Building a better news network: What we learned at St. Luke’s

What Happens When You Just Listen?
At St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Hot Springs, sixteen community members came together for a conversation. They showed up to talk about how we share news in Bath County, and what’s falling through the cracks.

In Part Two of our series Building a Better Local News Network, we reflect on that first community listening session—what questions came up, what concerns were raised, and why these conversations matter. From the challenges of federal funding to the differences between nonprofit and commercial radio, it was a candid, grounded exchange rooted in care for this place we call home.

This work is supported by the Listening Post Collective, a nonprofit that helps communities build stronger, more inclusive local information networks. Their mission is simple: listen first, then build solutions that actually reflect the needs of the people living there.

As part of this project, we’re using anonymous surveys, attending public events, and hosting listening sessions across the 220 Corridor to better understand how people get their information—and how we can help close the gaps.

🎧 Tune in to hear what your neighbors are saying—and how you can be part of shaping the future of local news in Bath County.