Chicago Public Media’s WBEZ radio station received a grant of $2 million to finance its digital expansion. The money from the Pritzker Foundation is the largest donation the station has received, although WBEZ will need to raise a matching amount to receive the grant over three years. The influx of funding will help the station to double its existing digital staff, update its infrastructure, and produce new shows. WBEZ produces several popular shows and podcasts, including “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me,” “This American Life,” and “Serial.”
The Chicago public radio outlet isn’t the first to get a big gift in support of its digital ventures. New York Public Radio received a grant of $10 million from the Gerome L. Greene Foundation last year. That money was given for development of online products and mobile apps.