News and Nooz
December 1 Nooz
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
To view the December 1 Nooz, click here.
Social Identities Handout – November 2020
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Dr. Peggy Lorah, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Diversity, and Inclusion at Penn State shared this Social Identities Handout during our board meeting.
November 15 Nooz
Monday, November 16, 2020
November 1 Nooz
Monday, November 2, 2020
October 15 Nooz
Friday, October 16, 2020
WPSU SPORTS PRODUCTION UPDATE
Monday, October 5, 2020
Dear WPSU Board Members,
As most of you know, WPSU has been doing sports production work for Penn State’s Intercollegiate Athletics football and men’s and women’s basketball since Fall of 2012 (and our women’s basketball work goes back to the early 90s).
Everyone on our team has done a wonderful job with this work and we have been recognized for our excellence through the award nominations and awards we have garnered over the years. Most recently, on September 19, 2020, the football and men’s basketball broadcast programs each won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy award for their productions.
Unfortunately, over the course of the last few years, our expenses have outpaced the revenue received for this work. The delta has been anywhere from $350,000 to $500,000 annually. This year is especially complex because of the revenue shortfalls that we will face as a University due to the pandemic.
Recognizing that this year was going to be especially tough, we started talking to our partners before the start of this fiscal year, on an almost weekly basis, to determine this year’s scope of work. After many hours of productive, yet challenging, conversations, with a team from Athletics and Human Resources, we have our answer.
Intercollegiate Athletics will be establishing an in-house sports production unit. This means that WPSU will no longer be performing any of this work for Athletics, instead Athletics will transfer 6 of our 10 current dedicated full-time employees to their unit to do this work. Unfortunately, this means that 4 of our current staff members will be displaced in the transition.
We relayed this news to our staff last week and have been making inquiries to identify opportunities within WPSU, Outreach, Online Education and the University, that could be filled by these staff members, based on their expertise. We will work with each employee to seek out new possibilities and opportunities.
I realize this is difficult news to share given all that’s happening in the world today. While I sincerely hope this transition goes smoothly for our impacted colleagues, I also believe this will be done in the most supportive way possible for those who will not be able to transition to a role within Athletics.
Please join me in wishing all of these individuals the absolute best in their next chapter personally and professionally.
Best,
Isabel Reinert
Executive Director
and General Manager
WPSU Penn State
238E Outreach Bldg
814-865-2810
October 1 Nooz
Thursday, October 1, 2020
View October 1 Nooz here
September 15 Nooz
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Monday, September 14, 2020
9/14/20
Good day our valued WPSU Board members!
First and most importantly, I hope you and your family are well! As part of the Penn State family, I have adopted a new WE ARE phrase… “We are…Resilient!” I can tell you WPSU has been resilient, striving and thriving during these unprecedented and challenging times!
First, some Board timely housekeeping items:
- With current COVID19 restrictions, the Wednesday, November 18th Board meeting will be held via Zoom from 9 a.m. – noon.
- As in year’s past due to weather, the Tuesday, February 16, 2021 Board meeting will also be held via Zoom from 9 a.m. – noon.
- Wednesday, May 19, 2021 and Wednesday, November 17, 2021 Board meetings will be 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. if in person; otherwise, 9 a.m. – noon if Zoom is our only option.
- Tuesday, August 17, 2021 will be an all-day visit/tour and Board meeting at our Pennsylvania PBS sister station, PBS 39 in Allentown, if permitted to travel.
We are hoping to hold in-person meetings if able including our yearly travel visit and wanted to get these dates and times of day on your busy schedules ASAP.
Next, the Executive Committee has heard from several board members who expressed a keen interest in convening a longer conversation/discussion at our November meeting around race relations and our commitment to diversity in terms of programming, community outreach, staff, and board representation. To that end, we are reaching out to find a facilitator who can help us at the meeting. More on this to come, but if you have any ideas, feel free to reach out to me and I will forward to Executive Committee.
Isabel and the Executive Committee also expressed interest in filling 2 open spots on the Board in the coming months. I will circulate the current list under a separate email by week’s end and ask you to look at it and see if there may be any additional names, especially in the areas of diversity and location (Cambria, Mifflin and Huntingdon counties) you may want to put forward for consideration.
Also, in the “any ideas or contacts category”, our Education team is hard at work reaching out to various stakeholders who can help us share our new Learning at Home broadcast schedule and website – complete with DIY activities, additional assets all tied to federal and Pennsylvania standards and easy links to PBS Kids games, videos, teacher’s tools, parenting tips and more.
If you have personal connections any teachers, early childhood educators, school principals, or superintendents, feel free to share our link here: http://wpsu.psu.edu/learn/
You can also send me their contact information and we will add it to our growing list! Thanks!
And finally, on this mission-driven note of “sparking discovery, enriching learning and strengthening community through vibrant public media”, we are pleased to announce the following that was released from Governor Wolf’s office last Thursday:
As part of Pennsylvania PBS, WPSU will receive state funds as Governor Wolf Dedicates $15 Million to Connect Students to High-Speed Internet, Remote-Learning
Governor Tom Wolf announced Thursday, September 10 that his office is dedicating $15 million in Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Funds for schools to secure broadband, mobile hot spots, and other platforms that increase equitable access to mobile learning. Pennsylvania PBS, will receive $8 million to establish a statewide datacasting initiative for those students who lack Internet access. Datacasting uses over-the-air TV signals to deliver educational content that can be used on devices without having to access the Internet. Using a datacasting antenna, students can download lesson plans, videos and worksheets from their schools. The Federal CARES Act authorizes governors to determine the educational use of GEER Funds. “The COVID-19 pandemic has forced our schools to rethink and rework how to provide instruction to students who are learning completely at home or in a hybrid model,” said Gov. Wolf. Read the full news release here.
There are many meetings that are being scheduled around this important funding initiative as you read this, and we should have much more information to share in the coming month (and certainly at November’s Board meeting). There are hyperlinks built in above to explain in greater detail what “datacasting” is and a link to the entire release FYI.
We will have this information on the Board portal in short order as well.
Thanks, as always, for you continued support, let me know how I can be of service to you.
Best,
Carolyn Donaldson
Community Engagement Manager
September 1 Nooz
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
August 15 Nooz
Monday, August 17, 2020
Click here for the August 15 Nooz
August 1 Nooz
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
July 15 WPSU Nooz
Thursday, July 16, 2020
July 1 Nooz
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
June 15 WPSU Nooz
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
To view the latest Nooz, click here!
June 1 WPSU Nooz
Monday, June 1, 2020
Click here to read June 2020 Nooz!
WPSU Activities and Projects Surrounding COVID19 Pandemic as of May 20, 2020
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
All WPSU activities and projects for COVID19_May 20
Radio
• 90 COVID-19 related news stories between February 18 and May 18
• Provided USB mics to radio staff for remote recording
• Health Minute – four episodes o Handwashing
o Staying Connected
o Social Distancing
o Mental Health
• Take Note o Penn State Prof. Erika Saunders On Mental Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic
o Dr. Matthew Ferrari, Penn State associate professor of Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences
o Dr. Nirmal Joshi chief medical officer, Mount Nittany Health
o Dr. Bernice Hausman, Professor, Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine
• Democracy Works Podcast o A Roadmap to A More Equitable Democracy
o COVID-19 Exposes Democracy’s Tensions
o Will COVID-19 Create a One Issue Campaign?
o Give Me Liberty or Give Me COVID-19?
o Polling in a Polarized World
o COVID-19: Human Movement & Behavior
o COVID-19: Spillover
• NPR and National Programming o Daily stories from NPR
o COVID-19: Hard Questions, Real Answers
o Coronavirus–A Weekly Report from NPR News
o The National Conversation with All Things Considered weeknights (ending May 29)
o PA Department of Health PSA on the spread of COVID-19 on WPSU-TV and FM
Television
• Instructional Television o WPSU programming changes for grades PreK-12, noon–5:00 p.m.
o The WORLD programming changes for grades 6–12, noon–5:00 p.m.
o New Learning from Home spot starts May 6
o New “Robot Doctor” (8) – shared PA PTV stations STEM program, Thursdays at 5:00 p.m.
o New Meet the Helpers series
o Daniel Tigers’ Germs, Germs, Go Away interstitial
o Science-U@Home promos airing on 3.1 and 3.4 channels
• Remote Productions o Conversations Live: Speaking Grief – May 21
o Conversations Live: Get your Garden On – April 30
o The Investment 2020 will be produced remotely for online video and broadcast
o Weather World – produced from home. WPSU helped to build infrastructure to move to remote delivery from staff’s homes.
• PBS Programming o NOVA: Decoding COVID-19 May 20
o American Portrait: COVID-19 Special
o Frontline: Inside Italy’s COVID War
o Global Agenda: World Lockdown – Battling the Pandemic
o Speaking Grief premiere on May 5 (website, radio)
Digital Initiative COVID-19 stories
• Metronome from Home (4) – May 11 first stream on Facebook Live
• “Show us your mugs” social distancing and connecting
• “Teddy Bears and Rainbows” neighborhood scavenger hunt
Community Engagement and Education Outreach
• Serving 105 school districts in 24 counties
• “Summer of Adventure” backpack fundraising and free community outreach program
• Op-Eds from 8 board members published in regional newspapers
• New education website launched May 11
• PA Department of Education/PA Public Television Stations collaboration “Learning at Home” launched new daytime instructional television. o TV schedule is coordinated with online learning activities/lesson plans. Schedule and activities change every Saturday. (through June 30)
o Two new programs: Robot Doctor (6-12 grades) and Into the Outdoors.
o Weekly “Learning Families” email to 1,050 subscribers. Contains TV programs and features lessons for the week
o Handouts distributed by Altoona School District (1,200 families)
o Handouts distributed by YMCA of Clearfield and Centre (10K meals/week)
o Eight-week schedule of outdoor and STEM-themed learning at home activities (links to PDFs and videos)
o Planning weekly Facebook Live explore the outdoor do-together activities
o Meetings with STEM educators in IUs and PDE and stations – ideas around social and emotional learning discussed.
o Possible Interstitial with teachers – Relationship with PSEA
o Coordinating awareness communication through PSEA
Membership
• June TV and FM pledge 7-day pledge and social distancing changes
• “143 Day” Fred Rogers campaign May 1–18 goodwill and light fundraising $3,983 from 65 donors
• COVID-19 donor stewardship spots for TV and FM
• Gift acknowledgement emails and letters
• Challenge donors: Make their gift they would have made during radio drive
• Membership testimonial project: Keystone Society and select donors to tell us “Why I love WPSU”
Development
• Business support for Metronome Facebook Live concert
• Morgan Stanley Business Support
• Bi-weekly emails to business supporters
• Business Support spots–support local businesses who support TV and FM
Marketing
• High school senior congratulations TV promo
• “Learning at Home” initiative –newspaper ads in 6 papers continue next week.
• #HowWeEndure social media engagement
• Metronome from Home Facebook concert series
• American Portrait COVID-19 special
• Meet the Helpers social media
Creative Services– University Collaborations
• Administration o Penn State virtual spring commencement – over 100,000 people from 100 countries
o Penn State President Barron studio recording/Penn State Health
o Penn State Town Hall – March 2020 and May 2020
o Penn State Board of Trustees audio call/web stream
o Penn State New Student Orientation web welcome & orientation events
o Class of 2024-Virtual Welcome to Penn State Family
• Colleges and Centers o Penn State Global Programs Town Hall
o Penn State Graduate School Town Hall
o Penn State Arts and Architecture Musical Theatre virtual performances
o Penn State World Campus three web streams: Chella Man, Reema Zaman, Eileen Collins, Saquon Barkley (in partnership with SPA)
o Shavers Creek web stream (May 2020)
o Penn State Law virtual commencement 2020
o Penn State Schreyer Honors College – Medals Ceremony
• Online Course Design o Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences 3-part COVID-19 MOOC
o Penn State Justice and Safety Institute classroom to online course
o Penn State Schuylkill online courses
o Penn State Center for Science and the Schools COVID course
May 15, 2020 Nooz
Friday, May 15, 2020
May 1, 2020 WPSU Nooz
Friday, May 1, 2020
April 15, 2020 Nooz
Friday, April 17, 2020
Here is the latest Nooz from WPSU!
Congress approves 75 million in Emergency Funding for Public Media
Friday, March 27, 2020
This emergency funding for public media will help address the economic losses stations are already experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the costs of the enhanced educational services which stations are continuing to roll out to support at home learning in their states and communities.
WPSU Postpones Spring FM Pledge Drive
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
WPSU Nooz – March 2020
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Click here to view the latest edition of WPSU Nooz.
Ever think about becoming an on-air TV Pledge Host?
Monday, November 4, 2019
The Grief Project Overview
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
GRIEF FOR REAL as presented by Producer Lindsey Whissel Fenton on August 21, 2019
Become a WPSU volunteer today!
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Create a VicNet account by heading here on our WPSU website to learn more and sign-up for your account. Once you have completed the Volunteer Application and Orientation Training (It’s simple, trust me!), you will be eligible to sign up for volunteer shifts. This will be the primary way to volunteer for all WPSU activities going forward.
We are currently signing folks up for our Fall Radio pledge drive to answer phones from October 12 – 18th. Thank you!
Become a ProtectMyPublicMedia.org advocate today!
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Visit the site, sign the petition, get involved!
Primer for Public Radio Sources
Monday, July 8, 2019
Hi Fellow Board Member –
The NPR Public Editor Elizabeth Jensen, just published an excellent article on the on-going task of helping a listener who is trying to share feedback. Chasing a story heard on the radio can lead down a confusing rabbit hole. Here’s a quick guide to clarify what content comes from NPR and what comes from other audio producers.
https://is.gd/1VkwVY
PA State Budget Announced
Monday, July 8, 2019
Gov. Tom Wolf signed the $34-billion budget Friday, June 28. The plan includes $750,000 for PA Public TV, the same amount as 2018-19 but does not stipulate $500,000 be allocated for the “Battling Opioids” statewide initiative. It also offers more money for public schools, early childhood education and public colleges and universities. There are no tax increases – and no new taxes or fees – in the budget. The Republican-led Legislature also approved a measure allowing the Wolf administration to take control of Pennsylvania’s online health insurance exchange program. The governor said it would help many Pennsylvanians save money.
Click here to see the line-by-line budget with Funding for PA PTV on Page 2, Line 113.
Flash Talks – May 21, 2019
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Presentation Documents
- Gary Miller
- Peggy Morgan
- Greg Petersen
- John Pozza
- Sara Hine Songer (Presentation)
- Sara Hine Songer (Attachment)
May Meeting Survey
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
WPSU would like feedback from our board members about the meeting on May 21, 2019. Click here to fill out a short survey.
Board Member Happenings
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Board Chair Peggy Morgan recently hosted our “Les Miserable Screening” at the Struthers Library Theatre in Warren. Several dozen guests were treated to the one hour premiere screening and refreshments and cake thanks to Peggy!
WPSU’s Community & Educational Services Team Leader Cece Merkel submitted our final report on the PBS Early Childhood Planning Grant that many board members were instrumental in helping secure surveys with community and educational leaders. For additional information on how this information will serve WPSU in planning for the future, please contact Cece Merkel (cbm12@psu.edu) and she will be happy to share more detailed information.