PRX Secures $2.5 Million Grant for Public Media Accelerator
Public Radio Exchange (PRX) has announced a $2.5 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to support the launch of the Public Media Accelerator, a new initiative to drive innovation in increasing the impact of public service media.
Modeled on technology startup incubators, the Accelerator aims to strengthen public media’s role in meeting community information needs across new platforms and devices. The Accelerator will be launched and operated by PRX.
“Forty years ago, public broadcasting harnessed the technology of the time to engage audiences with high quality content that was otherwise inaccessible,” said Jake Shapiro, CEO of PRX. “We are expanding this vital service to include today’s pervasive and participatory media, particularly mobile.”
The Public Media Accelerator will invest in both nonprofit and for-profit ventures, building apps, services and media products. It will showcase successful projects to additional funders and investors, and receive support through a partner and sponsor network.
The Public Media Accelerator will formally launch at the South by Southwest Interactive (SXSW) conference in March in Austin and will name a director and advisory board early next year.
For more information and updates, visit http://publicmediax.org and follow @publicmediax on Twitter.
