All over the country, public media stations are innovating in the ways they engage with their communities. We want to celebrate some of these successes – some of which America Amplified has supported, and many others which have inspired us to do more, take risks, and try new things! Amped Up! Is a series of case studies in engagement innovation. Ideas you can (and should) steal…
How North Country Public Radio made the case and found the budget for a community engagement producer
North Country Public Radio in upstate New York recently hired a full-time community engagement reporter/producer. This hire came as a result of changes at the station in the wake of the pandemic, and the realization that engagement could yield content that better reflected their community, often delighted their audience, and won awards. But the road to secure that funding was a long one. NCPR’s News Director David Sommerstein told us how it came together.
How WFYI’s Side Effects team anticipated the Medicaid unwinding by simply showing up
Having a consistent presence in spaces that were strictly on-background helped Side Effects Public Media earn the trust necessary to cover one of the year's biggest health care stories.
Building a Daily Show from the Ground Up, With Community At Its Core
Before WPLN launched a new daily show called “This is Nashville,” the station knew they wanted to build an atypical talk show, with community service at the heart. But they didn’t have a clear plan to get it going. They started by listening.
San Francisco’s KALW takes public service journalism seriously
“If you focus on your mission and how you are serving your audience, that story will have resonance in the community and will allow you to build from there. “
Building trust by participating in a community event
Don’t be shy! Just showing up can yield unexpected results.
Collaboration with Black-owned media in Tampa fueled WUSF’s Murrow award-winning series on Black mental health
The biggest takeaway: Take the time to build relationships with your partners. It will create meaningful journalism and long-term connections.
Two stations take different routes to launch a Spanish-language newscast
In recent years, the demand for accurate and reliable news in Spanish has grown significantly, especially in regions with substantial Hispanic populations.