Hi, I'm Taryn. I'm a journalist in Minnesota. I care about how and why things work the way they do because I believe knowledge is freedom. I work as a data reporter at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and teach at the University of Minnesota journalism school.
At the Business Journal, I obtain and analyze data that's relevant to the Twin Cities business community. The data helps me make 45+ lists a year showing the size and scope of the economic activity happening locally. I also report on local and national trends and concoct ideas for stories that will show what the numbers really mean. To me, the best stories are collaborative. I'm always looking for ways to work with others to tell big, beautiful, interactive stories.
I started my career at the Minnesota Daily – an award-winning student-run publication at the University of Minnesota, where I earned a degree in journalism and sociology. Later, I was a projects reporter at the Bowling Green Daily News in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where I worked closely with staff photographers to tell visually focused stories that took a deeper look at issues of the day. My stories touched on housing, public health, economic development and higher education, among others. While on staff, I reported on conditions at two dysfunctional county-funded animal shelters. Those stories helped prompt systemic changes at the facilities.
While living in Washington State, and later in Minnesota, I contributed reporting on food and agriculture to Crosscut, Civil Eats and The Inlander, among others. The highlight was a feature I published with The Atlantic, explaining why pears aren't as beloved as apples and how a scientist in Washington is trying to change that. In Minnesota, while writing for MinnPost, my focus pivoted to writing about disparities in Minnesotans' quality of life. I also covered education policy at the Minnesota Legislature during the 2019 session.
In addition to writing and reporting, I'm a passionate teacher and editor. For two years now, I've taught an introduction to reporting and writing at the University of Minnesota, in which I train young reporters to write — and think — like journalists. I also return each year to Kentucky to volunteer as a writing coach at Mountain Workshops, a weeklong bootcamp for visual journalists put on by Western Kentucky University's journalism program. I teach participants techniques for developing stories, interviewing for narrative and writing visually.
I was born in North Dakota, raised on or near Air Force bases on the east coast and claim Minnesota as home because it's where I met and married Ben, learned to tell stories and fell in love with the outdoors. Ben and I like to travel the country to mountain bike, rock climb and backpack. Over the years, we've explored the mountains by bike, boot, crampon and snowshoe and climbed tens of thousands of feet of rock (I did the math). We recently added a second trail dog to our squad.
At the Business Journal, I obtain and analyze data that's relevant to the Twin Cities business community. The data helps me make 45+ lists a year showing the size and scope of the economic activity happening locally. I also report on local and national trends and concoct ideas for stories that will show what the numbers really mean. To me, the best stories are collaborative. I'm always looking for ways to work with others to tell big, beautiful, interactive stories.
I started my career at the Minnesota Daily – an award-winning student-run publication at the University of Minnesota, where I earned a degree in journalism and sociology. Later, I was a projects reporter at the Bowling Green Daily News in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where I worked closely with staff photographers to tell visually focused stories that took a deeper look at issues of the day. My stories touched on housing, public health, economic development and higher education, among others. While on staff, I reported on conditions at two dysfunctional county-funded animal shelters. Those stories helped prompt systemic changes at the facilities.
While living in Washington State, and later in Minnesota, I contributed reporting on food and agriculture to Crosscut, Civil Eats and The Inlander, among others. The highlight was a feature I published with The Atlantic, explaining why pears aren't as beloved as apples and how a scientist in Washington is trying to change that. In Minnesota, while writing for MinnPost, my focus pivoted to writing about disparities in Minnesotans' quality of life. I also covered education policy at the Minnesota Legislature during the 2019 session.
In addition to writing and reporting, I'm a passionate teacher and editor. For two years now, I've taught an introduction to reporting and writing at the University of Minnesota, in which I train young reporters to write — and think — like journalists. I also return each year to Kentucky to volunteer as a writing coach at Mountain Workshops, a weeklong bootcamp for visual journalists put on by Western Kentucky University's journalism program. I teach participants techniques for developing stories, interviewing for narrative and writing visually.
I was born in North Dakota, raised on or near Air Force bases on the east coast and claim Minnesota as home because it's where I met and married Ben, learned to tell stories and fell in love with the outdoors. Ben and I like to travel the country to mountain bike, rock climb and backpack. Over the years, we've explored the mountains by bike, boot, crampon and snowshoe and climbed tens of thousands of feet of rock (I did the math). We recently added a second trail dog to our squad.
