Give a gift to the Journalism Collaborative to keep our community informed!
Give a gift to the Journalism Collaborative to keep our community informed!
A Southwest Michigan story pitch media guide. General pitching guide lines below:
✓ Be concise – journalists are busy
✓ Lead with the news – what’s the story and why now?
✓ Provide real people – not just officials or press releases
✓ Include contact info – make it easy to follow up
✓ Know the outlet – tailor your pitch to their focus, see tips below!
✓ Be available – respond quickly to interview requests
✓ Think visually – offer photo/video opportunities
Focus:
Statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan news covering Michigan politics, policy, education, health, business, and environment. Deep-dive, data-driven reporting on how state decisions impact communities.
Contact:
bridgemi.com/staff
Policy implications & solutions
Focus:
Quarterly youth-led magazine featuring stories by African American girls exploring Kalamazoo and the world through the Merze Tate Explorers program. Focuses on positive community stories, youth perspectives, and travel journalism.
Contact:
contact@merzetate.com
Youth & community impact
Focus: Monthly arts, culture, and lifestyle magazine for Greater Kalamazoo. Profiles of interesting people, cultural events, arts coverage, and community celebrations. In print and online.
Contact: editor@encoremagazine.com
“Local and regional journalism is vital to every community because it reflects our realities, informs our decisions, and holds power to account. For our Latinx community, it’s also a bridge—connecting families to resources, opportunity, and representation.”
Focus:
General news, breaking news, sports, business, courts, and community issues across Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan. Covers everything from crime and local government to human interest stories.
Contact:
kznews@mlive.com
Clear headlines & key facts upfront
Focus:
Spanish-language biweekly newspaper serving the Latino/Hispanic community across Southwest Michigan. Community news, cultural events, and issues affecting Latino residents.
Contact: newopinionnews@newopinion.net
Latino/Hispanic-focused
Focus:
Nonprofit, hyperlocal news startup for all of Kalamazoo County. Mix of watchdog journalism (holding power accountable) and positive community stories. Daily news roundup email newsletter plus original reporting.
Contact:
tips@nowkalamazoo.org
“The SWMJC collaborative allows our small press to partner with others dedicated to community storytelling.”
Focus:
Nonprofit open media hub for Greater Kalamazoo where people share local government, arts, and community stories that build civic connection. Provides video training, tools, and distribution across cable, streaming, and online platforms.
Contact: stories@publicmedianet.org
Visual story opportunities
Focus:
Solutions-based online news magazine covering entrepreneurship, creative culture, urban development, and positive change in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. Focus on people and organizations making impact.
Contact: contact@secondwavemedia.com
Solutions focus & impact
Focus:
Nonprofit civic news magazine based in Three Rivers covering Southwest Michigan. Solutions-oriented journalism focusing on local government, community issues, arts, culture, and rural communities.
Contact: editor@watershedvoice.com
Solutions focus & civic engagement
Focus:
Student-run independent newspaper covering Western Michigan University campus news, events, entertainment, sports, and local Kalamazoo community issues.
Contact:
Contact Form (This is a Microsoft Office Form for both Western Herald and WIDR)
Campus/student-focused
Focus: Student-run freeform FM radio station at WMU (since 1952). Eclectic music mix (alternative, jazz, hip-hop, electronic, world, experimental), plus news, sports, community/campus info.
Contact:
Contact Form (This is a Microsoft Office Form for both Western Herald and WIDR)
Audio/on-air interview opportunities
Focus:
NPR affiliate focusing on local, state, and national news; in-depth local reporting on community issues, politics, health, education, and the environment. Mix of news, talk, and classical music.
Contact:
newsstaff@wmuk.org
Audio/on-air interview opportunities
