Our place, your voices: Our democratic need for citizen journalists

Since I took over as the Executive Director of the Community Media Center (CMC) a year ago, I have been confronted time and time again by highly reported international and national news stories that involve challenges to freedom of speech and access to media. Threats of violence caused Sony to back away from distributing a satirical movie that a foreign dictator found offensive. In Ferguson, Missouri, police interfered with journalists reporting on protests responding to the use of force against a largely minority population- and just recently it happened again in Baltimore, Maryland.

These types of threats aren’t just national news though- they also occur right here in our own backyard. In February, the Community Media Center was sued by the owner of an apartment complex in an attempt to enjoin Wealthy Theatre from showing a locally produced film the owner felt might present his apartment complex in an unfavorable light. Thankfully, Kent County Circuit Court Judge Christopher P. Yates quickly and decisively denied the requested relief, citing the First Amendment. But these challenges to freedom of expression are real and relentless.

All of these events remind us why the CMC founded The Rapidian a little over five years ago. The Rapidian’s model of citizen journalism means that all of us – not just those with money or influence – have a platform to share our stories and opinions with our community.

As a part of the Community Media Center, an independent nonprofit, The Rapidian is free from pressure from advertisers or shareholders that might steer its content in one direction or another. It is available free of charge to anyone with internet access. It strives to make freedom of expression available to us all.

While The Rapidian is an incredible resource for keeping us all up to date on new local businesses and restaurants, events and music, its real potential reveals itself through stories where citizen journalists share their first-hand experience dealing with the many thorny issues that confront us as a city. Here are just a few examples:

• In her coverage of the of the DisArt Festival, Toni Bal, a retired Grand Rapids Public School teacher, shared her personal story of navigating downtown in a wheelchair, looking out for divots in the sidewalk and assessing her ability to enter a restaurant or public restroom.

• Tami VandenBerg explained how her experience working with homeless individuals influenced her understanding of drug policy. Her story is one of well-intended programs and policies that seek to address substance abuse, but fail to take into account the poverty, homelessness and mental health issues that give rise to drug use in the first place.

• Briana Ureña-Ravelo’s story of growing up as a person of color in Grand Rapids reminded all of us that Ferguson, Missouri is not alone in its failure to address the disparate treatment of minority populations by law enforcement and others in a position of power.

Our understanding of the many complex issues facing our community would be lessened without the personal perspectives offered by these citizen journalists. Oftentimes these are stories we might prefer to ignore. They remind us that in spite of the millions of dollars spent on downtown development, residents with mobility impairments are still challenged on a daily basis That we are fighting a losing battle to address substance abuse if we treat it as solely a matter of law enforcement. That racial disparities in law enforcement still exist in Grand Rapids.

These stories, and many others like them, are the reason I provide financial support to The Rapidian during their fund drive. By giving firsthand perspectives on issues that confront our community, these voices on The Rapidian are critical to Grand Rapids becoming the city I want it to be.