Rhode Island Public Radio (RIPR) Makes Name Change to??The Public’s Radio, 89.3FM
PROVIDENCE, RI, 10/12/2018 – The outward-facing name of Rhode Island Public Radio is now The Public’s Radio, 89.3 FM. ??
The name change reflects the local journalism focus of President, CEO and General Manager Torey Malatia.
“It’s a public-centered conception: journalism as a profession dominated not by telling, but listening,” said Malatia. “Our task is hearing the continuing discourse of our local public, so that we can serve their needs — verifying and helping to interpret facts as we support the sharing of ideas in our community.”
Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts residents care about news. Over the last 5 years, The Public’s Radio membership base of financial support has increased by 20%.?? In 2016, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth entered into a partnership with RIPR that created an ongoing South Coast journalism alliance. The acquisition of the 89.3 FM signal, now broadcasting from Tiverton, means that The Public’s Radio has a mandate beyond the geography in its legal name (which will remain Rhode Island Public Radio).
As The Public’s Radio, audiences in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts will continue to be served by national programming from National Public Radio, the BBC, American Public Media and the Public Radio Exchange.?? Investment in local journalism covering Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts will triple in the next five years.
New local journalism initiatives currently underway from The Public’s Radio include:
- Press(ed), a podcast produced in partnership with the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities exploring the intersection of journalism, community and democracy;
- The Bubbler, an innovative digital engagement platform that allows The Public’s Radio to stay truly public by asking questions of – and listening to – individuals about the topics they want covered;
- A South Coast bureau based in New Bedford to expand The Public’s Radio coverage of Southeastern Massachusetts.
Adam Hamblett, The Public’s Radio board chair, explains:?? “Adding an apostrophe and an ‘s’ topublic radio may seem small. But in a world where journalists are targeted as enemies of the public, The Public’s Radio will remind us through human-centered storytelling that great journalism is not only an asset to communities, but is an essential one driven by the public it serves.”
The station, a 501c(3) not-for-profit, can also be heard on 88.1FM, 102.7FM, 91.5FM and streams at thepublicsradio.org.??