KUNM 89.9 FM, a service of The University of New Mexico, received funding recently to continue its award winning coverage of public health and poverty. The Public Health New Mexico project, which kicked off in 2012, was awarded a $380,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Mich.

"This project has already helped change the conversation about public health and poverty in New Mexico," said KUNM General Manager Richard Towne. "We are looking forward to doing more investigative reporting on the many public health and poverty stories here."

Public Health New Mexico covers the politicians, policies and agencies responsible for sustaining public health and solving poverty. To fully report on these topics, KUNM creates a space for those who are often marginalized by the media. Through our work, people are engaged, government is made more accountable, and the profile of public health and poverty is elevated by expanded public discourse and civic engagement.

"Our work has a real impact on people’s lives, whether that is informing our audience about environmental issues in their neighborhood, or shining a light on the systemic forces impacting the health of communities,” Towne said. “People are experts in their own everyday lived experience, and rather than just report the statistics, we bring their knowledge and experiences to our audience, increasing the depth, breadth and impact of the journalism work that we do.”