A letter from the Editor
April Editorial Update
Dear Readers,
I wanted to take a moment to write an editorial update. Since the end of March, the Roseville Reader has gained almost 300 additional subscribers thanks to the Dairy Queen article going viral (over 5700 views!) and the Star Tribune using my reporting as the basis for their own article about the historic ice cream shop’s closure. If you’re one of the people who found out about the Roseville Reader that way, welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. I’m going to keep following that story and hope to have an update for you later this spring.
This little enterprise is gaining momentum and I’m continuing to dedicate significant time to paying attention to what is happening in Roseville so that I can communicate about it with you. Journalism is all about building trust with your readers and trust with your sources. I hope that the Roseville Reader is a trustworthy source of information for you.
My goal is to help you be a more informed resident of Roseville so you feel more empowered to get involved, whatever that looks like for you personally. This is intentionally not a traditional newspaper. It has a specific scope and won’t have all the sections or types of content you would see in a traditional paper. I’m not racing the clock for breaking news and I’m not going to spam you with clickbait headlines or pop-up ads. I’m modeling the Roseville Reader off of other digital, newsletter-first publications like The Longfellow Whatever, Southwest Voices, and the West Saint Paul Reader, to name a few local examples. The old way of doing local journalism is struggling, but new methods for delivering local news are emerging. It’s exciting to be one of them.
Speaking of local news, NineNorth interviewed me last week for a TV spotlight on the Roseville Reader. I shared my story of why I started this publication. Check it out:
My focus continues to be reporting on city council, school board, and community life. Some of my articles are more detailed, like the article about the Norwood Inn condemnation or articles about how federal funding uncertainties are impacting our city, as in this article about Roseville Area Schools. Other articles include lists of upcoming events, photo round-ups (like this one about wildlife sightings), or features on individual people or groups.
In order to continue to earn your trust, one thing I am committed to is not publishing information I cannot verify. For example, I know a lot of folks are curious about why Hobby Lobby closed in Roseville or why HarMar Mall has so many vacancies. I have reached out to both companies, but have not heard back. I also tried to find out why the Roseville Corporate Center was demolished in March, to no avail. I have learned that city staff do not usually have access to this kind of information about businesses unless it’s the kind of business that needs a license to operate. Hearsay and rumor are not going to be part of my journalism. However, if you have first-hand knowledge due to working for one of these businesses or contact information for someone with the inside scoop, please reach out via email.
I have more ideas than I have time to cover them as a part time journalist. One of my goals is to earn enough revenue so I can occasionally outsource some of the work to other freelance journalists. I’m also saving up to buy a higher-quality camera, cover more business expenses, and even start paying myself regularly. If you’re already pitching in, thank you! If you’re still on the fence about contributing, consider this a little nudge. This publication is 100% reader supported and I can’t do this long term without your investment.
Two ways to support the Roseville Reader financially:
Pitch in just $5 a month or $50 a year:
Toss a few bucks into my tip jar:
Housekeeping note: The Roseville Reader is a publication of Bright Pages, LLC. Bright Pages is my company, an independent, journalist-owned company. The Roseville Reader is not affiliated with the city of Roseville or any other groups.
If you’re maxed out, I get it. It’s also incredibly helpful when you share the Roseville Reader with your friends and neighbors! I need your help to get the word out.
Thanks for reading and being part of this community! Roseville is only as strong as the people in it. I’m proud to be a Roseville resident alongside all of you. If you see me out and about in the community, feel free to introduce yourself. I love meeting new people!
—NK
I appreciate your dedication to Roseville Reader and keeping the community informed. Your articles are in-depth with content not found in other sources. Thank you!
I grew up in Roseville, attending Lake Owasso Elementary, Fairview and Capitol View Jr Highs and Ramsey HS. That period - from the early 1950s until the early 1970s - saw a lot of change in the community. I have fond memories of those years.
I have been away from the Twin Cities for many years and I truly appreciate the work you're doing in keeping us up to date.
The DQ story is a big one, but not the only one. Thanks for doing this!