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…
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 fútbal: 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.
Mental health and open dialogue are the foundations for WITF’s election resilience plan
To prepare for the 2024 election, WITF’s Director of Journalism asked staff to share what went well and what didn’t in 2020. The result: a resource guide for resilience that prioritizes honest conversations and self-care.
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.
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.