The Minnesota Star Tribune announces key newsroom leadership hires

Jess Bellville named Head of Audience Strategy; Mark Baumgarten selected as Outdoors Editor

Minneapolis, Minn. — The Minnesota Star Tribune today announced the addition of two accomplished newsroom leaders, Jess Bellville as Head of Audience Strategy and Mark Baumgarten as Outdoors Editor, strengthening the organization’s commitment to digital innovation, audience growth and distinctive journalism across Minnesota and the region.

Jess Bellville brings years of experience delivering journalism to broader and younger audiences through creative, data-informed strategies. She comes from Twin Cities PBS (TPT), where she played a central role in expanding the organization’s digital reach and engagement.

“Jess will lead a team that is at the center of this organization’s transformation. Very little happens in this newsroom without the Audience team’s involvement,” said Kathleen Hennessey, editor and senior vice president for the Minnesota Star Tribune. “Jess is a creative, energetic and data-savvy leader with years of experience in finding new ways to deliver journalism to Minnesotans.”

Bellville created the TPToriginals.org site, helped shape “Stage,” a local music concert series, and worked to get scores of PBS programs to local audiences. Jess built TPT’s YouTube channel from scratch, developed its voice on other social channels, and led an aggressive email strategy. The impressive results over the past three years include 80 percent growth in TPT’s email list, 85,000 YouTube subscribers, and more than 100,000 PBS app downloads.

A storyteller at heart, Bellville is a graduate of Carleton College, holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, and earned an MFA in creative writing from the University of Arizona. In her role in leading the Audience team, she works closely with Product, Data, and Growth & Marketing partners.

The Star Tribune also announced Mark Baumgarten as Outdoors editor, where he will lead a nationally distinctive team covering conservation, climate and outdoor recreation across Minnesota. In this role, Baumgarten will shape a digital-first coverage strategy that blends breaking news, enterprise reporting and service journalism, while collaborating across the newsroom and Audience teams as well as with colleagues managing events and philanthropy to expand reach and impact.

“Mark is a veteran editor with more than two decades of experience leading newsrooms with a focus on innovation, enterprise reporting and staff development,” said Maria Reeve, managing editor and vice president for the Minnesota Star Tribune. “His experience directing coverage of environment and the outdoors in the Pacific Northwest translates perfectly to our outdoors-loving Minnesota audience.”

Previously, Baumgarten spent more than five years at Cascade PBS in Seattle, where he managed newsroom operations. He helped guide major projects, including a multi-newsroom collaboration covering efforts to decarbonize the Pacific Northwest, while developing the outlet’s podcast division and overseeing the creation of the investigative desk. He also contributed to the development of the station’s ideas festival where he interviewed former attorney general Eric Holder, then-senator Jon Tester and Ezra Klein.

In addition to these hires, the Minnesota Star Tribune is currently seeking a Sports editor to lead one of the most influential sports desks in the country. Details about the position and application process are available on the Minnesota Star Tribune’s careers page.

These leadership additions of Bellville and Baumgarten reflect the Minnesota Star Tribune’s ongoing investment in audience-centered journalism and coverage that connects deeply with Minnesotans across platforms.