Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM and Birmingham reporter Gigi Douban have been chosen collectively as participants in NPR’s Political Reporting Partnership. Douban and WBHM, along with a group of sixteen reporters from other public radio stations across the country, will work closely with NPR to cover the 2016 election from a state and local perspective.
“With the addition of Gigi Douban to WBHM’s news team, we’ll be able to ensure Alabama is part of the national conversation in 2016,” said Rachel Osier Lindley, WBHM’s News Director.
Working with Lindley and NPR’s Local Partnership Editor, Brett Neely, Douban will find new and surprising political stories from Alabama.
“We’re extremely excited to work with WBHM to cover the 2016 election,” said Neely. “NPR’s Political Reporting Partnership with stations is designed to help the public radio system cover this election from the ground up. We are impressed with WBHM’s commitment to expand their political coverage and know they’ll be a great partner.”
A public radio reporter since 2006, Douban has reported stories for WBHM, NPR, Studio 360, and Public Radio International’s The World. Most recently, Douban reported for Marketplace, bringing the country stories about toxic landfills, debtors prisons, and more serious matters, like why urinals are ubiquitous in public bathrooms, but not in homes. She also writes for Bloomberg News and Runner’s World.
“WBHM is delighted to join with NPR and other leading stations across the country in service of journalism and the public,” said WBHM’s General Manager Scott Hanley. “This is an exciting opportunity to expand and deepen our coverage for Alabama and the nation, sharing insights, perspectives and voices that deserve more attention.”
Douban will start reporting from WBHM in fall 2015.
About WBHM
Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM, a listener-supported service of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is “Your NPR News Station” and home to the Alabama Radio Reading Service, a resource for the blind and print-impaired. WBHM programming and award-winning regional journalism also can be heard in North Central Alabama on WSGN 91.5 FM through a partnership with Gadsden State Community College. Listen and give at wbhm.org and follow the station on Twitter @WBHM and on Facebook.
About NPR
NPR connects to audiences on the air, online, and in person. More than 26 million radio listeners tune in to NPR each week and more than 30 million unique visitors access NPR.org each month making NPR one of the most trusted sources of news and insights on life and the arts. NPR shares compelling stories, audio and photos with millions of social media users on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat; NPR News and NPR One apps, online streaming, podcasts, iTunes radio and connected car dashboards help meet audiences where they are. NPR’s live events bring to the stage two-way conversations between NPR hosts and the audience in collaboration with the public radio Member Station community. This robust access to public service journalism makes NPR an indispensable resource in the media landscape.