WXPR has been selected as one of ten public radio stations to participate in “Community Counts,” a nationwide initiative implemented by the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB).
Funded by a $314,106 grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the “Community Counts” initiative is designed to help community-based stations enhance original content creation, increase audience engagement, grow revenue, and expand services.
WXPR’s participation in the “Community Counts” initiative will provide necessary resources to expand the already popular We Live Up Here feature series they launched earlier this year and better engage with the vibrant communities and listeners that have come to rely on WXPR as their source for local news and stories about life in the Northwoods.
“We Live Up Here highlights the local history, experiences, people and places that make the Northwoods unique,” said WXPR General Manager Jessie Dick. “Sharing these stories connects us and allows us to consider different perspectives and ideas about what it means to live in the Northwoods.”
WXPR is currently looking for more freelance reporters and storytellers for the series. Contact Features Editor, Mackenzie Martin at mackenzie@wxpr.org for more information.
Each of the ten participating radio stations will receive $7,000 as well as training, mentorship and technical assistance. Participating stations were chosen through an open application process and include: WTIP (Grand Marais, Minnesota), WERU (East Orland, Maine), WMMT(Whitesburg, Kentucky), WNCU (Durham, North Carolina), WXPR (Rhinelander, Wisconsin), KBFT(Nett Lake, Minnesota), KWSO (Warm Springs, Oregon), KTNA (Talkeetna, Alaska), KZUM (Lincoln, Nebraska), and KRTS (Marfa, Texas).
The Community Counts Initiative was announced Tuesday in a joint release from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB).
