The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation have given National Public Radio a combined $3 million for a pilot program for reporting on local issues in select cities.
The material will be aimed for online distribution via NPR’s content network.
NPR President and CEO Vivian Schiller said, “The opportunity here is two-fold. First, to beef-up coverage of critical issues at the local level, and, second, to begin to establish an online network that can transform itself into a news powerhouse of unparalleled depth and quality.”
CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison said: “This Web-first, multiplatform news approach is one of several innovative investments that CPB plans to make to strengthen local and network journalism.”
The money is planned for hiring new “journalist bloggers,” who are to cover stories relevant to their community. TV and radio stations will participate.
