CPB Funds Two More Local Journalism Centers, Gulf Coast Project

New Funding

The CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING has announced the addition of two more regional "Local Journalism Centers" in the NORTHWEST and SOUTHERN regions, joining the five centers launched last MARCH.  CPB is also awarding a $538,000 grant to LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING to expand reporting on the GULF COAST oil spill and create a GULF COAST Consortium to share content with local NPR and PBS affiliates in the region over the next year.

The NORTHWEST center will be based at OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING and will offer regional environmental coverage.  OPB's partners in the venture will be the UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON/PUGET SOUND PUBLIC RADIO's KUOW/SEATTLE, PBS affiliate KUOW/SEATTLE, WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY's NORTHWEST PUBLIC RADIO and PBS affiliate KWSU-TV/PULLMAN-KTNW-TV/RICHLAND-PASCO-KENNEWICK, BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY's KBSU-KBSX/BOISE, IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISON, and SOUTHERN OREGON PUBLIC TELEVISION.

The SOUTHERN center, focusing on education in the SOUTH, will be a partnership of GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION, The UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM's WBHM/BIRMINGHAM, LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, the UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE's KEDM/MONROE, LA, MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC BROADCASTING, PBS affiliate WNPT-TV/NASHVILLE, and the UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE's WUOT/KNOXVILLE.

"The Local Journalism Centers initiative enhances public media's ability to meet the information needs of local communities at a time when access to high quality, original reporting is declining and we are very happy to be expanding the program," CPB CEO/Pres. PATRICIA HARRISON said. "The need for independent and in-depth coverage of local issues is greater today than ever, and we have a responsibility to ensure that journalism can continue to thrive and serve the needs of our democracy."

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