Approximately $356,000 has been granted to three public media organizations by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to establish the Great Lakes Regional Journalism Collaborative.
The trio making up the collaborativeincludesWNED ǀ WBFO Buffalo-Toronto, WXXI in Rochester, N.Y., and ideastream in Cleveland, which includes FM stations WCPN and WCLV.
The stated goal of the Great Lakes RJC is to provide important content focusing on the health and economic importance of the region’s fresh water source to communities through radio reporting and digital platforms. The staffs at the stations will produce stories for partner stations, other Great Lakes public media outlets and national public media partners.
The CPB says the grant, which will last for two years, will support original, in-depth reporting, as well as the creation of reporting positions at three partnering stations for two years, with the goal of station support continuing into the future.
Western New York Public Broadcasting Association’s WNED/WBFO is tapped to lead the operation. Some 60 public radio and television stations in the Great Lakes region are expected to be invited to become contributors to the Great Lakes RJC.
