CPB is providing another $2.65 million in grants to boost coverage of state government in seven states.
Wednesday’s announcement is in addition to the $2.25 million CPB announced for seven states last year, bringing CPB grants for this work to $4.9 million in 14 states.
“The growth of local journalism is essential to the civic health of our nation,” said CPB CEO Patricia Harrison in a news release.
Stations benefiting from the grants announced Wednesday are in Colorado, Florida, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina.
- In North Carolina, WUNC will add a reporter and editor for year-round state government coverage with help from a $542,041 grant.
- A $493,819 grant will aid WUSF in Tampa, Fla., in partnering with stations across the state and a digital news outlet across the state to create an audience engagement project meant to increase state government coverage while educating and connecting with residents. It will be called “Your Florida.”
- CPB will fund two year-round state government reporters for KUNR in Reno, Nev., with a $384,140 grant. One will focus on audio, while the other will focus on digital-first content. Their work will be shared with media partners in the state.
- A $379,048 grant will help KUNC in Greeley, Colo., lead Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, partners at the Rocky Mountain Community Radio Coalition and the nonprofit news organization Colorado Sun in establishing the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. A new reporter will cover Colorado state government.
- WNYC in New York will lead the New York Public News Network, a 12-station collaboration that will add a full-time reporter covering how state government policies affect New York residents. The grant is $343,070.
- A $328,426 grant will support NJ PBS’ partnership with the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair University and other newsrooms in the state to build a “central destination” for state government news, the release said. It will be supported by reporting and a weekly video program from the NJ PBS broadcast news team and NJ Spotlight News.
- A $179,644 grant will support Montana Public Radio hiring a new rural state policy reporter.
“Public radio and television stations, locally operated, are deeply connected to the communities they serve,” Harrison said. “Their primary mission is to provide trusted, fact-based reporting on issues of local concern so that people can make fully informed decisions. Public media’s journalism earns the trust of Americans every day as it encompasses the complexity and integrity necessary to serve our civil society amidst growing mis- and disinformation.”