FIRST & 42 has a new look, a new home, and a sharper focus. After months of building, testing, and refining, today we are launching an updated website, refreshed branding and logo, and a cleaner newsletter that matches how Southwest Michigan reads and shares local progress.
Back in January, we sent out a reader survey and heard from more than 50 avid readers. We wanted to dig deeper into what you needed most, and your input shaped real changes: faster pages, clearer headlines, and easier paths to events, jobs, and original stories.
What’s new:
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New website: faster navigation, improved story pages, and a better mobile experience.
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Refreshed branding: a new logo and unified visuals across web, newsletter, and social.
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New newsletter design: cleaner layout with bigger visuals and smarter sections.
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New frequency: publishing every other Monday, beginning Monday, September 15, 2025.
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Updated submission pricing: simpler, reduced rates to encourage more community stories. You can view details on our Submit Content page.
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Story suggestions: we are now actively encouraging readers to send suggestions. When a story clearly serves the region and aligns with our mission, our editorial team may feature it at no cost, although coverage is not guaranteed. Sponsored placements remain available for organizations that want guaranteed timing.
This launch is just the start, with plenty more exciting updates on the way. Our goal is to keep FIRST & 42 ever evolving to best serve readers and the region. Ahead, you will see more original reporting, short interviews with local leaders and makers, improved topic navigation, easier search, and expanded guides for events, jobs, and how to get your stories in front of the community. We will continue to listen, learn, and iterate so that each issue feels more useful, more readable, and more reflective of Southwest Michigan.
Be part of it: subscribe to the newsletter, submit your content, send a tip, share feedback, and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.