Jp Lawrence joins the Star Tribune as Southwest Minnesota reporter

Jo Lawrence, reporter in the Southwest bureau of the Star Tribune, photographed in the studio on Monday, June 10, in Minneapolis. (Photo by Jeff Wheeler/Star Tribune)

The Star Tribune Media Company, the largest news organization in the Midwest, announced that Jp Lawrence has joined the media outlet as its new Southwest Minnesota reporter. Lawrence joins the Star Tribune following a six-year stint overseas in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Germany where he served as a downrange reporter for Stars and Stripes. He also previously reported for the San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times-Union. He brings with him a breadth of journalism experience working for outlets like The Associated Press, The New York Times, ABC News and others. Lawrence will be based in his hometown of Redwood Falls, Minnesota.

"I know so many people in southwestern Minnesota who are doing incredible things, who are striving to make their communities a better place or are trying to build their version of the American dream out here," said Jp Lawrence, Southwest reporter for the Star Tribune. “I think everyone should get a chance to cover their hometown.”

In his first month on the new beat, Lawrence has been incredibly busy covering the historic flooding across the southwest portion of Minnesota.

Lawrence and others from the Star Tribune including St. Cloud Reporter Jenny Berg were available for a meet and greet Thursday, June 27, at the sold-out event Minnesota Matters – The Future of Media Coverage in Central Minnesota. The event took place from Noon to 1:30 p.m. at Iron Street Distillery in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The Minnesota Matters event series is focused on fostering conversations and driving greater connections in communities across the state, as well as enhancing the Star Tribune's coverage across Greater Minnesota. 

“We’re excited to add Jp to our Greater Minnesota talent roster,” said Suki Dardarian, editor and senior vice president of the Star Tribune. “We’re looking forward to him joining the news staff and coming back home to Minnesota.”

Star Tribune continues expansion into Greater Minnesota

This hire continues a series of investments the Star Tribune is making to enhance its coverage of Greater Minnesota. Earlier this year, the Star Tribune announced plans to expand coverage in Greater Minnesota and has recently embarked on a series of community conversations across the state. They recently hired a new Greater Minnesota columnist, Southeast Minnesota reporter as well as a new North Central Minnesota reporter.

About Star Tribune Media Company:

Building on an extraordinary 157-year legacy that includes seven Pulitzer Prizes and hundreds of other awards, the Star Tribune Media Company is the Midwest’s largest news organization and is an unrivaled force for journalistic excellence in Minnesota. The Star Tribune has a vision to create the leading model for local news in America — driving innovation in media to make every Minnesotan’s life better. For more information, visit www.startribunecompany.com.