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Letter from the Editor Dear Reader, Asteroids and glaciers each have the power to radically alter the landscape. But only one gets a blockbuster movie starring Bruce Willis.
That carries over to journalism and news reporting: We cover lots of dramatic breaking news and topics that readily capture your attention. We also cover protracted, process-oriented stories that are – to be charitable – dry or complex. In many cases, the latter have more long-term impact.
Such is the case with a political redistricting process underway in Michigan right now, and MLive’s coverage of it. The stakes are high – the new maps that emerge will determine how Michigan residents are represented in government until the 2030 U.S. Census.
But it’s a lot like a glacier receding, not a “bang” like a rock from space hitting the Earth. For the journalist, it means covering multitudes of meetings without immediate conclusions – just lots and lots of discussion, reports to read, and “what’s next” stories.
Political reporter Lauren Gibbons covers redistricting for MLive. Fortunately for all of us, she says she finds the unfolding story “fascinating.”
“Most Michigan residents don't have time to watch hours of redistricting meetings every day to keep up with what's going on. So, I've tried to serve readers by making a wonky topic more accessible.”
She does that by focusing less on the map-making minutia and more on the people — the people drawing the maps, the people affected by them, the people attempting to wield influence on the outcomes.
For instance, she profiled the 13 citizen commission members who are redrawing the maps. Some are Republicans, some Democrats, and the others are independent. They hail from all over the state, and are in their seats because Michigan voters in 2018 approved a new system for drawing political districts that took the Legislature out of the process.
“The setup is unlike any the state has ever seen before, and was designed with fairness in mind,” Gibbons said. “But the reality is that there's an infinite number of ways the maps can be drawn, and it's a difficult process.”
Gibbons finds interesting and informative angles all along the way. At the outset, she showed how the exercise 10 years ago led to minority voters being “packed” into certain Detroit districts to minimize their voting power. She explained why the process has been less transparent to Michigan citizens than the commission had pledged. She reported that the chair of the commission missed 10 of the first 14 meetings, and all of the first three map-drawing sessions.
And she’s starting to enjoy the sweetest feeling a process-covering reporter can have: Results.
Last week, after a month of work, the redistricting commission released its first finished work product – initial proposals for the state’s 38 Senate districts.
“Commissioners have had a steep learning curve as they figure out how to balance all the state and federal requirements aimed at making political districts reflect the citizens they serve,” Gibbons said. “If the commission is successful, districts will better reflect the political makeup of the people and communities contained in them.”
Before we all get too excited about the Senate maps being done, I should note that the commission needs to redraw the maps for all Michigan House districts, and for congressional districts, in time for public hearings in October.
And it’s already missed several deadlines along the way, in part because U.S. Census data was delayed. Ever the journalist, Gibbons has hit hers, and will continue to as this glacial, but very consequential, process plays out this fall.
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Want to weigh in on the redistricting process? Residents can offer feedback on their preferred district lines in person or remotely during regular commission meetings, or submit comments and proposed draft maps to the commission’s public comment portal.
For more information, Michiganders can check out the commission’s website or call 833-968-3729, although formal comments on the redistricting process cannot be taken over the phone. Those without internet access can mail their feedback to the commission at MICRC, PO Box 30318, Lansing, MI 48909.
Editor's note: I value your feedback to my columns, story tips and your suggestions on how to improve our coverage. Let me know how MLive helps you, and how we can do better. Please feel free to reach out by emailing me at [email protected].
John Hiner Executive Editor Vice President of Content Mlive Media Group
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