For the second year in a row, WPLN’s Meribah Knight is one of six reporters selected to participate in ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network. This yearlong grant allows public broadcasting organizations like WPLN News to dedicate time and reporting power to accountability journalism.
ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. Its reporting has contributed to the passage of new laws; reversals of harmful policies and practices; and accountability for leaders at local, state and national levels. Since it began publishing in 2008, ProPublica has received six Pulitzer Prizes, five George Foster Peabody Awards, eight George Polk Awards, two DuPont Columbia Awards and three Emmy Awards.
In her second year of the collaboration, Meribah Knight will work with WPLN News director Emily Siner, ProPublica reporter Ken Armstrong and ProPublica editors to produce several local investigative stories and the third season of The Promise, slated to release in 2022. The Promise’s second season won a Peabody Award, one of the highest awards in broadcast.
Joining Nashville Public Radio in the Local Reporting Network’s most recent grant round is THE CITY’s Abigail Kramer, The New Bedford Light’s Will Sennott, Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Tony Schick, The Press of Atlantic City’s Alison Burdo and Rocky Mountain PBS’ Brittany Freeman. The group of projects is supported by a grant from the Abrams Foundation.
“Local news has suffered immensely in recent years,” said Sarah Blustain, Propublica deputy editor (local). “We are excited to help sustain accountability reporting at the local level by working on ambitious projects with these talented reporters.”
The selected reporters will continue to work from and report to their current newsrooms with support and guidance from ProPublica, including access to their newsroom’s expertise with data, research, engagement, video and design. The eventual work from Knight and others will be published by their home newsroom and by ProPublica.
WPLN News has also been investing in investigative reporting and other special projects, including a series that passed the mic to Black Nashvillians, a deep-dive into the conviction of a Nashville police officer, and a package of stories commemorating the anniversary of deadly tornadoes.
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