Here’s how you can support coverage of education, underserved communities in southwest IL
I want to take a moment today to thank you for supporting the BND’s work, especially our expanded coverage of education and underserved communities in the metro-east.
We launched this expansion last year by adding two reporters to our staff, thanks to the nonprofit Report for America program and community financial support. As a result, we’ve been able to deliver over 225 additional stories about topics that are essential to readers. These are stories that we would not have been able to report without additional reporters.
Today we are asking for your continued support of these two reporting positions as we begin our fall fundraising campaign.
Your tax-deductible donations will help the BND continue to deliver quality coverage, from breaking news and stories about important issues to investigative reporting and answers to readers’ questions. Our mission is to provide essential coverage that helps you participate more fully in civic life.
What would your investment in our fall campaign mean? The best way to find out is to review the coverage of reporters DeAsia Paige and Megan Valley, Report for America corps members who joined the BND in June 2020. Megan covers K-12 education and DeAsia covers underserved communities.
On our underserved communities beat, we’ve focused on building trust, seeking feedback and story ideas from residents and bringing a more holistic approach to our coverage of East St. Louis, Cahokia Heights and nearby towns. We tell the stories of these communities through the eyes of the people who live there, while continuing to report on the news of the day and providing critical information about how their tax money is being spent.
Here’s a sampling of our coverage:
Cahokia Heights residents raise questions about $10M grant to fix flooding, sewer issues
A dance legend owned these abandoned East St Louis homes. Local group wants to save them
New monument commemorates southwest IL community’s history as first incorporated Black town
East St. Louis church ordains women as clergy for first time in its long history
A state senator, mayor’s family are on the payroll of southwest Illinois’ newest town
On the education beat, much of our work of late has been related to the coronavirus pandemic, including topics like returning to the classroom, masking mandates and keeping students and educators safe. Our coverage is designed to give parents and other taxpayers accurate, credible public health information. We’ve covered other important education topics as well.
Here’s a sampling:
Here’s where to learn about COVID cases in your kid’s St. Clair County school district
This southwestern Illinois defied the mask order. Now it has an outbreak
What changes at southwest Illinois schools will help limit COVID quarantines?
Students in Illinois are returning to school after a year of COVID. Here’s what to know
With Kings Point purchase, Belleville 201 follows local need for career, tech training
Our expanded coverage is making a difference in southwestern Illinois, but we’re not stopping there. We are working hard to grow and improve our coverage as we move ahead.
Your help is key to making all of this happen.
Are you willing to join our fall campaign to help continue supporting expanded education and underserved communities coverage in southwest Illinois?
Philanthropic support is now a critical component of funding community news organizations like the BND as we’ve worked to strengthen local reporting and find the right path to a financially healthy future. Subscriptions and local advertising are also important. We need all three - community funding, subscriptions and advertising - to support essential, local public service journalism.
You can make a tax-deductible gift to support this expanded coverage at bnd.com/donate or by mail.
If you prefer to mail your donation, please make checks payable to “Journalism Funding Partners” or “JFP.” The publication name - Belleville News-Democrat - must be included in the memo line of your check. If you also include your email address, we can send you an acknowledgment of your donation.
Please send your check to McClatchy, 1601 Alhambra Blvd, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95816.
If you are unsure about whether to make a contribution and want to discuss it, please contact me at 618-239-2551 or jcouch@bnd.com. I would welcome the conversation.
We are committed to covering important local stories in southwestern Illinois, as we have for over 163 years. Your financial help will ensure that we continue fulfilling that mission.
As always, we thank you for reading and supporting the Belleville News-Democrat.
Jeffry Couch is editor and general manager of the Belleville News-Democrat.
This story was originally published October 24, 2021 at 5:00 AM.