Photo by Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images Earlier this week, an unexpected and fast-moving incident unfolded in St. Paul, Minnesota involving both federal and local law enforcement. As crowds gathered and questions mounted, one of our MPR News reporters, Sam Stroozas, realized she lived just blocks away.
She did what reporters do.
She went.
There wasn’t time to change clothes. Sam arrived in a bathrobe and slippers and began reporting from the scene.
A photo captured the moment. It circulated quickly across local media and online, sparking conversation — and, overwhelmingly, appreciation for Minnesota’s “Bathrobe Lady.”
But the reaction wasn’t really about the bathrobe.
It was about what it represented.
Local journalism often begins before a camera is rolling, before a live shot is framed, before a headline is written. It begins with proximity. With awareness. With someone deciding that what’s happening matters enough to go see it firsthand.
It begins with showing up.
That instinct, to move toward the story, not away from it, is shared across our newsroom. Reporters, producers, editors, photographers and engineers regularly respond in real time when news breaks. They work evenings, early mornings and weekends. They field tips, verify information, and help provide clarity in moments that can quickly become confusing or chaotic.
Sometimes, that work looks polished and composed on air.
Sometimes, it starts in slippers.
Later this week, colleagues across the organization wore robes to the office as a lighthearted tribute to Sam and to the broader newsroom. It was a small, communal way to recognize something serious: the commitment to being present for Minnesota communities when it matters most.
Journalism is built on preparation, rigor and accountability. It is also built on people — people who live in the neighborhoods they cover, who are part of the communities they report on, and who care deeply about getting the story right.
This week’s moment offered a glimpse behind the scenes. A reminder that before the microphones, the editing bays and the published stories, there are human beings not only paying attention, but working to get the trusted facts to the community serve every day.
And when news breaks close to home, they go.
"Saw the Sam Stroozas photo. Now that is dedicated community journalism." –John in St. Paul
"Sam Stroozas recording ICE officers with her neighbors in her bathrobe and slippers brought tears to my eyes." –Ted
"Thank you to you all… Especially the Bathrobe Lady It’s been a rough ride here in the cities." –Robert in St. Paul
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