Membership:
- Weekly Bulletin
- Access to convention, meetings and training
Dues: $900 per year
Note: Active Members with online publications will automatically be included in this membership division at no additional charge as long as they meet and maintain eligibility requirements.
OUT-OF-STATE NEWSPAPER MEMBERSHIP
Eligibility: Non-Minnesota newspapers
Qualification Standards: Approval by the MNA Board
Benefits of Membership:
- Weekly MNA Member Bulletin
- Access to convention and meetings
Dues: $135.00/year
Eligibility: Any Magazine published in Minnesota.
Qualification Standards: Approved by the MNA Board
Benefits of Membership:
- Magazine Excellence Awards and Gala
- Weekly “MNA Member Bulletin”
- Cross-industry networking opportunities
- Access to convention and meetings
- Listing in MNA Newspaper Directory
- Member Classifieds: Jobs/Wanted/For Sale
- Committee membership opportunities
- Student outreach to encourage careers in all aspects of newspapers or magazines
- Training and educational opportunities for media professionals in-person and online
Dues: $300.00/year
INDIVIDUAL SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP
Eligibility: Any individual in a related craft, trade or profession. Individual sustaining membership is open to individuals not employed by a member newspaper or by an organization which otherwise would qualify him/her for membership in another class.
Qualification Standards: Approval by the MNA Board
Benefits of Membership:
- Weekly MNA Member Bulletin
- Access to convention and meetings
Dues: $50.00/year
Eligibility: Any groups, companies or corporations in related crafts, trades or professions, including schools of journalism.
Qualification Standards: Approval by MNA Board
Benefits of Membership:
- Weekly “MNA Member Bulletin”
- Access to convention and meetings
Dues: $300.00/year
JOURNALISM SCHOOL SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP
Eligibility: Any journalism/mass communications department of a college or university in Minnesota or out of state.
Membership Qualification Standards: Approval by MNA Board
Benefits of Membership:
- Weekly “MNA Member Bulletin” through Journalism department
- Access to convention and meetings
Dues: $75.00/yeah
Eligibility: Any journalism student in Minnesota on recommendation from instructor.
Qualification Standards: Approval by MNA Board
Benefits of Membership:
- Weekly “MNA Member Bulletin” through Journalism department
- Access to convention and meetings
Dues: $25.00/year