This past week in Northern Minnesota, the Iron Range's three largest newspapers -- the Mesabi Daily News, Hibbing Daily Tribune, and Grand Rapids Herald-Review -- ran the fourth in their series of special sections focused on the positive aspects of the mining industry in Northern Minnesota. "Mine IV" joins its predecessors in featuring profiles of miners and mining officials, photos of mining, and guest commentaries in support of current and future mining projects.
These newspapers have put up four year-round billboards across the region advertising these Mine sections, even amid layoffs in the company and yet another ownership change in the past year.

As former editor of Hibbing's Tribune (who still writes a column there, but very much from outside the newsroom) I count the graphics, bylines and pages and can estimate these papers dedicate a significant amount of staff resources to this project. In "Mine IV," released on June 25, two of the three papers, the Mesabi Daily News and Hibbing Daily Tribune, also featured a front page editorial written by Mike Hansel of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. This ran above the fold next to the teaser for "Mine IV." In it, Hansel argues that the citizens of the Iron Range should be afraid of the current wild rice standard, that it will not only derail mining projects but also city water treatment plants and other public works.
Hansel writes:
Hansel's front page editorial continues:
For those scoring at home, someone who works for a business lobbying organization has said that we should doubt the state PCA's science, but not the science of his claim that the current wild rice water emissions standard should be multiplied by 160.
Anyway, Hansel's argument is a point of view. Put on it A4 if you want. Agree with it if you want. But an editorial above the fold on the front page? Like this was D-Day? For me, a line was crossed here.
A special section does not necessarily represent the editorial direction of a newspaper, but it was clear early on that "MINE" had a persuasive goal far beyond its surface value in recognizing people who do important, sometimes difficult work in our region. (Mining is an important part of Northern Minnesota's economy. I have family members, friends and neighbors who work in mining. Don't mistake my criticism as discrediting the industry).