National Public Radio

National Public Radio

To help NPR move itself from a public radio company to a public media company

Date Awarded: 09/16/2007
Amount: $1,500,000.00
Grant Period: 10/01/2007 to 09/30/2010
Program: Journalism
Community: Journalism

In 2005, Knight gave NPR a $250,000 planning grant to enhance local news capacity. That spurred the system to work with its member stations to devise a plan to set up local news “hubs” around the country, which it is now phasing in. But NPR’s news issues have become even more pressing. Though its on-air programs attract nearly 27 million listeners each week – a 40 percent increase over the past five years – the growth is flattening. To add to its reach, NPR is making a major push in the area of digital technology.

During this grant, about 600 NPR staff will be trained in its new audio production and content management system. Additionally, up to 40 NPR senior managers, leaders and training staff will learn how to transform the NPR newsroom for the digital future; and about 400 NPR reporters, producers, editors and other staff will have completed multimedia skills training. It’s expected that NPR staff will learn how to gain understanding of how to better cover news online, and gain tools for managing change and transformation in its newsroom. Ultimately, this grant aims to help NPR bring its quality journalism forward in the digital age.

Project Contact:
Website: http://www.npr.org

Filed Under: National Public Radio NPR