Corporation for Public Broadcasting Renews Support for Public Media Journalists Association Editor Corps

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 21, 2022) – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced today a $115,000 grant to continue the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) Editor Corps, which provides short-term editing assistance to public media newsrooms facing significant burdens. The grant will fund the program for one additional year as PMJA develops a plan for sustaining the service.

Started in April 2020 as an emergency response early in the pandemic, PMJA Editor Corps has provided seasoned freelance editors to help public media stations as the challenges posed by the pandemic and other news events continued to strain local newsrooms. CPB provided additional funding in 2021 so the program could continue at no cost to the stations. During the past two years, the program has provided editorial assistance to approximately 50 public media stations.

“The PMJA Editor Corps has been a lifeline to stations across the country, and we’ve found that the need for editorial assistance is ongoing – not just something to be seen as an emergency response,” said PMJA Executive Director Christine Paige Diers. “We’re grateful that CPB recognizes this ongoing need and is willing to fund this program while we develop a long-term plan.”

“The PMJA Editor Corps has proved to be a valuable service, providing immediate help where it is needed most, including small and rural newsrooms,” said Kathy Merritt, CPB senior vice president, journalism, radio, and community service grant services. “CPB is pleased to support this service as PMJA seeks to make it a permanent program.”

The PMJA Editor Corps comprises experienced freelance public media editors who have made themselves available to stations. PMJA membership is not required to request an editor.  Editors are assigned based on individual availability. While every effort is made to fulfill requests, priority will be given to small or rural public media stations, those working on special projects or in-depth reporting, stations covering staff leave time, and those looking to provide additional coaching to less experienced staff members. To request an editor, go to https://pmja.org/pmja-editor-corps/.

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 PMJA
The Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) is a three decades old organization that continues to serve all journalists in the public media system from news directors to managing editors to reporters and digital content producers. In 2018, PMJA formed a sister 501c(3) organization: the Public Media Journalism Foundation (PMJF) . Through long-standing relationships with local radio stations, networks, and others who serve and work in the public media system, PMJA and PMJF are uniquely positioned to provide training to the more than 100 public radio member stations, which employ the 1100 journalists working in public media nationwide.