COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
INTERACTIVE
COMMUNITY RELATIONS CONTINUED TO BUILD BRIDGES TO THE TRI-STATE COMMUNITY THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF EVENTS AND INITIATIVES.
WNET IS USING A VARIETY OF ONLINE AND INTERACTIVE MEDIA TO REACH AUDIENCES WHEREVER THEY ARE, AND DELIVER THEM THE QUALITY CONTENT THEY EXPECT FROM WNET.
As a media partner for New York’s River to River Festival, WNET highlighted the work of a range of artists and helped promote LATINO AMERICANS OF NY & NJ through its presence at the Pedrito Martinez concert.
Continuing its strategy of increasing the ways audiences can watch PBS programming, WNET launched its first iPad App in early 2013, making it easy for viewers to access a range of programming and information about THIRTEEN, WLIW21 and NJTV. Available in the iTunes App Store, THIRTEEN EXPLORE has had more than 135,000 downloads since launch and more than 500,000 video views. In addition to viewing via THIRTEEN Explore, audiences can now watch hundreds of hours of video on the PBS channels on Apple TV, Roku and Xbox.
At WNET, volunteers provide a wide range of support to our programs, fundraising and operations, with almost 9,600 hours of service logged in 2013. To highlight the contributions of volunteers throughout the tri-state region, WNET produced a series of “thank you” spots that premiered during National Volunteer Week.
Video excerpts and full videos of PBS programs are also available on the revamped wliw.org, njtvonline.org and thirteen.org. The new sites offer a more user-friendly platform for highlighting the company’s offerings and watching video via desktops and mobile devices.
WNET hosted a screening and panel discussion in conjunction with LATINO AMERICANS and LATINO AMERICANS OF NY & NJ at New York Law School. The event honored former Bronx Borough President and U.S. Congressman Herman Badillo.
With campaigns like the 30 Days of DOWNTON ABBEY, annual birthday celebrations of past AMERICAN MASTERS, and NYC-ARTS’ Fan Art Friday, WNET is a public media leader in engaging audiences in innovative ways on social media platforms. On services like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest and Google Plus, WNET is followed by more than 900,000 people.
WNET held an Open House at the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center as part of the neighborhood’s Winter’s Eve Celebration, inviting community members to tour the facility and learn more about the station’s work in New York. More than 900 visitors dropped in during the evening’s festivities. In partnership with Boston’s WGBH, WNET hosted a DOWNTON ABBEY SEASON 4 premiere screening and cast meet and greet event attended by donors, supporters and members of the public who participated in an online contest.
Whether it was live-Tweeting with fans during the broadcast premiere of THE AFRICAN AMERICANS: MANY RIVERS TO CROSS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., or hosting an online screening of NATURE’s Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air on the social viewing platform Ovee, WNET touched an average of over 40 million people each month in 2013.
In conjunction with the premiere of the documentary MAKERS: WOMEN WHO MAKE AMERICA, WNET hosted a screening and panel discussion that included special guest Marlo Thomas. The audience included members of Girl Scouts of Greater NY and Girls Inc. of NYC, both Community Relations partners on this initiative.
Working closely with the American Museum of Natural History and PBS Digital Studios, WNET created DIORAMA, a series of digital shorts available on YouTube, the THIRTEEN Explore iPad App and at thirteen.org/diorama. The series of three short films appeals to science lovers, backyard explorers, animal enthusiasts and urban naturalists, offering a closer look at some of the subjects of the museum’s treasured dioramas.
From top: Pedrito Martinez. Diahann BillingsBurford, Chief Service Officer, NYC Service. Downton Abbey’s Laura Carmichael poses with fans. Makers: Women Who Make America Executive Producer Dyllan McGee with Girl Scouts of Greater NY troop at screening event. Entertainment at the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center Open House.
From top: Downton Abbey fans at screening event. Thirteen Explore iPad App. Re-vamped WLIW21 website. DIORAMA.
15