NPR and NPR Member organizations in Appalachia and the Mid-South have launched a collaboration aimed at strengthening local news coverage and bringing more stories from this region to the rest of the country. The new Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom is composed of seven stations in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia, with NPR as a partner.
Support from Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation will enable the regional newsroom to create four reporting and editing positions and will help fund several existing positions at the partner stations. Stronger staffing means the team can report in-depth and sound-rich stories on topics like economic opportunity, public health and climate change in this largely rural part of the country. It will also help reporters and editors connect more closely with the communities there, including through digital content and social media.
Hurricane Helene highlighted the importance of the regional newsroom even before its official launch. Managing Editor Ryan Van Velzer sent an experienced flood reporter from Kentucky to assist the Knoxville station in covering storm damage across Eastern Tennessee. “The regional newsroom sent us a reporter, and they were a lifesaver,” said Jody Evans Hamblett, general manager of WUOT in Knoxville. The station, which is currently building its news staff, has just three part-time reporters. “Our news department is in its infancy, and we honestly did not stand a chance of covering this well without the regional newsroom’s help. We’re a prime example of the need for this type of regional collaboration.”
This is NPR’s sixth regional newsroom. It joins those in Texas, California, the Gulf States, the Midwest and New England. The regional newsroom model allows groups of stations to plan coverage together, share reporters and editors and dig into the most important stories in their regions — in close partnership with NPR.
“NPR is committed to collaboration with our Member network of local media organizations to meet the need for reliable reporting that helps people engage more fully with their community,” said Edith Chapin, NPR senior vice president, editor in chief and acting chief content officer. “We’re excited to help bring more stories to residents of Appalachia and the Mid-South, and to share their stories with people in other places.”
Louisville Public Media is the lead station in the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, and also is a partner station in the Kentucky Public Radio network, a multi-station consortium that shares statewide coverage and includes a capitol reporter. “Working with our neighboring states as a regional newsroom enables us to bring more nuanced and in-depth reporting to residents across this region, and to share more stories of this often-misunderstood place with the nation,” said Louisville Public Media President and CEO Stephen George.
The other stations in the regional newsroom are WEKU in central and eastern Kentucky, WKMS in southwestern Kentucky, WKU Public Media in southcentral Kentucky, Nashville Public Radio, WUOT in Knoxville,Tennessee, and West Virginia Public Broadcasting. The newsroom may grow to include more stations across the region.
In addition to the Schmidt grant, the regional newsroom is supported by contributions from the partner organizations and NPR. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting helps fund Kentucky Public Radio, which also receives support from foundations, donors and businesses.
About NPR:
NPR’s rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling connects with millions of Americans every day — on the air, online and in person. NPR strives to create a more informed public — one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures. With a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and 16 international bureaus, NPR and its Member organizations are never far from where a story is unfolding. Listeners can find NPR by tuning in to their local Member stations (npr.org/stations), downloading the NPR App or asking Alexa to “Play NPR.” The NPR mobile app brings together the best of the NPR Network from around the world and right in your community — live radio, podcasts, the latest local and national news and more — available wherever you are and whenever you want. Get more information at npr.org/about and by following NPR Extra on Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and Instagram.
About Louisville Public Media:
Louisville Public Media (LPM) is an independent, community supported not-for-profit corporation serving our community with three distinct public radio stations, and an investigative unit: 89.3 WFPL News Louisville provides local, national and international news, public affairs and cultural programming; 90.5 WUOL Classical Louisville is our city’s only classical music radio station; 91.9 WFPK Independent Louisville showcases independent, alternative music and an array of musical genres; and the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting (KyCIR) shines the light of accountability on the people and institutions in power. Louisville Public Media is also a proud member of the Kentucky Public Radio Network. Stream all stations live at LPM.org.
