Thursday, April 18, 2024
The Hood County News has been selected from among more than 12,000 applicants from more than 100 eligible countries to receive funding through the Google Journalism Emergency Relief Fund (JERF).
The newspaper was named in JERF’s first wave of announcements.
The program was launched through the Google News Initiative to support small and medium-sized news organizations that produce original news for local communities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Information about the program can be found at https://newsinitiative.withgoogle.com/journalismemergency-relief-fund.
The HCN will use the money to launch a podcast series. A name for the podcast series has not yet been selected.
The newspaper is contracting with Christian Piatt, whose company Square Core Media provides podcast production services. The podcasts will be recorded at Brew Drinkery, of which Piatt is primary owner.
The launch of the podcast series is planned for early July.
“Our plan for the podcasts is basically to highlight the many fascinating people and talented entrepreneurs who make Granbury and Hood County their home,” said staff writer Kathy Cruz, who will be the host for the podcasts.
“In our print product, we often focus on elected and appointed officials who make important decisions involving our local government. But there is so much more to this community, and we want to bring to the public the voices of those who may not make front page news but are nevertheless part of why Hood County is such a great place to live.”
Cruz said that the podcasts will also promote local events and economic development initiatives.
Details about the podcasts will be published closer to the launch date.
