MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA Annual Report JULY 2013 to JUNE 2014
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MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA annual report JULY 2013 TO JUNE 2014 1 > Public Service that touches and transforms “MPR has changed my life,” says Rachel W. intellectually lifted out of a black hole. Rachel rarely reads newspapers because of I can’t tell you how much I appreciate a reading disability, and she finds television MPR’s journalists. They are truly some news too sensationalized. Her husband, of the last standing ethically strong, who she says is always well informed about cognitively aware and determined national and global news, introduced her to journalists in this country. You all have MPR News, and she now listens every day in given this 30-year-old woman with a her car and while she’s at work. reading impairment the ability to be fully “I want to thank the staff of MPR for engaged just by listening to the radio.” the gift they have given to me. I am now Rachel became a sustaining member just a able to inform my husband about what’s month after she tuned in to MPR News. going on before he hears about it. I feel MPR has JULY 2013 TO JUNE 2014 TO 2013 JULY changed my life, annual report APM says Rachel W. MPR APM MPR APM 2 3 2 Dear Friends, Thanks to you and your fellow members, we It’s your generosity that fuels the talented awesome programs wherever you are and are pleased to report that Minnesota Public Radio teams who bring these stories to life and however you choose to experience us. and American Public Media (MPR | APM) had enables us to bring you the voices you trust, Why do we do it? It’s simple—our Mission: another successful year. With your sustaining programs you don’t hear anywhere else and a “to enrich the mind and nourish the spirit, thereby and generous support, MPR | APM continues calm harbor in what can be a chaotic media enhancing the lives and expanding the perspectives is to enrich the to provide vital public service and real value ocean. We strive to serve you and our communities Our mission of our audiences, and assisting them in strengthening to millions of listeners around the region and with a bridge between the issues we face as a their communities.” That is the driving force for across the country. society and the solutions to address them. all of us at MPR | APM, and perhaps the reason Over the past year, you may have been one of Technology has enabled greater access to the you choose to give. mind and nourish the spirit, the many listeners who told us what you love quality programming you’ve come to expect We hope you’ll see yourself in the experiences about MPR | APM—whether it’s a program from us, but we couldn’t do that without you. we’ve shared in the following pages and that on the radio, a live performance or event, or With your sustained support, we are able to be you’ll recognize the important role you have in something you’ve read on our websites or where you want us to be—in your car, in your making them happen. Thank you, again. thereby enhancing the lives and mobile apps. While the experiences vary, the kitchen and living room, on your computer and common theme is that the work we do makes a on your mobile device. Your gifts are even more Gratefully, difference for you. We’re proud to share a few of critical now as we aim to stay abreast of the expanding the perspectives of our those stories in this annual report. technology evolution and continue to provide audiences, and assisting them in Jon McTaggart President and CEO JULY 2013 TO JUNE 2014 TO 2013 JULY strengthening their communities. Minnesota Public Radio I American Public Media Public Radio I American Public Media annual report Ian Friendly APM Chair, Board of Trustees Minnesota Public Radio I American Public Media MPR 4 4 5 > Experiences that create joy Awesome programming MPR Legacy Society member Walter Gray is still ecstatic about the incredible artistry he experienced when Classical MPR hosted the American Spiritual Ensemble last spring. The American Spiritual Ensemble inspires the St. Paul is our promise audience with beautifully soulful sound and energy. Renowned for their powerful performances, the critically acclaimed group of classical music’s finest singers thrilled their audience > Giving a voice with beautiful sound and dynamic energy. “I was touched by the soulful elegance of > Delivering to Minnesotans the performance,” Walter says. “It was more than music musically and visually entertaining. It was When the MPR News team covered the paper also an amazing opportunity for the larger mill closing in International Falls, Koochiching Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Dan community to see primarily African-American Wilson was thrilled when 89.3 The Current first Economic Development Authority Director performers who were formally trained hit the airwaves and he has been impressed with Paul Nevanen appreciated how MPR reporters how it’s improved every year. He shared his love provided context to the story, especially and were absolutely exquisite in the for The Current in a City Pages feature for the about the extent of the deeper impacts— delivery of their craft. I was station’s ninth birthday in January 2014. on education, mental health, family simply dynamics and more. MPR News bureaus joyful “As a friend of many Twin Cities about the musicians and hopefully ‘lifetime “MPR’s reporting on our community Bemidji performance and member’ of the local scene in was terrific—it was balanced and Duluth had a great deal of depth. The Moorhead was beaming about JULY 2013 TO JUNE 2014 TO 2013 JULY Minneapolis, I can testify that The the noticeable impact Current’s support of local music has reporting team took great effort to St. Cloud it had on the audience. made an enormous difference in the lives get a variety of perspectives and It made me so proud of local musicians. And this support spent a lot of time with people to get to be there; I was just has enlivened the whole local music the personal and community response.” Twin Cities singing along and scene. Airplay, interviews, promoting “MPR gives a voice to greater dancing in annual report Rochester shows, just showing love, all strengthen Minnesota that might not be heard my seat.” the community and make it easier for otherwise. There are distinctive Worthington APM musicians to get by in tough times. The MPR News team gets the whole differences in the regions of Minnesota MPR What a gift you’ve given us!” Dan Wilson records in the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio. story in International Falls, Minnesota. and I think MPR helps to capture that.” mpr.org/groundlevel 6 6 7 > New apps make it > Reaching classrooms to Technology delivers easy to listen on your educate and inspire favorite device and on New digital capabilities are creating more ways for Classical MPR to serve great programs to you your schedule schools and young listeners all over the state with our series of Class Notes videos. Based on state teaching standards, the videos are available as a free Leadership Circle Member Diane Carlson resource for K-8 Minnesota music teachers and include classroom curricula. loves that the MPR News app makes it so anywhere, anytime easy for her to wake up to Cathy Wurzer and Christopher Martino, a teacher at Hoover Elementary School in Anoka, MPR News during her extended stays in says the videos have been a huge hit with his students, who especially enjoy Florida. While she’s running errands in the those that include kids demonstrating their musical skills. Florida sun, she can effortlessly listen live “I can use these digital resources to extend learning both inside to Minnesota weather updates and programs through her car radio via the mobile app. and outside my classroom,” he says. “The most valuable are those that relate to fundamental skills and application of learning. “When I’m away I miss the quality and Thank you to MPR and all the benefactors for working to play an depth of MPR News. The app makes it active and effective role in advancing music education.” so easy for me to keep up with my news, from the people I know and trust. I love classicalmpr.org/education that the new app has more stories and more variety and everything is so easily accessible. And if I miss a favorite program or segment, like the > Being there for audiences in real Political Junkie, I JULY 2013 TO JUNE 2014 TO 2013 JULY time through social channels can easily listen to it whenever I want to.” Social media gives MPR and APM programs and Even when she’s home personalities multiple digital channels for connecting in Minnesota, Diane appreciates how easily with listeners and fans in new ways—whether to give she can use the app to find them the latest headlines, solicit their opinions about annual report her favorite programs, and an issue or warn them about severe weather. Social APM personalize her listening New mobile phone and tablet apps for MPR News and Marketplace let users experience on her own channels help us reach our audiences where they are MPR create personal playlists and access programming across the globe, 24/7. schedule. and serve them in more personal, immediate ways. 8 8 9 > Brains On fuels passion for science Innovating to and learning The Brains On podcast features science for discover new kids and curious adults.