Creating New Social and Media Models

Our Thought Leader for September will challenge you to think and explore the possibilities. After 30 years in the television news business, longtime KARE11 anchor and reporter Rick Kupchella found himself wondering, "Where am I most likely to be able to produce extraordinary television?"

Rick set out to build his own production company, I.E. Network. The idea behind I.E. Network: produce news programming with an eye toward civic debate and social betterment—the I.E. stands for "informed engagement." It's a model that combines media, public affairs and marketing services. Kupchella seeks corporate or nonprofit partners to fund content that matches his
own values and interests. "I'm trying to find this space where high public purpose, which is what journalism is on its best days, meets commercial enterprise," he says. So far, Kupchella has focused on health and wellness, with partners including Medtronic, UnitedHealth Group and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Kupchella's one-hour documentary on Minnesota's obesity epidemic aired on all of the state's NBC stations in 2010. This year, Kupchella and I.E. Network will be working with Senator Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Representative Erik Paulsen to put together a "congressional wellness caucus."

In the media world, Kupchella is well known for his other start-up: a fast-growing news aggregation service called BringMeTheNews, which produces a Web site and regular newscasts for 30 Minnesota radio stations. BringMeTheNews is now expanding into other states.

Please visit www.smemn.org for further information about this event and to register.

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