Republic of Cannabis series investigates California’s marijuana trade

-- KQED, Center for Investigative Reporting collaborate on radio, television and online --

SAN FRANCISCO, June 16, 2011 - California's lenient regulation of medical marijuana has drawn the attention of users, growers, lawmakers, and law enforcement officials around the world. Beginning Friday, June 17th, KQED News and the Center for Investigative Reporting will take you into the Republic of Cannabis to examine the booming market in California-grown marijuana and the increasing tensions with the federal government over the pot trade.

The Republic of Cannabis series will feature radio, television, and original web content starting on Friday, June 17th on The California Report, a KQED News production heard on 29 public radio stations across the state. In the Bay Area, the reports can be heard on KQED 88.5 FM in San Francisco; in Sacramento, the series can be heard on KQEI 89.3 FM. Additional Republic of Cannabis reports will air onThe California Report on June 24th, July 5th, and July 8th. Audio and other content from the series will be posted online at KQEDnews.org,californiareport.org and at centerforinvestigativereporting.org.

Online, beginning June 24, KQEDnews.org and californiareport.org will feature more about marijuana legislation in California over the years, as well as some of the paradoxes faced by growers, users, lawmakers, and law enforcement officials. The websites will feature additional video that explores the issues associated with marijuana in California.

On July 8, a Republic of Cannabis television special will be broadcast at 7:30pm on KQED 9. The television program is a co-production of the Center for Investigative Reporting and KQED, in association with PBS’ Frontline.

“Combining our journalism resources is making it possible for our news organizations to present a much more comprehensive report on the state of medical marijuana,” said Bruce Koon, KQED News Director. “And by organizing our reporting around the different strengths of each medium – radio, television and digital – we’re able to produce stories that complement one another.”

To create the Republic of Cannabis series reporters from the Center for Investigative Reporting and KQED News spent several months researching and interviewing sources involved with California’s marijuana trade. It was a process that took them from doctors’ offices in the Central Valley to rural forests in northern California. Reporters from California Watch, a project of CIR, made major contributions to the reporting and production of this series.

“This is another strong example of CIR’s collaborative model,” said Robert Rosenthal, Executive Director of CIR. “We’re taking a California story and reaching a state-wide audience through our partnership with KQED. In addition, we’re reaching a national audience with our Frontline collaboration.”

Republic of Cannabis is the latest in-depth investigation to result from the partnership between KQED, the country’s most-listened-to public radio station, and the Center for Investigative Reporting, the nation’s leading nonprofit investigative news organization. In April, KQED News and the Center for Investigative Reporting’s California Watch project collaborated to produce On Shaky Ground, an investigation into the seismic safety of public schools that prompted calls for change.

Schedule: Republic of Cannabis

On KQED Public Radio 88.5 FM San Francisco and KQEI 89.3 FM in Sacramento
5:50am, 6:50am and 8:50am
June 17 and 24 and July 5
4:30pm
July 8

On KQED Public Television 9
July 8, 7:30pm

On KQEDnews.org and californiareport.org
Launch date: June 24

About KQED Public Media

KQED Public Media (kqed.org) has served Northern California for more than 50 years and is affiliated with NPR and PBS. KQED owns and operates public television stations KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area), KTEH 54 (San Jose/Bay Area), and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); KQED Public Radio (88.5FM San Francisco and 89.3FM Sacramento); the interactive platforms kqed.org, kteh.org, and KQEDnews.org; and KQED Education. KQED Public Television, one of the nation's most-watched public television stations, is the producer of local and national series such as QUEST; Check, Please! Bay Area; This Week in Northern California; Truly CA; and Essential Pépin. KQED's digital television channels include 9HD, Life, World, Kids, and V-me, and are available 24/7 on Comcast. KQED Public Radio, home of Forum with Michael Krasny and The California Report, is one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service delivering more than eighteen local newscasts daily. KQED Interactive hosts KQED’s cross-platform news service, KQED News, as well as offers video and audio podcasts and a live radio stream at kqed.org. KQED Education brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents, and the general public through workshops, community screenings, and multimedia resources.

About the Center for Investigative Reporting

The Center for Investigative Reporting is the nation's oldest nonprofit investigative news organization. CIR reports have reached the public through television, print, radio and the web, appearing in outlets such as 60 Minutes, PBS Frontline, NPR, The Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Politico and U.S. News & World Report. CIR stories have received numerous journalism awards including the Alfred I. du Pont-Columbia University Silver Baton, George Polk Award, Emmy Award, Investigative Reporters and Editors Award, and a National Magazine Award for Reporting Excellence. More importantly, its reports have sparked congressional hearings and legislation, United Nations resolutions, public interest lawsuits and change in corporate policies. For more information, visit cironline.org.

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KQED Media Contact: Ian Hill
(415) 553-2216 or ihill@kqed.org

CIR Media Contact: Marlene Saritzky
(415) 713-1241 or marlene@mssassociates.com