The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is proud to welcome Scott Selmer as its new assigning editor. With robust experience in law, journalism, and community advocacy, Selmer brings a deep commitment to truth-telling and a lifelong belief in the power of Black media to uplift voices too often left unheard.
Born and raised in Beloit, Wisconsin, a small, predominantly conservative city near the Illinois border, Selmer’s early life shaped his understanding of resilience and identity. “I was about five when I was first called a racial slur,” he recalled. “That kind of experience leaves an impression. But it also teaches you the importance of finding community, of knowing who you are.”
The first in his family to attend college, Selmer went on to earn his law degree and later worked in media law, developing a keen awareness of fairness, accountability, and representation. “I’ve always believed that light should prevail,” he said. “But when you fight for that light, especially as a Black man in the Midwest, it can come at a cost. Still, it’s a fight worth having.”
Outside of the newsroom, Selmer finds solace in writing, walking, and spending time outdoors. “I walk two to three miles a day, sometimes five,” he said with a laugh. “It helps me think. Writing, though, that’s when I feel most at peace.”
“I want to do a job for the community. I want people to know they’re heard and that they matter.”
He also likes to ski with his best friend in Colorado, a retired teacher, during the cold months.
Selmer’s perspective on the role of Black media is rooted in both history and purpose. “The mainstream media will never tell our stories the way they need to be told,” he said. “Black media is essential… It reminds us we’re not alone, that we belong to a community with shared values, struggles and triumphs. That’s what MSR has been doing since 1934, giving our people a voice.”
As assigning editor, Selmer aims to strengthen that legacy by mentoring emerging journalists and ensuring the stories that matter most to Minnesota’s Black community are reported with integrity and care. “I want to do a job for the community,” he said. “I want people to know they’re heard and that they matter.”
Selmer joins the MSR editorial team at a pivotal time for both the paper and the communities it serves, bringing a steady voice and a profound respect for the craft of journalism. “It’s an honor to work with an organization like MSR,” he said. “Because if we don’t tell our stories, no one else will.”