Minnesota’s Ethnic Media Try to Overcome Resource Gaps

(Photo courtesy 3HBC via Minnesota News Connection)

(By Mike Moen. Minnesota News Connection) – Minnesota’s population includes nearly 500,000 foreign-born residents. Ethnic broadcast and print outlets are trying to keep diverse communities informed through multi-language formats but resources are limited.

Now, new funding could aid their programming. The Minnesota Humanities Center is facilitating a new grant opportunity for ethnic media organizations to help them connect with their audiences. Funded by the state’s Legacy Amendment, outlets can request up to $75,000 to create video content in a language other than English.

Yengyee Lor, host for the online channel 3HBC, known as Twin Cities Hmong Television, said they are mostly a volunteer unit and in some cases, it can take extra time for important information to reach audience members.

“Our media may not be, like, right there, right ‘hot off the press’ kind of information,” Lor acknowledged. “But it will be information that we are able to gather within a day or two.”