Fy 2011Annual Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PUBLIC MEDIA 50 FY 2011 ANNUAL REPORT YEARS WHRO and WHRV Jack Frieden Barbara Hamm Lee Television and Radio Raymond Jones personalities Dwight Davis Barry Graham Cathy Lewis Lisa Godley Jonathan Lichtenstein Bill Hicok Paul Shugrue Sondra Woodward Anthony McSpadden Photos by Len Rothman Jae Sinnett Neal Murray LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD CHAIR WHRO embarked on FY11 proud of the accomplishments of the past programming and services that have been the station’s hallmark for 50 year, and excited about the possibilities the new year promised – years. especially the opportunity to provide important services to an even larger segment of Hampton Roads and beyond. As the pages of this It was also a year to celebrate WHRO’s 50th anniversary, an annual report illustrate, many of those possibilities have already been achievement that would not have been possible without the support realized, and many are still in progress. of the people of Hampton Roads – both the visionaries who saw the potential for public media and the educators, students, listeners and And while FY11 was a year of unprecedented economic challenges, viewers who have valued it for 50 years. At the back of this annual WHRO was well prepared, through the visionary and strategic report is a DVD that we hope you’ll enjoy. It chronicles the almost planning of its board of directors and management. Both independently unimaginable evolution of a small experiment in teaching by television and in concert, the board and staff devoted time to thoughtful into a successful, vibrant and expanding media enterprise. contemplation of mission and implementation, and the station emerged leaner, stronger and more agile – well-positioned to expand the Herewith our major accomplishments during FY11. Barry Pollara Bert Schmidt Chairman, WHRO Board of Directors President and Chief Executive Officer High on WHRO’s list of priorities for FY11 was fulfilling the mandate from our Board to expand public Our Radio radio coverage – particularly to un- and underserved areas throughout Virginia. Throughout the year, Stations WHRO’s FM, technical and strategic planning personnel brought several additional frequencies on the air, introducing or improving public radio signals to dozens of communities. The following had been accomplished at the end of FY11: John Heimerl, Mathews School Superintendent On the Middle Peninsula – WHRG-FM (re- Dr. David Holleran, Dr. Elizabeth L. Young and Bert Schmidt turn on the signal for WHRG-FM broadcasting WHRV, our NPR news and information (Gloucester-Mathews Gazette Journal photo) station) went on the air in Gloucester Point, and WHRJ-FM (re-broadcasting WHRO, our classical music station) began transmitting from Gloucester Courthouse. On the Eastern Shore – WHRE-FM, operating in Eastville, began broadcasting WHRV programming in the spring of 2011, bringing public radio to the region for the first time. WHRX-FM, a low power station in Nassawadox, began serving a portion of the Shore with WHRV programming, and will strengthen the signal in 2012. RADIO 50 years old... Part of our FM expansion effort culminated with the settlement of FM Expansiona 10-year interference issue involving a North Carolina station that had limited WHRO-FM’s power. In FY11, WHRO purchased the rights and equipment needed to increase power to the highest possible level, with the result that our listening area was increased by nearly 10 miles, and WHRO need no longer worry about future interference. The FM Expansion is still in progress. During FY12, WHRO will seek support for additional projects: In Williamsburg, James City and York Counties – WHRO will improve and extend WHRO’s Glenn Hickman at the Woodstock Elementary the quality of its signal to ensure that WHRV tower (staff photo) reaches the full extent of these communities. WHRO is pursuing agreements to accomplish a comprehensive expansion of its radio service in the region. In November of 2011, WHRV will begin transmitting on 101.7 at the Virginia Beach oceanfront area, providing a much improved and stronger signal to the central and northern areas of Virginia Beach, where interference has been a RADIO common experience. ...and brand new. On the Eastern Shore – the low power WHRX station will WHRO-FM announcers conducted move north and increase its signal to full power in the spring and aired in-depth interviews with of 2012, expanding coverage to Accomack, Chincoteague international performing artists. They and more than two-thirds of the Eastern Shore. WHRF-FM participated, as hosts and announcers, in will rebroadcast WHRO-FM to the Eastern Shore, and is The Virginia International Tattoo, The expected to be on the air in spring of 2012. Memorial day concert with the Virginia Symphony, the Symphonic Air Show and In Sussex County, Emporia and Lawrenceville - WHRL- the From the Top national radio program. FM is scheduled to begin broadcasting WHRV programming WHRV announcers emceed more than Cathy Lewis (photo by in December, 2011. This area currently has no public radio fifty events throughout Hampton Roads, Len Rothman) service. on the Middle Peninsula and the Eastern Shore.WHRV continued to garner industry In the meantime, both WHRV and honors for programming, winning five WHRO-FM, and their digital stations awards from the Virginia Association of – SpeakEasy, AltRadio, Connoisseur Broadcasters (VAB), for Classics and The 1920s Radio Outstanding Newscast – December 21, Network – continued to inspire and 2010; delight the community with unique Best Morning Show – Morning Edition, and provocative programming, hosted by Sondra Woodward; attracting online audiences from as Outstanding News Series – HearSay with far away as South Africa, England and Cathy Lewis, From the Headlines; Bulgaria. WHRO-FM continued its Outstanding Feature Reporting – HearSay broadcasts of the Virginia Symphony WHRO and WHRV winners at the VAB awards with Cathy Lewis, Raising the Red Flag on and the Virginia Opera, and worked with (photo by Matt Mazzoni) Campus; the Virginia Arts Festival during its 15th Best Human Interest Series – HearSay with anniversary season. Cathy Lewis, Spiritually Speaking Round Tables. Our Television Stations Locally, WHRO’s two weekly public affairs Public television fared well at the VAB awards programs – What Matters and Another View ceremony as well, for three locally produced - drew increasingly enthusiastic audiences; programs: while television ratings reflected tremendous Best Documentary, 1st Place – Hampton 400: audience excitement for PBS programs From the Sea to the Stars; Sherlock Holmes, Downton Abbey and the Best Documentary, 2nd Place – Code second generation of Upstairs Downstairs. Switching; WHRO continued to leverage both local Best Human Interest Series, 1st Place – and national television programming with WHRO Community Impact Awards, meaningful outreach: in October of 2010, presented by HearSay host Cathy Lewis. PBS awarded the station a grant to promote Code Switching received an additional the series God in America. Partnering with honor from the National Association the Chrysler Museum of Art, WHRO hosted of Black Journalists in the Best a free and open screening of the program in Documentary category for Market Size 16 and the Museum’s theatre, and assembled a panel smaller. of clergy representing Roman Catholicism, Protestant Christianity, Conservative Judaism and Islam. The panel, moderated by Another View executive producer and host Barbara Hamm Lee, discussed the program and answered probing questions from an appreciative audience. For many, it was their first real exposure to Islam. Barbara Hamm Lee and Lisa Godley What Matters with on the set of Another View (staff photo) Cathy Lewis (staff photo) Youngsters enjoying the Raising Community Readers Van (staff photo) Healthy Portsmouth Engagement stakeholders meeting (staff photo) Pursuing its outreach mission in FY11, WHRO’s Center for Regional Citizenship completed a two-year $222,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to work with faith communities, civic leaders and other groups in Western Tidewater to increase local capacity to address Outreach has been a part of childhood obesity. The Center partnered with the Virginia WHRO’s mission almost since Interfaith Center for Public Policy, a nonpartisan coalition of its founding in 1961. A highlight faith communities that works to create change through education for the past several years is our and advocacy. participation in the annual Virginia Children’s Festival. In October of The Center continued its work with Healthy Portsmouth, an 2010, thousands of children and initiative to bring together local leaders and stakeholders to build their parents and caregivers visited a healthier community. In the fall of WHRO’s booth to play educational 2010, with a BLUEPRINT AMERICA games, receive instructional Kelly Jackson, director “livability” grant supported by the material related to PBS children’s of the Center for Regional Citizenship, visits a school Rockefeller Foundation, the Center programming and enjoy a garden (staff photo) created vignettes highlighting Healthy captivating performance by PBS Portsmouth’s efforts to improve Kids’ Mr. Steve, a guitar strumming the City’s walking environment singer who delights kids by making and demonstrating the connection learning tuneful and fun. between transportation policy and healthy communities. 50 years Education Ever mindful of our mission to serve children and Also in FY11, Thinkplex launched eMediaVA, enhance their education, WHRO’s Children’s