The nonprofit Public Media Company is launching a new initiative to create local public media newsrooms. The goal is to strengthen public media organizations’ ability to serve their communities through expanded local news coverage. In collaboration with various partners, Public Media Company will provide actionable insights and support to help stations broaden their news services.
As part of the initiative, data will be collected and analyzed from within and beyond the public media system of the current landscape of local news. The information will be used to align resources and tools to enhance collaboration. Public Media Company’s Managing Director, Stephen Holmes, will lead the project.
“Public media is an important solution to the crisis in local news,” Public Media Company CEO Tim Isgitt said in a news release. “Local public media organizations have earned the trust of their communities over decades and collectively reach 99% of the country. This initiative comes at a critical moment for ensuring communities continue to have access to essential local news and information.”
The campaign is being supported by a $1.5 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Marc Lavallee, Director of Technology Product and Strategy/Journalism at the foundation, remarked, “We are pleased to support Public Media Company’s local news initiative. The initiative will enable local leaders to bolster the local news that is so essential to their communities.”
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