JUST LAUNCHED! The Ocean State Current is now live!

Visit The Ocean State Current – our Center’s new News Bureau – at www.OceanStateCurrent.com

February 28, 2012

Providence, RI — The Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity today launched its independent, nonpartisan news bureau, The Ocean State Current, which can be accessed at www.OceanStateCurrent.com. “The Current seeks to integrate with the existing community of local news providers in all media in such a way as to find stories and convey perspectives that might otherwise be overlooked,” writes Managing Editor Justin Katz on the site’s “About the Current” page.

The Center anticipates that Katz will become a familiar face throughout Rhode Island, as he covers events, investigates government actions, analyzes policies, and interviews not only public figures, but also Rhode Islanders with interesting stories to tell.

“Justin’s experience finding innovative ways to use the Internet to disseminate and debate issues of public concern makes him the ideal person for this role,” said Center for Freedom CEO Mike Stenhouse.

Although their relationship is one of funding and mutual support, the Current will enjoy wide latitude for independence from the Center. “We look forward to co-operating with Justin as we seek to expand the information available to Rhode Islanders,” Stenhouse said. Added Katz, “I began by self-publishing and building my own forums, so I’m used to writing on my own terms. Happily, both the Center for Freedom and The Current advocate thinking for yourself and standing on principle.”

As one of the founding contributors to AnchorRising.com, Katz has grown a substantial audience for his policy analysis and political and social commentary. He has published regularly in such venues as the Providence Journal, National Review Online, and Rhode Island Catholic and was featured in Proud to Be Right: Voices of the Next Conservative Generation (HarperCollins, 2010), edited by Jonah Goldberg.

“I definitely have a point of view,” said Katz, “but for the core content of The Current, I intend to pull it back to where it will only enable me to ask questions and follow leads that others might not consider.”

Topics likely to be covered on The Ocean State Current include:

* Capitol Hill legislation and related issues

* State budget and spending

* Education reform

* Human interest and other public policy stories

The Current’s website can be found at http://www.oceanstatecurrent.com/ .

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