Invest in independent reporting and civic life in Bloomington
Discover The B Square BulletinThe B Square Bulletin was founded to provide a vital public benefit: fact-driven, independent reporting that helps residents understand local government, public institutions, and the policies that shape daily life.
Founded by veteran journalist Dave Askins, The B Square Bulletin is a digital-first newsroom dedicated to civic transparency, government accountability, and the belief that an informed public is essential to a healthy democracy.
We cover what others often overlook—from the details of city council meetings to the nuances of county council debates, housing policy, public safety, infrastructure, and local elections. We’ve built tools like BloomDocs.org, a public document repository that gives residents and other media access to original source materials. We’re working to expand our reporting on education, public health, and community life.
In a region where many local media outlets have seen reduced resources, shrinking scope, and decisions made by corporate ownership outside the communities they’re trying cover, The B Square Bulletin remains independent and locally focused. We combine traditional on-the-ground beat reporting with 21st-century digital data analysis—serving as a daily resource for residents who want to stay informed, empowered, and civically engaged.
What sets us apart
Context and access
The B Square Bulletin’s mission is to build understanding. Our reporting connects the dots between decisions made at city hall, the library board, and other public institutions, and how those decisions shape daily life in Bloomington and Monroe County. We pair original reporting with public records, explanatory context, and direct access to source documents housed in our public archive, BloomDocs.org.
Independent, nonpartisan, and local
Our agenda is public accountability. We believe the people of Monroe County deserve fair, accurate, and transparent reporting—not filtered through the lens of corporate ownership or political spin.
Voice without noise
We believe journalism can be serious without being dull. Our reporting has personality—measured, thoughtful, and human. When you read The B Square Bulletin, you can tell there’s a human being behind the byline who knows the beat, knows the community, and knows the stakes.
Original coverage, not just press releases
Our reporting is original, on-the-ground, and focused on local systems that shape civic life: city and county government, public education, infrastructure, housing, elections, budgets, and public safety. We show up, take notes, and ask hard questions—even when no one else is in the room.
Community reach
Our stories travel. They’re cited in public meetings, linked in newsletters, and shared widely among Bloomington’s civic and professional networks. We collaborate with local media and other organizations, and we pursue stories that have significant community impact.
Plan for growth
The B Square Bulletin is preparing for a new chapter: growing from a one-person operation into a full newsroom with expanded reporting capacity and deeper community engagement. With additional support, we will:
- Hire full-time reporters to broaden coverage of local government, education, housing, and civic life
- Expand our reporting on K–12 schools, high school sports, breaking public safety updates, weather advisories, business, arts, entertainment, and property transfers
- Build public tools like BloomDocs.org, making civic documents more accessible to residents, other journalists, and researchers alike
- Launch new engagement features, including a comprehensive community calendar and locally themed puzzles that inform while they entertain
Empower an informed community
Call our Business Development team to learn how your support strengthens civic journalism in Bloomington.
Kelly Carnahan
(812) 360-9388 or Kelly@WriteDesignGroup.com
Jim Stowers
(812) 272-8170 or Jim@WriteDesignGroup.com