Community Media: Amplifying Local Voices and Civic Engagement
Community media serves as a vital resource in fostering civic engagement and supporting informed communities. As a cornerstone in the landscape of modern civic media, community media emphasizes the role of local voices in shaping public discourse, providing a platform for individuals and groups to share their stories, advocate for change, and participate in democratic processes.
“As a cornerstone in the landscape of modern civic media, community media emphasizes the role of local voices in shaping public discourse, providing a platform for individuals and groups to share their stories, advocate for change, and participate in democratic processes. ”
Community media centers across the United States are dedicated to ensuring that people have access to the information they need to engage meaningfully in local government, education, and neighborhood issues, which might otherwise go unnoticed in mainstream media.
By offering training, resources and platforms for citizen journalism and independent content production, community media equips individuals with the tools and training necessary to share their perspectives and engage meaningfully in civic dialogue. Whether through citizen journalism, live broadcasts of municipal meetings, or coverage of neighborhood events, community media ensures that critical local issues are brought to light, contributing to a more informed and engaged public.
40 years of Community Media in Kalamazoo, Michigan
For over 40 years, Public Media Network (PMN) has been a pillar of the Greater Kalamazoo community. We have stood firm in our commitment to ensuring that the voices of everyday people are heard and that local stories continue to share the narrative of our city. As the Executive Director for the past seven years, I have had the privilege of being part of this journey. I've seen firsthand how community media is a powerful tool for fostering civic engagement, elevating local stories, and amplifying underrepresented voices.
Since the early 1980s, Pubic Media Network has been committed to connecting area residents to the information they need to participate in civic life. PMN has been instrumental in providing access to information, fostering civic engagement, and serving as a platform for community-driven content. Our deep roots in the community have enabled us to continue to delivery hyper-local programming that meets the needs of our residents, especially in an era when traditional local journalism models and media are declining.
Image Credit: Public Media Network
Engagement in Local Government
Our gavel to gavel coverage of city council meetings, township boards, school boards of education, and public forums ensures that community members have access to unfiltered information about decisions that impact their daily lives. We televise meetings for the City of Kalamazoo, City of Galesburg, Comstock Charter Township, Kalamazoo Charter Township, Oshtemo Charter Township, Road Commission of Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, and Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education. With added coverage of planning commissions, zoning boards, and other agencies, members of the public can follow the processes of government to stay informed and get involved.
This public service becomes more essential as local newsrooms continue to shrink, and fewer resources are available for independent reporting. Many residents rely on PMN's broadcasts to stay informed, especially when they are unable to attend in person. There have been times where someone providing public comment would say "I was watching the meeting on tv, and had to come in to say something." Even local journalism organizations are relying upon this coverage for their reporting.
This transparency fosters accountability and encourages residents to actively engage with their elected officials.
"Without Public Media Network, there would be one less readily accessible opportunity to communicate with fellow residents, educate citizens on local issues, and provide entertainment with local talent," stated Jack Urban, former Kalamazoo City Commissioner.
Community-Centered Programming
PMN has also been a leader in providing platforms for citizen journalism and grassroots reporting. Our community-centered approach not only fills the gaps left by the decline of traditional local media but also gives residents the skills and training to report on issues that matter most to them. This approach is particularly valuable as more voices, often underrepresented in mainstream media, have been able to participate and have their stories amplified through Public Media Network.
Through our Amplify Kalamazoo platform and journalism initiative, residents can find story features, meeting summaries, ask the expert topics, and an aggregation of news and information feeds from local news and community information sources. 55% of the feature stories in the past year featured those whose voices or identities have been underrepresented in mainstream media.
Diverse stories that reflect the experiences and stories of the community builds connections and understanding. Programs like our Narrative Storytelling Lab that works with community members to discover and share their story give people an opportunity to be heard in a different way.
Paul Mayfield, a visually impaired community member, commented "All the people from Friends with Disabilities were overwhelmed by the experience. PMN made a big difference in helping us tell our story, for which we are forever grateful." Dana Parham further indicated "There was something about the energy I received when partnering with Public Media Network that made me feel heard."
Training Community Storytellers
Public Media Network, like other community media centers around the country, are equipping community members with the tools and skills they need to create and consume media responsibly. Our media literacy programs and hands-on training in video production, podcasting, and digital storytelling are empowering residents to take public action through media.
The impact of the community-centered training approach is rooted as much in the process as it is in the final programs that air.
“Whether through citizen journalism, live broadcasts of municipal meetings, or coverage of neighborhood events, community media ensures that critical local issues are brought to light, contributing to a more informed and engaged public. ”
Kaylana Jones, a community producer indicated "The process of becoming a community producer has helped me believe in myself. Once the proper tools, supports, and resources were provided to me, it gave me permission to succeed. It was extremely validating"
Our documentary training program is modeled after programs run by Saint Paul Neighborhood Network in Minnesota and CreaTV San Jose in California. These programs provide people with the necessary skills and tools to produce a documentary video about an issue important to them. These programs prioritize spaces for people who face structural barriers to having their stories and voices in mainstream media. Participants often indicate that beyond growing confidence in using media to share perspectives, the process of exploring and developing their own voice in a safe space was beneficial.
Community Collaboration
Through collaborations with local nonprofit organizations, like broadcasting the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra concerts, Public Media Network is helping nonprofits reach additional audiences. Dave Crider, their Executive Director commented "Our participation in the Performing Arts Showcase on Public Media Network has been vital in advancing our mission of community enrichment through the power of music while expanding our reach."
As a founding member and fiscal sponsor of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative, we are committed to bolstering local journalism through collaboration. This collaborative brings together media organizations and educational institutions to strengthen the local media landscape. By sharing resources, connections, and expertise with each other, members of the collaborative are building a more resilient local information ecosystem that serves the public interest.
Why Community Media Matters
Public Media Network plays a unique role in the media ecosystem, providing critical coverage of local government, offering training for the next generation of journalists, and ensuring that everyone in our community can have their voice heard. Media literacy programs and citizen journalism initiatives run by community media centers are not just about creating content - they are about equipping people to engage with the democratic process and make informed decisions about the issues that impact them.
Community media centers like Public Media Network are not just a media outlet, they are community assets. These community anchor institutions serve as cornerstones of local engagement, civic participation, and community-driven storytelling.