MPR People

Michael Caputo

Analyst, Public Insight Journalism
Minnesota Public Radio
mcaputo@mpr.org

Michael Caputo has 18 years of experience in daily newsrooms in radio, television and newspapers, mainly as a political reporter. He has written Web and newspaper political columns, covered national Democratic and Republican conventions, hosted talk shows, debates and forums and produced election specials. Most recently, he was news director for public TV station WXXI in Rochester, NY, where he hosted and edited a weekly news show and also reported stories for WXXI radio. Michael became interested in tapping public insight while working at the Rochester N.Y. newspaper and working with its "Voice of the Voter" project, which involved bringing citizens into political coverage. At WXXI, he helped lead a cross-media collaboration as part of MacNeil/Lehrer's "By the People" project, which held citizen forums around the country.

Michael Caputo Feature Archive

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How education financing affects a whole community

MPR News convened seven people to talk about the fallout from the Moorhead school district's financing situation. It wasn't face-to-face, but in a "virtual forum" where they came together. (11/19/2009)

Consumers getting hit by higher credit card rates, fees

Credit card lenders have moved quickly to change the terms of their cards in advance of new federal regulations, and consumers are feeling the effects through higher interest rates and fees. (11/03/2009)

Minn. job vacancies with health benefits

Jobs offering health care are harder to find in Minnesota

Congress continues to fight over health care reform, and leading proposals still rely on employers providing health coverage even though fewer Americans get health insurance through their jobs. (09/23/2009)

Getting around tight credit: a virtual forum

This week, Minnesota Public Radio News convened a group of small business owners to find if businesses actually getting easier credit. From manufacturers to single-person contractors, we wanted them to talk about their experiences in the economic downturn. (09/10/2009)

Future of Army cannon, jobs uncertain in Fridley

Things are looking bleak for a new Army weapon being designed in Fridley. The BAE Systems mobile cannon program employs several hundred engineers and others, whose jobs are now at risk. (06/17/2009)

Hours cut at work? Unemployment benefits may be available

Those who have their work hours cut could also be eligible for unemployment benefits. (05/21/2009)

Short on cash? Try bartering

If you run a business and lack cash in these times of tight credit, what do you do? More and more people are turning to an age-old transaction -- bartering. (04/21/2009)

Prized possessions for sale in stressed economy

Business has picked up at pawn shops as credit tightens up. So, more and more people are trying to turn goods they have at home into cash. But, sometimes those family heirlooms or prized possessions have value beyond monetary. (04/15/2009)

Public offers tax ideas, but are lawmakers listening?

Minnesota Lawmakers have held hearings and set up a web site asking the public for ideas on how to solve the state's budget shortfall. One former legislator says some of those ideas are helpful, but the big decisions are usually dictated by party leaders. (03/17/2009)

Somali teens share thoughts on disappearances

The investigation continues into why a dozen or so young Somali men disappeared from the Twin Cities and are believed to be fighting in Somalia. MPR's Michael Caputo talked to several Somali teens about their take on these disappearances. (03/09/2009)

White Bear Lake residents wrestle with the state budget deficit

Minnesota Public Radio held a forum on the state budget -- and how it affects one community, White Bear Lake. (02/22/2009)

Volunteerism on the rise, as charitable giving goes down

A look at the state of volunteerism on the day that President-elect Obama emphasizes service. The economy may have as much as anything to do with increased service. (01/19/2009)

The No-Gift-Giving Contagion -- A Retailer's Worry

For some people there is no holiday shopping countdown this year, because they've decided not to exchange gifts at all. And that choice can be contagious. (12/14/2008)

Job hunting gets harder

The economic downturn has forced many more Minnesotans to look for a new job -- either because of layoffs or a cutback in hours or to supplement retirement. Compared to a year ago, about 40,000 more Minnesotans are unemployed. But over the same period there are 16,000 fewer jobs in the state. (11/21/2008)

Some Minn. voters chose Obama, but not Franken

Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican John McCain by almost 10 percentage points in Minnesota, but that wave of support didn't propel U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken to a decisive victory over Norm Coleman. (11/06/2008)