California Watch, a division of the Center for Investigative Reporting, and KQED Public Radio today announced a new editorial collaboration that will expand the exposure of investigative and other high-impact stories produced by California Watch, for the benefit of listeners statewide. The new collaboration will result in reports airing on KQED Public Radio’s The California Report, which is distributed to 28 stations throughout the California region, reaching 620,000 listeners per week.
The collaboration will include the production of interactive multimedia tools that will be featured on the websites of both organizations; in-depth radio reports produced exclusively for KQED; radio and television appearances by California Watch journalists on KQED programs; and the pooling of editorial resources. Veteran investigative journalist Michael Montgomery will produce the California Watch reports that will air on KQED. In addition, California Watch’s Sacramento-based reporters will share office space with KQED’s Capitol Bureau.
“Public radio is a critical distribution outlet and this opportunity to reach large numbers of public radio listeners in California fits right into our strategy of maximizing the impact of our stories by using multiple media platforms,” said Robert Rosenthal, executive director of the Center for Investigative Reporting. “KQED has been a long-time partner of the CIR and we are excited about expanding the relationship even further — in a way that benefits both of our organizations and most importantly, serves Californians.”
“This collaboration is groundbreaking, and we are excited to be a part of it,” said Jo Anne Wallace, KQED vice president and general manager. “KQED is always looking for new ways to inform, educate, and engage our audiences. California Watch plans to produce exactly the kind of high quality journalism along with innovative interactive multimedia tools that our audiences want.”
The editorial collaboration between KQED and California Watch began earlier in November. Michael Montgomery, who will be based at CIR, and who has reported extensively on the criminal justice system in California, will produce original radio reports for KQED. In addition, he will work with other California Watch journalists on radio releases of their stories that will air on KQED. Montgomery comes to California Watch from American RadioWorks, where he has been a correspondent and producer since 1999.
In addition to statewide broadcasts, KQED will seek to distribute California Watch stories nationally and internationally. California Watch broadcasts will also be available for download at www.kqed.org.
For more information, contact Scott Walton at KQED, swalton@kqed.org/415-553-2145, or Lisa Cohen at California Watch, 310-395-2544.
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