We’ve toiled and teased, and now we’re finally here!
Today is Launch Day for Mirror Indy. I wouldn’t normally capitalize nouns that aren’t proper, but Launch Day has become such a big part of our lives at Mirror Indy that I believe it deserves to be its own holiday.
This is the day we’ve been working toward. Our newsroom staff started with just one — Ariana Beedie, our community journalism director — and continued to grow. Now we’re almost a newsroom of 20, with more on the way.
Our staff has put in long hours in a short time — a couple of months to be exact — to make today possible. I want to thank them for all that they and their families have already given to Mirror Indy.
Our mission at Mirror Indy is to provide community-based journalism that not only informs but also empowers Indianapolis residents to create a better city for all. We envision a stronger Indianapolis. We will tell the real, full and multifaceted story of our city and shine a light on the truth to make Indy stronger. We love our city and are passionate about local news and accountability journalism.
As you look through our website, you’ll see the fruits of our labor. Our main story examines a public pledge to end homelessness five years ago. Unfortunately, challenges remain — and in some ways, they have gotten worse.
You’ll also learn whether or not enough of our children are attending preschool. And you can find resources on blood donations, federal student aid and NaloxBox locations — a vital resource as we continue to deal with an opioids crisis in our city.
We have you covered if you’re looking for something to do around the city. We showcase some of our city’s food trucks, and later in the week, we talk to Ben Rose, artistic director of a new Black equity theater.
That’s just the beginning of what we have planned. We have so much in store for you this week and beyond. The easiest way to stay updated is to sign up for our soon-to-be-daily newsletter. We will bring you the local news you tell us you want, and we’ll do that by getting to know you through community events, public meetings and listening sessions.
To help us accomplish this goal, two neighborhoods reporters are taking their reporting directly into communities throughout our city but especially into areas on the west side and east side that are often underserved. And our beat reporters are digging into health, economics, higher education and more.
In addition to reporters, we have our Documenters — everyday citizens who are exercising their civic duty for our democracy. Documenters attend local government meetings and, as the name suggests, document what occurred. More people attending government meetings and holding officials accountable is a good thing. The Documenters program is a great resource, and you can find their work on our website.
Thank you for visiting Mirror Indy on Launch Day or any other day. I look forward to our nonprofit newsroom becoming your trusted source of news and information.