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Changing Gears: Remaking the Manufacturing Belt is one of seven CPB-funded Local Journalism Centers. Michigan Radio, Chicago Public Radio, and ideastream (the parent of Cleveland's WVIZ-TV and 90.3 WCPN) have partnered to form this LJC that explores the future of the industrial Midwest via journalism and public engagement.

Changing Gears' coverage focuses on five main themes: jobs and job creation, community redevelopment, education, the environment and agriculture, and cultural issues. Each week, senior editor Micheline Maynard, along with reporters Dan Bobkoff in Cleveland, Niala Boodhoo in Chicago, and Kate Davidson in Ann Arbor, tell the stories of individuals, family businesses, and innovators — their struggles and solutions, their efforts to reinvent themselves, and their capacity to cope with difficult times.

Local journalism centers

Local Journalism Centers are CPB-funded groups of 3-8 public radio and TV stations collaborating to produce multimedia, multi-platform content focused on a topic of regional interest. Each Local Journalism Center has an editor and newly hired reporters (one per station) as well as a facilitator for community engagement. The projects build local journalism capacity; emphasize digital content and distribution; and emphasize diversity of people, voices and views. There are 41 TV and radio stations taking part. They have added 52 new journalists to the public media system. CPB's investment of $8.1 million was matched with a station investment of $4 million.