I'm the new Indy Public Editor and here's how I plan to do the job - Poynter

"When I told my close friends in Washington state that I was moving back to Indiana, many did not understand. Why would I trade the mountains and ocean of the Pacific Northwest for the Rust Belt, Middle America, Flyover Country? In my friends' eyes, I was heading to an unwelcoming, featureless, and highly segregated area of the country. Indiana is misunderstood."

"The national media narrative flattens us into caricatures, a habit that misrepresents who Midwesterners are and leads to distrust of the news media in general. Indianapolis is the first media market anywhere to have a citywide public editor. And I have the privilege of being the first person to fill the role. I will serve as a liaison between news consumers and the Indianapolis news ecosystem, answering the questions of my audience and holding the press accountable."

"It's clear to me that those dismissive labels rob us of our true identity. Just because our landscape is flat doesn't mean we are one-dimensional. Just because we aren't an airline hub doesn't mean we aren't worldly. Hoosiers are diverse, generous, community-minded, and enthusiastic sports fans. The Indianapolis I've come to know since I moved here in 2021, is friendly and welcoming, a foodie town and a sports mecca."

A move from Washington state to Indiana prompted surprise and revealed stereotypes that depict Indiana as unwelcoming, featureless, and highly segregated. Those dismissive labels obscure a more complex regional identity. Flat landscapes and fewer airline hubs do not equate to one-dimensionality or lack of worldliness. Hoosiers display diversity, generosity, community focus, and enthusiasm for sports; Indianapolis combines friendliness, a vibrant food scene, and sports culture. The widening gap between local self-perception and national portrayals stems from growing national media influence and shrinking local journalism. A citywide public editor role will link news consumers with local outlets, answer audience questions, and hold the press accountable amid widespread mistrust and polarization.

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