The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX introduce ‘Reveal’

PUBLIC RADIO’S FIRST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING SHOW 

Pilot episode exposes Department of Veterans Affairs overprescribing opiates to veterans 

BERKELEY, Calif. and BOSTON (Embargoed until Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013) — The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) and PRX today announced that the pilot for public radio’s first investigative reporting series will debut on stations nationwide with an exclusive report and data analysis revealing that the Department of Veterans Affairs has overprescribed opiates to veterans since 9/11.

The VA report, part of a monthslong investigation led by CIR reporter Aaron Glantz, is the centerpiece of the pilot episode of “Reveal.” The episode also includes a segment on America’s Worst Charities, an interview with the lawyer coordinating Edward Snowden’s defense and a powerful first–person narrative from a source in CIR’s investigation into abuse at California’s developmental centers.

“Reveal” is a first-of-its-kind radio show that brings listeners deep into current investigations and captures the drama and high stakes of the reporting process. Beginning with the pilot, “Reveal” will break investigations from CIR and other investigative news organizations around the country and the world. Future episodes will follow the impact of stories and report to the audience what happened – or did not happen – as a result of the investigation.

In addition to audio elements, “Reveal” will expand on the stories heard on the air, offering original video, multimedia and interactive components on revealradio.org and for public radio stations to use on their websites. The producers plan to launch “Reveal” as a weekly series in 2014.

“CIR’s emphasis on high-impact investigative reporting and innovative collaboration works with public radio,” said Robert J. Rosenthal, CIR’s executive director. “PRX brings the same spirit and an impressive track record of diversifying and advancing public media to our partnership.”

“PRX is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of public radio and helping listeners understand complex issues through story-driven audio journalism,” said Jake Shapiro, CEO of PRX. “With ‘Reveal,’ PRX and CIR are creating a platform for impactful reporting and riveting radio, beginning with the pilot episode.”

The show’s executive producers are CIR’s Director of Digital Media Susanne Reber and Ben Adair, formerly of American Public Media’s Marketplace. Al Letson, host of the public radio show “State of the Re:Union,” is host of the pilot episode. John Barth, managing director of PRX and a founding producer of Marketplace, oversees PRX’s editorial and distribution role. The pilot will be available to public radio stations starting Sept. 28.

Learn more at revealradio.org. Follow the show on Twitter at @Reveal and on Facebook at facebook.com/revealradio.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

Investigative reporting is an essential pillar of a democratic society. For more than three decades, The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) has relentlessly pursued and revealed injustices that otherwise would remain hidden from the public. Today, we’re upholding this legacy and looking forward, working at the forefront of journalistic innovation to tell the stories that make a difference and reach diverse audiences of all ages, across the aisle and worldwide. CIR stories appear in hundreds of news outlets, including NPR News, PBS FRONTLINE, PBS NewsHour, CNN, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Sacramento Bee, The Daily Beast and American Public Media’s Marketplace. CIR stories have received numerous journalism awards, including the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton, George Polk Award, Emmy Award, Investigative Reporters and Editors Award, and the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. Its reports have sparked state and federal hearings and legislation, public-interest lawsuits and changes in corporate policies. For more information, visit cironline.org.

ABOUT PRX

PRX is an award-winning nonprofit public media company, harnessing innovative technology to bring compelling stories to millions of people. PRX.org operates public radio’s largest distribution marketplace, offering thousands of audio stories for broadcast and digital use, including “The Moth Radio Hour,” “Sound Opinions,” “State of the Re:Union,” “Snap Judgment” and “WTF with Marc Maron.” PRX Remix is PRX’s 24/7 channel featuring the best independent radio stories and new voices. PRX is also the leading mobile app developer for public media, with apps such as Public Radio Player, Radiolab, This American Life, WBUR, KCRW Music Mine and more.

PRX was created through a collaboration of the Station Resource Group and Atlantic Public Media and receives support from public radio stations and producers, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Knight Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Sloan Foundation.

Contacts:
PRX: Jason Gordon, PKPR, jason@pkpr.com, 212-627-8098
CIR: Lisa Cohen, Publicist, lisa@lisacohen.org, 310-395-2544