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The Planet Detroit Health & Environment Transparency Collaborative brings together journalists, researchers and advocates dedicated to establishing transparent environmental and public health information in metro Detroit and Michigan. Via istockphoto

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  • At Planet Detroit, openness and transparency are at the core of our mission and allow us and our partners to uncover critical stories that impact public health and the environment.
  • A new collaborative aims to drive more transparent environmental and public health information policy for the greater Detroit and Michigan local news ecosystem.
  • Get involved in the effort to ensure Michigan open records and vital information are accessible to all.


Here’s a little secret: Reporters don’t really have superpowers (unless you’re Clark Kent, of course). Their power is rooted in their ability to hold individuals and institutions accountable through investigative journalism.

That’s only possible because of open access to information, which empowers communities to make informed decisions and drive positive change. So, as we celebrate National Sunshine Week, it’s a good time to appreciate the essential role of Michigan open records in advancing public transparency and government accountability. 

At Planet Detroit, openness and transparency are at the core of our mission and allow us and our partners to uncover critical stories that impact public health and the environment. For instance, our Air Quality Violations tracker, built upon state data that is difficult to find and parse on the state’s website, has enabled us to report on issues like the air pollution caused by a steel slag processor in Southwest Detroit. 

Additionally, our investigations into Black infant mortality rates in Detroit, based on reports from the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, have highlighted concerning trends that demand attention and action.

And our series on lead exposure in children is only possible because of the open records we have access to at MiTracking, Michigan’s environmental public health tracker. In just five years, Planet Detroit has reported dozens of stories on the topic.

A new day for Michigan open records

Building on our commitment to transparency, we are thrilled to celebrate Sunshine Week with the launch of the Planet Detroit Health & Environment Transparency Collaborative. This effort brings together journalists, researchers and advocates dedicated to establishing a transparent environmental and public health information environment in metro Detroit and Michigan.

The group, supported in part by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan’s Detroit Journalism Engagement Fund, aims to drive a focus on more transparent environmental and public health information policy for the greater Detroit and Michigan local news ecosystem, raising awareness about the importance of open records and data in community advocacy and decision-making. 

The collaborative includes representatives from the following organizations: 

We invite you to join us in this important initiative as we work towards fostering a more transparent and informed society. Together, we can drive meaningful change and ensure that Michigan open records and vital information are accessible to all.

For more details and to get involved, contact Nina Ignaczak nina@planetdetroit.org or sign up for updates via this form.

Nina Misuraca Ignaczak is an award-winning Metro Detroit-based editor, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. She is the founder, publisher, and editor of Planet Detroit, a digital media startup focused on producing quality climate, equity, health, and environment journalism that centers grassroots voices, holds power accountable, and spotlights solutions. Planet Detroit has received awards and recognition from the Society for Professional Journalists Detroit, the Institute for Nonprofit News, and LION Publishers since its establishment in 2019. Prior to her journalism career, Nina worked in urban planning in local government and nonprofit sectors, holding a Master of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.