When WDIV Local 4 Anchor/Reporter Karen Drew reached out to the Michigan Chronicle in April about a historic opportunity to do some impactful storytelling about Highland Park, I had two thoughts. My first thought was “This is a great idea!” My second thought was “This is a crazy idea.”
After my second thought, I thought again about a quote I first heard in journalism school some 20 years ago: “Journalism is a great way to do public service; to have an impact on your community.”
In collaborating with the Michigan Chronicle and Local 4 editorial teams, Karen’s idea evolved from telling a story about Mama Shu Harris winning a CNN Hero’s Award, to telling a few stories about how the Avalon Village community in Highland Park benefited from her efforts, to eventually this groundbreaking idea to spend 24 hours straight reporting live in Highland Park, telling stories about the people, places, business, and organizations that need a spotlight shined on them. It also served as an opportunity to address the city’s ongoing needs.
SEE THE ENTIRE 24-HOUR DAY OF COVERAGE HERE AT CLICKONDETROIT.com.
It was unprecedented. From 6 a.m. on June 3 until shortly after 6 a.m. on June 4, Karen did 24 live shots with people in the city ranging from community developers to business owners to the police chief and families in the city.
I joined her for several of the live shots and members of the Michigan Chronicle’s editorial team, including Donald James and Ebony JJ Curry, also contributed stories to assist in telling important stories about Highland Park. James wrote about the history of Highland Park that helped paint a picture of an economic boom in the 1950s to an economy struggling to pay its utility bills in the 2020s. Curry told the story of Highland Park’s revitalization efforts through commercial and residential development. I told stories about the Reggie McKenzie Foundation and the pivotal role it plays in the development of the youth, and I also wrote about the city’s recent water debt crisis.
I also partnered with Karen to talk Mayor Glenda McDonald and Police Chief James McMahon about crime, other water issues, streetlights, development, and so much more.
It was truly a collaborative effort between two leading Detroit news organizations. The effort resulted in more than 24 stories, told in real time, over an entire day.
“Typically, you see the finished story online or on air. This time you get to see the story gathering – behind the scenes as we talk to folks, shoot our video, and really get a feel and a vibe of this community. By spending 24 hours we get a better grasp of the city,” Karen said.
“I’ve been covering Mama Shu’s contributions to Highland Park for many years, and they are nothing short of legendary. This event is our tribute to her and the city and a call to action for the future,” says Karen Drew. “I wanted to do this to let viewers witness the resilience and spirit of the community.”
The stories aired live on WDIV 4 television and on ClickOnDetroit.com, and the written stories appeared on both ClickOnDetroit.Com and MichiganChronicle.com. There’s also a library of videos on the Click On Detroit / WDIV / Local 4 YouTube channel.
“As someone raised in Highland Park, I have witnessed firsthand the tenacity and resolve of this community This 24-hour news event is a testament to the enduring strength and potential of Highland Park,” said Hiram E. Jackson, Publisher of the Michigan Chronicle. “The Michigan Chronicle’s collaboration with WDIV Local 4 highlights our commitment to telling the stories that matter most to our community and inspiring collective action for a brighter future.”
Bob Ellis, General Manager of Local 4 emphasized the significance of the event and the continued growth of his station’s partnership with Michigan Chronicle.
“Our collaboration with the Michigan Chronicle underscores our commitment to community storytelling and the powerful role of local media in fostering understanding and change. We are proud to bring this multiplatform, historic event to life,” he said.
The 24 Hours in Highland Park series didn’t end when the cameras stopped rolling in the early hours of June 4, though. Local 4 and Michigan Chronicle will follow this historic event by condensing the day into a one-hour special, which will air on each entity’s digital platforms in mid-June. On June 26, the media companies will come together again for a town hall, filled with lawmakers, residents, nonprofits, and other business leaders who are willing to help create solutions to some of the longstanding problems.
“Whatever we discover and learn from our 24 hours in Highland Park, we can talk about and then make a plan. How can we highlight and help Highland Park and Avalon Village?” Karen said.
We went into the day not knowing exactly what to expect. It wasn’t too difficult to execute, technically, but the day was a challenge for a number of reasons. Would the community trust our authenticity as journalists trying to help find solutions? Would families let a news crew into their homes to document their lives? Would public officials be willing to answer tough questions about the city’s challenges? Would Karen be able to endure 24 straight hours of live reporting?
Ultimately, the answer was a resounding “YES!” to all of those questions. We learned a lot about the resolve of Highland Park. We learned that the community is hopeful for what’s next, and that they’re eager to let others know about the things that make their community special.
For me, I know the historic nature of our June 3-4 24 Hours in Highland Park was a great way to do public service and to have an impact on the community.
Thanks to the dozens of Highland Park residents who welcomed us in to tell their stories, and to the city for trusting us to highlight what you told us was important to you.