Residents across 40 counties in Middle Tennessee now have the opportunity to weigh in on the local media landscape.
Press Forward Middle Tennessee is conducting a regional public survey to understand how individuals in the area access news and information. The survey is open through May 31, and to encourage participation across a wide assortment of ethnic groups, it is available in English, Spanish, Kurdish-Kurmanji and Kurdish-Sorani, according to a release. (Take the survey at this link.)
Through the survey, the local group aims to identify how people across the region access timely, reliable information to navigate daily life and stay connected to their communities. The organization hopes the study will help identify how people receive and share information, what sources they rely on and where gaps exist.
Although there are 156 total outlets in the state according to the Medill Local News Initiative, 23 Middle Tennessee counties have only one outlet. Van Buren County has no local news outlets, while 16 counties in the area have two or more outlets.
The Sycamore Institute, an independent, nonpartisan public policy research center for Tennessee, is serving as the official research partner and facilitator for the survey.
“Understanding how people access and trust information is foundational to strong communities,” says Brian Straessle, president of the Sycamore Institute, in the release. “This survey will help identify patterns, gaps, and opportunities to better support local information systems across Middle Tennessee.”
Recently, the think-tank hosted its third annual forum on May 13, featuring Press Forward executive director Dale Anglin as the keynote speaker. Anglin has grown the national network’s funders sixfold as the organization has invested more than $400 million in local news nationwide.
The Middle Tennessee coalition brings together funders, community partners, residents and news leaders to strengthen the local information ecosystem. It is supported by The Healing Trust and housed at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and led by Kelly Walberg, vice president of Marketing and Communications at CFMT.
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Post. FW Publishing President and CEO Mike Smith and Post editor-in-chief Nicolle Praino are a part of the Press Forward steering committee.
