Local Content Impact Report 2024

Local Content Impact Report

FY24

WMHT BOARD OF TRUSTEES JULY 1 2023 THROUGH JUNE 30 2024

Shelby Schneider BOARD CHAIR

Angela Dixon

Khadijah Peek

Barb Nelson

KMarie King

THROUGH MAY 2024

Benita Zahn

Livingstone M.M. Mukasa

Bridget Ball Shaw

Martin Mbugua

Danika Vittorio

Mary Simoni

Del B. Salmon

Mary-Ellen Piche

Don Applyrs

Shelby Schneider

Doris Fischer Malesardi

Susan Kress

Gina Mintzer

Susan Novotny

Glinnesa Gailliard

Tammis Groft

Ian Berry

Teresa Zielinski

Karen Opalka

Tobi Saulnier

Kathy Jimino

Toyin Tofade

Del B. Salmon BOARD CHAIR MAY 2024 TO PRESENT

Del B. Salmon VICE CHAIR THROUGH MAY 2024

Karen Carpenter TREASURER Gwen Wright SECRETARY Anthony V. Hayes PRESIDENT & CEO

MISSION

VALUES

WMHT enriches communities and elevates diverse perspectives by providing content, connection, and conversation that advance education, culture, and civic engagement.

Diversity

VISION WMHT is the essential public media source for education, entertainment, and inspiration, engaging diverse communities of lifelong learners.

Excellence Innovation Integrity Respect

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.

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

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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.

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

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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

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

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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 29 airings of New York NOW

local artists on AHA!

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

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NY EMMY®EE O N MIN

NY EMMY®R WINNE

AHA! A House for Arts

New York NOW

AHA! features the stories of artists, makers, and creative institutions right here in our backyard and across the country.

New York NOW is the state’s only locally-operated, independent, non-profit public affairs program, more than 50 years running.

Field Trip

TVFilm

Field Trip is a public-powered show; virtual postcards from the spots that make our region amazing.

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.

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

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Local Programming

NY& Climate

WEB SERIES

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.

NY EMMY®EE NOMIN

DOCUMENTARY

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.

DOCUMENTARY

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

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Radio

EDDIES RADIO F O STATION R THE YEA

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 50+ cumulative weekly listeners

years of music discovery

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

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Education and Engagement

29

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

continuing education certificates issued IMPACT SPOTLIGHT

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.

WMHT.ORG/CLASSROOM

15

local (and free!) classroom resources

32K resource users

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

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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.

80 early literacy events

2K

children & families served WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

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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.

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

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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.

WMHT SUSTAINERS

WMHT MEMBERS 15,059

30,883

14,010 12,729 11,437

29,045

9,808 8.898 7,907

28,332

27,171

26,923 26,889

2019

2020

3% O

2021

2022

2023

2024

50% PASSPORT

TH

ER

11% WEBSITE IL

9%

MA

27%

PLEDGE

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

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.

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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.

A Friend A.C. Riley A.M.D.G. Trust Fund Adria Denisulk Aimee & Gary Dake Al & Karin Lemke Alan & Joan Rhodes Alenore Cusick Alice S. Rubenfeld Amy & Matthew Davidson Ande Rooney Angela Dixon Ann & John Galt Ann Martin Anne Constantinople Anne Nerf Connors Anonymous * 197 Anonymous from Bennington, VT Arlene D. Ida Arthur Bowen Barbara & Chuck Manning Barrie & Mark Handelman Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Bernice Glynne Allison Bill & Candy Davies Brenda & Frederic Hof Candace King Weir

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

Carl & Claudia Shuster Carl S. Erickson Carol Bullard & Worth Gretter Carol Yeager Cathie Stevens Charles Healy Christine Crawford-Oppenheimer & James W. Oppenheimer Cindy and Dave Whitman Claire Geller-Kolchetski Clifford Zettle Cynthia Brandreth Daniel & Dale Hills Daniel Fitzgerald & Richard Haldeman III David Rubin & Carole Ju Dawn and Peter Johnson Debbie & Charlie McCambridge Deirdre A. Leland Diane & Michael Rourke Donald F. Mowbray Donald Pompliano & Kathleen Taylor Donald Usher & William Briggs Donald W. Carman, Jr. Donna Sawyer Doris Fischer Malesardi Dorothy Szymaszek

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Doug and Lynda Porter Dr. & Mrs. Lloyd E. Miller Dr. David & Mrs. Molly Carpenter Dr. Ellen Cosgrove & Dr. Jeffrey Fahl Dr. Jack Campisi Dr. Peter Kelly & Dr. Barbara Kelly Dr. Susanne Grennell Dr. Thomas & Mrs. Joanne Klepetar Drs. Gretchen Stearns & Richard Weininger Ed Potter and Regina Olchowski Edward Redelberger Edwin H. & Joan G. Rogers Elissa Robison Prout Elizabeth Stauderman Ellen Wood Ephraim Glinert in loving memory of Elana Euan Somerscales Evelyn K. Bernstein Family of Albert Vinck Florence Reed Frank & Harriet Hauser Frank & Sarah Slingerland Gabrielle Wolfsberger M.D. Gavin Berger & Craig Berggren Greg and Judy Gerwitz Grew Family Charitable Foundation Gwen Wright Harriet B. Seeley Harry R. Rutledge Howard & Emily Hart James F. Sefcik James H. Miller James P. Gold

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

Jan Keithly & Miklos Müller Jim & Tina Greenfield Jim Slavin & Monica Mottolese Joel & Sara Kremer John & Rita Manly John & Sally Meierhoffer John A. & Betty L. McKinney John Hausam Joseph Richardson Judy & Charlie Lynch Katharine Harris Kathleen & Charles Heidsieck Kathleen Balthazar Heitzmann Kathleen Meany & Darwin Roosa Kathleen Sherry Kathleen V. Augustine Kathryn & Timothy Kosto Katti Wachs Kay & Mike MacLaury Keith & Mary Perrin Scott Ken Larsen Kristin Gamble Larry & Fran Jordan Leanne M. Sweet Loewi-Lemberger Kaplan Charitable Fund Lois & Matthew Emmens Lois S. Bailey Lois Widdemer Loretta Brennan Glucksman Louise & &rew Bergman Louise McColgin Luann & Michael Trout Margaret Calista Margaret Harbour-Holland

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Margitta Rose Marjorie & Russell Ward Mark & Lori Lasch Mark Vermilyea Marlene Brody Martha Rozett Martin Mbugua Mary & John Kolb Mary Ann Norris Mary B. Scanlan Mary Ottaway & James Ottaway, Jr. Mary Simoni Maryrita Dobiel & Joseph Quinlan Matthew Craw Michael & Linda Wolff Michael Bishop & Pauline Holmes Michael David & Lauren Mitchell Michael Gleason Michael Halloran Mike & Nancy Kupferschmid Miss Mary Caldwell Mr James Drislane Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Hahn Mr. & Mrs. William W. Collins Mr. Brian L. Taylor Mr. David Petersen Mr. Del Salmon Mr. Douglas & Mrs. Theresa Davis Mr. Douglas Adams Mr. James & Mrs. Carolyn Martel Mr. James Finch Mr. Phillip Falconer Mr. Roman Jarosh Mr. William & Mrs. Barbara Maple Mr. & Mrs. Walter L. Gilman

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

Mrs. Bridget Bell Shaw Mrs. Carole & Mr. Richard Mitchell Mrs. Eileen & Mr. Richard Bagnoli Mrs. Jane Coffey Mrs. Janet Parsons Mrs. Ralph Patricelli Mrs. Susan Moyer Ms. Barbara Manning & Mr. Joseph Feldman Ms. Carol Butt Ms. Jennie Gelfand Ms. Joan Dickens Ms. Karen B. Green Ms. Laura Tenney Ms. Louise Ladd Ms. Mary Anderson Ms. Mary-Ellen Piche Ms. Teresa Ribadeneyra & Dr. Joseph Lalka Myrna Sameth Nancy Hershey Nancy O’Malley Nancy Sharples & Geoffrey Bornemann Nancy Willie-Schiff Nathan & Marilyn Hayward Nell Burrows Nevia Carlos Norman & Micki Massry Pam & Richard Siegel Patrice Bokan Patricia & Henry Binzer Patrick & Karen Hackenberg Paul & Diana Praus Paul & Pauline Bono

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Paul & Susan Powers Paul Wing Perry Smith & RoseAnne Fogarty Peter Ten Eyck & Rose-Marie Weber Phyllis Pollack Prentice Foundation Prentiss Carnell Ralph & Jacqueline Marino Reese Satin Rev. Dr. Jennifer H. Dorsey & Mr. George Nisbet Richard & Barbara MacDowell Richard & Margaret Taylor Richard Delaney Richard Lysonski Robert & Paula Dunne Robert A. Sinacore Robert Waldele Robin Tost Rosemary Christoff Dolan In Memory of the Composer and Pianist Gerald Christoff Ruth Dinowitz Ruthie & Doug Karrel Sally & Edward Jennings Sally Lawrence Sally-Jane Heit Samuel Press, M.D. Sharon C. Awramik Sherley Hannay

Siena College Franciscan Friars Sigrid Gray Stephen & Mary Muller Stephen M. Long, Jr. Susan & Jack Kress Susan Blandy Susan Bokan Susan C. Zeltmann Susan McCabe Susann Teegarden Syd & Lee Blatt The Almsteads The Blanchard Family The Clark Family The Family of Kathryn Fremgen-Edick The Michael Roohan Family The Robison Family Foundation The Slosson Family Theo & Thomas Ames Theodore A. DeBonis Thomas & Jeanne Servidone Thomas & Melissa Cragg Thomas D Evans & Pamela l Dorwin Tom & Sue Golden Vaughn Nevin Viki Sand & Roberta Bernstein Vince & Kathy Jimino William & Sally Andrew William Ralston William Wolz

We at WMHT have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this list.

Please don’t hesitate to bring to our attention the need to update the list by contacting the Membership Team at membership@wmht.org or (518) 880-3400.

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

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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.

Anonymous (63) Bernice Glynne Allison Bruce Van der Groef Carl & Claudia Shuster Carol Dillon Carol F. Bullard, PhD Carol Harris Carol Yeager Cathie Stevens Claire Geller-Kolchetski David G. & Nancy C. Wagner Deborah Adler Deborah Bowen Doris Fischer Malesardi Dr. Barbara Kapuscinska Dr. George & Dr. Ingrid Robinson Ellen M. DeLalla

Harry R. Rutledge Jeff Rusack Jeremy J. Taylor Jim & Peg* Miller Joe Zoske John A. Scales John McClintock John Spring Karen Flewelling Leif & Claudia Hartmark Leo A. Kellogg Marcia Hopple Melissa K. Komora Michael A. Kehoe Michi & Peter* Vonnegut Mr. & Mrs. William W. Collins Ms. Catherine Lunn Ms. Joan Dickens

Nell Burrows Paul & Barbara Richer Paul Wing Phillip D. Falconer Phyllis Miyauchi Renee A. Rosch Rev. Peggy Funderburke Richard & Margaret Taylor Robert M. Nottke Robert S. Drew Robert Waldele Susan Bokan Susanna Gilbert Tanya Retan Smith Theodore A. DeBonis Timothy K. Beebe Tony & Fran Kerchner Vina Wilson Urquhart

WMHT is grateful for the Legacy Gifts received in Fiscal Year 2024 from the following individuals: Anneliese Smith* Betsy Thompson* Claire Kolor*

Diane Glock* Joan Gallagher* Leland Turner*

WMHT LOCAL CONTENT IMPACT REPORT FY24

Marjory Golin* Robert Hayner* *DECEASED

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We’re Wherever You Are TELEVISION & DIGITAL 1

2

ON THE AIR

ONLINE

17.1 WMHT-TV 17.2 WMHT Create 17.3 WMHT WORLD 17.4 WMHT PBS Kids

Watch WMHT and PBS live on wmht.org/live, on YouTube, or anytime on the free PBS App

VISIT WMHT.ORG/FINDWMHT FOR CABLE AND SATELLITE INFO

SEE MORE BELOW

Download the PBS APP free, wherever you watch

3

WMHT PASSPORT Extended access to an on-demand library of programming from WMHT and PBS, and your perk as a member of WMHT! LEARN MORE AT WMHT.ORG/PASSPORT

RADIO & AUDIO WMHT-FM

WEXT RADIO

ON-AIR 89.1/88.7

ON-AIR 97.7/106.1

CLASSICALWMHT.ORG

WEXTRADIO.ORG

4 GLOBAL VIEW TROY, NY 12180 (518) 880-3400 | WMHT.ORG