KPBS is increasing its commitment to investigative reporting with added staffing and a deepening partnership with Investigative Newsource, a journalism nonprofit embedded within the KPBS newsroom. The investigative initiative solidifies KPBS’ commitment to impactful content in service to the San Diego community.
The KPBS investigative unit and its existing partnership with Investigative Newsource will grow as KPBS adds the position of Investigative Producer and Investigative Newsource hires a data journalist. Together they join KPBS Investigative Reporter Amita Sharma and Investigative Newsource staffers Kevin Crowe, Ryann Grochowski, Kelly Thornton and Lorie Hearn.
“Developing our investigative reporting unit is a priority for KPBS,” said KPBS General Manager Tom Karlo. “The stories and investigations that have been produced so far are nothing short of impressive. The addition of staff and resources will allow us to do more, which is an exciting prospect for KPBS and will better serve our community.”
The Investigative Producer position is being filled by a familiar face, and an experienced investigative journalist. Joanne Faryon will join the team early this summer. Faryon has been the host of “KPBS Evening Edition” since the newscast launched in September 2011. She has been at KPBS since 2006 when she worked as an investigative producer for “Envision San Diego.”
“My passion is and always has been reporting and digging for the truth,” said Joanne Faryon. “I miss creating stories and working with a team on a long term project. I am thrilled to return to the investigative unit and can’t wait to get back to this rewarding work solving mysteries and uncovering the truth.”
Faryon specializes in investigative reporting but she brings more than 20 years of diverse experience as a journalist, including newspaper reporting, radio news and TV documentaries. She was recently awarded a Walter Cronkite Award for political journalism for “Who’s Supervising San Diego?” a documentary on the San Diego County Supervisors. Her work on aging inmates in California state prisons also earned her an honorable mention from the National Press Foundation in 2010.
Joanne joins a robust KPBS and Investigative Newsource partnership that focuses on in-depth data driven journalism. One of the most successful investigations took place in 2010 and 2011 when KPBS (led by Faryon) and Investigative Newsource teamed up to look into the effectiveness of the Whooping Cough vaccine. After the investigation, the Centers for Disease Control looked into the matter and subsequently changed their guidelines.
Next up, KPBS and Investigate Newsource are working together during the current election cycle to dig deep into campaign finance in a series called “Follow the Money.”
“Our community needs us to hold those in power accountable,” said Suzanne Marmion, KPBS director of news and editorial strategy. “With Joanne Faryon’s track-record of fair but unflinching reporting, and her skillful producing of Investigative Newsource’s crucial data work, we can now really amplify our public-service journalism.” Marmion notes that Faryon’s move means KPBS will be hiring a new host for KPBS Evening Edition. “We will miss Joanne as our host, but her powerful reporting and producing from the field will still feature prominently on the show.”
Faryon will continue to serve as the host while KPBS news management conducts a national search for a new host for KPBS Evening Edition. The weeknight news and analysis program launched in September 2011 with Faryon and co-anchor Dwane Brown.
Each night KPBS Evening Edition breaks down the most important local news stories of the day, as well as offers detailed analysis and interviews to makes sense of what’s going on - and why.
KPBS is a public service of San Diego State University, serving the region with TV, Radio, and Internet content that educates, inspires, entertains, and advances civic involvement.
Investigative Newsource is an independent nonprofit founded in 2009 to satisfy a need for credible, in-depth, data-driven journalism. Teaching, training and mentoring at San Diego State University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies, where Newsource is based, is a dual priority.
