Year: 2026

An illustrated graphic contrasting community media and corporate media. On the left, a green panel shows a community-rooted media ecosystem — people with microphones, a local broadcast station, public infrastructure icons, and community investment. On the right, a blue panel depicts corporate media consolidation — a skyscraper controlling chained screens, money changing hands, and crumbling public spaces. Created with NotebookLM.
Video

Media You Own vs. Media That Owns You

Someone asked me recently why Public Media Network even needs to exist.…

By M Schuster
gavel to gavel over image with american flag in background
PMN Connector

Gavel to Gavel: Upcoming Local Government Meetings and Key Agenda Items – April 13 – 16

Let's take a look at this week's local meetings, including the Kalamazoo…

By Public Media Network
Alt text: A side-by-side illustration contrasting two media models. On the left, a blue funnel filters many media voices — represented by icons for video, audio, and people — down to a few controlled outputs, representing corporate media consolidation. On the right, a green speech bubble filled with the same variety of media icons surrounds the PMN logo, representing an open, community-centered media network where many voices are heard.
Notes from the Network

More Channels, Fewer Voices

Pick up your phone and you can access more media than any…

By M Schuster
gavel to gavel over image with american flag in background
PMN Connector

Gavel to Gavel: Local Government Meetings and Key Agenda Items – April 6 – 9

Let's take a closer look at this week's upcoming local government meetings:…

By Public Media Network
Two men sit at the table in the podcast studio, looking at each other. Both are wearing headphones and speaking into microphones. The man on the left has a laptop in front of him, and the man on the right has a book sitting near him titled "A Fighter's Chance".
Impact StoriesPMN Connector

“What this place has done for me” – Impact Story

After a lifetime in public service, Joseph Patrick Fair was ready for…

By Cody Watson
Alt text: A two-panel illustration contrasting the challenge and solution of civic information access. The top panel shows social media content flooding through an algorithm filter while civic buildings and voter turnout fade into the background. The bottom panel depicts a central media archive — with icons for video, audio, and recording — connected by roots and circuits to pillars of civic infrastructure, books, and film, representing the preservation and distribution of the public record.
Notes from the Network

What Happens When No One’s Watching

There's a moment in a lot of local government decisions where the…

By M Schuster
gavel to gavel over image with american flag in background
PMN Connector

Gavel to Gavel: A Look to Upcoming Local Government Meetings and Key Agenda Items – March 30 – April 2

Tuesday (03/31): Oshtemo Township Joint Board Meeting (5:30 PM, PMN3): Oshtemo Township…

By Public Media Network
A diagram illustrating how information flows through a community — from media sources including a microphone, megaphone, book, and group discussion — through a civic building, broadcast tower, mobile device, and ballot box — culminating in an active circle of engaged community members sharing and amplifying information.
Notes from the Network

What If We Built It Right?

Most conversations about the future of local news start in the same…

By M Schuster
vibrant office essentials on geometric backdrop
AgendasBoard of Directors

PMN Board of Directors March 26, 2026 Meeting

Agenda March 26, 2026 at 4:30 pm359 S Kalamazoo Mall, Ste 300,…

By Public Media Network
gavel to gavel over image with american flag in background
Local GovernmentPMN Connector

Gavel to Gavel: Local Government Meetings and Key Agenda Items – March 23 – 26

As we enter another week, take a look at what's on the…

By Public Media Network
A man operates a camera which is pointed towards a lit up stage where two people holding instruments sit in chairs.
Impact StoriesPMN Connector

Helping nonprofits share their impact

Every day, nonprofits in Kalamazoo County are doing vital work that strengthens…

By Cody Watson
A blurred collage of neighborhood and civic scenes, including a zoning notice sign, a school board meeting sign, houses, and a construction site, with the cover of the Michigan Media Ecosystem Report centered in the foreground at an angle. The report cover shows people recording a podcast in a studio and includes the logo of The Pivot Fund.
Notes from the Network

What Michigan’s Media Landscape Tells Us About the Future We Need to Build

Something is broken in how communities get the information they need to…

By M Schuster