One of the top state news media association conventions in the United States, the 2026 Minnesota Newspaper Association Convention & Trade Show is happening Jan. 28-30, 2026, at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest, Brooklyn Park. Late registration is STILL AVAILABLE.
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2026 MNA Convention Schedules
Seventeen essential training sessions for every platform and publishing discipline, two keynote banquets, two Trade Talk sessions, two networking receptions plus
ONE HUGE AWARDS BANQUET!
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28, 2026
All Day:
Convention registration desk open.
Morning Meetings:
10 a.m.: Minnesota News Media Institute board meeting
11 a.m.: Minnesota Newspaper Association board meeting
Afternoon Meetings & Events:
Noon: MNA/MNI board lunch
Noon-4 p.m.: Trade Show exhibitor move-in
1:30 p.m.: MNA Advertising/Digital Committee
1:30 p.m.: MNA Journalism Education Committee
2:30 p.m.: MNA Member Services Committee
3 p.m.: MNA Legislative Committee
Evening Events
5 p.m.: MNA Welcome Reception (ticketed), hors d’oeuvres & cash bar, in the Fireside Lobby and Northland Foyer.
THURSDAY, JAN. 29, 2026
All Day:
MNI Silent Auction bidding to support MNA member training and internships, Northland Foyer.
Trade Show exhibitors, Northland Foyer.
Mainline Events:
8-9 a.m.: Trade Talk: Learn about the offerings of AdMessenger, Creative Circle Media Solutions and NewspaperCRM (enter to win a free 2027 MNA Convention registration).
8 a.m.-9:30 a.m.: Trade Show Breakfast, Northland Foyer.
Noon-1:30 p.m.: Opening luncheon (ticketed), Northland Ballroom. Includes:
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- Keynote speaker: Secretary of State Steve Simon on the state of midterm elections.
- Distinguished Service to Journalism Award presented in memory of Brainerd Dispatch photographer Steve Kohls.
5:30-6:30 p.m.: Better Newspaper Contest & Student VIP reception, sponsored by the Center for Integrity in News Reporting, Northland Foyer. (Cash bar)
6:30 p.m.: Better Newspaper Contest Awards Banquet & Gala (ticketed), Northland Ballroom.
Until midnight: BNC Afterparty. Celebrate together! (cash bar), Northland Foyer.
Morning Concurrent Sessions:
9:30-11 a.m.
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- EMERGING TOPICS | ADVERTISING: AI to Boost Sales, with Brian Kennett, Vice President of Digital Advertising and Agency Services for the Minnesota Star Tribune.
- NEWS: Polish Your AP Style, with Doug Hanneman, journalism educator and former editor of the Hutchinson Leader.
- MANAGEMENT: Cut Your Copyright Risk, with MNA Attorney Mark Anfinson.
- EMERGING TOPICS | MANAGEMENT: Transitions: Preparing Your Publication For a Successful Sale, panel discussion moderated by America’s Newspapers President and Press Publications CEO Matt McMillan
- EMERGING TOPICS | NEWS | MANAGEMENT: ‘Local’ Isn’t What You Think It Is, with media consultant Bill Ostendorf, Creative Circle Media Solutions.
- MANAGEMENT (11:15 a.m.-Noon): Publishers/General Managers/Site Leaders meeting.
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions:
2-3:30 p.m.
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- ADVERTISING: Ad Ideas On Tap, idea exchange led by Press Publications Account Executive Patty Steele and MNA Advertising Account Manager Tina McMillan
- NEWS: How to Build an Investigative Mindset, with Star Tribune Investigative Editor Tom Scheck.
- MANAGEMENT: Hot Topics, idea exchange led by Livewire Publishing Managing Editor Justin Lessman and Albert Lea Tribune Publisher Crystal Miller.
- STUDENT SESSION: Steps to Excellence for Campus News, led by Mankato Free Press Editor Robb Murray.
FRIDAY, JAN. 30, 2026
All Day:
Trade Show exhibitors, Northland Foyer.
Mainline Events:
8-9 a.m.: Trade Talk: Learn about the offerings of CherryRoad Media, AdMessenger, Creative Circle Media Solutions and NewspaperCRM (and enter to win a free 2027 MNA Convention registration).
7:30-9:30 a.m. MNI Silent Auction bidding to support MNA training and internships, Northland Foyer
Noon-1:30 p.m: Friday Luncheon (ticketed), Northland Ballroom. Includes:
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- Keynote speaker: Rufus Friday, Executive Director of the Center for Integrity in News Reporting.
3:30 p.m.: MNA Annual Meeting & Election, Hennepin Salon 3.
Morning Concurrent Sessions:
9:30-11:30 a.m.
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- ADVERTISING: Get Your Head Around Digital Revenue – Or Else, led by Leonard Woolsey, president, Southern Newspapers and America’s Newspapers immediate past president.
- NEWS: Elections 101: Keep it Local, with journalism educator and former Red Wing Republican Eagle editor Jim Pumarlo, author of “Votes and Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election Coverage.”
- NEWS | MANAGEMENT: I Have to Live in This Town, Too: Handling the Hard Topics, roundtable discussion facilitated by Above the Fold Publishing Co-Owner Per Peterson.
- SPORTS: Little or Big League, Make Your Sports Coverage The Best It Can Be, with Kevin Allenspach, St. Cloud Live editor and author, “Mirage of Destiny: The Story of the 1990-91 Minnesota North Stars.”
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions:
2-3:30 p.m.
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- EMERGING TOPICS | NEWS | MANAGEMENT: The Importance of Local News to Your Community, led by Leonard Woolsey, president, Southern Newspapers and America’s Newspapers immediate past president.
- PHOTO | DESIGN: How to Create Better Images, with media consultant Bill Ostendorf, Creative Circle Media Solutions.
- MANAGEMENT | NEWS | ADVERTISING: MNA Legal Update, led by MNA Attorney Mark Anfinson.
- CIRCULATION: Print Roundtable, facilitated by Gary Glick, president Publishers Logistics Solutions, LLC.
Evening Event:
5:30 p.m.: MNA Past President’s Dinner (ticketed, invitation-only), Fireside Room.
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