With Boost from CPB, NPR to Ramp Up Coverage of Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Corporation for Public Broadcasting provides $500,000 to boost coverage, security and travel to Ukraine
February 22, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 22, 2022) -- NPR is adding staff and resources to cover Russia’s aggression in Ukraine with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB approved $500,000 in emergency funding to support NPR coverage in the region on Tuesday, as Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to re-invade Ukraine’s Donbas region.
“We are grateful for CPB’s support of NPR’s ongoing coverage of the crisis in Ukraine and the surrounding region, one of the most complex and consequential stories of our time,” said John Lansing, president and CEO of NPR. “Our job is to bear witness for our audiences, and for history. Thanks to this generous grant, NPR will be able to report on what’s happening, providing fact-based accounts around events and their repercussions for people in Ukraine and in the U.S. This coverage extends across the newsroom – from the International desk to our national security and White House teams – serving all platforms including newscasts, shows, podcasts, digital and social media platforms.”
“As Russia accelerates its use of misinformation and disinformation in its invasion of democratic Ukraine, CPB is proud to support NPR reporters in their difficult and potentially dangerous work in bringing fact-based news and information to audiences in the United States and around the world," said Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of CPB.
NPR, which has had reporters on the ground in Ukraine since January, will use the funds to pay for increased staff to rotate into Ukraine, and for security and travel to the region, as it reports on the growing political, economic, and military conflict.
About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created 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 cpb.org, follow us on Twitter @CPBmedia, Facebook and LinkedIn and subscribe for other updates.
About NPR
NPR's rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling connect 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 17 international bureaus, NPR and its Member Stations are never far from where a story is unfolding. Listeners can find NPR by tuning in to their local Member stations (npr.org/stations), and now it's easy to listen to our stories on smart speaker devices. Ask your smart speaker to, "Play NPR," and you'll be tuned into your local Member station's live stream. Your speaker can also access NPR podcasts, NPR One, NPR News Now, and the Visual Newscast is available for screened speakers. Get more information at npr.org/about and by following NPR Extra on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.