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BrauBlog

Stassen-Berger jumps from Pioneer Press to Star Tribune

By David Brauer | Published Fri, Jul 31 2009 12:37 pm

[Note: update added 2 p.m.]

In a move guaranteed to shake up both dailies' political desks, the Strib is hiring away PiPress Capitol correspondent Rachel Stassen-Berger, multiple sources confirm.

I'm on vacation, so I don't have much, except to say the Strib practically wrote its job description for Rachel. While I'm sure they would've gone after her talented, aggressive self regardless, this is a hire that owes substantial credit to blogging and Twitter (and perhaps a bit to YouTube).

The question now: Does the Pioneer Press hire/elevate a politics writer to replace Stassen-Berger, or will Bill Salisbury be solo most of the time? Sure hoping it's the former.

[Update: PiPress editor Thom Fladung says it's the former. "We're planning to replace Rachel on the Capitol beat."]

I'll be back Monday for more.

Media | Fri, Jul 31 2009 12:37 pm | 9 Comments

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9 Comments: Hide/Show Comments

(#1) On July 31, 2009, Jeff Cagle says:

That's amazing. I think Rachel is a talented reporter and will do an excellent job working at the Star Tribune.

(#2) On July 31, 2009, Aaron Landry says:

http://s4xton.com

Hum. Called it. (See comment #3):

http://www.minnpost.com/braublog/2009/07/07/10094/star_tribune_makes_it_clear_new_politics_reporter_must_know_how_to_tweet#comments_section

(#3) On July 31, 2009, Kevin Reichard says:

On what basis do you conclude this is due to social networking? blogs.twincities.com as a whole does a fraction of the traffic of twincities.com (and I'm guessing Rachel's stuff on there is dwarfed by the sports traffic), according to quantcast, and having 1,500 tweet followers for general-interest posts isn't a lot.

Perhaps she was hired because she's an excellent reporter.

(#4) On July 31, 2009, Author David Brauer says:

Kevin - re-read this item and the earlier one. I don't think we have to choose; Rachel was hired because of her reporting AND her social networking (take note of the job description).

By all accounts, Rachel does both as well as anyone in the market.

(#5) On August 2, 2009, Hiram Foster says:

An interesting vote of confidence in the long term prospects of survival of the Star Tribune. Does Rachel know something we don't know?

(#6) On August 3, 2009, Robert Moffitt says:

Glad she is staying in the market, Rachel is one of the best local scribes.

Still, one less reason to read the PiPress, which has always been my fav daily.

(#7) On August 3, 2009, Gary Lee says:

Indeed, she must know something the rest of us don't. Jumping from the PiPress to the Strib is like jumping to the floating rock in the Most Extreme Elimination tournament.

(#8) On August 3, 2009, Hannah Angelica says:

I hope that Rachel has a really good contract so that she is protected from being fired like Jeanette Trompeter of 'CCO-TV was. Media stars in the Twin Cities, as elsewhere, seem to fade quickly.

(#9) On August 3, 2009, Erik Hare says:

http://erikhare.wordpress.com/

Congrats to Rachel and the Strib for recognizing her talent!

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David Brauer authors Braublog and is MinnPost's local media reporter. He's covered media and politics as a writer and editor since 1983 for City Pages, the Southwest/Downtown Journal, KFAN and KSTP-AM, Mpls.St.Paul, Minnesota Monthly, Law & Politics, the Business Journal, KARE11 and national outlets. Follow him on Twitter. Email: dbrauer [at] minnpost [dot] com.

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