KALAMAZOO, Mich.—As newsrooms across the country struggle with diminishing staffs—a 57% drop since 2004, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics—they are looking for ways to continue telling meaningful and accurate stories that matter to their communities.
Locally, the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative (SWMJC) strives, in part, to fill this gap. Since 2019, 12 local media outlets have worked together to report on some of the region's most important issues, including its latest effort: the Mental Wellness Project.
And thanks to this partnership, Western Michigan University journalism students are getting a firsthand look at the thrills and challenges of local journalism—all while gaining valuable professional reporting experience and providing an important service to the local community.
“This is an incredible educational opportunity for journalism students because this is real, it’s happening now and they have a shot at getting published,” says Sue Ellen Christian, a Presidential Innovation Professor in the School of Communication who has been a Collaborative member since its start.
Aptly named, the collaborative formed after a chance meeting between two people—Sarah Lee, director of marketing communications for the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, and Kathy Jennings, managing editor of Second Wave Media Southwest Michigan—who share a passion for local journalism. The pair approached local media outlets about partnering, and the collaborative was born.
The group has since obtained a $100,000 grant from the Solutions Journalism Network, as well as $50,000 in support from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, to launch its Mental Wellness Project. The intent of the project is to shape community conversation about mental health issues and challenges, as well as to identify potential solutions.
Beyond establishing a network and uniting media outlets to tell important stories, the Collaborative tackles another key local issue: increasing the talent pool of journalists.
“We’re seeing that quality talent is hard to find here, so working with the University is a great pipeline to help students connect with the work that we are doing,” says Lee, who earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Western’s School of Communication.
As a Western professor, Christian seeks to connect her students with the local journalism community. Two of those students—recent graduates Maggie Drew and Hailey Steinkamp—worked with Christian to craft a story as part of the Mental Wellness Project. The story, “A holistic approach is key to student mental health and retention” was published by MLive in April 2022.
“It was a great stepping stone into the professional world where I was working with these professional outlets as part of the collaborative, but also having the support of my professor who cared about my success,” says Drew, who also published in New/Nueva Opinion, a Battle Creek-based bilingual publication, as part of the Mental Wellness Project.
By working with the Collaborative, Drew and Steinkamp gained genuine insight into professional journalism and boosted their skill sets as they launch their own professional careers.
“I think the experience of going out and not being afraid to talk to people, doing your research and coming to an interview prepared—these are just really valuable life skills in general,” says Steinkamp.