Recently in Your Take Category

What was your reaction to Gov. Schwarzenegger's speech on the state of California's budget crisis?

Is it time to buy? Have prices hit bottom yet? When do you think the market will start to recover? Share your thoughts on the real estate market, and your stories of buying and selling, foreclosing and starting over.

Would YOU be willing to pay more for private fire protection? Is that fair to the people who can't afford it?

Do you think there should be a crackdown on clinics, or do you think marijuana should be legalized? Share your take with us.

How do you get your news and local information? How could the quality of that information be improved? KCET and the Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy want to know. Take the short survey below and tell us about the information you want, need and expect from your news providers and local governments. Your answers will be used as part of the first major study of the digital age on how information needs are being met nationwide.

Except for your age, zip and member status, no question is mandatory, so don't feel as if you have to answer each and every one. But do share your thoughts!

1.	Think of the kinds of information you need to accomplish your daily goals and to be active in the life of your local community. What comes to mind? Do you find it easy or difficult to get this information?
2.	What are your primary sources of local information: other community members, traditional media such as radio, television or newspapers, or new media such as websites?
3.	Do you feel properly informed about your local government?
4.	Are there kinds or categories of information you wish you could obtain more easily about your community?
5.	Do you think everyone in your community has access to the human networks, government networks or technological tools necessary to get the information they need?
6.	How would you improve the quality of information available to the general public?
7.	How would you improve your local government's communication efforts and increase their level of transparency?
8.	Are you a regular KCET viewer? If so, which shows do you watch?
*9.	Are you a KCET Member? Yes No, but I plan to renew this year No, and I don't want to be a member I was in the past but not at this time
10.	How would you improve KCET's coverage of your local area both on air and online?
11.	Based on today's visit, how would you rate your site experience overall? (Please rate your experience on a scale of 1-5, 5 being the best.) 1 2 3 4 5
12.	What do you value most about the KCET website?
*13.	Age Range: 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 Other
*14.	City:
15.	Zip Code:

Spam Control Text:   Please leave this field empty

For more information on the Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy, click here. The image associated with this post was taken by Flickr user Markus_Solberg and was used under Creative Commons license.

The economy is down, but the number of encounters between people and coyotes on Los Angeles' streets and in its backyards seems to be going up, up, up. Have you encountered any coyotes recently? Let us know in the comments below. Also, if you have any photographs, we'd love it if you'd add them to our Flickr photo pool.

Should LAUSD be spending so much money during this recession, especially when it’s threatening to lay off thousands of teachers?

Are you looking for work? Tell us your stories... the good, the bad, and the ugly.

If the President were listening to you, what would your story be?

Are your fears about the economy rising? Or are you optimistic? Give us Your Take on the economic climate.

How do you hope the Proposition 8 Supreme Court hearings will turn out? Are you for or against Prop 8 being overturned? What are the consequences either way?

This week SoCal Connected looked at our how we treat our veterans. Have you or a member of your family served your country in Iraq or Afghanistan? How has your homecoming been? Have you gotten the services you need? Share your story here!

This week SoCal Connected looked at our shrinking - and increasingly stressed - health care system. Even if you have access to insurance, your medical options may not be what they once were. Are you worried? Are you waiting longer to see the doctor? Share your story here and we will use it on air next week.

Also: The Oscars are this weekend. Are you too broke to care? Or is a little televised glamour just what your personal Federal Reserve Board ordered?

We'd like to get your take on this week's story about the decline of newspapers and rise of news on the web. Just how much would you be willing to pay for online news?

We'll share your take on the next episode of SoCal Connected.

Tell us about your experiences with foreclosure. Has your neighborhood changed due to foreclosures? Have you been forced into foreclosure? Are you a renter who has lost your home because your landlord foreclosed?

We'd like your opinion on super graphics. Love 'em? Hate 'em? Share your thoughts here, and we'll share your take on the next episode of SoCal Connected.

What was your favorite moment from the inauguration?

Leave your comments here, and SoCal Connected anchor Val Zavala will read the best on next week's show.