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City communications report shows social media growth and spike in engagement during tornado response
Summary
Communications Specialist Amanda Gilbert presented baseline 2024 metrics on March 24, 2025, noting large social reach, increased video focus and a marked spike in engagement during a tornado response; staff said program-level outreach produced measurable community impacts.
Amanda Gilbert, the city’s communications specialist, presented Janesville’s first quarterly communications update on March 24, 2025, providing baseline 2024 metrics and year-to-date figures through March 20, 2025.
Gilbert said that in 2024 the city’s Facebook content reached about 369,700 unique accounts, with 49,200 content interactions and 13,700 followers; links on Facebook were clicked more than 9,000 times. She told the council the most pronounced spike in engagement came around the tornado response, when residents sought timely information from city channels.
Gilbert said the city increased video production in 2024: reels were played over 79,000 times with a combined watch time of about eight days, and JATV meeting streams (70 meetings) drew over 7,275 streams across Granicus and YouTube. For 2025 year-to-date through March 20, staff reported Facebook views of about 1.3 million and a reach of roughly 91,900 accounts; Instagram reach was growing as well.
Gilbert highlighted tangible community results tied to communications efforts: the “Life in Janesville” program featuring the senior center produced 50 new senior-center members in its first month, and Janesville Transit saw new riders after video outreach. She said collaboration with JATV and a heavier focus on video content has increased engagement metrics.
A resident, Janet McLean, called in from the senior center during the presentation to offer praise for the senior-center video, saying, “I just wanna say you did a great job. Loved it.” Gilbert ended by offering to answer questions and supplying contact information in the slides; the council thanked her for the update.
Staff will continue quarterly reporting and track whether the communications trends persist into the 2025 construction season and other high-interest events.
