Cast and crew of WFSU’s Shakespeare Uncovered grant project.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

1600 Red Barber Plaza Tallahassee, FL 32310 850-645-7200 | 800-322-9378

wfsu.org

wfsumedia wfsupublicmedia

Social icon Rounded square

Only use blue and/or white.

For more details check out our Brand Guidelines. wfsumedia wfsupublicmedia LETTER FROM OUR GENERAL MANAGER 2018 IN REVIEW

WFSU Public Media connections are what make WFSU unique in the strives to be the landscape of media organizations. most trusted source for unbiased, quality However, we couldn’t do all of this without you! content. This vision Thank you to the thousands of donors, the tens of is crucial in an thousands of weekly consumers of WFSU Public environment in which Media, and the many volunteers and community media and the role partners. It is our honor to serve you. of journalism are sometimes questioned. David Mullins, General Manager You turn to WFSU for daily news of local, statewide, national and international importance. And WFSU is here to provide programming, content and services to educate, inform, and entertain.

These are all reasons why the impactful local FAMU students meeting with filmmaker Stanley Nelson at the Tell Them We Are Rising screening. content, services, and community connections we WFSU 2018 Budget Overview provide become more important every day. REVENUES BY CATEGORY Here are a few examples from the past year: LOCAL VALUE LOCAL IMPACT

• Before, during, and in the aftermath of Television services offer a window into state and WFSU-TV and WFSG-TV reach more than Hurricane Michael, WFSU’s team provided local government, our local education institutions, 450,000 households. timely information in partnership with Leon and connect us to the community through stories County Emergency Operations staff as well as about our unique ecosystem, arts, culture, and the WFSU-FM is one of the top ten stations nationally the State Emergency Operations Center. people who live in our area. in AQH Metro Share and Metro Cume ratings. Weekly, over 60,000 listeners tune in to 88.9FM. • WFSU expanded our election coverage Radio services offer up-to-date coverage of key to a multimedia presentation that included local issues and state government proceedings The Channel reaches Florida’s 7.5 Facebook Live. as well as a platform to showcase local classical million households via TV. The service has over performances. 19,000+ Roku subscribers who have watched over • The creation of the radio series Voices that 16,000 hours of video and in 2018, over 1,300 EXPENSES BY CATEGORY Inspire highlights the stories of community wfsu.org offers reliable information and multimedia users downloaded its mobile app. members and leaders and their insights about for the community, including live and archived radio making an impact on their world. and television programming. Educational Services provide training, support, and resources to 24 school districts in two states, • WFSU, in a first-of-its-kind partnership Educational services include workshops for and sponsor 90+ events and workshops per year. with Florida A&M University, produced the teachers and parents using media-based tools to companion project to Tell Them We Are Rising enable every child’s success. Web outreach through social media has expanded. – a history of America’s historically black In 2018, our Twitter account reached 6,639 colleges and universities. The Florida Center for Interactive Media (FCIM) followers and Facebook reached 9,427 likes. partners with agencies to develop customized web- Our website, wfsu.org received about 1.5 million While you may think of WFSU as your favorite radio based products using the latest technologies and pageviews and our news stories received 459,000 or television outlet, it is important to remember that methodologies. pageviews alone. education is at the core of WFSU’s mission. Our education outreach, services, and community

2018 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2018 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION & ENGAGMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Shakespeare Teachers Rule: Uncovered Edcamps Engagement “Un-conferences” have become WFSU’s new favorite Grant model for professional development. During these WFSU Public Media was 2018 informal learning awarded a Community experiences, teachers were empowered to Engagement Grant in support of the third season their own conference sessions in the of Shakespeare Uncovered on PBS. We partnered form of roundtable discussions. The lesson with the Southern Shakespeare Company and emphasized “experience not experts” and Level Up Media to raise awareness of the series, enabled them to “vote with their feet” and foster enthusiasm for Shakespeare’s works at the move from discussion to discussion at will. local level, and engage and build new audiences for public media and the performing arts. This The kinship developed between educators series of Elizabethan-inspired short videos, of all backgrounds when given the space to comparing the jobs of Shakespeare’s time with voice to their concerns, experiences, and jobs of today, was produced in tandem with the knowledge, is the only constant that remains goals of the American Graduate Project Initiative. unchanged across each and every Edcamp!

EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT Summer Fun Take the T with WFSU is a Ready To The Education & Engagement Daniel team kept busy in the summer Learn Station partnering with the Early WFSU partnered with the Through the Ready To Learn (RTL) Just wanted to thank you for Learning Coalition of the Big City of Tallahassee to bring special federal grant, WFSU provides introducing us to PBS Learning Bend Region, Inc to provide Daniel Tiger back to town for innovative learning experiences to Super Why! Literacy Camps our second-annual Be My Media... I’m equipped with so Neighbor Day. Pre-K through 2nd grade children for preschoolers across the in lower income communities, their many wonderful examples and region, and implemented a new PBS KIDS camp Downtown Tallahassee was transformed into our families, and their educators. With curriculum. This year, WFSU launched the Summer resources to share with my very own Neighborhood of Make Believe! Trolleys this funding, kids engage in research- Challenge with a camping-themed party featuring students in class and online. transported close to 2000 people between five based activities through television Nature Cat, and tracked our families’ progress downtown locations where community partners programs, video, interactive games throughout the summer months via social media. In Cheron H. Davis, Ph.D. provided hands-on crafts and activities, shared and mobile apps, as well as hands-on June, we partnered with and Assistant Professor books and story time, and screened classic activities at home. Envision Credit Union to bring three week-long Ruff Department of Elementary episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Dustin Education Ruffman Sensational Science camps to the area. Daniels, Chief of Staff for mayor Andrew Gillum, WFSU Public Media engaged July brought five Super Why! Reading camps to made a proclamation officially naming the day. 1,000 rural pre-schoolers in educational in-school local and rural preschool sites. activities featuring books, crafts, and PBS KIDS content.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2018 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY STORIES OF IMPACT STORIES OF IMPACT

Embracing the Arts on WFSQ WFSU is providing continuous coverage of WFSQ-FM’s local music programs Showcase and Hurricane Michael. Next big band coming Nuances recorded and aired over 35 interviews in the next 15-20 minutes. Wind gusts with local personalities involved in area arts activities in 2018. WFSQ-FM’s In Concert series could reach up to 50mph. You can listen aired on Saturdays, June 9 through August 25. The to us at 88.9FM or through our WFSU app. series featured selected concerts by outstanding ensembles from the recent season. In addition to WFSU Public Media our In Concert series broadcasts, WFSQ also aired local performances of the Tallahassee Symphony You guys are amazing. Thank you Orchestra throughout the year. so much for being there for us.

Jon Hill Rally on the Capitol WFSU Hosts Get Lit: The In the wake of the February Parkland school Great American Read shooting tragedy, WFSU leveraged its multi- platform content production capability to WFSU Public Media partnered with Leroy Collins Continues Coverage highlight statewide response, during multiple Public Library to bring lovers of literature together Expansion Crucial Coverage of events at the Florida capitol, including for a special celebration. We screened The Great In 2018, The FLORIDA Channel (TFC) continued the massive rally on February 21. American Read: Monsters and Villains. Guests Hurricane Michael were encouraged to dress as a fictional character to play a critical role in transparency and citizens’ During Hurricane Michael’s assault on the Florida access to all three branches of state government. The events here in Florida sparked and participate in a costume contest. Panhandle in October of 2018, WFSU went into TFC surpassed 19,000 videos in our online library momentum for a national movement. WFSU continuous coverage mode. Two news staffers and our archives continue to be described as provided local community coverage of the were embedded at Leon County’s Emergency “a state treasure.” In addition, TFC continued rally in Washington and broadcasts of Operations Center and provided hourly reports to produce thousands of hours of traditional The March for Our Lives, a national broadcast and featuring disaster managers, first response officials, Thank you! I just wanted to say thank you gavel-to-gavel coverage such as all meetings call-in event hosted by WNYC’s Brian Lehrer and and others. The rest of the news team contacted of the Constitution Revision Commission and WPBT’s production Parkland, The Way Forward. for the wonderful “Get Lit” presentation officials in surrounding counties to obtain the the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety latest information on how the storm was impacting from last night! My fellow teacher and I Commission– all streamed live and archived. those areas and what resources were available to enjoyed it so very much and hope to attend residents. In the days following Michael’s passage, more WFSU events! Your staff is amazing... Our web presence continues to be of great WFSU remained continuously on-the-air and online. importance to our viewers, with 382,746 Coverage included daily call-in talk programs during Really proud to support WFSU Radio full of enthusiasm and good cheer. It made documented sessions on our website, over a which listeners and online content consumers and believe Tom Flanigan provides the the event even more delightful. Great job, million (1,002,203) page views and 232,822 could share their stories, questions, and concerns. greatest format to learn more about the users. During Florida’s active hurricane season, WFSU! The FLORIDA Channel’s web presence proved candidates as well as issues impacting our Susan Howard invaluable, with a significant spike in users for community. Thank you Tom Flanigan, for The Great American Read Event Participant Hurricane Michael coverage followed by our 2018 Election Coverage your commitment to quality journalism! On the Ballot series in October and November featuring coverage of amendments and During the 2018 primary and general election Janet Olin candidates during the 2018 election cycle. run-ups, WFSU produced expanded Perspectives programs featuring the candidates in local city, county, and school board races. These programs were distributed via WFSU-FM, 4FSU Comcast Channel 4, wfsu.org, and Facebook Live.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2018 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY STORIES OF IMPACT STORIES OF IMPACT

allowing viewers a glimpse of our radio news team It’s not just about slimy little creatures speaking with candidates about the results. that live in wet, buggy places. It’s WFSU’s monthly production of the Florida Supreme also about the places themselves, Court Oral Arguments can now be found live on the and the salamander’s relations to Court’s Facebook page. other plants and animals there, and the underlying geology. Tell Them We Are Rising Rob Diaz de Villegas WFSU teamed up with Tell them We Are Rising AWARDS WFSU Senior Producer commenting filmmaker Stanley Nelson, Firelight Media, and on the dwarf salamander Florida A&M University (FAMU), to bring the Growing WFSU’s Ecology community a special advance screening of the Society of Professional Journalists documentary about historically black colleges and World universities. More than 600 people came out to Lee Sunshine State Awards WFSU’s extensive work covering the distinctive Hall on FAMU’s campus to watch the program. • 2nd place Investigative Reporting for a story ecology of the north Florida and south area on college campus sexual assault (WFSU- has continued to grow. In addition to a performance by the FAMU Marching FM) 100, a special panel discussion was held with In the spring, WFSU produced a special Local Nelson, Marcia Smith (the President of Firelight • 3rd place for reporting on Florida Routes documentary on the first year in the life Media), FAMU President Larry Robinson, and government and politics (WFSU-FM) of the endangered red wolf puppies born at the Reginald Ellis (FAMU Associate Professor of Tallahassee Museum. History). WFSU Public Media News Director Lynn Hatter moderated the event. Our story on the dwarf salamander won a Regional RTDNA Edward Watch the panel discussion at wfsu.org/hbcu-rising prestigious Radio Television Digital News R. Murrow Awards Association Regional Award for Excellence in as well as stories about special alumni connections Video. In the piece, we travelled into the Chipola Live on Facebook to Florida A&M University and other Florida • Best Use of Sound (WFSU-FM) River floodplain with the humorous and well-known 2018 was an election year with a special HBCUs. scientist, Dr. Bruce Means. multimedia focus for WFSU as coverage was • Best Sports Reporting (WFSU-FM) distributed via Facebook Live for the first time. The diverse local stories found on WFSU’s Ecology • Excellence in Innovation for Vietnam Stories Blog led Feedspot to rank it #12 of “ecology blogs WFSU-TV’s Bandwagon program, which gives Every WFSU team member was (WFSU Public Media) to follow” in 2018. WFSU’s exceptional work on candidates the opportunity to speak before a live ecology led it to being awarded a WNET American studio audience, was shared via Facebook Live for passionate about the project, • Excellence in Video for Dwarf Salamander Spring Live grant focusing on stories concerning both the primary and general election programs. welcoming of all collaborators, Search in the Chipola River Floodplain citizen science, to debut in 2019. and logistically sound. They made (WFSU-TV) WFSU-FM’s Political Perspectives, a candidate Learn more about our local ecology by visiting wfsu. interview program, was recorded for telecast on sure each media outreach built on org/ecologyblog. 4fsu (Comcast 4). It was also available live via other relevant stories. The way they Facebook where online viewers had access to extended interviews with candidates after the coordinated everyone and paid broadcast program ended. attention to detail was really top notch.

On election night, WFSU-FM’s local election Atira Charles coverage was also carried on Facebook Live, Assistant Professor at FAMU

2018 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2018 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

MEMBERSHIP STORIES OF IMPACT

SERVICES More thoughts from & CORPORATE SUPPORT the council...

SM

Public media helps me WFSU Public Media has work. We determined that: with my biases. It opens completed the first year of Corporate Support Connects • 95.5% believe that workforce me up to information a two-year initiative. Our that challenges me. accomplishments include: development is crucial for our the Community region’s economy. In 2018, the Corporate Support department saw Laura Rogers • a live stream and broadcast • 95.4% believe that it is Tried-and-True a 30% increase in on-air sponsorships, as well Program Director, on topics that highlight career important for high schools to as raised over $1,000,000 in underwriting for the World Class Schools, Our on-air pledge drives, special events, and technical education. provide career and technical seventh consecutive year. The development of a Tallahassee Chamber educational services would not be possible without • content that focuses on trades (CTE) programs. unique connection between WFSU’s programming the support of volunteers. The WFSU membership and programs that support department had more than 400 volunteers give their and local business sponsors has continued. • 98.7% believe that it is training. important for businesses time during three on-air FM radio pledge drives in You are never too old 2018. These volunteers represented more than 200 WFSU has garnered more than support from • convening of partners like to provide internships and its corporate community. By pairing them Lively Tech, Tallahassee apprenticeships to help to learn; engaging with businesses, organizations, civic clubs, and student WFSU I always learn groups from our area. with programming that reaches their potential Community College, TCC prepare young adults for customers, staff are able to help them engage with Workforce Development, the careers. something new. WFSU’s audience. Corporate Support’s work is the Office of Economic Vitality, • 100% of our partners Marjorie Turnbull foundation that enables WFSU to remain a strong, CareerSource, Leon County developed stronger community-built resource. Schools, etc. to tackle issues, Former State of Florida Membership Soars partnerships with other Representative challenges and opportunities. organizations working on WFSU Membership reached new heights A community-wide survey helped addressing high-demand this year, surpassing 10,000 members and us to determine the outcomes skilled workforce needs in our achieving our highest fundraising total: WFSU Travels the World from our American Graduate community. Doctors live with facts, more than $1.4 million. Our growth is largely The WFSU Travel Club took a total of 49 travelers patients live with truth, attributed to a more aggressive fiscal year-end to the South Pacific and on a Danube River and WFSU Public Media campaign which produced $30,000 more than Cruise. In the South Pacific they saw the Great God Squad: The Village not only provides the the previous year, new pledge programming Barrier Reef, The Sydney Opera House, visited Square broadcast event. facts, it searches for the on WFSU CREATE, as well as timely and New Zealand, and a few extended their stay to Thoughts from truth. consistent membership campaigns. see beautiful Fiji! For Christmas on the Danube, the Council travelers enjoyed a river cruise through Germany Byron Greene and Austria, stopping along the way to shop at With each of our projects, Associate Director at FAMU Europe’s famous Christmas Markets! WFSU’s Community Council helps us to stay relevant within Success with PBS Passport our community. PBS Passport continues to be a driving force in WFSU Public Media television membership. PBS continues to expand connects us to our its collection of premium content accessible through “WFSU is a place where we can come together – local, state and national this service. In this fiscal year, 22% of new TV it brings us back to the community. That members joined to access Passport. This service is middle and is a grounding connection is big. available to members at the $5 per month level or place.” $60 annual level. Kristin Dozier Sally Bradshaw Leon County Commissioner Owner, Midtown Reader

2018 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2018 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 1600 Red Barber Plaza Tallahassee, FL 32310 850-645-7200 | 800-322-9378 wfsu.org

WFSU Public Media is a service of .