ISSUE MEDIA GROUP
Incorporated in 2005 in Detroit, Michigan, Issue Media Group (IMG) operates a national network of online media outlets leveraging the power of solutions-based journalism to report on community change. Our publications aim to connect readers to their communities’ most visionary and innovative people, projects, businesses, and organizations – fostering civic capacity, improving understanding of key issues, amplifying underserved voices, and building community attachment during a time of local media decline.
We work with like-minded stakeholders across public, private, nonprofit, and grassroots organizations whose values and missions align with ours through an underwriting publishing model. Our journalists connect with community stakeholders through regular listening sessions designed to build trust and shape authentic community stories.
IMG's work has been recognized and supported by leading journalism organizations nationally, including INC Magazine, Knight Foundation, Columbia Journalism Review, Facebook, Lenfest Institute, Google, Solutions Journalism Network, Ground Source, and Society for Professional Journalists.
MICHIGAN ASSETS
Issue Media Group’s Michigan footprint of 18 local online community news sites is grounded in cross-sector stakeholder coalitions comprised of leadership in foundations, nonprofits, government and municipalities, education, community and economic development, health, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. Through regular community listening sessions, these leadership coalitions help guide relevant community-informed coverage, increase local audience engagement, and ensure influential readership networks.
All Michigan content is published through a growing network of sites that include Detroit’s
Model D, Grand Rapids
Rapid Growth, Metro Detroit’s
Metromode, Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti’s
Concentrate, Kalamazoo / Battle Creek’s
Second Wave Southwest, Flint’s
Flintside, Port Huron’s
The Keel,
Catalyst Midland,
Route Bay City,
Epicenter Mount Pleasant,
UPword in the Upper Peninsula, and
Rural Innovation Exchange covering Michigan's rural community. Every week,
Second Wave is published to a statewide audience featuring a listing of top stories from across IMG’s network of sites. Current Michigan assets include over 120 community partners, 80 journalists, 4.6 million annual readers, 280,000 emails, and 213,000 social media followers.
Detroit's Model D:
www.modeldmedia.com
Second Wave (statewide):
www.secondwavemedia.
MIDWEST ASSETS
Issue Media Group's Midwest footprint includes news coverage in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, and Florida. The growing publications network includes Ohio publications with
Soapbox in Cincinnati, Ohio,
Hub Springfield, Ohio, and
Helm Sandusky, Ohio.
Input Fort Wayne, Indiana,
High Ground News covering Memphis, Tennessee, and
83 Degrees covering Tampa, Florida.