Grant To Help NPR Launch Online Journalism Project

Granted

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO is launching a new online journalism project with $3 million in funding from the KNIGHT FOUNDATION and the CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.  CPB is donating $2 million and the KNIGHT FOUNDATION is granting $1 million for the effort to "develop in-depth, local coverage on topics critical to communities and the nation" under a two-year plan. A dozen NPR affiliates will be hiring journalists to blog, focusing on "reporting and aggregating news about a topic relevant to that city, based upon its geography and unique characteristics."

"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," said NPR Pres./CEO VIVIAN SCHILLER. "We are grateful to CPB and KNIGHT FOUNDATION for partnering with us to realize this potential and we thank them for supporting our mission to create a more informed public."

"Public Media has an opportunity and a responsibility, in an environment of rapid technological and social change, to ensure diverse publics get the trusted information they need on issues important to their lives," said CPB Pres./CEO PATRICIA HARRISON. "CPB and the CPB board, led by our Chairman ERNIE WILSON, are committed to ensuring that this web-first, multi-platform news approach will be among many innovative investments that CPB makes to strengthen local and network journalism."

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