Houston Public Media has launched the Galveston County News Bureau, expanding its hyperlocal reporting with Julianna Washburn as an embedded, dedicated journalist reporting on the people, decisions, and events shaping Southeast Texas.
In response to audience demand, the new bureau is the second for HPM and builds on the success of its Fort Bend counterpart, which it established in 2023. HPM’s Washburn is a University of Georgia Journalism graduate, with previous experience notched as a television news reporter in Lubbock, TX, and as an Education Reporter for Community Impact.
Galveston County is the third-largest source of local listeners to News 88.7 (KUHF), HPM’s news and talk station. The county continues to experience growth in tourism, healthcare, and maritime commerce; all developments that have rippling implications throughout the Greater Houston region as Galveston County approaches 400,000 residents.
Houston Public Media Associate VP and GM Josh Adams stated, “This bureau allows us to deepen our connection to Galveston County and provide the kind of community-focused journalism our audiences have told us they value and trust us to deliver. Galveston County is an important and growing part of Southeast Texas, and we are committed to covering the issues, people, and developments shaping its future.”
Senior Director of News Scott Flannigan said, “Stories emerging from Galveston County have an impact on the entire region. We will focus on stories that hold elected and appointed officials accountable, examine how transportation, healthcare, infrastructure, and job growth are being managed, and highlight the people who live and work in the county.”
