http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004078365
Citing Newspaper Reporting Void, Public Broadcasting Will Fund Seven Local Journalism Centers
By E&P Staff
Published: March 25, 2010
NEW YORK The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced that it is funding local journalism start-ups that promise to "increase original local reporting capacity" in seven regions throughout the United States. CPB is investing $10.5 million with the goal that each center will become self-sustaining after two years.
The Local Journalism Centers will draw resources from CPB stations in addition to the teams of multimedia journalists who will focus on issues relative to each region. The regions are the Southwest, the Plains, Upstate New York, Upper Mid-West, and Central Florida with plans for later expansion to the South and Northwest. The Local Journalism Centers are currently hiring reporters and editors.
The initiative is part of Project Argo, jointly funded by the CPB and the Knight Foundation that helps NPR and PBS stations expand their reporting.
"The Local Journalism Centers will enhance the public media's ability to meet the information needs of local communities at a time when access to high quality, original reporting is declining," Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of CPB, said in a statement. "Public media has long provided independent and in-depth coverage of local issues and public policy. The need for coverage is even greater today, and we have a responsibility to ensure that journalism can continue to thrive and serve the needs of our democracy."
Additionally, CPB announced funding for the Public Media Platform, a project from NPR in partnership with PBS, APM, PRI and PRX, that aims to develop a common platform for collecting, distributing and monetizing content.
"In a time when newspapers and other media organizations are cutting back or disappearing altogether, public media is strengthening its commitment to journalism," Paula Kerger, PBS president and CEO, said in a statement. "PBS is proud to collaborate with CPB, NPR our member stations and emerging digital journalism organizations across the country to transform community engagement and information."