The Ohio Newsroom
Our Local News Challenge
In many cities and towns across the country, newspapers and television stations are becoming a dying breed and in turn, limiting the number of viable options for those seeking unbiased local news, information, and community.
Public Media Is the Solution: 95% of Americans live within range of a public radio signal
To address the local news crisis and to help serve important local and regional news and information to Ohioans, public media organizations across Ohio have partnered to launch The Ohio Newsroom, a formal collaboration of Ohio’s existing network of public radio newsrooms that creates a sustainable model offering news coverage, including stories that may not have otherwise been told.
As the number of local media outlets continues to decline statewide, The Ohio Newsroom is committed to filling those information gaps and securing the funds needed to continue into the future. The Ohio Newsroom mission and structure are the result of research and modeling funded by The George Gund Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for expanding local journalism in Ohio.
Public media organizations in Ohio have been collaborating for decades and have built strong partnerships. Every public radio station that broadcasts NPR in Ohio is invited to join The Ohio Newsroom, with the following Ohio-based stations already signed on to both participate and contribute:
- Cincinnati Public Radio (Cincinnati)
- Ideastream Public Media (Cleveland/Akron/Canton)
- WCSU (Wilberforce, Ohio)
- WGTE (Toledo)
- WOSU Public Media (Columbus)
- WYSO (Yellow Springs)
- WYSU (Youngstown)
Disconnected Democracy
Today, three public media organizations in the Ohio Newsroom are teaming up, to bring you a special program as part of the Ohio Newsroom’s new collaborative project called Disconnected Democracy.
We know Ohioans’ views on the democratic process are polarized. So for the last few weeks, reporters across the state have sought out perspectives from everyday residents on the issues. Where is democracy working and where is it not? Where is the common ground?