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KJZZ's Open Mic Policy: Connecting Communities With Untold Stories

The Valley's public radio station, KJZZ 91.5, is giving listeners an opportunity to drive the editorial content of the news they hear by sharing stories and sources with Public Insight Journalist Nick Blumberg, the newest addition to KJZZ's Fronteras: Changing America Desk.

Blumberg's primary responsibility is to collect tips, resources, expert analysis and personal stories, and share them with KJZZ news teams and American Public Media's Public Insight Network. American Public Media and Minnesota Public Radio created the Public Insight Network to provide a comprehensive database exchange where public radio reporters, producers and editors across the country can find and share resources.

The network already has 100,000 sources: people who are having a significant impact on the editorial content of national shows like Marketplace, American RadioWorks and now KJZZ's Fronteras: Changing America Desk. Visit publicinsightnetwork.org/ for more information.

"We are excited that Nick Blumberg is joining the PIN team," says Joaquin Alvarado, APM's Digital Innovation SVP. "This just further exemplifies KJZZ's commitment to bringing the best in news to their diverse community."

Blumberg manages southwestern resources for KJZZ and the Public Insight Network. "I'm thrilled to join such a talented team, and excited to learn more about public radio listeners here in the Valley and across the southwest," said Blumberg. He is a recent graduate of ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and served as an intern and associate producer for KJZZ's Here and Now, and Eight, Arizona PBS Horizon teams.

Blumberg realized early in his journalism career that successful reporters depend entirely on the people they are trying to serve. "Journalists aren't much without an audience, and this new project provides KJZZ listeners and reporters an opportunity to connect in new ways," said Blumberg. "This gives listeners a chance to lead reporters to stories and sources that have been overlooked or out of reach."

KJZZ General Manager Jim Paluzzi agrees. "I'm sure I speak for a lot of people when I say that significant change is taking place here in Arizona and throughout the Southwest," he said. "I can't recall seeing so many news stories vying for attention at once. Well, our reporters can't be at all places at all times. We need the help of our listeners, to be our eyes and ears, to help us shed light and insight on stories that aren't being told."

"If you think about it, we're all experts in something or another," said Mark Moran, KJZZ's Associate General Manager of News and Editorial Strategy. "More importantly, we're living in an age where people are clamoring to be heard, which is why I think you're seeing a huge spike in social media. This new initiative gives our community a voice, a means of sharing information and news about issues that are important to them."

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is funding Blumberg's post as part of its broader Local Journalism Centers initiative. CPB-sponsored centers across the country provide innovative approaches to news gathering and distribution.

If you have an untold story or resource to share, please visit the Fronteras: Changing America Desk PIN web page at fronterasdesk.org/publicinsight or contact Nick Blumberg at nblumberg@rioradio.org, (480) 774-8231.

About KJZZ 91.5 FM
KJZZ is a listener-supported public broadcasting station licensed to the Maricopa Community College District. It is a community service of Rio Salado College's Division of Public Service, which also includes KBAQ 89.5, Sun Sounds of Arizona and MCTV. KJZZ features a mix of local, national and international news, jazz and blues -- serving more than 300,000 weekly listeners. For more visit kjzz.org.

About KJZZ's Fronteras: Changing America Desk
KJZZ's Fronteras: Changing America Desk is part of an unprecedented collaboration among seven public radio stations, led by a partnership between KJZZ and KPBS in San Diego and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that now serves more than 8.9 million listeners across the southwest. It is one of seven new Local Journalism Centers funded by the CPB to provide innovative approaches to newsgathering and distribution. Learn more at fronterasdesk.org.