Journalist Sharon McNary has been hired to launch Public Insight Journalism at Southern California Public Radio, a function she previously filled at "Marketplace." So what is that? "I'll be asking all kinds of people to share their experiences and become news sources for the KPCC newsroom....I'll be using social media, on-air callouts, our website and e-mail to ask people about their lives in Southern California."

Those who respond become part of our Public Insight Network of news sources and will be contacted about once a month to share their experiences on various topics in the news. I'll be searching the network each day for people whose skills and interests are relevant to the stories we're covering. Some may be contacted for interviews and be featured on our news reports, talk shows and website. We're doing it to deepen our connection with the public, and to add more ways for the diverse population of the region to inform our news and information programming.

Before joining Marketplace in 2007, McNary reported for the Riverside Press-Enterprise, the Long Beach Press-Telegram, UPI, the Signal in Santa Clarita and the late Herald-Examiner.

More KPCC news: Alex Cohen, the former Day to Day reporter and co-host on NPR, is interim local host of "All Things Considered."

Add "Day to Day" alums: Former co-host Madeleine Brand will be co-hosting "All Things Considered" from Culver City for NPR this summer.