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CPB Awards Journalism Grant to Seven Ohio River Public Media Stations, Including WKMS

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Seven public media stations in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, led by Louisville Public Media, have been awarded a $445,000 grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to establish an Ohio River regional journalism collaboration. 

The Ohio River Network will produce hard-hitting, high-quality multimedia journalism that examines the region’s economy, energy, environment, agriculture, infrastructure, and health. The CPB grant will support the hiring of eight journalists at the seven partner media outlets for two years; with station support continuing in outlying years.

“CPB is pleased to support this historic collaboration among public media stations in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia,” said Bruce Theriault, CPB senior vice president, journalism and radio. “By working together, these stations can ensure that important stories from this underreported area are told locally, regionally, and nationally. The sum is indeed greater than the parts.”

Louisville Public Media will lead the news operation and house the project’s managing editor and data journalist. Partner radio and television stations are WEKU in Richmond and Lexington, Ky. (radio), WKU in Bowling Green, Ky. (radio and TV), WMMT/Appalshop in Whitesburg, Ky. (radio and multimedia), WKMS in Murray, Ky. (radio), West Virginia Public Broadcasting (radio and TV), and WOUB in Athens, Ohio (radio and TV).

"We are thrilled to participate in this reporting project," said Chad Lampe, WKMS interim station manager. "We believe collaboration is the future of solid, trustworthy journalism. It's our hope that this project will provide our region with a new perspective of our changing economy. We are grateful to our licensee, Murray State University, for supporting us in this endeavor. We also thank Louisville Public Media and partner stations for working together to secure this grant."

The group will produce journalism for partner stations and collaborate with national programs, including PBS NewsHour, Frontline, Marketplace, Morning Edition, and All Things Considered, and other public media outlets such as WFPL’s Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. The collaboration will produce daily reporting, investigations, long-form narrative pieces, and documentaries.

About the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,400 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.

About Louisville Public Media

Louisville Public Media (LPM) is a not-for-profit, member-supported corporation serving our community with three distinct public radio stations and an investigative unit: WFPL 89.3 FM provides local, national and international news, public affairs and cultural programming; Classical 90.5 WUOL is our city’s only classical music and fine arts radio station; 91.9 WFPK showcases independent, alternative music and an array of musical genres; and WFPL’s Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting (KyCIR) shines the light of accountability on the people and institutions in power.

Jenni holds a degree in Music Education from Murray State University and a Masters degree in Arts Administration from Florida State University's College of Music. She's equipped with knowledge and enthusiasm for fundraising and the arts. She also serves as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and on the Murray Independent School District Foundation for Excellence Board of Directors.
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