Tara’s Takes
Media gets a bad rap. The problem is when I hear people talk about, or more correctly, complain about and rip on media, I’m not completely sure if they are lumping all media together. If this is the case, we can lump problems of big cities into anything that happens here. When making comparisons, comparing small town media such as a local newspaper or radio station to a television station in the Twin Cities or a national news network doesn’t really hold water.
However, in our industry, we should all be focused on one thing: reporting the news. While reading those words might sound like it’s pretty clear, it’s actually a very hard line to walk. When we report the news we have to verify it through the channels available to us. And no, a rumor on Facebook is not a viable source. We talk to people in involved, if they will let us. We have to make decisions on when to report on a story and when to wait.
That’s the problem with media. If we don’t report on something and the community is talking about it, we’re not doing our job. If we do report on it and the story changes or has to be updated due to more information, the media is at fault.
I’d like to address the tragic situation in Wood Lake and the loss of a father, husband, retired firefighter and beloved community member, and the injuries of another firefighter and their child. I cannot image what those families and the community are going through. When tragedy hits a small town, it affects every single person in some way. It also can either build comunities up or tear them down.
The day after the tragedy, I heard all kinds of rumors. We work in media. People are quick to tell you what they “know” from their neighbor’s, friend’s, uncle’s cat or what they saw on Facebook or Instagram. Here’s the problem: None of that is a source media turns to.
When it comes to a tragedy like this, the media has to use the written reports that are provided by the investigating party such as State Patrol, Sheriff’s office, etc. They cannot take the word of a person who knew the victims involved. And in this case, all three were victims.
So the media turns to the reports offered by the State Patrol. In this case, Sgt. Troy Christianson, State Patrol public information officer for southern Minnesota, reported, officially, that alcohol use by the fire truck’s driver was suspected in the crash in an article in the Marshall Independent published on Sept. 29. He also stated that the investigation was ongoing, which the article reported. He is the media contact listed on the incident report.
Subsequently an article dated Sept. 30, 2025, on Firehouse.com quoted Yellow Medicine Country Attorney Mark Gruenes in a quote he gave to the Star Tribune that charges against the driver are pending but added, “that could change at any time, of course.”
In an article dated Oct. 3, 2025 from Willmar Radio, KSTP TV reported that a search warrant affidavit was filed in Yellow Medicine County on Sept. 30 requested a blood sample from the driver of the fire truck. The document also stated that several beer cans were found near the crash scene.
Every incident reported – generated from offical reports — by the media was true. There was an accident that resulted in a fatality. The State Patrol did originally suspect alcohol use in the crash. There was a search warrant filed for a blood sample.
Each article also states that the investigation is ongoing.
Then, the sample came back with no signs of alcohol. The incident report, last updated on Oct. 10, 2025, at 9:45 a.m. now has a “no” next to alcohol involved.
Since this information was released by the State Patrol, multiple media sources have reported on it. However, the backlash from the public against media has not changed. Calls for the families to sue the media. Calls for the media to be ashamed for reporting false news. Spreading words of news media crucifying an innocent man.
Here’s the problem. The media did not spread false information. They reported the news. They reported on a tragic incident in a small town. They reported on an ongoing investigation in a timely manner as it unfolded.
The alternative was to not report on it — not doing their job in the eyes of public opinion. Readers are quick to judge that this shouldn’t be reported or that shouldn’t be reported. However, if they don’t report it, are they just to ignore the fact that one man was killed and two people were injured in a fire truck accident? If they didn’t report it, they would be accused of covering this up.
This is our job in media. We report that news. We don’t make the news. Those various agencies that reported on this developing story used the information given by reputable sources and contacts. They were not spreading rumors or making things up.
In addition, reporters can’t pick and choose when and if they want to cover tragic events. We have to cover the good and the bad.
In today’s paper, our front page story includes a meeting held this past Wednesday night for a level 3 registered sex offender who is moving to Walnut Grove. This information was shared by the Redwood County Sheriff’s Department. It is important that we report on it because that is our job. If we choose to believe our sources aren’t giving us the most complete information at the time and we aren’t reporting facts, we’re no better than those who randomly spout off on social media.
Local journalism matters. We are here to inform the communities we cover. We are here to celebrate people in those communities. We are here to report on the tragedies as well.
We are not making the news. We are reporting it, with the facts that we can verify to the best of our abilities. That is local journalism.
