An update from our Ward 7 Community Connector
While we have a snapshot of what residents want from local news, we have so much more to learn.
In late December, I became the first Community Connector for The 51st, focusing on Ward 7, where I’ve lived for the past six years. The program’s goal is to learn about how residents engage with local news, and how The 51st can help fill gaps between local media and the communities we serve.
Ward 7 is home to some 90,000 residents (as of 2023), spread among about 28 neighborhoods. And while there is some shared demographic information, Ward 7 residents are not a monolith. We have diverse wants and needs — both for ourselves and for local news outlets.
With Wendell Felder replacing longtime D.C. councilmember Vincent Gray this year, there is palpable excitement for the future of the ward. Coverage is needed, and The 51st plans to step up to the plate.
How we’ve connected so far
As a pilot program, this is a work in progress. And as a journalist, I had a lot to learn about connecting with communities, even the one in which I live.
One method we used to get feedback was creating and distributing a survey to help us understand a few things:
- How and where Ward 7 residents get their news
- What kinds of news they would like to see more — and less— of
- How The 51st can build trust between our outlet and Ward 7 residents
I also conducted one-on-one interviews with Ward 7 residents and reached out to community leaders, ANCs, activists, and community centers.
I popped up at the Francis A. Gregory Library on Alabama Avenue SE, which was the perfect venue to stop people, let them know about The 51st, and ask about their individual news and information needs.
A glimpse at our findings
While the data collected doesn’t represent all the desires of all Ward 7 residents, it does offer a snapshot of residents’ concerns.
Respondents to our survey came from several neighborhoods, including Benning Heights, Deanwood, Penn Branch, and Hill East, to name a few.
About 58% of those surveyed identified as Black or African American and 45% as white. People who identified as American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Jewish each made up 3% of the respondents. (Those percentages add up to more than 100 because some people selected more than one option.) More than 40% of respondents fell between the 30 - 39 age range, followed by 40 - 49 year olds. The remaining respondents were 50 or older. And about a quarter of respondents said they were born and raised in the city.
When something happens in their neighborhoods, most people surveyed said they don’t necessarily go to a local or national news outlet to learn more. Most turn first to social media, friends, and group texts.
When they do look to local news, the top five things respondents said they seek are local government and policy updates, weather updates, crime and safety reports, accountability reporting, and restaurant and entertainment guides and reviews.
Our survey also revealed that a large swath of respondents — about 68% — have at least some trust in local news outlets. About 32% said they usually have a lot of trust in local news — but nearly 13% said they have little trust in local journalism and are often skeptical. Promisingly, no participants said they have no trust in local news.
Coverage of Ward 7
Residents who were generous enough to speak with us either in-person or via the survey had a lot to say about Ward 7 reporting.
When we asked how local news outlets cover their communities:
- 38.7% of respondents said the coverage is insufficient or that the ward is rarely covered;
- 29% of respondents said news coverage focuses too much on negative stories;
- 12.9% of respondents said news coverage is fair but lacking depth or nuance.
Many gave specific examples of stories they would like to read (we hope to report on some of those soon). More generally, people want uplifting stories about residents and businesses, more watchdog reporting, economic development updates, details about new programs impacting residents, and explanatory articles that help them navigate the city better.
Where do we go from here?
My biggest takeaway is that building relationships, whether friendships or community connections, take time. There is a lot of trial and error along the way.
Just saying I’m a journalist and community connector doesn’t mean residents will automatically feel compelled or even interested in sharing their thoughts. Trust and buy-in from Ward 7 residents, especially in this climate, will understandably take time. We have to continuously engage until we become a fixture in their lives.
To me, that means more one-on-one conversations, showing up at community gatherings, and hosting listening sessions where residents have a platform to speak their minds.
Hopefully, this is just the beginning of a long, meaningful relationship between Ward 7 and The 51st. And in the meantime, here are a few Ward 7-specific stories we’ve told so far:
Daniella Ignacio
Martin Austermuhle
Martin Austermuhle
