PMN Connector

David F. Gakodi gives a big smile. He is a young Black man wearing a black t-shirt with a microphone in front of him. A pink banner at the bottom of the photo reads ALL STORIES MATTER with Marvinetta Woodley-Penn
Impact StoriesPMN Connector

In honor of David F. Gakodi

Last fall, video podcast host Marvinetta Woodley-Penn sat down with a young man named David F. Gakodi. She had no idea that he was going to pass away unexpectedly just a couple of months later.  I often talk about public…

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.
Notes from the Network

Media You Own vs. Media That Owns You

Someone asked me recently why Public Media Network even needs to exist. YouTube is free. Facebook reaches everyone. Why bother? It's a fair question. And honestly, it's one I don't mind answering, because the people asking it aren't wrong about…

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 Township Board of Trustees, Oshtemo Township Board, and more. Monday Comstock Township Parks and Recreation (6:00 PM, PMN3): The Parks and Recreation Commission in Comstock will consider Special…

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 generation before you. News channels, streaming services, podcasts, social media, the options never end. It looks like we have more choices than ever. But here's what that picture…

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: Monday (04/06) Comstock Township Board of Trustees (6:00 PM, PMN3): The Comstock Board will conduct a Public Hearing for the Leigh Avenue Site Condominium project, and consider the…

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 a new challenge. Joseph enjoys a good challenge. After working in public service all his life, he has done things many of us can never even imagine –…

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 public finally takes notice, and it's often late in the process. A rezoning has been working its way through a planning commission for months. A contract was approved…

Show More