50+ public media stations will identify issues important to voters, inform them about electoral processes across the United States
ST. LOUIS, MO (March 28, 2024)—Nine PBS announced today that it has joined America Amplified, a public media journalism initiative that focuses on listening to the community in the reporting process and boosting election literacy. The initiative, which seeks to help Americans in all 50 states navigate the voting process, is hosted by WFYI Public Media in Indianapolis and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Nine PBS will use community engagement journalism practices to combat the spread of misinformation and distrust in media while also sharing audience-focused resources on voting information.
“Guided by our nationally recognized Model for Community Engagement, Nine PBS has a long history of listening to our community, and we have heard the need for resources that will fill the gaps in civic education and ensure that voting information is accurate at the local or state level,” said Aja Williams, Vice President and Chief Content Officer, Nine PBS. “Disinformation creates confusion about elections, and we believe America Amplified will help us respond to those challenges today and beyond.”
Stations participating in America Amplified will receive virtual training and coaching to map an effective strategy for serving their audiences, using the Hearken platform to answer questions from their audience and communities. America Amplified will also incorporate lessons learned from the 2022 midterm elections project, where 30 stations across 25 states responded to community questions about how, where and when to vote. In the 2024 election, stations will answer those questions on multiple platforms.
“New resources will help us be strategic in informing the community about upcoming elections,” said Anne-Marie Berger, Nine PBS Senior Producer. “With community input we can tailor our efforts to serve our diverse audiences ahead of what promises to be a dynamic election season."
Nine PBS will begin sharing stories associated with the America Amplified initiative on Living St. Louis this summer. Visit ninepbs.org/america-amplified for more information.
About Nine PBS
As an essential community institution, Nine PBS magnifies and deepens understanding of our community to help our region flourish. We tell stories that move us. We meet people where they are the most comfortable consuming content. Nine PBS’s platforms include four distinct broadcast channels (Nine PBS, Nine PBS KIDS®, Nine PBS World, and Nine PBS Create), ninepbs.org, social media, the free PBS Video App, streaming services, live and virtual events, and the Public Media Commons. Since 1954, Nine PBS has accepted the community’s invitation into their homes, schools, and businesses. Follow Nine PBS on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
About America Amplified
America Amplified is based at WFYI in Indianapolis and is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting with the aim of supporting community engaged journalism in public media. Originally launched in 2019, the initiative also helped shape public media coverage of the pandemic to include perspectives from communities across the country. In 2021 and 2022, America Amplified worked with 20 small and medium-sized public media stations across the country to expand the use of journalism practices that meaningfully address local information needs through active listening and engagement. In 2023 and 2024 America Amplified's Election 2024 initiative will strengthen public media’s ability to address the information needs of unserved and underserved communities in the lead up to the 2024 federal election.
About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation authorized by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,500 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related online services. For more information, visit www.cpb.org and follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn, and subscribe for other updates.
For more information, contact:
Sarah Brandt
Director of Communications
(314) 359-2121
sbrandt@ninepbs.org