Inside Root River Current | Steps Forward

SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA – The staff and board at Root River Current continue to work behind the scenes to advance its users’ – YOUR – experiences with its online magazine serving communities throughout the greater Root River Valley area. This month, progress on two fronts: statewide collaboration and website enhancements.

Press Forward Minnesota

Statewide, Root River Current (RRC) is collaborating with other like-minded media groups that have a similar commitment to reporting stories that are either unreported or under-reported by larger news organizations. It’s this commitment that resulted in RRC’s selection as a first-year Press Forward Minnesota grant recipient, advancing “hyperlocal, original reporting.” 

Press Forward Minnesota (PFMN) grantees, staff and supporters gathered in June for a day of celebration, networking and shared learning together as a group of Minnesotans committed to local news and information.

This first-year celebration included a look back at what PFMN says has been a year of fruitful work, laying the foundation for what is shaping up to be an even more impactful second year.  

“It was a day of learning, celebrating, and co-creating,” said May Yang, a member of the PFMN team.

“From a deep dive analysis of state and local media to learning from a panel of local newsroom leaders about the opportunities and challenges they face, we were able to learn about the information needs of communities across Minnesota and emphasize the critical role local news plays and the importance of collaboration.” 

A panel representing local media organizations was part of the “shared learning” experience for participants in a day-long meeting of Press Forward Minnesota partners hosted by the McKnight Foundation in Minneapolis. Among the panelists was Root River Current Co-publisher/Managing Editor John Torgrimson, pictured on the left. (Photo by John Gaddo)

To better understand what matters most to residents in state and local news, PFMN shared results from a 2025 statewide survey providing data that captures the current realities of Minnesotans’ relationship with local journalism, ranging from ‘trusted’ and preferred sources to concerns over ‘fake news’, editorial integrity and how to pay for local news.   

Attendees included journalists, funders, nonprofit leaders, policy experts, educators, and more.

“The diversity of the room attests to the cross-sector partnerships necessary to ensure everyone in Minnesota has reliable access to news and information,” Yang said. “The call to action was clear – local news and information is critical to the wellbeing of Minnesotans, and it takes all of us to ensure that local news thrives.”

Some 80+ attendees participated in Press Forward Minnesota’s June 26, 2025 celebration of its first year as a chapter of Press Forward, a nationwide, nonpartisan philanthropic initiative with 36 chapters in cities and states across the U.S. (Photo by John Gaddo)

In her remarks to the group, McKnight Foundation President Tonya Allen told attendees that “everything swirling around us has been preparing us – local media – for this moment. It’s a matter of advancing, if not saving, democracy. . .” she continued, “and its important to know and stay focused on local media’s role in narrating the future.”  

PFMN’s Yang concluded, “We are grateful to everyone who joined us and look forward to continuing to partner together in our vision for a thriving, sustainable and equitable Minnesota local news ecosystem that serves and reflects its diverse communities.” 

For more, read Press Forward Minnesota’s summary here.

Root River Current’s user-friendly website changes

Part of RRC’s commitment to “narrating the future” is sustaining a website that is responsive to users’ needs. 

The site was recently updated with a fresh look; a faster, more intuitive mobile experience; and quick access to Root River Current’s full collection of stories.

Most of the individual story page changes are subtle, but intuitively helpful. Not so subtle are changes to the Root River Current homepage.

RRC’s four most-recently published stories are now highlighted at the top of the homepage. Stories are published sporadically throughout the month, so these can change from day to day.

Below these ‘top stories’ are the most recent stories in each topical section of the magazine, plus ‘swipes’ and links to all previously published stories in that section.

Depending on specific content, stories can be assigned to one or more topics, including Culture & Community, Land & Water, Health, Education, Business & Work, Policy & Government, Regional Arts or Community Voices.

Also included are links to the latest “Inside Root River Current” posts; “About Us” and related links can be found in the footer at the bottom of the page; and links to the RRC Local Events Calendar, newsletter subscription form and donation page remain in the menu bar (or ‘hamburger’ icon) at the top of the page.

RRC thanks its current web management partners at DigiSage, in La Crosse, for their expertise in site design and support — a team of web marketing professionals and designers who help advance RRC’s success and keep RRC’s site up and running 24/7! RRC also acknowledges and appreciates the original branding and presentation created by Curve Solutions based in Rochester.

RRC’s publishers invite and appreciate your feedback about the site, additional enhancements and story content. Please email your thoughts and ideas to info@RootRiverCurrent.org.