The decline of local media means that too many communities receive only negative coverage, or none at all. IMG publications are platforms for communities to uplift and shape their own stories — stories that, in reality, defy the divisions we’re constantly being told define our society. In Soapbox Cincinnati, our Middletown Partner City series recently featured forthcoming projects that will reinvigorate a struggling mall, provide free tuition for local college students, and modernize the local fire department. These initiatives are driven not by differences but by shared goals: a strong community, opportunities for young people, and public safety.  And you’ve probably heard something about Springfield, Ohio, a community that has experienced far more than its share of inaccurate media portrayals. The Hub counters that by illuminating the city’s true narrative, which includes a dynamic arts and culture scene, a welcoming community, and a vibrant ecosystem of parks and green spaces.  

In our ongoing Nonprofit Journal project – an IMG initiative that started soon into the COVID pandemic to document the stories of challenges nonprofits faced at the time – leaders in the sector today continue to share insights and stories of coming together to think bigger, solve problems, and execute transformative projects. For this project, IMG has partnered with the Michigan Nonprofit Association, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, and Co.act Detroit.  

From our Tampa-area publication, 83 Degrees, we reported on how local government and a nonprofit are leveraging a federal EPA grant for infrastructure projects that increase economic opportunity, reduce pollution, protect the public health, and improve the quality of life in the at-risk neighborhood west of the University of South Florida.

We regularly report on challenges and solutions from the disability community. Here is one recent example: 

• Broadway Grand Rapids: Accessibility, innovation raise the curtain for all tells the inspiring story of breaking down access barriers so everyone can enjoy live theater's magic together. 

It turns out when we consider how to provide oral healthcare for people with varying needs, we end up with better oral healthcare for everyone. That's one takeaway from Inclusive dentistry: Transforming access for patients with disabilities, part of a new series focused on challenges and solutions related to oral health in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.  

It took just a few hours for Hurricane Helene to devastate Clearwater Beach late last September. But the community came together and rebounded: Hotels are wrapping up repairs in anticipation of the spring break season; grants from the local chamber of commerce have buoyed small businesses from bakeries to barbershops; neighbors have shown grit and resilience as they pitch in to help one another. The result: a sense of progress and optimism in the new year.

In a two-part series, Model D asked two critical questions: “What is it like to be homeless and Detroit?” and “What would it take to end homelessness in Detroit?” With humanity and curiosity, these stories delved into the experience of losing your home and trying to find your footing again, as well as the creative and grinding work of those who work to end homelessness.   

In Mt. Pleasant, we wrote about a public charter school innovating in education through project-based learning and real-world applications. The coverage generated excitement for the Renaissance Academy, and it contributed to enrollment growth at the school.

And in Detroit, an installment in our “Resilient Neighborhoods” series was about how a community is beginning to rebound in part because of a focus on the health and quality of life of its residents. The executive director of HOPE Village Revitalization told us that “the timeliness of the story was perfect.”

Route Bay City began publishing in 2018, thanks in a big part to the leadership at the Bay Area Community Foundation, which helped gather philanthropic and community entities to fill the news gap by supporting and underwriting Route Bay City.