Nine PBS has been selected as a 2026 Report for America host newsroom partner. Nine PBS will join an expanding network of more than 175 newsrooms benefiting from the support of this nonprofit program.
Report for America places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Their proven partnership model is structured to harness the skills and idealism of an emerging group of journalists, plus the creative spirit of local organizations, like Nine PBS.
Nine PBS’s partnership with Report for America will serve to strengthen local journalism, expand coverage of under‑reported communities, and invest in early‑career journalists who want to serve the public.
“At Nine PBS, our work begins and ends with the community,” said Aja Williams, Chief Content Officer. “Becoming a Report for America host organization strengthens our ability to provide trusted, in-depth storytelling that reflects the realities of the people we serve.”
Nine PBS continues to strategically grow its newsroom by expanding its roster of partner producers, including independent filmmakers and partner media organizations, to strengthen regional coverage and deepen community‑rooted reporting. Rural journalism, agriculture, AgTech, and environmental coverage are just some top editorial priorities.
A Report for America Corps Member will directly support these efforts by increasing reporting capacity in areas that are traditionally under‑served and by helping produce more consistent, solutions‑focused journalism across the region.
As a station with a community with a strong agriculture focus, a Nine PBS producer will focus their efforts on covering the agriculture industry in St. Louis and surrounding areas, and help cover and expand on current issues in our community.
Report for America is an initiative of Report Local, a nonprofit journalism organization dedicated to strengthening local journalism across the U.S. and around the world.
It also provides Nine PBS with additional capacity, training, and support that helps elevate community‑driven storytelling and broaden access to essential information.
Report for America is a two-year program (with an option for three) that delivers a wide range of benefits to its corps members. Beyond paying up to half of the journalists’ salaries, it provides ongoing training and mentorship by leading journalists, peer networking and memberships to select professional organizations.
Nine PBS will welcome a new Report for America Corps Member in the summer of 2026.
Contributed by Gabrielle Lindemann