Public media represents the largest, multimedia, nonprofit news system in the U.S., with more than 4,400 journalists based at local stations. These stations are a vital source of local news, including during emergencies such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires.
As part of its $200 million investment in journalism, CPB has awarded over $48 million to help launch more than 40 local and regional news collaborations since 2010, connecting 150 public media stations in 43 states and the District of Columbia. These collaborations foster a vibrant multimedia network of expertise and resources, enabling station newsrooms to undertake more ambitious journalism projects.
To increase and strengthen state government coverage, CPB has provided $4.9 million to public media organizations in 14 states to help fill reporting gaps that were identified through the 2021 State Government Coverage in Public Media station survey. Grantees must share coverage with public media stations across the state and with other media organizations.
Further, CPB supports journalistic initiatives such as America Amplified, a shared resource for local stations’ journalism staff that helps them build community trust through a listening-first approach. Meanwhile, public media news organizations with nationwide reach, including PBS NewsHour and NPR, are increasingly turning to local station reporters, who live in the communities they cover, to report for national audiences. Taken altogether, these public media newsroom partnerships are maximizing the benefits of public media’s federated network, fostering broader conversations around journalism anchored in independent, local reporting.