Thank you for helping strengthen KUOW's funding cases. Please review the documents below and fill out the short feedback form.
Combatting Mis- and Disinformation with Fact-based Journalism
Propaganda, partisanship and civic nearsightedness are at an all-time high and access to quality, fact-checked journalism has never been more critical. As a free, nonprofit news source and Seattle’s premier NPR affiliate, KUOW is uniquely poised to cut through the noise of on-demand platforms and personal echo-chambers to create a locally-focused space for human connection, conversation and curiosity. In order to continue shifting the narrative and ensuring fewer systemic barriers to quality journalism, KUOW must evaluate and expand opportunities to defend consumers against targeted disinformation, providing the programming and tools needed to stay engaged, informed and able to make sense of a relentless news cycle.
Beyond Broadcast: Digital Expansion for a Changing World
The landscape of media consumption has changed drastically over the past decade and especially within the last few years. Spurred by the rapid growth of online platforms and the new realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital space is journalism’s new home. KUOW has made great strides to join the rapid digital expansion, including the strategic growth and cultivation of station audiences on social media and via emails and KUOW podcasts. The digital world is an ever-growing and shifting frontier. KUOW must continue to invest in quality digital reporting and tools in order to reach the next generation of consumers in need of fact-checked, trustworthy journalism that nurtures a more informed and engaged public.
Public media is essential, now more than ever. KUOW provides a vital service to the Puget Sound region, going beyond surface-level reporting to bring community in-depth coverage and trusted analysis of the regional issues that matter most. From the latest on Covid-19 vaccines to live updates from Olympia and on-the-ground coverage of racial justice movements, local, in-depth reporting is the heartbeat of KUOW’s work. KUOW must continue to grow the scope of the station’s coverage, expanding the station’s roster of storytellers and incorporating more investigative journalism to bring listeners thoughtful context and new perspectives they will not find anywhere else.
KUOW Podcasts: The Driveway Moment for the Next Generation
Podcasts are the fabled public radio “driveway moment” for the next generation. They provide immersive audio experiences that take beloved, arts-focused programs like A Prairie Home Companionand host-driven storytelling like Car Talkto a new level. Podcasts provide an alternative to the news and, unlike radio driveway moments, podcasts can be experienced anytime, anywhere without the worry of missing out on an important story or idea. The world of podcasts is ever-growing and changing. KUOW has an exciting opportunity to be a leader in audio innovation, building new audio content and experiences that welcome the audiences of tomorrow and focus on topics unique to the Pacific Northwest.
