LOUISVILLE, Ky. (January 29, 2016) — Today, WFPL News launches The Next Louisville: Race, Ethnicity and Culture, the latest iteration of an ongoing project that seeks to produce journalism that informs, engages and inspires conversation about our city’s most pressing issues.
This year, Next Louisville will focus on race, ethnicity and culture, and how they intersect with the news and community affairs. The WFPL newsroom will produce radio documentaries, discussions and events on the topics over the course of 2016.
The first, a half-hour documentary called “Divided,” airs today at 1 p.m. on 89.3 FM and online at wfpl.org. It addresses the history of segregation in housing in Louisville, examines the root causes, and looks forward at what policy changes could address the issue. The documentary will be accompanied by an in-studio panel discussion featuring three people who appear in the piece.
In previous years, Next Louisville has created new beats at WFPL, including education and health. This year, the entire newsroom will participate in and collaborate on our coverage.
“We’re looking at conversations that permeate the news, so we thought it best to approach them across the areas we already cover,” said Louisville Public Media Executive Editor Stephen George. “We’re hoping to provide a forum to host these critical conversations and examine in depth some of the places where race, ethnicity and culture not only divide our community but also bring us together.”
The Next Louisville is a collaboration between WFPL News and The Community Foundation of Louisville.
"This is our third year partnering with Louisville Public Media. We are committed to a Louisville where people and place thrive; this year’s focus on race, ethnicity and culture provides an opportunity for us to 'hear more voices' and promote community dialogue," said Community Foundation of Louisville President and CEO Susan Barry.
