Nonprofit hires journalist to serve North Dakota newspapers

BISMARCK — North Dakota Information Cooperative,

a brand new nonprofit group

that goals to construct information literacy and readership, has employed a journalist whose work could seem in all North Dakota newspapers.

Michael Standaert, who most just lately was employed as a correspondent based mostly in China with the Bloomberg Business Group, was employed by North Dakota Information Cooperative to work on in-depth tales for newspapers within the state.

All newspapers in North Dakota, together with these owned by Discussion board Communications — The Discussion board of Fargo-Moorhead, The Grand Forks Herald, The Jamestown Solar and The Dickinson Press — could use the content material produced by Standaert of their publications.

“Michael will hit the bottom operating. Though he might want to acclimate to North Dakota, he already has story concepts and just lately labored with one of many state’s newspapers on a narrative,” Jill Denning Gackle, North Dakota Information Cooperative co-chair, mentioned in a press release. “His world expertise will serve North Dakota properly and provides us the in-depth reporting that we’re searching for.”

Standaert has labored as a journalist and author for twenty-four years, together with over 14 years with Bloomberg. From China, he additionally freelanced for publications together with The Washington Publish, The Guardian and Al Jazeera. He has a grasp’s diploma in journalism from Cardiff College in the UK and has revealed one nonfiction guide and a novel.

Standaert is initially from northwest Illinois, and he mentioned in a press release that he’s excited to get again to the Midwest to cowl North Dakota and lift his younger household within the state.

North Dakota Information Cooperative mentioned it interviewed about 20 candidates for the place.

“Michael was an thrilling candidate for the place; he has an in depth background in journalism with international expertise,” mentioned North Dakota Information Cooperative board member Eric Hardmeyer in a press release. “He’ll convey a recent perspective to points essential to North Dakotans.”

Standaert, his spouse and two kids plan to maneuver to Bismarck in June.

Readers can attain Discussion board reporter Michelle Griffith, a Report for America corps member, at mgriffith@forumcomm.com.