Issues That Matter. Close To Home.

A reporting project of local public media and NPR

Exploring State Issues

StateImpact explains local policy choices in ways that are easy to understand, yet thorough and fair.
Explaining The Impact

We tell the stories of people who are affected by state policy.
Showing The Data

We let people explore the data that is being used to make state policy decisions.

The Network

NPR member stations in eight states are working together on-air and online to report on how state issues and policy affect people's lives. Each state has a dedicated website focused on one of three issues:

Education

Florida, Indiana and Ohio cover the rapidly changing education landscapes in their states. Issues they cover regularly include school choice, student testing, teacher pay and access to higher education.

Energy

Pennsylvania and Texas chronicle issues around their states' energy economies. Reporters look at how oil, natural gas and renewable resources are developed and regulated, with a special attention on the relationship between energy and environmental issues.

Economy

Idaho, New Hampshire and Oklahoma examine the state role in maintaining a healthy state economy. Topics include policy related to major industries, workforce development and unemployment and taxes.

The Team

StateImpact is training the next generation of journalists and helping newsrooms develop digital skills and strategies. Our 17 reporters in eight states are backed by an NPR team of experts who provide one-on-one and group coaching on cross-platform reporting and writing, multi-media production and analysis.

Florida
Idaho
Indiana
New Hampshire
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Texas

Impact

On-Air

The NPR team helps reporters refine their ideas and produce in-depth reports heard regularly on stations throughout their states. The best of these stories are broadcast nationally on NPR's signature programs.

Online

StateImpact reporters use a unique set of digital publishing tools that allow them to publish maps, charts and source documents on their own. A technical team at NPR creates advanced interactive presentations for the network in collaboration with reporters.

Media Collaborations

StateImpact teams are partnering with media organizations like the Miami Herald, Columbus Dispatch and Texas Tribune to pursue investigations and increase the reach of their coverage.