Meet Megan Stringer, a new reporter covering labor and employment in Wichita
Dear readers,
My name is Megan Stringer, and I’m here to work for you. I’ve recently joined the Eagle to cover stories about issues facing the working class, labor and employment.
I’m thrilled to be here talking with workers in the Wichita area about what matters most to them. From our aviation manufacturing employees to our hospitality and service workers, I know the Wichita workforce includes people with diverse experiences and backgrounds.
I’m covering stories on this beat through Report for America, a national service program for journalists. Report for America works with local news organizations across the country to help report on under-covered topics and communities.
As I learn more about Wichita and its workforce, I want to hear from you. This includes folks on the ground like community service providers and union leaders, but most importantly Wichita workers. Your voices will inform my coverage.
Do you work in manufacturing, in health care, in hospitality and restaurants, or for the city or school district? Reach out and tell me what’s on your mind. Have you been impacted by a decline in unions in the Wichita area? What about changes to state workers’ compensation? Have you felt the effects of wage theft on your paycheck or in your community? What about long-term unemployment and economic insecurity? Or, have you heard of a new startup or nonprofit looking to create jobs? A unique program offering assistance to laid-off workers?
I understand that each individual workforce issue does not occur in a vacuum. I want to explore the context and background so that as workers and as readers, you’re getting as full a picture as possible.
I’m interested to hear about all of this and more. As the coronavirus pandemic continues on and businesses reopen, I know some are worried about workplace safety and what our “new normal” will look like. COVID-19 hit our community just as aviation layoffs and furloughs took hold — and I’m committed to covering these topics in their entirety. To do that, I need your help and your insight.
As much as I might write about workers in Wichita, I want to write for you, too. Tell me about what information and resources are most useful to you. Are you not sure where to file a complaint about a workplace safety issue, or how to access unemployment benefits? What you should do if you’re laid off or furloughed? Let me know.
Aside from the issues, I want to hear about the solutions. Do you know an organization working to address workplace safety concerns? Are there people working to employ laid-off folks in new and creative ways during and after this pandemic? These stories are equally important.
If I haven’t mentioned your job or work-related issues here, please reach out. I’m working to fill in a gap and I’m here to listen and take note of my own blind spots.
I am grateful for my job as a reporter here in Wichita, and I look forward to having conversations about issues that matter to you. I’ve included a survey below where you can mention what’s on your mind related to workplace issues and employment.
Wichita, let’s get to work.
This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 4:37 AM.
