WFAE’s Tom Bullock Selected For NPR’s 2016 Political Reporting Partnership

Tom Bullock will participate in a collaborative program between NPR and 17 public radio stations across the country to strengthen local and national political coverage both on-air and online. The goal is to produce stories that illuminate choices voters will make in 2016.

Bullock will focus on tracking contributions to candidates and outside groups. Often referred to as the ground game, he'll look at how the money is used to craft and send messages; to get voters to the polls; and how to motivate voters to vote.  

Next month, Bullock will travel to Washington, D.C., for a workshop to discuss the new world of campaign coverage with NPR reporters, political practitioners and other experts. The workshop will also explore storytelling techniques for radio and digital audiences. Throughout the campaign season, Bullock and reporters in the partnership will produce local and national stories, and will have the opportunity to file blog posts on NPR’s politics blog.

Bullock’s political coverage at WFAE has included the 2014 U.S. Senate race between Kay Hagan and Thom Tillis; how Governor Pat McCrory is positioning himself for re-election in a politically purple state; and the heated debate in the S.C. legislature over the Confederate flag. Bullock worked at NPR for 15 years before joining WFAE in 2014.

Some of the other public radio stations participating in the partnership include:

• Colorado Public Radio
• Iowa Public Radio
• KJZZ in Phoenix
• KUT in Austin
• New Hampshire Public Radio
• WAMU in Washington, D.C.
• WHYY in Philadelphia
• WMFE in Orlando
• WNYC in New York City
• WPLN in Nashville