LOCAL CONTENT
REPORT
A LOOK BACK AT 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 About WCNY 04 Mission, Vision, and Values 06 Social Media 08 Email Newsletters 10 TV Shows 11 12 13 14 15
Ivory Tower, Behind the Woman Impact Giveback, Cycle of Health Reading Buddies, CONNECT NY SPD: Reckoning & Reform, The Falling and the Rising No Cowards In Our Band, TV Classroom
16 Education 18 Community Engagement 20 Syracuse Mayoral Primary Candidates Conversation 21 Syracuse Mayoral Debate 22 Black Health Town Hall 23 Finding Your Roots Live Virtual Screening & Discussion Event 24 Friends of the Central Library 26 Taste of Fame 28 Exploring Mental Health: A Virtual Preview of the PBS Series Mysteries of Mental Illness 29 Behind the Woman Season 2 Celebration Event 30 Feel the Beat Family Fest 31 Floating Ideas: How the Erie Canal Helped Shape America Virtual Panel Discussion 32 Sandra Day O’Connor Live Virtual Screening and Discussion 33 Oliver Sacks Live Virtual Screening & Discussion Event 34 SPD: Recking and Reform Forums 35 The Falling and the Rising Live Virtual Screening and Discussion
36 Radio 38 Classic FM 39 Hosts
40 The Capitol Pressroom 42 Leadership Society
WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
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01 ABOUT WCNY
The Public Broadcasting Council of Central New York, Inc. dba WCNY serves 19 counties throughout Central New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Mohawk Valley regions of New York State. Our five TV channels, WCNY, Create, GLOBAL CONNECT, WiCkNeY KIDS, and How-To (cable-only) channels are available to more than 1.8 million people over the air or via cable, fiber, and satellite services. WCNY Classic FM is one of the nation’s few remaining locally programmed classical music stations, with expert hosts making all music programming decisions. Classic FM also is an NPR affiliate, offering hourly news broadcasts. In addition to Classic FM, WCNY broadcasts 24-hour jazz and oldies on its Jazz HD and Oldies HD stations. All three stations also are available for online streaming at www.wcny.org.
WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
WCNY’s state-of-the-art LEED Platinum certified Robert J. Daino Broadcast and Education Center is the gateway to the Near Westside, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Syracuse and home to an eclectic mix of nationalities from around the world. The facility is also a stop on the Connected Corridor, a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly path that links Syracuse University with downtown Syracuse.
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04 MISSION, VISION, & VALUES
Mission
WCNY connects with the curious of all ages through innovation, creative content, educational programs, and transformative experiences to open minds and spark change.
Vision
WCNY is constantly evolving and fully engaging with a diverse audience that shares our passion for public service. Together, we will contribute to community prosperity and embrace innovation in order to foster a well-informed community.
Values
PASSION to make a difference in the lives of those we serve each and every day.
COURAGE to embrace risks worth taking and overcome challenges.
RESPECT of one another’s diversity, opinions, and beliefs.
SERVICE to the public through responsiveness to community values and needs.
INNOVATION in thoughts and actions that create new opportunities and valuable solutions.
COMMITMENT to continuous reflection and improvement.
CREATIVITY in advancing impactful content and fostering shared resources for the public good. WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
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06 SOCIAL MEDIA
ENGAGED WITH 30,000+ FANS ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS 2.7% increase on Facebook 9,284 followers 7.9% increase on Instagram 2,325 followers 4.4% increase on Twitter 16,013 followers 1.7% increase on LinkedIn 1,629 followers
WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
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08 EMAIL NEWSLETTERS
E-Guide
A weekly e-newsletter that promotes weekly programming on WCNY-TV and WCNY Classic FM, events, special projects, and more.
Specialty and One Time Newsletters
WCNY promotes upcoming shows, events, original content, and much more.
Foodie-guide
The WCNY Foodie-guide is a new e-newsletter published by WCNY that looks at the best of PBS and local CNY food content, recipes, and restaurants. The e-guide is published once per month.
Database
WCNY’s e-guide has 49,000 subscribers.
WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
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10 TV SHOWS
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Ivory Tower
Sponsored by:
Behind the Woman
Sponsored by:
“Ivory Tower” is a weekly round-table discussion that focuses on news and events from the perspective of academicians from across Central New York. The show is hosted by David Chanantry, Professor of Journalism, Utica College and Director of the New York Reporting Project.
Host Dr. Juhanna Rogers returned for season two in order to conduct weekly interviews to share personal stories from diverse women leaders in order to empower other women to pursue their goals and dreams.
WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
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Impact Giveback
Sponsored by:
WCNY, in partnership with Ithaca College, featured 60 businesses from around Central New York that weathered the storm of COVID-19 and aided their communities during the unprecedented pandemic. The series aired across three months featuring 20 businesses per episode.
Cycle of Health
Cycle of Health explores the topics that are most important to the Central New York Community. Listen to first-hand emotional accounts of medical stories, informative discussions with health professionals, learn how the medical community is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare today, and explore the latest in medical science and technology. WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
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The Reading Buddies
Sponsored by:
The Reading Buddies is a fun, foundational reading TV series for students PreK-3. The show instructs three important underlying components of skillful word reading: phonological awareness, letter names/sounds, and blending sounds to decode words accurately.
Sponsored by:
CONNECT NY
The award-winning monthly “CONNECT NY” offers lively, insightful discussion, information, and analysis on timely topics that affect the residents across the Empire State. Tackling those public affairs topics significant in the lives of New Yorkers across the state, the show explores personal experiences, important conflicts, and tough issues
unfolding at the state level through the lens of the stakeholders involved. As we gain the perspective of those in government, labor, and environmental organizations, community leadership, law, and business, this program aims to shed light on potential solutions to the complex problems New Yorkers seek to solve.
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SPD: Reckoning and Reform
Sponsored by:
The series followed Syracuse Chief of Police Kenton Buckner as he adapts to his new role as Chief of Police and looks at a city in need of change. Buckner and the department have to quickly adapt to a situation where many in the city are rallying for massive reform and change to the police force. Difficult decisions occur in an environment that keeps the pressure on 24/7 and where one simple decision can have a massive impact.
The Falling and the Rising
WCNY partnered with Tri-Cities Opera for a military opera. “The Falling and the Rising” is an operatic story of service and sacrifice as it follows a soldier through her unconscious dreamscape of encounters with fellow service members. WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
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No Cowards in Our Band
Sponsored by:
TV Classroom
Sponsored by:
WCNY partnered with Syracuse Opera and CNY Arts for a musical drama based on the life and work of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Created by Anthony Knight and Wayne Sanders, this musical drama highlights the history of how a young runaway slave (Frederick Douglass) became a great abolitionist and one of the most influential Americans in history.
Sponsored by:
TV Classroom is instructional content that is designed to teach students in grades K-5, in ELA, Humanities, Math, Social Studies, STEM, Arts, and Physical Education/Health.
16 EDUCATION
CTE
WCNY, Onondaga Cortland Madison (OCM) BOCES, and Onondaga Community College (OCC) partnered to create an innovative educational opportunity for high school students – a two-year Career and Technical Education (CTE) Media Marketing Communications course, eligible for college credit. The course combines classroom instruction with hands-on learning experience alongside WCNY professionals.
Skills Enrichment
WCNY developed a PreK-5 resource in order to expedite student learning recovery and achieve a post-pandemic academic revival across the region. The Skills Enrichment kit emphasized Mathematics, English Literacy, and Social and Emotional well being. The kit was not intended to be a summer school program but rather a set of vetted resources to bolster a student’s education. Teachers built a personalized toolkit from the program targeting specific learning needs for each student using the resources provided. Then, parents utilized the preparation packet and integrated the provided activities into the student’s regular summer routines.
Regents Review 2.0
The program was developed by WCNY, and New York State Teachers centers in consultation with state organizations. It examines the content and demonstrates strategies to reinforce skills necessary in preparing students for these exams. Fourteen-hour-long episodes were created encompassing each of the main Regent’s exams.
WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
TV Classroom
WCNY launched TV Classroom in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that caused the abrupt closure of schools for in-person learning. Subjects included English Language Arts, Humanities, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science & Technology, Arts, and Physical Education/Health. WCNY partnered with the Syracuse City School District (SCSD) to launch a second season of TV Classroom. TV Classroom it served thousands of SCSD students, especially those without broadband access and therefore unable to participate in SCSD online learning.
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Syracuse Mayoral Primary Candidates Conversation WCNY produced a live debate between Janet Burman (R), Thomas Babilon (R), Khalid Bey (D), and Michael Greene (D). The debate lasted for one hour and was moderated by WCNY Capitol Pressroom Host David Lombardo and Syracuse.com reporter Chris Baker.
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Syracuse Mayoral Debate WCNY hosted a live one-hour debate between Janet Burman (R), Khalid Bey (D), and Ben Walsh (I). WCNY Capitol Pressroom Host David Lombardo moderated the debate. The topic was public safety in the city of Syracuse. During the debate, candidates were shown clips from WCNY’s “SPD: Reckoning and Reform” and then asked questions about their agenda, policy, and vision.Pressroom Host David Lombardo and Syracuse.com reporter Chris Baker.
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WCNY produced a virtual event to encourage the community to get the COVID vaccine and answer community member questions regarding the vaccine/myths. The event panelists included doctors from Upstate Medical University, as well as the Deputy Mayor of Syracuse, the City of Syracuse Common Council President, and Black Health Associate Program Manager.
Finding Your Roots Virtual Screening & Genealogy Lesson WCNY, in partnership with the Onondaga Historical Association (OHA), produced and hosted Finding Your Roots Season Seven Virtual Screening and Genealogy Lesson Event on Zoom. Clips from Season Seven were shown to the audience, and a Q&A session based on how to preserve family history documents and photos was conducted with experts from OHA.
Sponsored by:
Presented by:
Sponsored by:
Event Partner:
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Min Jin Lee
Bill McKibben
Tara Westover
Meg Wolitzer
WCNY produced a virtual event for the Friends of the Central Library featuring NY Times Best-Selling author, Min Jin Lee. The virtual event included trivia, board remarks, author record, and Q&A session with the author and members of FOCL.
WCNY produced a virtual event for the Friends of the Central Library featuring NY Times Best-Selling Author, Tara Westover. The virtual event included a pre-produced video presentation showing how the in-person events turned into virtual events during COVID, pre-recorded board remarks, author record, and Q&A session with the author and member of FOCL. WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
WCNY produced a virtual event for the Friends of the Central Library featuring NY Times Best-Selling Author, Bill McKibben. The virtual event included pre-produced trivia and pre-recorded board remarks, author record, and Q&A session with the author and members of FOCL.
WCNY produced a virtual event for the Friends of the Central Library featuring NY Times Best-Selling author, Meg Wolitzer. The virtual event included trivia, board remarks, author record, and Q&A session with the author and members of FOCL.
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Taste of Fame Live Virtual Culinary Event with Chef Lidia Bastianich The virtual culinary journey included a 30-minute cocktail Q&A moderated by Chef Julia Collin Davison from "America's Test Kitchen," where Chef Lidia Bastianich created one of her favorite drinks, Fragoncello, and answered questions live via the Zoom chat function. A Sunbasket meal kit was also delivered to attendees' homes for up to four people; they then followed a step-by-step live online cooking lesson with Chef Lidia to create her delicious Springtime Asparagus Risotto (choice of shrimp, chicken, or tofu). Attendees had two-week access to the recorded cooking lesson, private Zoom rooms to eat with friends in other households, and one-month Digital All Access to America's Test Kitchen website, bringing America's Test Kitchen recipes and videos right into your home kitchen. Sponsored by:
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Taste of Fame In-Person Culinary Event with Chef Lidia Bastianich WCNY hosted its annual celebrity chef event. This year Lidia Bastianich was the celebrity chef, and Julia Collin Davison emceed the event. The VIP event was held at the WCNY studios event and included a cooking demo and meet and greet with Lidia and Julia. 150+ people attended the VIP Event. The main event was held at the Syracuse Marriotwt Downtown and encompassed a dinner and food discussion by Lidia. 400+ people attended the main event.
Sponsored by:
Jeffery & Abby Scheer
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Behind the Woman Season 2 Celebration Event Exploring Mental Health: A Virtual Preview of the PBS Series Mysteries of Mental Illness
WCNY brought the cast of "Behind the Woman" back together for a live in-studio filming of the season 2 finale! Following the filming, WCNY hosted in its Courtyard refreshments and a meet and greet reception with sponsors, underwriters, donors, grantors, and other key community stakeholders.
WCNY produced a virtual event, "Exploring Mental Health: A Virtual Preview of the PBS Series Mysteries of Mental Illness," on Zoom, sponsored by Prevention Network. It explored mental illness in historical, scientific, and social contexts through clips of "The Mysteries of Mental Illness" and a live Q&A panel discussion with local mental health experts: • Ashley Dailey, Family Support Navigator Prevention Network • Dr. Richard O'Neill, Psychologist Upstate Medical University • Jennifer Parmalee, Deputy Commissioner & Director of Community Services Onondaga County Department of Children and Family Services • Dr. Robert Gregory, Director of Psychiatry High-Risk Program Upstate Medical University • Dr. Christopher P Lucas, Vice-Chair of Hospital Psychiatry Services Upstate University Hospital. Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
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WCNY, in partnership with the Erie Canalway, hosted a live virtual in-depth discussion exploring themes discovered in the Erie Canalway's new documentary produced by WCNY, "Floating Ideas: How the Erie Canal Helped Shape America.
Feel the Beat Family Fest WCNY, in partnership with Symphoria and the Early Childhood Alliance, hosted an evening filled with family-fun activities and live musical performances by Syracuse Symphoria in WCNY's Courtyard. In addition, vendors set up tables in Performance Park with fun activities, food/beverage, and a bouncy house.
The discussion examined the role of the Erie Canal on various social movements and its continuing legacy today, with an emphasis on women's rights, suffrage, and the quest for social justice. Janine Waller, Chief of Interpretation & Education, Women's Rights National Historical Park, conducted a presentation on the Erie Canal followed by an introduction by Dr. Tracey Ritchie, Vice President of Education and Engagement at the National Park Foundation, before a live Q&A session was held between Andy Kitzmann, Assistant Director, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, Jennifer Gabriel, Executive Director, National Women's Hall of Fame, Michelle Shenandoah, Oneida Nation (Wolf Clan), Debbie Stack, Director of Special Projects, WCNY, and Judith Wellman, Ph.D., Princpal Investigator Historical NY Research Associates.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
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Sandra Day O’Connor Live Virtual Screening & Discussion WCNY, in partnership with Upstate Oasis, presented the PBS American Experience documentary, "Sandra Day O'Connor: The First," live virtual screening and discussion event. The event was sponsored by Geddes Federal Savings and Loan Association. The event explored the life and work of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor through clips from "Sandra Day O'Connor: The First" and live Q&A moderated by retired TV News Anchor Laura Hand and featured Speaker Syracuse University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud.
Sponsored by:
Event Partner:
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Oliver Sacks Live Virtual Screening & Discussion Event WCNY, in partnership with Upstate Oasis, presented the PBS American Master documentary, "Oliver Sacks: His Own Life," live virtual screening and discussion event. The event was sponsored by Geddes Federal Savings and Loan Association. The event explored the life and work of Oliver Sacks through clips from "Oliver Sacks: His Own Life" and live Q&A with an Upstate Neurologist, Dr. Jenny Meyer.
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Event Partner:
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SPD: Reckoning and Reform Community Forums WCNY hosted seven forums based around the WCNY original series SPD: Reckoning and Reform. Two forums consisted of 90+ people in a large setting with governmental officials, community stakeholders, the police department, and others. Five of the forums consisted of 25-30 individuals in small focus-group style facilitated discussions at community locations across the City of Syracuse. The purpose of the forums was to bring together the community and the police in order to have discussions about the Syracuse Police Department and its role in Syracuse society, history, and daily life. As a result of the forums, WCNY is facilitating community relations with “The Syracuse Solution,” a collaborative
The Falling and the Rising Live Virtual Screening & Discussion WCNY hosted a live virtual screening and discussion about the WCNY original production “The Falling and the Rising.” A screener version of the show was aired, followed by a discussion event between RADM John Paddock, USN (ret.), and Herb Dunmore Commander, American Legion Dunbar Post, discussing veterans and active-duty military challenges and struggles.
Sponsored by:
Made Possible by:
in Collaboration with:
36 RADIO
WCNY radio services include: • FM 91.3 | Syracuse • WUNY-FM 89.5 | Utica • WJNY-FM 90.9 | Watertown Featuring classical music, jazz, and popular oldies music.
“Feminine Fusion”, the weekly program produced in the WCNY radio studios, is now nationally syndicated. Eighteen stations coast to coast, from Philadelphia, PA to Kodiak, AK, and as far south as Texas and Puerto Rico, now carry this program on their regular weekly schedules. WCNY-FM provides strong support for the arts and musical organizations in Central New York, a role even more critical throughout the pandemic. WCNY-FM's Concert Hall broadcasts recordings of excellent performances that have been presented locally by area organizations, including soloists from the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival and the Skaneateles Festival, the Ying Quartet and the American Chamber Players from the Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music, and the American Quartet from the Chamber Music Society of Utica, to name just a few.
WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
Classic FM was also part of the simulcast of “No Cowards In Our Band,” the collaboration between WCNY and the Syracuse Opera Company. Classic FM also aired interviews with author Anthony B. Knight, music director Wayne Sanders, actor Masud Olufani, and Syracuse Opera Director of Community Outreach and Engagement Gregory Sheppard in conjunction with the programming.
Our radio hosts provide listeners with an extensive list of live interviews and performances featuring a veritable who's who in the music world. Archives of interviews are available on the WCNY website for any time listening. As the pandemic restrictions eased, noontime interviews in conjunction with live performances resumed. Here are just a few: • The artists of Symphoria were gracious and generous with their time. Listeners heard from Principal Pops Conductor Sean O'Loughlin, and guest artists, including pianists Steven Heyman and Natasha Paremski. • Several interviews included live performances recently. Aaron Wunsch, Julia Bruskin, Emily Bruskin, and Avery Gagliano from the Skaneateles Festival played twice for WCNY-FM listeners. The WCNY studios also welcomed some of the young artists featured on this year's CMM Live! concert. • Our list of regional guests, promoting both live and virtual concerts, included: Ken and Kathy Freer from the Silverwood Clarinet Choir; Cornelia Orth from the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra; Barry Torres from Schola Cantorum; Steven Stull, Jeanne Goddard, and David Neal from Arts at Grace; and Linda Chesis and the Imani Winds, for the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival.
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Classic FM Classic FM brodcasted Symphoria for the second season of this collaboration that has brought live regional orchestra to the airwaves.
Bruce Paulsen
Diane Jones
Marie Lamb
Adam Fine
Jonathan Hwang
Spencer Phillips
Bruce Paulsen hosts the morning drive time Classic Choices program weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. and hosts The Concert Hall Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Diane Jones is the Program Manager, mid-day host, and host/producer of the program, Feminine Fusion.
Classic FM celeberated its 50th anniversary in December of 2021. Classic FM hosts created and produced weekly Dinner Hour programming to help listeners make the transition from the daytime program to the evening lineup. They have also produced specials to mark various holidays, including President’s Day, International Women’s Day, and Earth Day.
Marie Lamb is the Classic FM announcer from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays and host of Saturday Opera, Part 2.
Adam Fine hosts Classic Choices Saturday and Sunday morning, Monday afternoon, and Tuesday mid-day.
Ron Lombard is the Station Manager for WCNY Classic FM. Jonathan Hwang hosts the morning Classic Choices every Wednesday from 6 to 10 a.m.
WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
Spencer Phillips hosts the morning Classic Choices every Monday from 6 to 10 a.m.
40 THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM
About
WCNY’s award-winning “The Capitol Pressroom” is a daily, broadcast and podcast with the latest insight and analysis from the New York State Capitol. It is hosted by David Lombardo and recorded in Albany, it is broadcast daily by public radio stations across all of New York State, and is also available for streaming via the web. “The Capitol Pressroom” streams live online at capitolpressroom.org weekdays at 11 a.m. It is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, TuneIn, and Stitcher.
Yearly Report
In March, Capitol Pressroom revealed that supposed grassroots support for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to remain in office had been orchestrated by one of his long-time allies. The most trafficked interview on Capitol Pressroom’s new website, which launched in the summer of 2021, was with state Assemblyman Clyde Vanel, who announced his exploratory campaign for state attorney general on the show. Throughout 2021, Capitol coverage was heavily trafficked as the result of numerous conversations with New York Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs. Some of the biggest policymakers that featured during the year were Senate Majority Andrea Stewart-Cousins, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, and a number of the governor’s cabinet members, including Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos.
WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
David Lombardo is the host of The Capitol Pressroom.
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42 LEADERSHIP SOCIETY Without the generous support of the Leadership Society, WCNY would not be able to provide the programming, assets, and services that help serve our community.
WCNY’s Leadership Society demonstrates daily the power of community. Leadership Society member support enables WCNY to connect communities across our 19 counties to the people, resources, and local solutions unique to Central New York. WCNY Leadership Society members were critical to many of WCNY’s FY21 community initiatives like; “TV Classroom,” “Symphoria: A Concert for Our Times,” “Skaneateles Festival,” “No Cowards in Our Band,” “Behind the Woman,” “Oliver Sack’s virtual event,” and “Ivory Tower.” WCNY Leadership Society members individually contribute more than $1,000 annually. Their personal investment in WCNY’s programs and services directly leads to greater community impact, more diverse programming, and stronger broadcast ability. The communities of Central New York are more connected thanks to WCNY’s Leadership Society members. WCNY Leadership Society members receive all our member benefits, including our bi-monthly CONNECT magazine, WCNY Passport, and WCNY PerksConnect. In addition, WCNY offers Leadership Society members extra benefits and unique experiences around the programs, services, and conversations that their generosity supports. Contact Meghan Kane, Director of Leadership Giving: meghan.kane@wcny.org 315-385-7312.
WCNY 2022 Local Content Report
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WCNY is grateful for your support! Nearly 17,000 members, hundreds of businesses, community organizations, and foundations make the extraordinary programming and community services possible.
THANK YOU WCNY’s television and radio programs have reach to 1.9 million viewers and listeners audience across the 19 counties of Central New York and Mohawk Valley via 5 television and 3 radio channels.
@WCNYCONNECTED www.wcny.org
