Recognizing that people in her hometown of Lansing, Illinois, did not have an independent source of information about community events, local government decisions, business developments, school activities, or even public amenities like parks and the library, Melanie founded The Lansing Journal in 2017. The venture began as a partnership with a print newspaper in a neighboring town. When the 2020 pandemic ended that partnership, Melanie took The Lansing Journal portion and developed it into a primarily digital news service that has grown in reach and impact. Melanie is passionate about keeping her diverse community informed and connected.