Announcement time -- I think this is really cool, and I hope you'll agree.

The Baltimore Sun’s business news staff is launching a new feature called Light Source. It's an opportunity for you to connect with the Sun and help us spot trends that are benefiting or buffeting you. Reporters hear from pundits all the time, but the idea here is to open a direct line with readers. In other words, we’re asking you to be a source.

Once a month we’ll ask questions about life experiences -- for instance, how has the housing-market downturn personally affected you? -- and invite people to weigh in. The questions will be online, so anyone can participate. (We won’t be using anyone’s written answers without calling first to make sure it’s OK. This isn’t an on-the-record interview.)

The Light Source main page, with more details, is here. And you can find the first questionnaire here.

American Public Media, which produces such radio shows as Marketplace, has been doing something similar to great effect. This helps make news coverage more relevant.

Some of you frequent Wonk commenters heard about this yesterday because I have your email addresses. (In fact, several of you have already joined in -- thanks!) But I don't have everyone's address, and I'm sure I missed some of you whose addresses I do have, so consider this your personal invitation.

I hope you insightful folks will check it out and invite others. See ways to improve Light Source? Let me know.