Three public radio stations have received support from the American Press Institute in a second round of microgrants for election coverage.
The grants are from API’s Trusted Elections Network Fund, which aims “to improve audience-centered elections coverage,” according to a Tuesday release. The three public radio stations were among 11 grantees.
- WORT in Madison, Wis., is partnering with Isthmus Community Media on covering presidential events in the state, analyzing voting patterns in swing communities and interviewing local election clerks.
- WDET in Detroit will focus on tackling misinformation around absentee ballots, drop boxes, and key political races and distributing other important voter information.
- WFAE in Charlotte, N.C., is creating a voter guide to national, state and local elections that will include candidates’ answers to a questionnaire.
“Each project seeks to cater creatively to the local information needs of voters or tackle misinformation directly,” API said in the announcement. “They present a premier opportunity, both before and after the election, to learn about how to help communities navigate elections and related misinformation throughout the country.”
An earlier round of funding included grants to KALW in San Francisco and KCAW in Sitka, Alaska.
API has awarded nearly $200,000 in the two rounds of funding. Craig Newmark Philanthropies and ElectionSOS, an initiative of Hearken and Trusting News, helped fund the effort.