Two years ago Bring Me the News was a concept. Today the news aggregator is a multimillion-dollar operation that touches nearly all corners of Minnesota with website hits and radio broadcasts.
It provides radio feeds, Internet links and social media posts to news consumers who don't have the time, desire or capability to track news in more conventional methods. Bring Me the News finds the stories for consumers and provides links to the source, be it a traditional newspaper or TV broadcast or political blog.
It is the brainchild of former TV anchor Rick Kupchella and was born of necessity when he and KARE-TV couldn't agree on a new contract.
But the company's standing was seriously solidified a year ago when it obtained a $1 million investment from Minneapolis publisher Dolan Media and public relations firm Padilla Speer Beardsley.
The board includes founding partner Don Smithmier, who runs an advertising and Web development agency, James Dolan of Dolan Media, Lynn Casey, CEO of Padilla Speer Beardsley, Greg Heinemann of Olson/Denali, and financial consultant Susan Shank.
Q What's it been like the last two years?
A The difference between this and TV is the absence of ratings. With ratings, it's like hell for weeks and then when you get to the other side of ratings, I could take three or four weeks off. I can't do that anymore. When we opened the door we were on two radio stations and did 100 broadcasts a week. Today we're on 33 radio stations with almost a complete footprint covering Minnesota. We're doing 1,750 broadcasts a week. Our distribution network is dot-com [online], radio and social media including Facebook and Twitter. Facebook is a major driver.
Q Who makes up your audience?