Meet Meredith Howard, the BND’s service journalism reporter: I find answers on your behalf

Editor’s note: Meredith Howard wrote this letter to subscribers last month. We’re sharing it with all BND readers today.

If you search online to find answers to questions about life in the metro-east, you’re likely using service journalism on a regular basis.

I get emails from time to time asking about what service journalism is (it’s also sometimes referred to as utility journalism). To me, service journalism focuses on applying the news to local residents’ lives. When a new law is passed, my story talks about how regulations will affect you, and when new vaccines become available, I write about how and where you can access them.

Other reader-focused articles I’ve written include how our water quality will be affected by losing a native species and how safe local hospitals are. Some of my favorite things to write about include animals, the environment and public health, but I cover a wide variety of topics.

Service journalism aims to answer readers’ questions and provide helpful information about how to live your life more efficiently. I appreciate receiving feedback from readers and hearing what you want to read about.

We’ve recently launched a new survey for Belleville News-Democrat readers to share story ideas or tips and let us know what questions you have about life in southwestern Illinois. It’s called Metro-east Matters, and you can fill out the survey here or email me at mhoward@bnd.com with story ideas.

I started at the Belleville News-Democrat in March 2022, and I also contribute to McClatchy’s Lexington Herald-Leader in Kentucky and Centre Daily Times in Pennsylvania. I’m based in St. Louis.

I’ve lived in seven states but consider Springfield, Illinois, home. I got my start in journalism at Lincoln Land Community College’s student newspaper, The Lamp, where I served as editor-in-chief as a dual-enrolled high schooler.

My work also appears in the Illinois Times, Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, Gateway Journalism Review and the Baylor Lariat, my alma mater Baylor University’s student newspaper.

Off the clock, I can often be found reading, doing yoga or getting outside with my dog, Millie. If you do a phone interview with me, you’re likely to hear her shenanigans going on in the background.

Thanks for reading my work and for supporting the BND through your subscription and sharing your ideas. We couldn’t do this work without you!