Current (https://current.org/project-org-type/tv/page/8/)
WQPT created the Embracing our Military initiative in 2013 to raise awareness of issues important to the military community. In 2017, they were able to bring “The Wall That Heals” — a 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Memorial plus an education center – to the Quad Cities area where they staged community engagement and educational events in conjunction with its visit.
WVPT launched an ongoing Community Conversations Initiative in 2015 to understand people’s aspirations for life in their communities. A key piece of feedback the station received was that the community wanted the station to tell the “good news stories” happening in the area – the stories behind organizations and businesses seeking to make life better for friends and neighbors, enhancing hometowns. The ongoing series of TV shorts – Caught Doing Something Good – is aimed at doing just that.
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.
The ValleyPBS Family Circle program is a $10 membership that allows families to support their local PBS station and receive a newsletter, discounts on events, access to Family Circle events and other benefits. The program added over 200 member-families to the PBS network and has hosted over 48 events since 2013.
KET’s monthly, multi-platform campaign features everyday viewers discussing the impact of KET’s programming and educational service on their lives.
In 2013 KCOS launched Only in El Paso, a web video series that tells positive and unique stories about the people and places one can only find in El Paso. The goal is to provide opportunities to area filmmakers and to expand perceptions El Paso. The project is created and produced in partnership with local filmmakers. Also collaborating are Destination El Paso and PBS Digital Studios. To date three full seasons of mini-documentaries have been completed reaching over 100,000 viewers.
As a kid, I used to watch PBS late night programming in which grungy music shows would come on. I took that memory and tried adapting it to our community. We partner with a great dive bar to create a new show that brings local area talent “to the masses” at a state-wide level. The first pilot aired in December and have been shooting episodes for the past few months with the first season set for the first of September.
KVIE has been doing a live televised art auction (245 plus pieces over 3 days) for over 30 years. To support all the artists who donate work for the auction, we decided to open an art gallery in our station. We remodeled unused lobby space. Artists now show and sell work through 6 exhibitions each year. The gallery, open Mon- Fri, requires no additional staffing.
GPS for Success is a website showcasing that helps students and adults learn more about their desired careers. The site is used by 35 schools, a community college and other community members as a career development tool.
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.
All PTV stations are, at their core, educational, and WNIT reinforced its role in regional education by expanding to its lineup of weekly Ed programs. In Nov. 2016, we launched EducationCounts_Michiana, aimed at finding the region’s best examples of learning practices. “Citizen hosts” lead viewers through 3-4 segments in each half-hour program. Content is driven by an advisory group of community leaders from school superintendents to early childhood professionals and business people.