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Join the Public Insight Network

Great journalism needs great sources, and we want you to be one of them. 

You can inform our investigative reporting by adding your expertise to American Public Media’s Public Insight Network (PIN). Join the more than 130,00 people around the country who are sharing their knowledge with award-winning journalists at iWatch and other partner newsrooms, adding depth, diversity, and relevance to the work that we do.

Want to help our reporters? Take a few minutes to create an account in Source.

You'll be able to tell us what we should know about you, update your contact information, and help us ask you more relevant questions. It’s not a social network. You'll get no spam, only focused emails asking for your help covering the news. And the information you share will remain confidential to our newsroom, American Public Media and our trusted partners. As a source, we take your privacy and confidentiality very seriously.
 

What you can expect by becoming a source:

  • E-mails asking for your insight on issues we plan to cover — you respond only if you have knowledge about the issue, or you can forward it to a friend with relevant experience in the topic.
  • An occasional follow-up call or e-mail to get more information, if we follow a lead you provide.
  • Confidentiality:  We will not quote you without your permission. See our privacy policy.
  • An open line for you to tell our newsrooms and programs what stories are important to you, your family and your community and help us set our coverage priorities.
  • An occasional invitation to Public Insight Network meetings in your area.
  • You may be called on to help with national stories through American Public Media programs, such as Marketplace, local newsrooms such as Minnesota Public Radio News or partner newsrooms around the country.

Reporters have published several investigations informed by members of the PIN, including:

  • A mini-series on how coal ash disposal sites are affecting local communities.
  • A story on consumers who have closed accounts with major banks to protest Wall Street.
  • A look at sentiments of small donors ahead of the 2012 election.
  • An investigation into communities still plagued by toxic air pollution. 

How often do you get the chance to share your life experience and hard-won expertise with someone else? Your response will help guide our investigative process, give insight on how decisions in Washington might be affecting your life, and keep us in the loop on things we might be missing. We want to make sure that our reporting stays true to the public interest, and you can help us keep that pledge. 

Tell us your story. Join the Public Insight Network.

If you have questions about the network, please contact Sarah Whitmire, the Center's engagement editor and Public Insight Network analyst, at swhitmire@publicintegrity.org, or reach her on Twitter: @sarahwhitmire.