About

StateImpact is a collaboration among NPR and local public radio stations in eight pilot states to examine public policy issues in-depth. The project seeks to inform and engage communities with broadcast and online news about how state government decisions affect people’s lives.

StateImpact’s focus is explanatory reporting, data-driven journalism and supporting a strong network of reporters, stations and states that collaborate with one another.

The network includes two reporters in each pilot state who explore a single public policy issue and tell stories about the people affected by the government decisions. The goal is to put news in context, providing insight and background rather than just the latest headlines. StateImpact reports will run daily on each state’s site and on participating local public radio stations.

The project is funded by supporters at the national and state levels. Pilot states were chosen for regional diversity and based on member stations’ commitment to collaboration and issue-focused coverage within their states.

Check out the StateImpact blog to read behind-the-scenes updates, training tips for our journalists and information relevant to the network. And be sure to follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook.

Awards and Honors

2012 National Education Writers Association Awards
1st place, Online Journalism, Blogging
StateImpact Florida

2nd place, Broadcast Investigative Reporting
StateImpact Florida, “No Choice: Florida Charter Schools Failing to Serve Students with Disabilities”

2012 Texas Associated Press Broadcasters
1st place, Serious Feature Report
Dave Fehling, StateImpact Texas, “Houston Drinking Dallas Wastewater”

1st place, General Assignment Report
Dave Fehling, StateImpact Texas “The Race to Save Millions of Dead Trees in Texas”

2012 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards
Best Broadcast Affiliated Website
StateImpact Pennsylvania, Scott Detrow and Susan Phillips

Best Audio Series
StateImpact Idaho: Jobless in Idaho, Emily Ritter Saunders and Molly Messick

Best Audio Investigative Reporting
StateImpact Florida: “Florida Charter Schools Failing to Serve Students with Disabilities,” Sarah Gonzalez and John O’Connor

Best Audio Hard News Reporting
StateImpact Texas “Not Under My Backyard,” Dave Fehling

Best Continuing Coverage
StateImpact Texas: Drought Coverage, KUT-FM

The States and Partner Stations

• Florida: WUSF Tampa, Florida, WLRN in Miami, WMFE in Orlando and WJCT in Jacksonville
• Idaho: Boise State Public Radio
• Indiana: WFIU Bloomington, Indiana
• New Hampshire: New Hampshire Public Radio in Concord
• Ohio: WCPN Cleveland, WKSU in Kent and WOSU in Columbus
• Oklahoma: KGOU Norman, Oklahoma (with KOSU, KWGS and OK Educational Television Authority)
• Pennsylvania: WITF Harrisburg and WHYY in Philadelphia
• Texas: KUT Austin, Texas and KUHF in Houston, Texas