February 2017 - Current

APTS honors Diane Rehm, Public Broadcasting Act author at Public Media Summit

By April Simpson, Former Associate Editor | February 28, 2017

And more awards in public media.

Judy Woodruff says VP Pence sees benefits of public media

By Dru Sefton, Senior Editor | February 28, 2017

Pence “values his experiences with public media,” Woodruff said at the APTS Public Media Summit.

Beyond-broadcast strategies key to survival of local public TV stations

By Craig Reed, Executive Director (TRAC Media Services), David LeRoy, Co-Founder (TRAC Media Services), Judith LeRoy, Co-Founder (TRAC Media Services) and Vincent Curren, Principal (Breakthrough Public Media Consulting) | February 28, 2017

The ability to manage all aspects of the video ecosystem presents new challenges for public broadcasters.

Licensee of California’s KVCR receives $157M in spectrum auction

By April Simpson, Former Associate Editor | February 27, 2017

The San Bernardino Community College District announced Monday that the FCC accepted its bid to move to a VHF channel.

Farewell, tote bags: PBS Passport draws younger donors as membership reward

By Jill Goldsmith, Contributing Editor | February 27, 2017

More than a year after its debut, PBS and stations are reaping rewards of the on-demand offering and planning for its future.

RadioPublic joins world of apps aiming to make podcasts navigable

By Adam Ragusea, Former Host, "The Pub" | February 24, 2017

”We are really focused on the discovery angle at the moment.”

As it defines relationship with stations, NPR gains board approval for price hike

By Tyler Falk, Reporter | February 24, 2017

NPR will focus on greater collaboration with its member stations over the term of the three-year pricing plan.

FCC takes another step toward adopting new ATSC standard

By Dru Sefton, Senior Editor | February 23, 2017

The FCC wants comments on suggested rules that will let broadcasters begin sending ATSC 3.0 transmissions.

‘The Pub’ #89: Former NPR tech reporter Steve Henn on his new app, 60 dB

By Adam Ragusea, Former Host, "The Pub" | February 23, 2017

The app focuses on short-form pieces and draws from a wide pool of content, some of which sounds decidedly un–public radio.

Southwest border journalism hub receives $50K from Ford Foundation

By April Simpson, Former Associate Editor | February 23, 2017

The grant will support reporting on inequality and marginalization along the U.S.–Mexico border.

Documentary filmmaker Fred Simon dies at 71

By Eric Stange, Executive Producer (Spy Pond Productions) | February 22, 2017

Simon’s films included an unflinching, deeply intimate portrait of a Vietnam veteran, broadcast on PBS in 1981.

Proposed changes at Miami’s WLRN seen as threat to newsroom independence

By Tyler Falk, Reporter | February 21, 2017

The station’s school-board licensee has suggested making news staffers employees of the school district.

Connecting with people who think public radio isn’t for them

By Arwa Gunja, Executive Producer (“The Takeaway”) | February 21, 2017

With road trips to red states and dialogues about race and identity, producers for “The Takeaway” will hold out a microphone to people whose voices have been marginalized.

Live ‘Politics Podcast’ takes up Trump’s impact, bids farewell to panelist

By Deanna Mudry, Former Editorial Intern | February 20, 2017

The live taping was Sam Sanders’ last episode as he moves on to his own podcast.

How crowdsourced questions fueled election coverage for California stations

By Kristen Lepore | February 20, 2017

Partners in the multimedia project used social media marketing and a variety of digital tools to get a broad cross-section of voters talking about ballot measures.

TV broadcasters get another shot at leveraging channels into cash

By Doug Halonen, Freelance Contributor | February 17, 2017

As the spectrum auction winds down, the FCC plans to open another opportunity for stations to negotiate channel-sharing deals.

Howard University decides it won’t sell WHUT in spectrum auction

By Joseph Lichterman, Staff Writer (Nieman Lab) | February 17, 2017

University president Wayne A. I. Frederick said the school “voluntarily withdrew from the auction when it became apparent that the relatively low yield would not justify relinquishing the university’s rights to broadcast WHUT.”