Normally, the rest of the world hears about Maine in August — when national and international reporters take a vacation here and justify it by tossing off a story. Those stories usually include intrepid lobstermen and their stoic, lockjawed wives.

Now, the rest of the world can hear about what’s really going on in Maine all year round. Today, the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting sent out the following press release that announces that the worldwide media company Thomson Reuters will be distributing our stories along with those of 29 of our colleagues in the Investigative News Network.

Here’s the release:

Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting to be distributed nationally, internationally

A Maine-based non-profit investigative news service is one of 30 nationwide organizations that will soon have its stories distributed nationally and internationally by the Thompson Reuters news service.

The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, based in Hallowell, already provides its stories as a public service to 21 Maine newspapers and one radio station. The agreement with Reuters will not affect the current relationship between the Center and its Maine media partners.

“We will continue to offer our stories at no charge to independent newspapers and other media that directly serve Maine residents,” said John Christie, the Center’s founder and publisher. “The agreement with Reuters will, later this year, give the Center’s work much wider distribution.”

The Maine Center is a member of the national Investigative News Network (INN), which announced the agreement between its members and Reuters today.

“Publishers are telling us investigative news is extremely valuable, but seems to be the first thing cut when resources get tight,” said Chris Ahearn, president of media for Thomson Reuters. “The new relationship with INN is another step towards addressing the market’s need and providing our clients with stories they won’t find anywhere else.”

Other INN members that have signed on with the investigative news offering including the Center for Public Integrity, the Center for Investigative Reporting, the St. Louis Beacon, and the Rocky Mountain Investigative News Network.

“Investigative reporting is at the forefront of our mission, and we’re excited to expand our reach and serve Reuters clients around the globe,” said Kevin Davis, chief executive officer, INN.

INN is the newest component to the comprehensive coverage and delivery platform Reuters is building to meet the diverse needs of publishers and broadcasters around the world. It represents one additional step toward one stop fulfillment of its media client needs worldwide.

About the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting

The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting fills the gap between the diminished in-depth reporting from the existing Maine media and the need of the stateʼs citizens to be fully informed about the actions of their government and public servants.

Center staff and interns research, write and distribute news stories that uncover and explain the actions of state, local and federal governments and also probe the records of candidates for public office.

The Center’s stories are written by professional journalists with the assistance of students from Maine colleges and universities. John Christie, the publisher and senior reporter, edits all stories. Additional editing and review is provided by our media partners.

The Center’s stories are distributed across Maine by the Center’s 21 media partners as well as digitally by the Center via its web site and social networking tools. Story topics are chosen by the Center senior staff based on the suggestions and advice of the Centerʼs advisers, media partners and by the public through our websites.

About Investigative News Network

INN is a growing consortium of non-profit news organizations in North America that produces nonpartisan investigative and public service journalism on a local, regional and national basis. It is composed of more than 50 news organizations that create long-form and ongoing stories that keep communities informed on the issues they most care about.

About Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is the world’s leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision-makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare, and science and media markets, powered by the world’s most trusted news organization.  With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 55,000 people and operates in over 100 countries.