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KCRW has selected the journalist who will spend a year producing a "vivid, character-driven story that explores Los Angeles’ most vulnerable populations." It's David Weinberg, a reporter at "Marketplace" and creator of the Random Tape podcast. Weinberg will spend the coming year in South Los Angeles to document how the residents are coping with changes in the community. From KCRW's announcement:
Weinberg is first and foremost a storyteller and plans to build his coverage around characters whose lives illustrate these themes. He proposes to "follow the threads that eventually connect us to the larger, macro issues that are too often the starting point for news reporting."
Over the next 12 months, Weinberg aims to create an intimate portrait of neighborhoods too often seen for what they represent rather than what they are.
Weinberg has been part of KCRW's Independent Producer Project. A piece he did for KCRW, "Saying Goodbye to Hollywood Park," received an Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Feature Reporting.
KCRW asked for submissions from potential producers back in February. I'm told the station received more than 120 proposals before narrowing the field down to five finalists, then selecting Weinberg. The reporting project is funded by a recent 3-year, $1 million investment from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
Add KCRW: Jolie Myers has been promoted to managing producer of "Press Play," the daily noon-hour show hosted by Madeleine Brand. Andrew Walsh, the managing producer when the show started last year, left KCRW and is now working on an Infinite Guest podcast with Luke Burbank.
