We are your neighbors. We are Black Squirrel News.

Local news faces real challenges. Traditional newsrooms have shrunk, leaving critical gaps in coverage.

At the same time, the ways people consume news have shifted toward social and digital platforms. In these spaces, attention spans are shorter, algorithms often reinforce what we already believe, and echo chambers make it harder to encounter diverse perspectives.

It can also be difficult to clearly distinguish between verified reporting and opinion.

Together, these trends make it harder for Calhoun County residents to find reliable, meaningful local news.

Black Squirrel News aims to help fill that gap – from Battle Creek to Albion, Marshall, Springfield, Homer, Athens and Tekonsha, to Pennfield, Bedford and Emmett townships.

We focus on three complementary pillars: collecting and sharing local news, producing original reporting, and promoting news and media literacy so our community can navigate the information landscape.

If you live in Calhoun County, you know the black squirrel.

Ubiquitous, resilient, sometimes pesky, always busy and fiercely determined, they are an intrinsic part of life here, from the city center to rural roads.

When the community members who launched this multimedia effort considered a name, we realized there was no better representation of who we want to be than the melanistic Eastern gray squirrel — unofficially and locally, the black squirrel.

Their presence in the region dates back to the fossil record. Contrary to local lore, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg did not introduce them, though he was fond of the critters, importing populations to the Sanitarium grounds more than a century ago to help drive out the red squirrel, which was more prominent and destructive to property at the time.

Black squirrels are winter-hardened, agile, competitive and relentless. They are problem-solvers, constantly gathering, adapting and nurturing the next generation. We aspire to the same grit in our work.

Like the squirrels themselves, our roots are here. We are a fixture of this place. Even in difficult conditions, we are driven to survive and thrive.

We believe a more informed and connected Calhoun County benefits everyone. The solution is collective: when neighbors read, share and engage with local reporting, we all gain a stronger, healthier community.

We are a cooperative, built on shared community ownership. Like squirrels building a winter cache together, we rely on one another. Our community is our eyes, our ears and our strength. Driven to collect and protect every nut, we pursue every story and share it truthfully, fairly and accessibly.

We will be transparent. We know the gaps are vast and our community’s need is urgent. We launch with passion, but we are not yet the comprehensive newsroom Calhoun County ultimately needs. We commit to doing a few things well, expanding as our membership, resources and support grow.

We are your neighbors, working hard to gather the information this community needs to thrive. Today, you can share tips, story ideas, or connect with us at newsroom@blacksquirrelnews.com. As Black Squirrel News grows, the community will have even more ways to shape local reporting and build the news resource our county deserves.