Letter from the Editor: We want to hear from youth!

April 13, 2026

BridgeDetroit, a civic news organization, has initiated a Youth Engagement Survey targeting high school students to better understand how young people consume news and engage with their community. The survey explores students' media habits, information evaluation methods, and their needs for civic participation, including voting preparation. This initiative emerged from feedback received at BridgeDetroit's 2025 "Meet the Candidates" events, where young attendees revealed gaps in how local news reaches youth audiences.

Who is affected

High school students in Detroit (under 18)
BridgeDetroit staff and newsroom
Detroit residents broadly
Schools and after-school programs in Detroit
Youth-serving organizations across the city
Community partners working with BridgeDetroit
Young attendees from the 2025 "Meet the Candidates" events

What action is being taken

Distributing the Youth Engagement Survey through schools, after-school programs, and community partners
Collecting and analyzing survey responses
Expanding social video presence under Engagement Editor Bryce Huffman
Increasing coverage of education topics

Why it matters

This initiative matters because it addresses a critical gap in reaching younger audiences with local news and civic information. By understanding how high school students consume information and what issues concern them, BridgeDetroit can adapt its journalism to foster a more informed and engaged next generation of Detroit residents. This effort helps prepare young people for civic participation, including voting, while ensuring the newsroom's reporting reflects the voices and concerns of all age groups in the community, building long-term trust and relevance with future voters and community leaders.

What's next

Share survey findings publicly through newsletters and with partners
Use survey results to guide coverage decisions and determine what stories to cover
Explore future engagement initiatives with youth based on the findings

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com