Appen Media open forum visits July Moon Bakery

Appen Media Group’s penultimate Listening Tour stop June 20 at July Moon Bakery and Café drew about a dozen attendees equipped with story ideas and questions for newsroom staff.

The series, with monthly stops in each of the company’s seven coverage areas, allows the public to provide tips and suggestions on how to strengthen reporting. So far, staff have made rounds in Dunwoody, Roswell, Johns Creek, Forsyth County and Milton to gain valuable insight from residents. 

Publisher Hans Appen kicked off the event with news from the Georgia Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest where staff took home 17 awards, including first place in General Excellence, and 10 more in advertising. 

The floor was turned over to visitors who advised staff to explore the impact of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s project along Ga. 9 amid a fraud investigation. Appen Media reported the probe involves a now-former Georgia Department of Transportation official associated with the Ga. 9 widening project.