| Public News Service | |
| Industry: | News media |
| Location City: | Boulder, Colorado U.S. |
| Key People: | Lark Corbeil |
Public News Service (usually shortened to PNS) was launched in 1996 by journalist Lark Corbeil in Idaho. Today, PNS has 40 state-based news services that provide multi-platform content for free to news outlets as a way to advocate journalism in the public interest.[1] [2] Josh Wise is the current Publisher.
Following the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which allowed for media cross-ownership,[3] Corbeil founded Public News Service as an avenue to examine and reach rural areas.[4]
In May 2017, Dan Heyman, a PNS producer in West Virginia, was arrested at the state capitol for asking former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price a question in an "aggressive manner". Heyman was jailed and charged for willful disruption of state government processes.[5] In September 2017, the misdemeanor charge against Heyman was dropped after "a careful review" by the Kanawha County prosecutor's office.[6]
In 2019, PNS, in collaboration with the Pacifica Foundation, developed "2020Talks", a daily three-minute newscast covering the 2020 election primaries, leading up to the Iowa Caucuses. [7]
Public News Service, a certified B Corporation, is funded by grants, gifts, some media contributions, and memberships from individuals, foundations, non-profit organizations and socially responsibly businesses.[8] [9]