The Minnesota Star Tribune Hires Emily Peterson as VP and General Counsel, Allison Kaplan as Director of Innovation and Engagement, and Tom Scheck as Investigations Editor

The Minnesota Star Tribune continues to attract top talent as they build the leading model for local news nationwide  

Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minnesota Star Tribune today announced the addition of Emily Peterson as Vice President and General Counsel and Minnesota journalism veterans Ali Kaplan as Director of Innovation and Engagement, and Tom Scheck as Investigations Editor.

Peterson brings a wealth of experience across a range of legal disciplines. In addition to her time most recently as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the United States Attorney’s Office, Peterson has worked as a labor and employment attorney at Jones Day and Briggs and Morgan, P.A. and as a law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and the Supreme Court of Minnesota. She began her career at the Minnesota Star Tribune as a journalist writing about the Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts and statewide education issues such as urban education, teacher pay, and policy at the Minnesota Legislature. She serves on the board of the Minnesota Native American Bar Association and is a member of the volunteer ski patrol at Buck Hill. She holds both law and journalism degrees from the University of Minnesota. Peterson’s first day at the Minnesota Star Tribune will be Monday, August 11.

“Emily is a fierce defender of the First Amendment and a sharp legal mind,” said Stephanie Ness, Chief Financial Officer at the Minnesota Star Tribune. “We’re excited to welcome her back to where she began her career in this full-circle moment.”

Kaplan is a powerhouse in Minnesota business journalism – a reporter, editor, podcast host and expert producer of live journalism. She joins the Minnesota Star Tribune after serving as vice president of content for MSP Communications’ Cities Media Group division, which includes Twin Cities Business, where she also served as editor in chief. In this dual role, Ali oversaw digital content for both TCB and sister publication Mpls St.Paul Magazine, contributed to overall strategy and new initiatives for the magazines and led the Twin Cities Business editorial team, including print and events. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication and now serves on the school’s Board of Visitors.

Scheck comes to the Minnesota Star Tribune with deep investigative experience across the state of Minnesota. Most recently, he served as Deputy Managing Editor of Investigations for American Public Media Group and spent more than 15 years as a reporter for Minnesota Public Radio. He began his career as a reporter for Indiana Public Radio and holds a journalism degree from Syracuse University.

“Ali and Tom are two of Minnesota’s most respected journalists,” said Kathleen Hennessey, editor of the Minnesota Star Tribune. “Their deep experience and connections across the state will be crucial as we seek to tell the story of our state, for our state.”