A mystery about a south Minneapolis home grew into an ambitious, five-year investigation into the city’s Black history.
Minneapolis, Minn. – This Minnesota Star Tribune announced today the launch of “Ghost of a Chance,” a six-episode series following reporter Eric Roper’s quest to learn about a Black couple (Harry and Clementine Robinson) who owned his southwest Minneapolis home in the early 1900s. After nearly four years of tracing the Robinson’s lives through historical archives, old newspaper clippings and extensive interviews, Eric unearthed an incredible story about two Black pioneers in Minneapolis. With the help of award-winning audio producer Melissa Townsend, the two transformed that investigation into a compelling, sweeping narrative. The podcast reveals a history of race in Minneapolis that can fuel a new understanding of how the city became ground zero for a global racial reckoning.
“It’s been a fascinating journey that we hope will spur community conversations and further exploration into the racial disparities that still exist today,” said Star Tribune Editor and Senior Vice President Suki Dardarian.
Eric and Melissa will be available for interviews or guest appearances to talk about the story, share clips and give your audience an inside look at this fascinating story and how it all came together. In the podcast, Melissa serves as a guide, taking listeners through Eric’s investigation into Harry and Clementine’s lives, while also reflecting on the way their experiences shaped the city we see today.
Episodes 1 and 2 are now live on startribune.com. The remaining episodes will be released weekly. The Minnesota Star Tribune’s website also includes a guide for each episode featuring photos, newspaper clippings and other primary source materials. The podcast will be available anywhere you get podcasts, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon.
The Minnesota Star Tribune will also be hosting public events to foster community conversations about the issues raised in the podcast and will publish a discussion guide. Additional details will be released at a later date.
The media kit for the podcast includes:
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- Audio trailer
- Video trailer
- Episode 1 snippet
- Images, including podcast logo
- Video B-roll
- Bios and headshots of Eric and Melissa
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To set up an interview or appearance, you can either contact “Ghost of a Chance” editor MaryJo Webster (maryjo.webster@startribune.com; 651-491-6576) or Chris Iles, vice president of communications and brand marketing (chris.iles@startribune.com; 612-366-0427)
About The Star Tribune Media Company
The Minnesota Star Tribune is an innovative modern media organization building on an extraordinary 157-year legacy. With seven Pulitzer Prizes and hundreds of other awards, the Minnesota Star Tribune boasts the Midwest’s largest news organization and is an unrivaled force for journalistic excellence in Minnesota and beyond. As the heart and voice of the north, the Minnesota Star Tribune is on a journey 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.