WEKU Public Radio has joined forces with a number of public and private media outlets to launch a news-sharing service to better serve residents of Eastern Kentucky.
The innovative collaboration, Appalachian News Exchange, will allow a cohort of print, digital and radio outlets to share in-depth coverage and public service journalism across the region.
“Access to credible and reliable news is a public good,” WEKU General Manager Mike Savage said. “Local news builds connection and accountability and strengthens communities. WEKU is working to increase its coverage of Eastern Kentucky, and as a founding member of the Appalachian News Exchange, we hope to provide better access to quality journalism and amplify local voices to audiences within and beyond our region.”
Partners in the project, announced Tuesday by NPR's Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, include the newspapers of Nolan Group Media, Kentucky Lantern of States Newsroom and the seven public radio stations in the region.
The project aims to better inform and cover Appalachian Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee, including rural counties with no primary news source. A selection of work created by each of the partner outlets — including investigative journalism — will be shared across websites, social media, print and audio. As a key part of the public service project, this journalism will be free to all audiences.
WEKU played a critical role in establishing the initiative, aiming to meet the need for more fresh, local news content amid an industrywide decline in advertising revenue.
“Our communities deserve access to local news that informs, uplifts and amplifies the voices of our region,” AMSN Managing Editor Ryan Van Velzer said. “Through collaboration we will work toward a future where no Appalachian county is a news desert. Local is, and always has been, the future of news.”
More partners are expected in the future, with a focus on independently owned or locally-focused media serving the region.
“So many sources today are spreading absolutely false information to our Appalachian region, folks don’t know what to believe. Our newspapers helped form Appalachia News Exchange so the great people in our area have more access to accurate local news, reported by professional sources like us, fully committed to truthfully telling important stories that matter, and keeping local governments accountable,” Jay Nolan, CEO of Nolan Group Media, said.
WEKU listeners and readers will see stories from the news exchange beginning this month.
