WEDU Be More Awards

The WEDU Be More Awards started 12 years ago as a seasonal initiative to honor nonprofits and volunteers in West Central Florida and was well received, being dubbed the “Academy Awards for Nonprofits” by the Tampa Bay Times. About 5 years ago, WEDU turned the project into an annual initiative that has since grown dramatically — from approximately 40 participating nonprofit organizations to more than 140. This showing has enabled WEDU to become the media branch of the local nonprofit community.

Double Down High School Quiz Show

Double Down, now in its 13th season, is a televised Jeopardy-like half-hour weekly game show for teams of high school students from WCNY’s viewing area. Teams of students compete in matches that consist of four rounds, answering questions on a variety of topics. Each show is recorded without interruption in the television studios at WCNY and shows are broadcast on Sunday nights. The season kicks off in October with a “Qualifying Day” and ends with the Finals Matchup in January.

Minnesota Varsity

Annual Classical Talent contest for Minnesota High school singers, instrumentalists, composers. Part of Classical MPRs social engagement with young musicians. We also do instrument drives and artist in residence programs.

Central New York Makers Awards

In conjunction with the 2013 release of the PBS series, Makers: Women Who Make America, WCNY launched Central New York Makers Awards to honor women making contributions to their communities in WCNY’s viewing area. Nominees are evaluated on their efforts in their own communities that help shape today’s America. The awards ceremony is held at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, NY — the birthplace of the women’s suffrage movement — located near Syracuse.

WCRB Sounder Project

To create a distinctive sound, we partner with the Boston Conservatory to compose and produce “sonic signatures.” 20 composition students competed to create the winning sounders, one winner. The winners created 115 variations, which were recorded with the full Boston Conservatory Orchestra at our WGBH studios. These Sounders are now central to the WCRB sound.

Viewer’s Choice Contest

This was a user generated contest for ideas for our local TV history series to raise brand awareness for “Colorado Experience,” to increase digital engagement and acquire new audience members. Uses Woobox, an application that integrates with social media to solicit ideas from the public, then host a vote to select the winning episode idea. We produce half-hour episodes on that topic and host a screening of the episode in the hometown of the individual who submitted the winning idea.

Baltimore Band Block Party

The Baltimore Band Block Party is WTMD’s signature fund-raiser. Each year, 15-20 local bands are given the tools to raise money for WTMD in the form of ticket sales and donations. The station provides exposure to these local bands by putting them in heavy rotation. This on-air support builds familiarity among our listeners. At the end of three weeks the station holds a BBBP concert…the top ten fund raising bands play live with the top three winning substantial prizes.