CPB Awards $1 Million to Expand Rural and Ag Reporting

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, February 6, 2025

Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has announced a substantial $1 million grant to Harvest Public Media, a notable journalistic endeavor focused on agricultural and rural reporting. The funding, spread over three years, aims to broaden the project's coverage from its current nine-state presence to an expanded footprint covering 15 states.

Harvest Public Media, spearheaded by Kansas City's KCUR-FM, has established a significant role in delivering in-depth journalism on farming and rural issues across the Midwest and Great Plains. According to Patricia Harrison, CPB's president and CEO, "Agriculture and farming in rural America are the backbone of our country, driving our economy and contributing to our national security." She emphasized the vital need for robust rural journalism, stating, "So many rural newsrooms are gone and it's important for CPB to support the growth and reporting capacity of Harvest Public Media."

The grant will enable the hiring of three new reporters at partner stations in additional central U.S. states and an audience editor to enhance digital engagement. These initiatives are designed to leverage data analytics for better audience targeting and engagement strategies, aiming to boost the visibility and impact of Harvest's reporting.

KCUR General Manager Sarah Morris highlighted the unique value of Harvest's model: "Harvest's collaborative reporting comes from the ground up and provides a richer, more nuanced picture across a wider region of rural areas than any other media outlet can provide." She further noted that this expansion "will allow Harvest to grow its coverage footprint and to better serve audiences across the country."

Since its inception in 2010 with CPB funding, Harvest Public Media has been at the forefront of regional journalism collaborations, which have collectively received over $48 million in discretionary support from CPB. Originally launched with six partner stations, Harvest has grown to include major public media outlets such as Illinois Public Media, Iowa Public Radio, and Nebraska Public Media, among others.

Harvest Public Media's reporting encompasses a wide array of critical issues affecting rural communities, from the economics of food production to environmental impacts on agriculture and public health challenges facing farmers.

KCUR 89.3, the station behind Harvest Public Media, continues its long-standing tradition of high-caliber journalism and public service. As a charter member of NPR and part of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, KCUR reaches over a million listeners monthly with a mix of local and national news, cultural programming, and educational content.