West Michigan
How do you get the local information you need?
The American Journalism Project is partnering with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Grand Rapids Community, and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation to understand what information residents of West Michigan need to live their lives and how local media can better serve those needs. We want to know:
How do you learn about what’s happening where you live?
What are you curious to know about your local government?
What do you wish people knew about your community?
What local information sources do you trust, and why?
What stories do you wish journalists would tell?
What we learn will influence the future of local news. Here are 3 ways you can make your voice heard:
Earn $20 / hour to talk to friends and neighbors about how they get local news
Take 5 minutes to guide the future of local news — the first 100 respondents will receive a $5 Amazon gift card
Below is a set of frequently asked questions about our community listening. If you have additional questions about this project, please contact Fiona Morgan, Director of Community Listening for the American Journalism Project, at fiona@theajp.org or (919) 408-7223.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the American Journalism Project?
The American Journalism Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to local news. We are building a new public service media that is governed by, sustained by and looks like the public it serves. We fund and support nonprofit, nonpartisan, local news organizations. You can find out more here.
Who do you want to hear from?
We want to hear directly from residents of the West Michigan region: Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Portage, Battle Creek, and the counties of Kent, Kalamazoo, and Calhoun. We believe residents of local communities need to be part of the conversation about local news, so that we can build a better and more sustainable future for our communities. We want to hear from people of every age, race, income, ability, and political viewpoint. We’re especially interested in hearing from people who have traditionally been underserved by local media, including people of color, and people who live in neighborhoods and suburban or rural areas that lack local news coverage.
Will you publish what I say if I respond to your survey or participate in a focus group?
The American Journalism Project may decide to publish some of our findings, but no names or identifying information of anyone who participates in our survey, focus groups, or interviews will be published, unless those individuals specifically grant permission to do so.
Can I take the survey anonymously?
Yes. You can express your views without leaving contact information. But if you want to get updates about the project or be considered for a focus group, we need a way to contact you, so please include your email address or mobile number in your survey responses.
What will you do with my contact information?
We are the sole owners of the information we collect through this research process. Contact information will be kept confidential in a password-protected location and used for this research project only. We will never sell it, and we will not share contact information with anyone without permission. With your permission, we may follow up with you to share updates on the project.
I got a text message about this out of the blue. Where did you get my number?
We purchased a random set of phone numbers from a marketing company called Exact Data. Doing so allows us to reach a broader and more representative set of residents.
All text message survey questions originate from shortcode 73224. If you do not wish to receive messages from us, text STOP to 73224 and your number will be removed from our list. Data rates may apply.
Are the text messages being sent by a person or are they automated?
Both :) We send out initial messages through an automated system, but each message is seen by at least one member of our community listening team. We can respond individually to your comments and questions within hours, if not minutes. So rest assured, if you respond, you will be communicating with a person.
Do you have a political agenda?
No. The American Journalism Project is a nonpartisan organization, not affiliated with any political campaigns or political parties. Our agenda is to improve and strengthen local news.
Are you trying to sell me something?
No. This is a community outreach and research project.
Who is funding this project?
As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the American Journalism Project receives grants from philanthropic foundations and tax-exempt donations from individuals. You can find a list of our funders here.