After a newspaper's demise, a recent college grad steers Woodbury News Net
By Hailey Arends, Lab Reporter
As residents stopped by the Woodbury Community Expo in spring, several shared the same message with Theo Franz: They missed their local newspaper.
“Everybody wants to feel represented. Everybody wants to feel heard. Everybody wants to know what’s going on in their own little circle, too,” said Franz, the paid full-time editor of Woodbury News Net.
When the Woodbury Bulletin newspaper shut down several years ago, residents of the St. Paul suburb in Minnesota lost one of their primary sources of local news. In August 2024, community leaders launched Woodbury News Net, a nonprofit digital newspaper, to fill that gap. Less than a year after graduating from college, Franz was hired by the newsroom, which covers local government, schools and community events while relying on grants, advertising and donations to keep residents informed and connected. At a time when many are talking about building local news organizations, Franz is doing it.
For Franz, unlike national news, local journalism is about more than reporting the news and delivering information. It's about helping Woodbury residents understand the issues, decisions and people that shape their daily lives and community. Local news “is where the heart comes in,” he said.
The Woodbury News Net operates differently from many traditional newspapers. It has no central office and relies heavily on volunteers. Volunteers bring experience in journalism, technology, finance and nonprofit management to the digital newsroom, according to the news site. Meetings are often conducted by staff over Zoom or held in public spaces such as coffee shops and breweries.
Before joining Woodbury News Net, Franz studied journalism at the University of Minnesota and worked at the college paper, the Minnesota Daily, as a sports writer. After he graduated in 2024 his opportunity to work as a journalist came through professional relationships he had built during college.
“Keep your network alive,” said Franz. He credits conversations with mentors, editors and colleagues for helping him discover opportunities that never appeared on job boards.
He also emphasized consistency and effort, saying, “The only thing you can keep consistent is your work ethic and your effort. Even on days when there isn’t much to do or things aren’t going your way, just know that you are trying and putting in the effort.”
Today, Woodbury News Net continues to expand its coverage. Franz hopes to increase reporting on local high schools and athletics while also creating opportunities for students interested in journalism. The publication has begun reaching out to schools in the area, encouraging young writers to contribute stories and gain experience.
According to Franz, the reactions he hears at community events reinforces the value of the work done at Woodbury News. For him, rebuilding local journalism is not simply about publishing articles. It is about helping neighbors understand one another, and stay connected to their community, one story at a time.
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