WMHT enriches communities and elevates diverse perspectives by providing content, connection, and conversation that advance education, culture, and civic engagement.
VISION
WMHT is the essential public media source for education, entertainment, and inspiration, engaging diverse communities of lifelong learners.
WMHT’s Year of Local Impact
IMPACT SPOTLIGHT Community Listening Tour
Across the region, from town libraries to the Black Chamber of Commerce, the Leadership Team at WMHT led a series of community listening sessions to gather feedback and initiate conversations to better understand the needs of our community.
WMHT Public Media is proud to be recognized as one of the Capital Region’s Top Workplaces by the Times Union In a year where more than 1,500 local organizations were invited to survey their staff, WMHT was among the 57 selected winners.
FROM THE DESK OF PRESIDENT & CEO
ANTHONY V. HAYES
Dear Friends and Partners,
It is my sincere pleasure to share our 2024 Local Content Impact Report, and my distinct privilege to thank you for your steadfast support of WMHT Public Media. I am honored to lead an organization driven by a passion and commitment to serving a greater good. Steered by a visionary board of trustees and propelled by a world-class professional team, we strive each day to make a difference, guided always by our noble mission of enriching communities and elevating diverse perspectives by providing content, connection and conversation that advance education, culture and civic engagement.
Throughout 2024, we’ve sharpened our focus on creating and delivering timely and relevant stories, programs and content to educate, enlighten, entertain and empower individuals and communities across Eastern New York and Western New England. Here’s how:
EMPHASIZING local content creation, with documentaries such as Echoes of Praise, highlighting gospel music in the Capital Region during Black History Month, and the locally-produced An Above Average Day, showcasing the beauty of the Adirondacks in conjunction with Earth Day.
EXCELLING with 4 New York EMMY® Award nominations: Overall Excellence; Documentary (Cultural) for Reframing an Empire; Societal Concerns (Short Form) for Aging Together in NY; and Audio (Post Production) for AHA! A House for Arts;
EVOKING a rich listener experience on WEXT, recognized for the fifth consecutive year as Radio Station of the Year at the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards, and celebrating the 15th anniversary of The Latin Alternative, the first nationally syndicated public radio show specializing in Latin indie, rock, hip-hop, funk, electronic and tropical music; and
ENSURING we remain dedicated to producing exceptional programs important to our audience, from New York NOW and AHA! A House for Arts to classical music on WMHT-FM and the RISE Radio Reading Service.
Similarly, and true to our principles of promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, we have sought to build deeper connections with a wide variety of audiences. Key initiatives include:
ENGAGING regional stakeholders, highlighted by completion of Part II of the WMHT Listening Tour, which featured town hall meetings held across a dozen locales, and provided invaluable input to inform future programming;
ENHANCING internal culture, which resulted in WMHT being recognized by the Albany Times Union as one of the Capital Region’s “Top Workplaces”;
ENABLING financial stability, allowing WMHT to expand its staff, programs and services, and invest in capital needs, to spark future growth and success; and
ENVISIONING the future, through a new Strategic Plan developed and approved by the board of trustees that will inform our decision-making over the next three years. Guided by the values of Diversity, Excellence, Innovation, Integrity, and Respect, the plan establishes five priorities: Programs & Content; Community Engagement; Education; Financial Stability; and People & Culture. It is a blueprint that builds on our history and legacy to ensure WMHT remains impactful in an ever-evolving media landscape.
Fueled by your ongoing inspiration and investment, I’m proud to say our efforts are making a difference. And, with your sustained support and advocacy, I truly believe the best is yet to come.
Sincerely,
Anthony V. Hayes President and CEO WMHT Public Media
Local Programming
Since 1953, WMHT Public Media has provided programs and services to our local communities that encourage growth and learning through the power of media. WMHT is the essential public media source for education, entertainment, and inspiration, engaging diverse communities of lifelong learners. Pictured: WEXT DJ and Host Laura Grant in the studio; WMHT Production Manager Zeke Kubisch on-location at the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse for an episode of Field Trip.
A TEAM of multi-talented production professionals with skills in video, audio, animation, and on-air hosting
40+ partnerships with local organizations
52 airings of New York NOW
29 local artists on AHA!
AHA! A House for Arts
AHA! features the stories of artists, makers, and creative institutions right here in our backyard and across the country.
Field Trip
Field Trip is a public-powered show; virtual postcards from the spots that make our region amazing.
New York NOW
New York NOW is the state’s only locally-operated, independent, non-profit public affairs program, more than 50 years running.
TVFilm
Over 15 years on-air, TVFilm showcases shorts of all genres from Upstate New York filmmakers.
Classical Student of the Month
WMHT-FM highlights the future of classical music through local student musicians. Nominated by teachers and the community, catch each selected student performing on-air and online once a month during the school year.
Local Programming
NY& Climate
Over the course of four episodes, WMHT producer and host Dana Wright breaks down New York’s climate goals. Pictured: students at Tech Valley High School present projects inspired by the topics featured in the series.
Reframing an Empire
Before artist Thomas Cole’s eyes and on his canvas, the newly formed nation would find a vision of its identity born and its future questioned, in this feature documentary exploring the legacy of his life
Echoes of Praise: Gospel Music in NY’s Capital Region
Dig into the region’s gospel music origins in this documentary that includes exclusive interviews with notable local artists and religious leaders.
Radio
EDDIES RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
WEXT
Radio 97.7 | 106.1
WEXT is the Capital Region’s listener-supported roots and rock station from WMHT Public Media. WEXT’s goal is to provide a unique listening experience that knows no boundary of genre, and showcase Local 518 artists! In 2024, WEXT celebrated 17 years of music discovery. Pictured above: DJ and Host Chris Wienk chatting with listeners. Below: local musician Sawyer Fredericks.
WMHT-FM 89.1 | 88.7
From around the region and around the world, Classical WMHT has been your classical companion since 1972. We work to forge meaningful, long-lasting partnerships with leaders in the local arts community and celebrate the next generation of classical music performers. Pictured: Host Charlotte Wilson, heard weekdays from 4-8pm and Saturdays from 10-2pm.
RISE
Radio Reading Service
WMHT.ORG/RISE
RISE is WMHT’s 24-hour radio information service for the blind and print disabled in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley. Each week, our dedicated team of volunteers reads articles from local and national newspapers, popular periodicals and books to audiences who would otherwise be unable to access such information.
135K cumulative weekly listeners
50+ years of music discovery
Education and Engagement
WMHT is a NYS Education Departmentapproved provider for required continuing education credits, with locally-produced programs eligible for credit hours. LEARN MORE AT WMHT.ORG/CTLE
Expanded Access for Kids
With the support of a PBS KIDS station grant, WMHT was able to refresh branding for kids programming, enabling our Education Team to connect with a larger network of librarians and educators throughout the area.
WMHT is New York’s Largest Classroom
WMHT and PBS have curated FREE, curriculum-aligned videos, interactives, lesson plans, and more, just for New York educators through PBS LearningMedia. Easily accessible online and through Google Classroom, teachers, parents, and students can easily access thousands of free resources, including materials based on locallyproduced documentaries.
Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6-10, 2024
Each year, educators from our viewing area are nominated by fellow teachers, parents, and community members to say thank you! Selected educators from a variety of schools and subjects are featured on WMHT’s website, social media, and are sent a free goodie bag courtesy of the WMHT Education Team.
MEET THE TEACHERS AT WMHT.ORG/TEACHER-APPRECIATION-WEEK
Early Literacy with WMHT
WMHT’s Early Literacy program provides resources, training, and family engagement activities for childcare providers, educators, and families. In-person workshops and community programs use public broadcasting’s media content to significantly expand the literacy skills of children.
2K children & families served
80 early literacy events
Sustaining the Future
When Community and Technology Sync Up
Earlier this year, a viewer reached out to the team at WMHT with an important question: what do you need to be successful? The answer: technical support in managing the growing number of digital platforms on which we serve our audience. That individual, who wishes to remain anonymous, decided to donate funds that would support that goal.
Their generosity led to the purchase of Hootsuite, a powerful social media management tool that has revolutionized the Digital Team’s workflow. The simplified content publishing and robust analytics dashboard the tool offers makes digital strategy and grant reporting a breeze. We’re so grateful for this incredible gift!
Social management tools like Hootsuite generate analytics that break down key performance indicators, allowing the Digital Team to react to trends with an engagement-first content strategy. Here, three widgets showcase the success of Facebook and Instagram content posted during the year compared to the previous year.
The Impact of Your Support
WMHT depends on the financial support from viewers and listeners like you to make our programs and services possible. For the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2024, WMHT saw increased member support, a greater number of members supporting as Monthly Sustaining Partners, and more members using their WMHT Passport benefit. Your continued support helps WMHT bring you the high quality programming that educates, entertains, and inspires, today and into the future.
Sources of New Donors
Streaming service WMHT Passport is our largest single source of new supporters, and more programs are being added every day. To take advantage of this wonderful member benefit, contact WMHT at membership@wmht.org or (518) 880-3400.
The WMHT Edison Society
The WMHT Edison Society recognizes those who support the inherent promise and critical mission of public broadcasting with annual investments of $1,000 or more. The Society’s vision and generosity ensures the financial stability necessary to continue the innovation and excellence in broadcasting first pioneered by Thomas A. Edison, who developed the carbon microphone later used in radio broadcasting some 130 years ago.
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The WMHT Legacy Circle
When you provide for WMHT in your will, living trust, life insurance, retirement plan, life income gift or other estate plan, you are invited to become a member of the WMHT Legacy Circle. The Legacy Circle honors the philanthropic leadership and vision of those individuals who have so thoughtfully provided for the future of WMHT through a planned gift.
For questions about the WMHT Legacy Circle or any of WMHT’s planned giving options, please contact legacy@wmht.org or (518) 880-3462.
