WNYC, New York Public Radio, is set to launch a new local news podcast called NYC Now, providing listeners with updates three times a day.
According to Podcast News Daily, the podcast aims to cater to individuals throughout their day, offering morning, midday, and evening episodes ranging from three to ten minutes. Produced in collaboration with sister website Gothamist, NYC Now is part of WNYC’s plan to deliver local news across various platforms.
“It’s a part of our ambitious plan to bring together what you love about WNYC and Gothamist — to make vibrant local news available to our audience wherever they look for news, whether it’s on-air, online, or on-demand,” Editor in Chief Audrey Cooper said.
The morning edition of NYC Now will feature on-demand versions of WNYC radio newscasts, while the midday version will expand on developing news stories. The evening episode will serve as a roundup of the day’s local news.
Cooper stated that the podcast launch is part of WNYC’s broader newsroom expansion, including revamped newsletters, new website features, and increased live event coverage. The organization is also exploring new radio shows and special reports.
WNYC’s acquisition and revival of Gothamist in February 2018 was made possible by a deal primarily funded by two anonymous donors. Previously owned by billionaire businessman Joe Ricketts, who shut down Gothamist and its companion site DNAinfo, the acquisition was part of a larger agreement involving two other public radio stations and Gothamist’s network of local news sites. KPCC in Los Angeles acquired LAist, while WAMU in Washington acquired DCist.