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Civic Reporters

If you want to help people stay informed and connected, believe in democracy, and are interested in local government then becoming a Neighborhood and Civic Reporter may be for you! 

 

Today's media platforms are essential pieces of the information systems for civic engagement and community life. However, many of these platforms have become weaponized to divide people and maintain the power to control conversations and filter information in the hands of a few powerful and private companies.

 

Public Media Network launched the Civic Reporter program to create an inclusive and equitable civic infrastructure that is open and trustworthy that helps people to full participate in the affairs of their community.

 

Civic Reporters are people like you who are trained and equipped to cover local government. The reports provide people with the information they need to connect and engage on issues affecting their neighborhoods and community.

 

Public Media Network is a strong supporter of government accessibility and people-powered media. PMN currently provides gavel to gavel meeting coverage for the City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo Township, Oshtemo Township, City of Galesburg, Comstock Township, and the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County. 

 

Because not everyone has the time to watch government meetings in full, our Civic Reporters provide reports to summarize the actions and discussions of your local government.

 

The first step to getting involved as a Civic Reporter is to become a Neighborhood Reporter.

 

You can find and sign-up for upcoming training sessions for Neighborhood Reporters on our workshops page.

Check out upcoming training cohorts on our workshops page

 

Meet our Civic Reporters

  • Reed Shilts

    Civic Reporter

    Reed Shilts is a Civic Reporter with Public Media Network. He became a Civic Reporter in April 2022.

  • Sanaa Littlejohn

    Neighborhood Reporter

    Sanaa Littlejohn is a Neighborhood Reporter with Public Media Network. She is a budding writer that loves the discussion of good vs evil. 

  • Janet Hay

    Neighborhood/Civic Reporter

    Janet Hay is a Neighborhood and Civic Reporter with a background in Biology. She participated in the very first training cohort of the Neighborhood Voices Network, and Civic Reporter Network.

  • Julia Buck

    Civic & Neighborhood Reporter

    Julia Buck is a Civic Reporter and Neighborhood Reporter with Public Media Network. She is interested in environmental reporting. 

  • Rebecca Ramon

    Civic Reporter

    Rebacca Ramon (they/them) is a videographer and reporter through PMN's Civic Reporter program.