American's School of Communication Welcomes Current

In December, the New York Times reported that American University's School of Communication would acquire and revamp Current, the newspaper that is dedicated to covering the public broadcasting sector:

Larry Kirkman, the school’s dean, said the school had “become a laboratory for the future of public media,” helped by initiatives like the Center for Social Media and the Investigative Reporting Workshop, which produces for PBS's “Frontline.” He added that he hoped students would become more engaged with public media with Current at the university.

Here at CSM, we're excited to welcome Current, which is poised to become a key resource for reporters and policymakers as debates about slashing funding for public broadcasting heat up in Congress. (See the site's history section for a handy guide to previous policy battles.)  In recent years, its coverage has also ranged beyond the confines of the public broadcasting sector, featuring stories on topics such as the policies governing community media, and the viability of hyperlocal news experiments. We look forward to following the publication's transformation in the coming months.