The studios for Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin had been located across the river of downtown Minneapolis.  They now have a new home in downtown Minneapolis, and it’s within walking distance to two Minnesota sports teams homes, Target Center and Target Field. A great location for them in order to be “close to the action”.

The new space itself is a city block long in length, stretching from Hennepin Ave to LaSalle Ave, with windows facing out onto 8th Street. In fact, they have a great view of the new rooftop Union restaurant that just opened across the street. Located on the 2nd floor of the LaSalle Plaza building, they expect to have a good deal of foot traffic passing by their new location.  But will they take advantage of that? You better believe it!

Located on the North side of their new space, along Hennepin Ave on the 2nd floor, people walking through the skyway will be able to watch “LIVE” production as it happens, in their Studio B. The green-screen studio has a public viewing area, so when it’s being used for “LIVE” or taped programming, the public will be able to watch it as it happens.  But the connection with the public doesn’t end there.

On the South side of the new space, there is an open area that includes a LARGE screen for skyway travelers to watch FSN programming, as well as being able to watch “LIVE” programming from Studio A as it happens. You might get to see Tom Hanneman or Kevin Gorg in studio, with local Minnesota sports stars being interviewed about a recent game they played in and also being asked about how their season is going so far. All of this allows Minnesotans to get an up-close feel for what’s going on in Minnesota sports.

All of this adds up to a great experience for the true sports fan. Who doesn’t want to hear more about the Vikings, Twins, Wild, Timberwolves and Gopher sports teams, and at the same time, make a greater connection with the network that bring many of those teams games and interviews right into your home? This new location will provide fans with more access to what they want to know about their favorite teams, and the personalities that provide that to them. Do you want to know more? How about an “Inside” view of what goes on behind the doors and walls of the studio?

Be sure then to watch the video below to see what makes all of the shows that you watch at home on Fox Sports North or Fox Sports Wisconsin, possible.

Hello @Natalie_Kane and to everyone following #MNMOtv today. Welcome! Lets get things rolling and find out what’s new with Natalie.

First things first. Is there some special jewelry that you’re wearing now? When did you get it?

Natalie:    Yes, very special! @pedernyhus and I got engaged on March 23rd. The wedding is in April.

Congrats to you and to @pedernyhus! How did propose to you, and how are the wedding plans going?

Natalie:    Thank you! Our first date was really epic. He reenacted it and proposed about halfway through in Rice Park.

It was hugely romantic and there were lots of tears! Wedding planning is going really well. So far, it’s been easy!

@pedernyhus and I tag team just about everything in life, so we have been doing it all together.

(Good man @pedernyhus!) Are you somebody that always had a plan of what their wedding would be/look like?

Natalie:    He is! Nope, no idea. We were stumped at 1st. We figured it out pretty quickly, tho. We are heading to Palm Springs…

…for an Old Hollywood-style wedding. Our main goal is for people to have fun! We are focusing on personal touches.

Sounds stylish and fun! All the best to you over the next few months! :) Shifting gears. What do you do at @wcco?

Natalie:    Thank you! I’m a reporter/anchor. I primarily cover traffic, entertainment and health. We are on weekdays 4:30-7 am.

Which has been the toughest to learn: geography (traffic), names (entertainment) or terms (health) for you?

Natalie:    Haha! That’s a great question. Love it. Well, I’m from MN so the roads were easy.

I look to the experts for the health stuff. I’d say the hardest of the 3 choices you gave is pronouncing celeb names.

Especially the names of their children. They are wild these days! Whatever happened to names like Sarah and John?!

I bet, especially when NEW people come on the scene.  What other gigs are you currently working on, w/free time? :)

Natalie:    Not a lot right now! I’m still on @fsnorth and @BTN_Minnesota reporting on Gopher football and basketball.

I’ve also been filling in on @wccoradio occasionally. I LOVE working with them. Other than that, just spending time…

with family and friends.I spend a lot of time missing my sister, bro-in-law and Godson, tho! They’re on a mission trip.

I bet you do. :) Lets get to another topic that you enjoy, FASHION. What stores have been catching your eye lately?

Natalie:    Always, always Covered Uptown @coveredgirls. They are the best in town. My sister just graduated w/ a degree…

…in biz & fashion. She started working at @nordstrom. Gina styles me a ton. She’s really great working w/ a budget.

I’m also a sucker for @shopbop http://shopbop.com

Do you typically know what you’re looking for? Do you prefer to shop alone or in a group? Liking Fall/Winter boots?

Natalie:    Ha! I actually do like to shop alone. I’m always looking for flattering on-air clothing, which is a challenge.

I looooooooooove boots – anytime of year. :)

Joel:    Thank you so much for your time and comments today Natalie. You bring a genuine spirit to TV.

Natalie:    Thank YOU, Joel! That was a fun interview. You’re a blast. Keep in touch, and thanks for thinking of me!

[Interview conducted on WED October 24, 2012]

Good Friday morning everyone! Do you know what the @NLLNetwork is? Do you know who the @Minnesota_Swarm are? Matt McCormack does!

Matt:    Looking forward to sharing!

Welcome Matt! So when did the NLL first start and when did the #Swarm first start?

Matt:    Surprising to many, especially here, – the #NLL is actually in it’s 26th year. The #MNSWARM are in our 8th season.

How many teams are currently in the league, and how are the #swarm doing at the midway point of the season?

Matt:    9 teams in the #NLL. The season has been exciting 4-3 right now (best start since ’08) with VERY young team. (cont)

Had 4 #AllStars, defending scoring champ @beniboi21 off to great start; @EvanKirk35 was the Feb Rookie of the month

That’s great new about @beniboi21 and @EvanKirk35! There was a coaching change too. Is that hard for the players?

Matt:    Changes are always hard, but necessary sometimes. Coach Sullivan has been here 3 years, (cont)

(cont) as an assistant and this summer as Associate GM and players are very comfortable with him and the staff.

Good! When it comes to branding/mrktg, with many other professional sports teams here, how do you try to stand out?

Matt:    It can be tough to break through the noise, that’s for sure. We do what we can to keep a few things in mind: (cont)

1) do more with less 2) stay relevant 3) don’t be afraid to try different things 4) keep #lacrosse growing in MN.

In attending a game recently, it looks like it’s VERY popular with families. How do you target them so well?

Matt:    #Lax community has always shown great support- we work them into the game as much as possible.

You’ve seen the field pre-game- we couldn’t fit many more on it!

We also work to keep prices family friendly which is important to us.

What kinds of special packages and events do you have coming up for fans? Remind people to where you play. :)

Matt:    With 4 games left the rest of the season will be exciting @XcelEnergyCtr! (cont)

2 big promos coming up are #HeroesNight (3/30) http://mnswarm.com/heroes and #HiveCares (4/21) which benefits @RSCRF. (cont)

great ticket packs will be out soon too #45FamPack (4tix, 4dogs, 4sodas), and the Scarf Pack(tix & Swarm Scarf) (cont)

and of course pro-rated #SeasonTickets are still available, buy 2, get 2 half off – great deals all around

With the team having a good shot at making the playoffs, what’s the playoff structure to win the championship?

Matt:    #knockonwood we have a good shot at playoffs. It’s a 3 rnd single elim, with 8 teams fighting for the #ChampionsCup!

To close, when the next game for the fast moving and high-energy #Swarm?

Matt:    Big Game in Calgary tomorrow night (watch live @ 8pm on http://www.mnswarm.com) and we’re on the road until 3/30

Joel:    Thanks Matt for your time today and talking about the #Swarm.  Have a great day! :)

Matt:    Thanks for having usl. Don’t forget to check out http://swarmrewards.com a fun social media program.

@JoelECarlson: Good morning everyone! Today’s Twitterview guest is @jbibl of @TwinCities_Live fame. Lets get started and have some fun!

John: I’m here

Q – #1    So John, where in MN did you grow up, and what kind of student were you like in school?

John: I went to apple valley. High school was kind easy for me. College required going, and that wasn’t fun for me. I knew why I wntd.

I knew WHAT I wanted. Darn iPhone.

Q – #2    And what did you want John? How did you end up in Las Vegas covering sports? Not many professional teams there. :)

John: I wntd to b in sports media. Interned at star trib in high school. Ended up in Vegas after I went on vacation there.

had a friend there. Heard sports radio there. knew I could make it better after being a KFAN fan since they started

Q – #3    How long did you stay in Las Vegas? How was it being from the midwest and living there?

John: 9 yrs. Experienced a lot of crazy stuff. never got too crazy. Midwest at heart. My best friends were from mn and wi…

loved it there. Every state would be better off if they had the guts to give people the freedom Nevada gives you.

Q – #4    So after 9yr there, how did you end up back in MN? When did you get approached about @TwinCities_Live? Did you audition?

John: dad got cancer in 2007. Wanted to be with him. He’s cancer-free now. I visited him in the hospital…

I heard about this job. When I told mom about it she told me of open casting call at MOA that weekend

I auditioned American idol style. Bought a suit at Jc Penney that day. Just happened to be in town…

they flew me in 3 more times. And i was the first person hired by the exec prod. I started 6 mnths…

before show started and helped in hiring the staff.

Q – #5    Neat! So when you found out that you got the job, did you even know who @ElizabethRies was?

John: no. She started the station a year after I did. She was not my original co-host.

Q – #6    I must have missed ” @TwinCities_Live The Early Years”. :) Who are some guests that you’ve enjoyed meeting and chatting with?

John: favorite was with the air traffic controller of the miracle on Hudson. his first live tv interview

performances are great. Dave archuletta,Randy houser,Eric Hutchinson, recent idol rejects were best.

Q – #7    #AmIdolRejects = Hilarious! More about YOU now. Favorite(s): Restaurant, store, comfort food, type of sport, TC neighborhood.

John: restaurant kona grill in EP. It was my favorite in Vegas, and I’m glad it’s here. Store is target

comfort food…mom makes a great cinnamon rice. Sport is baseball. Played in college and watch constantly. Literally.

tc neighborhood is tough. I gotta go with my southside. Burnsville/AV cty road 42 have my heart.

Q – #8    What’s a personal or professional goal that you have set for youself to achieve in the next year or 2?

John: corny but true. Just want to be the best i can be doing what I’m doing. always been the goal since I got in the biz…

I think people that are live in future goals miss the moment. That may be ok. Ive enjoyed my moments.

@JoelECarlson: Nice! Thank you very much @jbibl (John Hanson) for your time today on #jectv. Have a great day and a great show!

John: thank you.

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone, and welcome to the Twitterview of upbeat and energetic reporter @ShayneWellsMSP. Lets get to Tweet’n!

Shayne: let’s do this (said energetically, haha)…

Q – #1    So @ShayneWellsMSP, you’ve lived primarily on the West Coast. How are you adapting to the Midwest?

Shayne: Not going to lie, it’s been a challenge. I’ve never lived anywhere with humidity, tornadoes and temps that drop to -15.

On the other hand, it’s toughened me up.

Q – #2    What are some things that stand out to you in the Midwest, besides the weather, that are different from the W coast?

Shayne: I grew up eating casseroles, had never even heard of a hot dish, ha.

But really, the Midwest has a lot of Midwest specific foods (we didn’t really have those growing up in WA).

I’ve lived in 5 states now and this was by far the hardest to make friends, but once you’re in, you’re in, loyalty is big here.

I do love how the weather doesn’t intimidate people from going out (like it did in CA).

Q – #3    Lots of “hearty stock” in MN. :)  Lets shift gears. Explain a little bit about how you got interested in entertainment reporting?

Shayne: I really have done it all. I started out doing weekend weather in CO, anchoring in ID, and reporting in CA.

Doing it all made me realize hard news is not me. I’m bubbly, and I love to have fun. Ent. reporting was just a better fit for me

Though I also love sports and I can’t say I won’t be making that shift in the future!

Q – #4    So maybe @ShayneWellsMSP on @ESPN?  What kind of topics do you cover with @KARE11 and @MetroMixTC?

Shayne: Would love to cover college football! @ESPN, call me ;-)

At @kare11 and @MetromixTC I cover all things fun, restaurants, music, celebrities, fashion, bars. Tough job, someone’s got to do it

Q – #5    Variety is good! Now to your FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, winter activity, comfort food & recent guest or event.

Shayne: Fave restaurant: Bryant Lake Bowl (great breakfast and grilled cheese), store: Nordstrom/Anthropologie, Winter Activity:snowmobiling

Fave comfort food: biscuits & gravy (still trying to find the Twin Cities best, Mill City Café is a contender)

Fave recent guest: Topher Grace or @ModSun (Bloomington rapper), fave event: Pub & Putt (so fun).

Q – #6    Good answers. Has Social Media had any effect on how you do your job? Who does your video and editing?

Shayne: When I started in news, there was no Twitter and Facebook wasn’t being utilized by anyone other than college kids.

Social media has changed things quite a bit, in a good way. Makes finding stories and connecting with people much easier.

I shoot, write and edit all my own stories.

Q – #7    @ShayneWellsMSP is a 1-woman crew! Not an easy task. To end, what advice would you share with those looking into your field of work?

Shayne: It’s not glamorous, or easy, but it is rewarding. The thing that’s helped me the most is a willingness to take risks

I believe if you want something bad enough you can make it happen.

thanks for having me!

@JoelECarlson – Thank You! Have a great day and enjoy the fresh snow. :)

@JoelECarlson – Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Twitterview of @kmskala. Lets start off the week with a bang!

@kmskala – Good morning!

Q – #1    So @kmskal, where did you grow up and go to High School? What did you start doing out of HS?

A: I grew up in southern MN in Owatonna. I was active in sports and also worked as a sports writer for our town’s paper

Q – #2    After HS, where did you go to college and what did you major in?

A: I went to @DrakeUniversity (notable MN alums @GregSwan & @missyberggren) and was a journalism major my freshman year

After shadowing Randy Shaver @ KARE11, he was subtle but clear that my dreams of being on ESPN probably wouldn’t happen

So I decided to change my major to public relations and have never looked back. Wise decision to change, IMO.

Q – #3    What kind of work do you do now, and are you involved with any local organizations?

A: Currently I work in communications for @GreatClips. I’m responsible for our corporate & brand communications (B2C side)

A big part of my work includes the reputation and community management of our online presence.

And I am a big supporter and active member of @minnesotaPRSA. Foundation of my work is still traditional PR

Q – #4    What kinds of things does the @minnesotaPRSA do and get involved with?

A: I help lead the organization’s communications committee which is essentially responsible for all comm efforts

So what our focus (@lulugrimm & @cbetancourtpr play huge role, too) is to figuring out how the org can remain relevant

and valuable for our members. So the three of us (@lulugrimm & @cbetancourtpr) focus on “modernizing” the org’s efforts

Q – #5    Lets go the FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, winter activity, comfort food and recent book?

A: Favorite restaurant by far is @BrodersPastaBar Best pasta in Minnesota. Also a fan of @pinstripesMN

Store: no surprise, I am addicted to @thepumastore at Mall of America. Winter activity: sit by the fire and read.

Best book I’ve read recently is The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero.

I only read non-fiction and it was fascinating to read about Houdini and his life.

Q – #6    You are a good Foursquare user. What kind of benefits have you received from doing so?

A: If it’s for free, it’s for me. A number of restaurants around where I work give free items to those who check-in.

Most importantly though, it helps to see what others are doing with it from a biz perspective.

Plus, if I become mayor of all the businesses around my work, I expect them to erect a bronze statue of me.

Q – #7    To close, what is your hope or expectation for PR in Minnesota?

A: Minnesota has a bright and active PR community. It’s competitive yet we still are supportive and helpful of each other

While we’re known nationally for our ad community, we’re doing great things to put MN PR on the map.

I think as we go on, businesses and professionals will really look at our community as a leader in the PR space.

@JoelECarlson – Thanks for your time, comments and humor mixed in today @kmskala! Have a great afternoon!

@kmskala – You as well. Thanks for the opportunity. Stay warm and out of the snow!

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone! Welcome to the Twitterview of @jclong of @KSTPsports. Lets play!

Q – #1    So @jclong, where did you grow up, where did you go to HS and did you play any sports then?

A: I grew up in Washington DC. Went to Quince Orchard HS. Played about every sport, but hockey & lacrosse were my best.

Q – #2    Great to have you along Chris! What position(s) did you play for hockey and for lacrosse?

A: I was a hockey forward, lacrosse goalie. Odd combination, I know. Was better at lacrosse, but liked hockey a lot more.

Q – #3    I see. So after HS, where did you go to college and what did you major in?

A: I was lucky enough to get accepted into the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Had no business getting in…

Made the most of it once I was in. Majored in Broadcast Journalism. #Mizzou really gave me a great career foundation.

Q – #4    No big deal. So share how you went from graduating at #mizzou to getting to @KSTP. What was your path?

A: Did ‘move-back-in-with-my-folks’ in Indianapolis after college. Bartended & was assistant coach on a HS hockey team…

Got offered to do fill in sports anchoring at a TV station in Duluth while they searched for a permanent replacement…

I ended up getting the full time gig. Was there for 8 years, then when thetstation closed, I landed in Ft Myers FL…

I always wanted to get back to MN, so when the job opened at @KSTP… I pounced. I’ve been here almost a year now.

I worked hard every step of the way, but I freely admit every job I’ve had has come from networking. It’s invaluable.

Q – #5    Networking is important! So how do you see sports reporting changing due to Social Media’s growth?

A: Everything now is immediate. We used to live in a 6pm/10pm world. Now it’s get the story, get it out there…

Even as recently as the station I was at before @KSTP, we’d hold off on posting stories to the web until it ran on air.

Now, especially with Twitter, everything is immediate. It’s affected accuracy, which bothers me.

However, I LOVE the interaction w/ viewers thru Twitter, FB, etc. It’s a huge benefit we didn’t have in the past

Q – #6    Fans/followers now have faces and not just ratings numbers right? Do you ever post phone-video for updates on yourself/story?

A: In fact, my phone has an app that – in a pinch – could send live video straight onto the air… which amazes me.

I’m more inclined to post pics, especially for personal stuff vs. stories. But phone-vid is a great tool for TV news.

Q – #7    Awesome! What have been some of your favorite stories that you’ve covered so far in MN?

A: The H.S. hockey tourney is my most favorite thing I have ever covered. There’s nothing that even comes close.

I’ve covered a World Series, 3 Super Bowls, All-Star Games, etc. But the MN HS Hockey tourney blows my mind every year.

Q – #8    Lets now find out your FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, winter activity, comfort food & non-MN city.

A: Favorite restaurant I’ve been to in town is Hell’s Kitchen in downtown Mpls. Their homemade peanut butter is insane.

Not much of a shopper, but I’ll say my favorite stores are the local independent record stores. I’m a music fanatic.

Favorite winter activity is playing, watching or talking about hockey. Favorite comfort food is my mom’s chili.

Tough to pick one favorite non MN city but my family’s annual vacation spot – Duck, NC – is a pretty special place.

Hard not to pick my hometown of D.C. or Dingle, Ireland … but the Outer Banks of North Carolina are spectacular!

Q – #9    Here’s one for you. If you could interview ANY athlete, (dead/alive) who would it be and why?

A: Wow, tough one. Thru my career, I’ve been lucky enough to talk to most of my idols – Gretzky, Ripken, Yzerman…

I guess professionally right now, I’d like to have a shot at interviewing Tiger Woods. So many things one could ask…

Personally, I’d want to be able to talk to the late Len Bias. I loved him when I was a kid and he played at Maryland.

Q – #10    Understandable. To end, what advice would you give to a young journalist interested in sports reporting?

A: Covering sports for a living – TV, radio, paper, etc – looks like it’s all fun and games. It’s most definitely not…

Especially in the smaller markets, it’s an incredible grind. A lot of people don’t know what they’re getting into…

College and family ties gave me a clear picture of that going in. You really have to love what you’re doing…

And you’d better be prepared to run up some debt when you start. Starting salaries in this biz would shock people.

f you can handle that, work on your writing… and never stop working at it. It’s the foundation of everything we do

Good writers are invaluable… and not everyone in this business is one. It’s a lost and dying art.

@JoelECarlson – Good points! Maybe we’ll see you on @ESPN or @ABCsports some day. :) Thanks for your comments & time today. Stay warm!

@jclong – Thanks Joel! As always on Fri/Sat I’ll be on Ch 45 in the 9pm tonight… then on @KSTP in the 10p.

Had a blast with the Twitterview… and thanks to everyone reading along. You may now have your timelines back!