ALASKAPUBLIC.ORG ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Connecting Alaskans. Life informed. GREETINGS FROM BERNARD WASHINGTON, INTERIM CEO & GENERAL MANAGER Alaska Public Media offers sincere gratitude to our community of supporters: our more than 7,500 individual and family members; scores of volunteers; hundreds of corporate and business sponsors; local and national foundations and agencies; and the members of our volunteer board and advisory council – all of whom make it possible to sustain and advance our service to Alaska. Our supporters help with financial contributions, but also through the gifts of time, energy, ideas and passion. We rely on your generosity to make this public service thrive. At the close of 2015, Alaska Public Media continues to stand on solid ground. Our financials are sound and we are committed to leading with programming. During the past year, we had the two most successful fund drives in the history of the company, we introduced two new dedicated news desks, and we launched a new video road crew. We’re doing more to bring you more. We take pride in serving you and fulfilling our mission, Connecting Alaskans. Life informed. We couldn't do it without ALL of you. THANK YOU very much for supporting Alaska Public Media. Bernard Washington Board of Directors John Duffy Pita Benz Sarah Obed President Ben Brown Amy Rhyneer Neal Fried Austin Roof Gwen Kennedy Erin Harrington Michele Schuh Vice President Karen Hunt Maryellen Tuttell Lauren Blanchett Michael Martin Treasurer Mark Wiggin Secretary Alaskapublic.org 2 Financial Overview Actual FY15 Actual FY14 Revenues: Contributions & Membership $2,037,389 $1,873,070 Underwriting $1,180,954 $1,110,854 Rentals $89,167 $63,099 Federal Grants $1,058,737 $1,225,592 State Grants $553,230 $554,536 Special Events $162,902 $252,080 APRN Dues $433,310 $426,801 Other $222,251 $379,682 In-Kind $195,856 $197,833 Total $5,933,796 $6,083,547 Expenses: Production & Broadcasting $3,326,931 $3,393,951 Development & Marketing $1,308,194 $1,329,270 General & Admin. $970,449 $872,193 In- Kind $195,856 $197,833 Subtotal $5,801,430 $5,793,247 Goose Bay $29,305 $25,138 AIDEA Loan $0 $133,843 Total Net Expense $5,830,735 $5,952,228 Alaska Public Media is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Note: This condensed financial information has been derived from Alaska Public Media’s financial statements as of and for the year ended June 30, 2015. It has been audited by Mikunda, Cottrell & Co. For a complete copy of the 2015 audited financial statements, please call 907.550.8423 or email [email protected]. Alaskapublic.org 3 Alaskapublic.org 4 More Numbers Members 7,500 Major Donors 512 (contributions of $1k or more, annually) Sustainers 1,700 (ongoing monthly contributors) Average Gift $144.00 Alfred Hanisch Legacy Society Members 68 Facebook Likes 15,157 Staff Size 41 FTE Reporters in Juneau 1 Reporters in Washington, DC 1 Educational TV Programming for Children 71 (hours per week) Highlights (July 2014 – July 2015) Local Programming New Energy News Desk – We recruited a full-time reporter to spotlight energy issues important to Alaskans through independent, in-depth, multiplatform journalism. New Urban Affairs News Desk – We recruited a full-time urban affairs reporter to provide in-depth reporting of important economic, social, cultural, and health issues facing Anchorage and Southcentral Alaskans, and especially as they affect the underserved and under covered communities of the region. Road Team – Our new “road team” launched. Highlights of their initial work included a 30-minute program on refugees in Alaska, recording the TV debut of Arctic Entries, producing a special on the Native Youth Olympics and a Common Ground program highlighting healthcare costs in Alaska. Indie Alaska – Two episodes of our online video series, Indie Alaska, were chosen to be part of PBS’s 2015 Online Film Festival – I am a Flyfisher and I am an Alaska Native Dancer. The latter was chosen as one of the most-watched films in the festival. Indie Alaska has attracted more than 5700 YouTube subscribers and more than 1.5 million views. Arctic Entries – We entered into a partnership with Artic Entries to broadcast on radio and television an entire season of the series. In the spirit of This American Life, The Moth Radio Hour, and other storytelling events, Arctic Entries brings Alaskans to the stage to share their personal stories: “funny, sad and sweet,” the group says. “At every performance, seven people each tell a seven-minute long true story about themselves relating to the show’s theme.” 2015 Conference on Global Leadership in the Arctic – We provided live special coverage of the conference from the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage. Alaskapublic.org 5 Community Outreach Downton Abbey Preview Screening – More than 200 fans enjoyed a celebration of Masterpiece Classic’s Downton Abbey, with a preview screening and tea reception. Life Planning Seminars – Board member, Karen Hunt, presented “What documents do I need NOW for my family WHEN,” to a capacity audience of 100 people at Providence Hospital. The free seminar was part of the Life Planning Seminars Alaska Public Media has been offering the past three years in partnership with the Providence Alaska Foundation – promoting financial well-being and philanthropy for Alaska. Live Concerts – We partnered with the Anchorage Concert Association to co-promote and sponsor Celtic Woman, Jessie Cook and Ira Glass. Also, we independently presented Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds. Public Lectures and Discussions – We partnered with the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Anchorage Public Library to host a new READ, WATCH, THINK series of public events examining the impact of propaganda. State Fair – We continued our partnership with the Alaska State Fair to sponsor daily “Music Free with Fair Admission" during the entire run of the Fair. Photo courtesy of Alaska State Fair Children’s Health Festival – We partnered with the Municipality of Anchorage’s Department of Health and Human Services to provide recreational activities, health screenings, educational activities, and nutrition education to the children in Anchorage. Jacques Pépin – We hosted celebrity chef Jacques Pépin and his daughter for a series of public events. Community Cinema – We partnered with University of Alaska, Anchorage and Mat-Su College Campuses, and The Glenn Massay Theater in Mat-Su to present Community Cinema, a series that brings people together for screenings of documentaries seen on PBS's Independent Lens followed by community-driven conversations. Alaskapublic.org 6 The Scoop Behind the New Beats Few states have energy issues as complex as those in Alaska. These issues must be fully understood and vigorously debated if Alaskans are to build livable, sustainable and vibrant communities for the future. Alaska Public Media believes that a reporter dedicated exclusively to energy coverage will better inform the public and elevate awareness about critical energy issues in Alaska. In October, we launched a new full-time Energy News Desk to provide in-depth reporting on a range of energy issues facing Alaska. After a national search, we recruited Rachel Waldholz (pictured below) to become the reporter for the new beat. Before joining Alaska Public Media, Rachel Waldholz spent two years reporting for KCAW in Sitka, where she covered everything from city government to fish politics. Ms. Waldholz studied documentary production at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Originally from New Jersey, Rachel got her start reporting for a community newspaper in the Bronx, New York. Since then, she’s been moving west, reporting in Colorado, California, and now, Alaska. Her work has appeared on NPR, Al Jazeera, Current TV, Grist and in High Country News, among other outlets. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Alaska Public Media’s Urban Affairs Desk was launched to provide in-depth reporting of important economic, social, cultural, and health issues facing Anchorage and Southcentral Alaskans, and especially as they affect the underserved and under covered communities of the region. The range of subject matter includes the working poor, affordable housing, employment trends, new immigrants, prisoner re-entry programs, forgotten children, the elderly, the 21st century family and much more. After a national search, Anne Hillman (pictured to the left) who had been a full-time member of Alaska Public Media’s news staff since early 2014 was recruited to become our Urban Affairs reporter. Prior to joining Alaska Public Media, Ms. Hillman worked as a reporter in rural Alaska and trained community radio journalists in South Sudan. She also worked with APRN on special projects like rural-urban connections and energy reporting. Alaskapublic.org 7 Remembering a Community Hero - Marvell Johnson During the fall of 2014, Alaska Public Media mourned the loss of longtime radio host, Marvell Johnson. Johnson had been hosting KSKA’s music program Soul to Soul from 1978 to the time of his passing. He was a community treasure who tirelessly used his popular show to touch lives and make a difference. He remains an inspiration to many of us at Alaska Public Media and is a reminder of the incredible difference that one person can make. Photo courtesy of Marc Lester / Alaska Dispatch News Alaska Press Club Awards Please visit Alaskapublic.org to listen to these and other stories First Place Second Place Public Service Award, Radio Best Talk Program, All Media Starving Sea Birds Stranded Across