Dear media colleagues and friends,
This is a special time of the year to share our thanks and send you our best wishes for 2025.
Your participation is helping us grow the first-ever association of ethnic media serving Greater Houston which is dedicated to strengthening the visibility and viability of our sector.
At our annual holiday planning luncheon, we surveyed 31 of our 40+ colleagues at our last convening about what we want to accomplish together as a network.
Here’s what you said:
Top three topics of interest for HEM’s news briefings:
Women’s health, immigration and education, followed by small businesses and government/politics.
People also wrote-in a wide range of topics. While there was no obvious trend, respondents shared a hunger for information and engagement that will keep our network relevant for a long time.
Most important news for your audience:
Clear winners were pragmatics: events and issues that have a direct impact on your audience or news the community can use to improve their safety/circumstances/etc.
The responses underscore the valuable role of ethnic media as a community service.
Resources you value from the HEM network:
Content, sources, and fellowships (revenue) for reporters were ranked as the top three. A clear majority do use the content, as well as recaps and social media posts.
Biggest challenge is revenue streams:
15/28 say you are very worried or worried about sustainability. The key revenue source is still commercial ads.
Everyone wants to participate in the Expo/Awards!
The network welcomes a chance to expand beyond your particular cultural silo and work collaboratively on special reporting projects, expand your use of social media, and have opportunities to engage with stakeholders in the civic realm. You also expressed strong interest in working across generational lines. Literally, everyone wants to participate in our planned Expo & Awards on July 8, 2025.
We’re inspired to plan for 2025 with your support, knowing that working together we can do more to serve our communities than working on our own.
With our thanks to all of you, and a special shout out to Houston Endowment, which never asks for acknowledgement, for their support of our work.
