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…
South Dakota Public Broadcasting turned to content sharing and collaboration to reach a statewide audience
The Vote South Dakota website collected election coverage from several different media partners, hosted civics education, and was home to an interactive legislative map, culminating in a live forum dedicated to discussing ballot measures up for consideration in November.
The D2 Project: Engaging rural communities in a new electoral district
The public collaborative newsroom in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana draw a hybrid engagement strategy to earn trust from atomized rural Americans
Youth Power: How KALW put teens on stage to win the trust of this elusive audience
As our audiences trend older, the youth audience becomes a more and more compelling demographic to reach out to–and as KALW found, they can be knowledgeable contributors in their own right. Community engagement manager Johanna Miyaki built upon KALW’s long-standing tradition of community engagement to create a youth-centered event series.
Looking to reach younger audiences? Take a cue from WFAE’s approach through barbershops and nail salons
Elvis Menayese was intrigued by how the university’s Black Student Union used the welcoming atmosphere of a barbershop – and free haircuts – to provide a safe venue for community conversation. He decided to replicate the experience and environment to talk about a difficult topic: the election.
For Election 2024: WFYI in Indianapolis created a space where people go
Many public media stations take on ambitious voter guide projects, especially for major elections. But this was the first time WFYI reached this far and the first time that they began the election project with a plan for their newsroom to collaborate across the content department and incorporate broad-based listening across their coverage communities. The result: Some of the highest performing election content that WFYI has ever seen.
Prairie Public listens for community stories amidst the boom and bust oil economy
Prairie Public had three goals: Elevate the stories of a seldom heard from North Dakota community; really understand the people who lived there; and build up their own engagement muscle. How did they do that? They showed up, again and again.
Tucson’s AZPM used arts and cultura to supercharge their election engagement
A bilingual event informed by local traditions led to a highly engaged session that helped this Arizona station change perceptions and shape their next steps.
Food, family and fútbol: Northern Illinois Public Radio hosts Familia Fest
When WNIJ's Jenna Dooley first envisioned Familia Fest, she was driven by a clear goal: to deepen the station’s connection with the Spanish-speaking community in DeKalb County in northern Illinois.
WNYC reaching the “everything voter” at laundromats across the metro area
WNYC team visits eight different laundromats across the New York City metro area monthly to have community conversations about the issues that matter.
Immigration, the environment and reproductive rights top the list of American concerns in the lead-up to November election
From the Midwest to the South and along the coasts, communities across the country are highlighting the issues they care about.
How WSHU's ‘Climate Anxiety Booth’ Fostered Community Engagement
Making space for coping with climate anxiety at the Groton Earth Day Expo.
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.
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.