Mary Hanson

Background

Mary was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota and graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Education

University of Minnesota.

Career

The show, which is broadcast from the Twin Cities in Minnesota, premiered in 1980 and focuses on social and health issues. The Magna cum laude graduate majored in English, sociology and education. She had a full scholarship to graduate school and obtained her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Minnesota.

She worked for a two years as a social worker at Children’s Home Society in Street.Paul, Minnesota, and then began her work as a consultant in social services.

Hanson has worked in radio and television since 1978 when she began producing and hosting a radio show she created after hearing “an excellent speaker who deserved a larger audience.” This program, on KCHK Department of Administration and Management, evolved into In October 1991, Mary married Ron Daws, a former 1968 Olympic marathon runner. Is the longest running cable program in the United States, having been on the air regularly since 1980.

The weekly show has also been on public television’s KTCI for the past thirteen years for a season each year. The show focuses on health and social issues and has provided a forum for area and national experts and leaders.

Host and producer Mary Hanson views her role as a conduit between guest and viewer, and the result is in-depth discussions of contemporary issues.

Some of the awards it has received include:

Minnesota Medical Association Media Award for Excellence in Medical Journalism (3 years)

Minnesota Psychiatrists Society’s award for Excellence in the Media

Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere Award, Mental Health Association in Hennepin County (given annually to one individual recognized for efforts in promoting mental health in the Twin Cities community)

Minnesota Education Association School Bell Award for Best In-depth Television Program

Best Talk Show, Minneapolis Television Network

Teddy Award for Excellence, Rogers Cable systems

National Federation of Local Cable Programmers competition finalist

Minnesota State Cable Communications Board Award for Excellence

Some notable guests who have appeared on the program are:

Elmer L. Andersen and Arne Carlson, former Governor of Minnesota

Kathy Halbreich, Director, Walker Art Center

William West. George, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medtronic, Incorporated.

Bob Bruinicks, President, University of Minnesota

Ken Pentel, American politician, Green Party gubernatorial candidate

She was also the co-producer and co-host of Minnesota Screening Room, a movie preview show which was on Rogers Cable public access from 1983 to 1990. The co-producer and host of Fox Broadcasting’s public affairs show, Talk About With Mary Hanson, from 1990 to 1992. And the co-producer and host of Portrait, an in-depth personality profile cable program

This project led to her current annual public television series, Minnesota Leaders.

Achievements

• Has won recognition at the local, state and national level Lifetime Achievement Award, Minneapolis Telecommunications Network Minnesota Council on Health Certificate of Achievement.