NewsWorks from WHYY finds a fan in run-up to launch

Here's early praise for WHYY's NewsWorks from J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism at American University. "I love the whole idea of it," writes J-Lab Executive Director Jan Schaffer on her blog. "The site has more targeted entry points for community involvement than any site that has crossed my radar." There's Snarl, where visitors can complain; Sleuth, for digging into local mysteries; and Sixes, a challenge to sum up news stories in six words or fewer. She also likes its Flickr photostream “Eye on ... ,” and a Watchdog feature that focuses on public officials. The site officially launches Nov. 15.

Mitchell will head NFCB AfAm Radio services

Doug Mitchell, the news producer who staffed NPR’s Next Generation Radio internship and training programs for years, will be project manager for the National Federation of Community Broadcasters’ CPB-funded African American Public Radio Station Services, NFCB President Maxie Jackson announced Wednesday.  After Mitchell lost his job in NPR’s mass layoff in 2009, Public Radio News Directors gave Mitchell its Leo C. Lee Award, recognizing his work encouraging young people, particularly those of color, to get into public radio. CPB documents originally named 28 stations eligible for services under the grant, but the corporation later redefined eligible grantees to comply with recent federal court rulings.