Flint, Mi –
If you are reading this, THANK YOU.
My name is Rob Kost. I am the Founder & Editor in Chief of The Flint City Times. I started The Flint City Times in the summer of 2024 out of a need to share the Flint I know with the world, and to share the world I know with Flint.
In the third grade, I took a field trip to the Flint Journal, and I couldn’t help but fall in love. Even as a kid, I knew the architecture of the building was special. The presses were still on site, and it felt like history was being printed before my eyes. Peter Parker grew up to be a photojournalist; why couldn’t I?
I grew up in the Carman-Ainsworth school district, learning to love writing, history, music, art, current events, pop culture, etc. As I’ve aged over the years, I’ve begun to realize how so many aspects of my life are steeped in Flint culture. I am proud of that.
I am also so proud of what The Flint City Times has already accomplished. We’ve been able to share what individuals like Jeff Skigh, and Adriana Lanice have been doing in and for our communities. We’ve covered boxing champions like Ardreal Holmes Jr. and Claressa Shields. We’ve reported on Flint Firebirds hockey, Kamala Harris’ visit, City Council happenings, and the Genesee County Jail’s IGNITE program. There was so much to cover, we quickly outgrew our webhost and needed to make adjustments for the long haul.
With a fresh and intentionally redesigned website, we are excited to continue to deliver more of what you have come to expect from us.
That brings us to today.
While we are excited to continue to cover and highlight the good that goes on in the city, we also believe it is the responsibility of news organizations to speak truth to power. To ask those in power the hard questions. We love Flint and hope to ensure that its leaders have its best interest at heart. Let’s make sure they do, together. Trust, but verify.
I encourage all of us to stay engaged, participate, and make sure the voices of Flint guide the choices being made in our city government. It is easy to make poor decisions without input and in an empty room. Now more than ever do we need our leadership to be vigilant and focused on keeping its most vulnerable citizens safe.
As we continue to build out our newsroom, the goal is simple: earn your trust by showing up, telling the truth, asking real questions, and celebrating the people, art, and communities who make Flint stronger every day. We all make Flint what it is. Together, we can make sure Flint’s story is told honestly, boldly, and with the pride it deserves.
