Civic Creator Community Standards
By identifying as a Civic Creator on PMN platforms, you are joining a community of independent producers committed to responsible, civic-minded storytelling. This acknowledgment is not a credential PMN grants, it is a commitment you make to your community.
Why this matters
The Kalamazoo area is our home. We believe everyone has a role to play in keeping our community informed, and that local storytelling is an act of care for the people who live here. Community access media has always made space for community voices, long before social media, long before the creator economy had a name.
As a Civic Creator, you are part of that tradition, and you are helping shape what local information looks like for the next generation.
We believe a vibrant civic life depends on news and information that is honest, inclusive, and rooted in community trust.
What you are acknowledging
I will be accurate.
I will check information before I share it. I will not publish or distribute content I know to be false or fabricated. When I make a mistake, I will correct it.
I will be transparent.
I will disclose conflicts of interest (personal, financial, or relational) that could affect how my content is perceived. I will not misrepresent who I am or why I am producing content.
I will provide context.
I will not misrepresent or oversimplify situations. I will not portray communities or groups of people as monolithic. I will do the work to understand what I am reporting before I share it.
I will use care.
I will treat the people I record, interview, or feature with dignity and respect. I will be transparent with them about how their words and images may be used and distributed. I will recognize that media holds power and use that power responsibly.
I will support trust.
I understand that media has work to do in earning and maintaining trust, especially with communities that have been historically excluded or harmed by media. I will approach my work with that responsibility in mind.
I will contribute to civic life.
I believe that local information is a community asset. My work as a Civic Creator is part of a larger effort to build a more informed, connected, and engaged Kalamazoo.
What this acknowledgement is and isn’t
This is a self-selected commitment. PMN does not review or edit Civic Creator content before it is submitted. The Civic Creator badge signals your acknowledgment of these standards, not PMN’s certification of your content.
We believe that accountability in community media is ultimately a community responsibility. If there is a clear and significant departure from these standards, such as fabricated content or undisclosed conflicts of interest that cause harm, PMN may change a creator’s designation to Community Creator. A creator who is moved to Community Creator may choose to re-acknowledge these standards and return to Civic Creator. The door is always open.
This acknowledgment does not limit your freedom of expression. It reflects your choice to hold yourself to a standard that serves your community well.
Coming Soon
PMN is developing a Civic Journalist pathway for creators who want to go deeper through training, more rigorous standards, and a formal certification process. Civic Creator is the starting point for that journey.