Minneapolis, MN – May 18, 2016: In support of its plans to expand reach and deepen the impact of its global reporting, PRI has received a multi-year $1.75 million dollar grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The grant will enable PRI and its newsroom, comprised of PRI’s The World® and GlobalPost, to increase the amount of global reporting produced, engage users in powerful stories, and create a more informed, empathetic and connected world.
Produced by PRI in collaboration with the BBC World Service and WGBH/Boston, PRI’s The World has established its reputation as a vital source of global and local perspectives on the news, linking issues and events around the world directly to Americans’ lives. The program’s unique place in media, as the only U.S.-based public radio program dedicated to making global affairs relevant for American audiences, has proven valuable, garnering many journalistic awards of excellence and attracting an audience of over 2.8 million weekly listeners on public radio and podcasts, and more than 1.3 million monthly users on PRI.org, PRI’s global news and participation mobile platform.
PRI plans to expand and deepen its enterprise reporting across platforms and empower people to understand and act, inspired by compelling journalism. The multi-year commitment from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation will provide a stable base of financial support for these bold plans. In addition to funding reporting expenses, the grant will enable PRI’s The World to increase reporting from the Middle East and North Africa; establish a data visualization unit to create additional multi-media content, such as infographics, maps, videos, and other interactive media; support social conversation and engagement; and develop podcasts related to in-depth reporting initiatives. These efforts will extend the impact of PRI’s global reporting far beyond current audiences.
“Through this grant, the MacArthur Foundation provides long-term support for PRI’s work in reporting stories about global events, trends and people that affect all our lives, and that are heard nowhere else. We deeply appreciate this investment in independent media and its role in connecting Americans with the world. We are honored by the support and are excited about the possibilities to help people understand, connect and do more that it enables,” said Alisa Miller, President and CEO of PRI.
About PRI: PRI is building a more informed, empathetic, and connected world by creating multi-platform content that empowers people to benefit their lives and the world. PRI’s award winning content reaches more than 18 million people each month, through nearly 900 public radio stations nationwide and PRI.org, and millions more through podcasts and social media. An affiliated company of WGBH, PRI produces PRI’s The World®, The Takeaway (a co-production with WNYC), and Studio 360® from PRI and WNYC. It leads by offering in-depth reporting on topics including gender equity (Across Women’s Lives), international security, and American identity and immigrant life (GlobalNation). It represents public radio programs including Science Friday, q from the CBC and The Tavis Smiley Show. Major philanthropic supporters include The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The Ford Foundation, The Henry Luce Foundation, The John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation, and the Annenberg Foundation.