Gary Gilson began his career as a general assignment newspaper reporter at the Minneapolis Star for three years, then worked for 25 years as a broadcast journalist in New York, Los Angeles and the Twin Cities, in both public and commercial television. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

He has taught at Columbia, Yale, Minnesota, Macalester, St. Thomas and Colorado College. He became executive director of the Minnesota News Council in 1992.

The News Council is an independent, nonprofit agency that engages the public and the press in public conversations about standards of fairness. It helps the public hold news outlets accountable, and helps news outlets avoid lapses that produce unfair harm and complaints. Its mission is to promote fair, vigorous and trusted journalism.