[grc] Fwd: PRI and PRX Join Forces to Better Serve Audiences

[Frieda Werden]

Frieda Werden, Series Producer
WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service www.wings.org

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Across Women's Lives <alisa at pri.org>
Date: Wed, Aug 15, 2018 at 3:30 PM
Subject: PRI and PRX Join Forces to Better Serve Audiences
To: Frieda Werden <wings at wings.org>


A collaboration to amplify the best in journalism and storytelling

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Dear AWL fan,

We thought you should be among the very first to hear some exciting news –
PRI has announced that it will merge* with PRX*. Building upon our shared
foundations, we aspire to create a vibrant public media organization that
is grounded in extraordinary storytelling and journalism, that is more
fully reflective of our complex, diverse nation, and that takes full
advantage of rapidly changing technologies to reach and engage our
audiences.

As a public radio fan, you are probably familiar with PRX, which
distributes *This American Life, Reveal, On Being *and* The Moth Radio
Hour.* These are natural complements to our core programs, *PRI’s The
World®, The Takeaway *and* Studio 360*. PRX also operates one of the most
dynamic podcast portfolios in America. *In both 2015 and 2017, PRX was
recognized by Fast Company as “One of the Ten Most Innovative Companies in
Media.”*
MAKE A GIFT <https://pri.cmail20.com/t/i-l-nlltill-xdytdgir-y/>

Together we will reach more than 28.5 million listeners and users each
month across broadcast and web and have 56 million monthly podcast
downloads.

While our organizations could continue on parallel paths, *there is urgency
in our decision to come together now*. The sheer volume of audio content
produced today is dizzying. Or deafening. By one estimate, the number of
active podcasts in production has rocketed from 60,000 in 2015 to more than
600,000 today. Some of these are insightful and inspiring, but many simply
add to the noise. The number of homes with smart speakers has more than
doubled in the past year alone, and commercial entities are racing to
exploit this latest channel.

As the volume increases, it becomes harder and harder for essential voices
to break through. Even the best work can be drowned out by well-financed,
commercial products.

And just as important voices are overwhelmed by the noise, many public
radio stations are being out-innovated by commercial channels that tend to
invest in technology and marketing while skipping past original, important
content.

Together, *PRI and PRX will dedicate our combined resources and expertise
to ensure that important new talents are supported as they grow, that
stations have the support they need to reap the benefits of new
technologies, and that the highest quality journalism and storytelling
reaches the broadest audience possible – without paywalls or conflicted
commercial interests.*

There is, of course, much more to say about this transformative merger, and
you can expect updates from us in the coming weeks and months. At the
moment you can read a Wall Street Journal article
<https://pri.cmail20.com/t/i-l-nlltill-xdytdgir-j/>, in which I am
interviewed about the merger, a press release
<https://pri.cmail20.com/t/i-l-nlltill-xdytdgir-t/>, and an FAQ
<https://pri.cmail20.com/t/i-l-nlltill-xdytdgir-i/> about this news, with
additional detail about PRX. I also encourage you to reach out to me or
members of our team, if you have particular questions that are not
addressed.

Last, *I want to thank our partners at WGBH Boston*, who are making a
transformative investment that will help fuel the merger, deepen our
commitment to global journalism, and launch a new production studio. WGBH
is a public media power house not only because it is big, but because the
people at WGBH consistently provide bold leadership that moves our field
forward.

Thank you again for being a part of the AWL community. I hope you are as
excited about this future as I am.

Sincerely,

Alisa Miller
President and CEO

*Have questions? Please reply directly to this email — we look forward to
hearing from you.*


This change will enhance our capacity to deliver on our shared goals of
supporting quality journalism, elevating new voices and investing in
innovative technology, and ensures a vibrant, dynamic public media
system. *Help
launch the next era of public media by making a gift to support the merger
of PRI and PRX! <https://pri.cmail20.com/t/i-l-nlltill-xdytdgir-d/>*
DONATE TODAY <https://pri.cmail20.com/t/i-l-nlltill-xdytdgir-h/>


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