AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA'S PUBLIC INSIGHT NETWORK ANNOUNCES FIRST INTERNATIONAL PARTNER, THE MAIL & GUARDIAN
Contact: Tara Schlosser
(651) 290-1436Tschlosser@americanpublicmedia.org
AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA'S PUBLIC INSIGHT NETWORK ANNOUNCES FIRST INTERNATIONAL PARTNER, THE MAIL & GUARDIAN
(St. Paul, MN) - November 16, 2011 - American Public Media's Public Insight Network® (PIN) is honored to welcome the Mail & Guardian in Johannesburg, South Africa as its first international newsroom partner.
"Media plays an essential role in addressing and exposing the top issues confronting communities, and the Mail & Guardian has long proven this with their groundbreaking news coverage," said Joaquin Alvarado, senior vice president of digital innovation at APM. "PIN's crowd-sourcing format will allow the people of South Africa to engage more fully in the news making process, by providing a platform for them to share their insight and expertise."
"In a country and continent where the voices of people on the ground are too often marginalised, PIN represents an exciting opportunity for the Mail & Guardian," says Verashni Pillay, Mail & Guardian deputy online editor. "Already we are seeing responses pouring in, in keeping with the international trend of bringing audiences closer to the news production process. Article ideas have taken on a new hue, with the possibility of multiple sourcing from people we would not ordinarily have had such easy access to. We're looking forward to the varied stories and voices PIN will help bring to the Mail & Guardian."
The Mail & Guardian has a rich history in South Africa, and was one of the leading opponents of apartheid in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, the paper is a must-read for anyone interested in South African politics, including key foreign policy decision-makers in Washington, London and Brussels.
Recently, the paper has become well known for its investigative reporting, particularly into corruption. The Mail & Guardian's Centre for Investigative Journalism (MGCIJ) went live in April 2010. A first in South Africa, it is a non-profit center mandated to develop investigative journalism in the public interest. It aims to do so by producing deeper investigative stories and advancing the journalistic profession through internships and advocacy.
Founded in 2003, American Public Media's Public Insight Network is dedicated to journalistic excellence, innovation and collaboration. PIN gives newsrooms the capacity to do smart, targeted crowd-sourcing on deadline. More than 130,000 PIN sources around the world shape news coverage at 60 partner news organizations. Sources sign up by responding to online surveys, participating in virtual and in-person forums, playing serious games and meeting PIN journalists in person. Demographic information and insights are stored in a secure, searchable database. Participating journalists query the network for knowledgeable sources, test hunches, identify trends and support production of major news projects.
To learn more about American Public Media's Public Insight Network, visit PublicInsightNetwork.org.
American Public Media™ is one of the largest producers of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio reaching 16 million listeners via nearly 800 radio stations nationwide each week. Programs include A Prairie Home Companion®, Marketplace®, Performance Today®, The Splendid Table®, On Being™, American RadioWorks® and many others. American Public Media's 125,000 member-strong Public Insight Network promotes deep connections between journalists across the country and the communities they serve. American Public Media is the parent organization for Minnesota Public Radio, Southern California Public Radio and Classical South Florida. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services can be found at www.americanpublicmedia.org.Source: Data are copyright Arbitron, Inc. Arbitron data are estimates only. Fall 2010/Spring 2011 average.