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The Michigan Messenger is published by The American Independent News Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
The American Independent News Network (AINN) investigates and disseminates news that impacts public debate and advances the common good. To accomplish its mission, we operate a growing independent online news network, currently comprised of six news sites that provide daily original reporting. An informed citizenry is a fundamental principle of civil society and American democracy; in the words of the Supreme Court in Garrison v. Louisiana: “Speech concerning public affairs is more than self-expression; it is the essence of self government.” Our reporting emphasizes the positive role of democratically elected government in securing the common good and social welfare, and the continuing benefits of our founding culture of egalitarian government by the people, for the people.
The American Independent News Network is funded by individual donors and foundations. For a current list of supporters, please visit The American Independent News Network and consider making a tax deductible contribution to support our work.
History
The American Independent News Network was founded as the Center for Independent Media on May 1, 2006, as a nonpartisan nonprofit organization. The organization created the New Journalist Pilot Program to test the hypothesis that a melding of blog technology with the standards of professional journalism could produce original news and information, which in turn would contribute to diversifying public debate around issues of importance.
The New Journalist Pilot Program operated first in two states — Colorado and Minnesota. Seventeen people participated in this fellowship program, collectively producing more than 2,200 original reports from July through October. A significant number of these reports triggered statewide and national attention, by drawing attention to important issues through the production of news that adhered to the standards of professional journalism. Approximately 29 million Americans were reached through the program, online and offline via television, radio, and newspapers picking up stories originated by the Fellows in the program.
Based on the successful performance of the New Journalist Pilot Program, a decision was made to expand operations and increase the number of programs. In May 2007, the Center for Independent Media launched its third program, in Iowa. In September 2007, the Center launched its fourth program, in Michigan. A national program, based in Washington, D.C., was launched in January 2008, followed by a New Mexico program in April 2008. A Florida program is scheduled to launch in June 2010.
In January 2010, the Center for Independent Media changed its name to The American Independent News Network to better reflect its mission as an online news network.
Reach
From the launch of our first site in July 2006 through December 2009, AINN has tallied:
* 33.6 million unique visitors on sites.
* 1,430 citations of our reporters in newspapers and periodicals.
* 680 appearances by our reporters on TV and radio.
* All told, our reporters generated over 750 million impressions on TV, radio, and newspapers.
Privacy Policy
The Michigan Messenger does not share personal registration information with third-party entities not affiliated with The American Independent News Network. Your information will remain private and will be used only in aggregate (not personally identifiable) terms for site evaluation purposes.
Comment Policy
The Michigan Messenger is a news and commentary site. We are pleased to have a large and politically diverse audience, and we understand that many comment threads can inhibit instead of stimulate discussion, depending on the tone and nature of comments. In order to keep our threads on topic and accessible to all people, we ask that the following guidelines be followed:
* Please stay on the topic of the post.
* Keep discussions respectful: Different viewpoints and opinions are welcome; personal attacks and obscenity are not.
* Automated posting, including spam techniques currently used, or repeated posting of material, is not acceptable. Press releases and content consisting largely of material cut and pasted from other sites will be considered spam.
* Commenters assuming the identities of others or creating multiple identities in an effort to deceive are subject to removal. One username per IP/email address, please.
The Michigan Messenger may delete comments that do not adhere to these guidelines.
Michigan state Editor
Ed Brayton
Ed Brayton is the state editor of the Michigan Messenger and the voice behind the popular blog Dispatches from the Culture Wars. He is co-founder of Michigan Citizens for Science and has written for such publications as the Bard, Skeptic and Reports of the National Center for Science Education. He has appeared as a guest on several nationally syndicated radio talk shows, has addressed many state and national organizations and conferences and has appeared on C-SPAN. He also hosts a weekly radio show called Declaring Independence on WPRR, 1680-AM in Grand Rapids.
Michigan Fellows
Todd A. Heywood
Todd Heywood comes to the CIM with a plethora of experiences in the public forum. Todd has worked in journalism, advocacy politics, public relations, politics and even served a stint as an elected official. He currently is the Capitol correspondent for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender publication Between the Lines. He holds an associate’s general degree from Lansing Community College with focuses in history, substance-abuse prevention and intervention, and theater performance. In addition to his work in journalism, Heywood, as he prefers to be called, continues to nurture his love of theater by running a small community theater, Sunsets with Shakespeare. Plays he authored have been produced in the University of Michigan Basement Arts program, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids, local coffeehouses and in St. Louis, Mo. His work in theater won him a Pulsar Award as best community director in 2005, a Player’s Award for his portrayal of Otto Frank in “The Diary of Anne Frank” for Lansing Civic Players and a Barney Award from Riverwalk Theatre for best supporting actor in 1997. He lives in Lansing with his beloved dogs Virgil and Gypsy Rose.
Eartha Jane Melzer calls the northwestern lower peninsula home.
Eartha Jane Melzer is a 1997 graduate of Antioch College with a degree in cross-cultural communications. Her documentary work has appeared in outlets as diverse as Fox News and the Inter-American Court on Human Rights. She has worked as a freelance reporter and staff writer for the Washington Blade. She recently returned to her hometown — lovely Traverse City, Mich. — with hopes of covering environmental and social issues in the Great Lakes state. Eartha received an Honorable Mention from the National Press Club for the Hume Award this year, in relation to her investigative reporting on private security company Sovereign Deed.
David Alire Garcia
David Alire Garcia is a Detroit-based reporter/blogger for the Michigan Messenger. He’s been a full-time journalist for the past nine years. During that time he’s worked for both daily and alternative weekly newspapers, public radio as well as public television. As a reporter, editorial writer, columnist, and local PBS TV affiliate show host, David has produced everything from long-form feature stories to award-winning video mini-documentaries. His writing has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Dallas Morning News, and Hispanic magazine, among other publications. David can be contacted at david(at)michiganmessenger.com..
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