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1 Programming & Local Productions

3 EducationalServices

4 Marketing&Development

5 IT/Engineering

BoardofDirectorsNews

6 StaffNews,Training&Conferences

Western Reserve Public Media

1750CampusCenterDriveP.O. Box 5191

Kent,OH44240-51911-800-554-4549

WesternReservePBS.org

Western Reserve Public Media President’s Report

The Western Reserve Public Media President’s Report is published for the Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio Inc. Board of Directors, major funders of the station and other readers interested in the organization’s activities.

Fall 2016Volume10,Issue4

New local history program, Akron-centric series premiereWesternReservePublicMediawasrecentlythepresentingstationfortwonewlocalproductions.

46 Days: The Confessions of Ned KelloggThisnewdocumentary,whichinvestigatesthebrutal—andcontroversial—murdercasesoftwoKent,Ohio,womenmorethan70yearsago,premieredSept.7.

46DAYS:THECONFESSIONSOFNEDKELLOGGwaswrittenandproducedbyFredEndres,professoremeritusintheSchoolofJournalism&MassCommunicationatKentStateUniversity.IttellsthestoryofMaeWickline,apopulardrugstoreclerk,whowaskilledwhilewalkinghomefromworkonasnowynightinJanuary1945.

PolicebroughtinNedKellogg,alocalmillworker,forwhatwassupposedtoberoutinequestioning.Kellogg,51,hadlivedinKentallhislifeandwaswellknownaroundtown.Hewasseenbymostresidentsasbeing“slow”mentallyandlaterwouldbefoundtohaveamentalageof7.

Afterbeingquestionedbypoliceformorethanthreehours,Kelloggadmittedto“tussling”withWicklinethatnight.Hedeniedkillingher;yet,afewweekslater,heshockedpolicebyconfessingtomurderinganotherKentwomanin1933.

ThedocumentaryexploresthetwomurdersandKellogg’spossiblerolesinthem.Italsoexaminestheplaceoftheintellectuallydisabledinthelocalcommunityandintheeyesofthepoliceandcourts70yearsago.

Around Akron with Blue GreenAROUNDAKRON,amonthlyhalf-hourseries,istheworkofAkronproducerBlueGreen,whosays,“ThegoaloftheshowistoshineaspotlightonallofthegoodthingsthatAkronhastooffer.”GreennotedthatthecityofAkronisawonderfulplaceinwhichtolive,work,stayandplay,buthefeels“totrulybeagreatcity,weneedourownAkron-basednewsandlocaltelevisionprogramming.”

Eachshowconsistsoffourstories,includingsegmentsondining,artsandculture,history,business,andmoversandshakers.ThefirstepisodepremieredonOct.3.

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Programming & Local Productions (cont’d.)

Coming soon to Western Reserve PBS!PBShasannounceditsadvancescheduleforJanuarythroughMay2017.Herearesomehighlights:

MASTERPIECE, “Sherlock, Season 4” ThepopularseriesreturnsonJan.1withthreebrand-newepisodesthatpromiselaughter,tears,shocks,surprisesandextraordinaryadventures.ThenewseasonbeginswiththemercurialSherlockHolmesbackoncemoreonBritishsoilasDoctorWatsonandhiswifeMarypreparefortheirbiggestchallengeyet:becomingparents.

MASTERPIECE, “Victoria”BeginningSunday,Jan.15,tuneintotheeight-hourdramathatfollowsVictoriafromthetimeshebecomesqueenin1837attheageof18throughherrelationshipwithLordMelbourne,herfirstprimeministerandintimatefriend,andhercourtshipandmarriagetoPrinceAlbert.

MERCY STREET, Season 2 ThenewseasonbeginsSunday,Jan.22.FollowthegrowingchaosatAlexandria’sMansionHouse,theprecarious positionoftheGreenfamilyandthechangingsituationoftheburgeoning blackpopulation.

AMERICAN MASTERS, “Maya Angelou” ThisisthefirstfeaturedocumentaryabouttheincomparableDr.MayaAngelou(1928-2014),bestknownforherautobiography“IKnowWhytheCagedBirdSings.”ItissettopremiereinFebruary.

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, “Oklahoma City Bombing (w.t.)” OnFeb.7,followtheriseoftheextremistmilitiamovement,fromRubyRidgetoWaco,whichledtothedeadliestactofdomesticterrorisminAmericanhistory—the1995bombingbyTimothyMcVeighthatkilled168peopleinOklahomaCity.

SMOKEY ROBINSON: THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG PremieringinearlyFebruary,thisprogramhonorstheacclaimedsinger-songwriter,whosecareerofhitsspansmorethan fourdecades.

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, “The Great War” CominginApril,thisnewseriesrevealshowWWItransformedAmericathroughthestoriesofAfrican-Americansoldiers,feministactivists,Native-American“codetalkers”andotherswhoseparticipationinthewarhasbeenlargelyforgotten.

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW: MASTERCLASSES The“Masterclass”episodesfeaturePaulHollywoodandMaryBerryshowingviewershowtocreatetheirfamousbakedtreats,andthereareChristmas-themedepisodesassociatedwitheachseasonofseries.Watchforthenewepisodesin early2017.

OtherinterestingprogramstowatchforthisspringincludeSeason6ofCALL THE MIDWIFE andSeason2ofHOME FIRES.

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Educational Services

New STEM careers initiative for Latino youthWesternReservePublicMediaisparticipatinginanewdigitalinitiativethatencouragesLatinoyouthtoinvestigateSTEMcareers.

Theinitiative,calledSTEMMio,wasdevelopedbyArizonaStateUniversityandfundedbytheNationalScienceFoundation.ItisintendedtobuildatrajectoryofengagingSTEMexperienceswithinagame-enabledplatformthatLatinoyouth,familiesandteacherscanexploretogether.OthercollaboratorsontheprojectareE-LineMediaandHispanicAssociationofCollegesandUniversities(HACU).

“TheSTEMMioinitiativeisagreatwayforustoamplifyoureducationalserviceswithanoutreachevent,”saidJeffGood,directorofeducation.“Inaddition,itextendsthevalueofourVmeSpanishlanguagechannel.”Vmeisoneofourstandard-definitionchannels,WNEO45.4/WEAO49.4,andofferssmart,engagingcontentforLatinosinourviewingarea.OurstationistheonlyoneinOhiothatcarriestheVmechannel.

Plansareunderwayforourlocaloutreach,whichwillbecoordinatedbyLaurieGreen,21stcenturylearningconsultant.Theyincludethefollowing:

• PartneringwithSearsThinkBoxatCaseWesternUniversityandHACUtoprovideanoutreacheventforstudentsintheCleveland-Lorainarea,wherethereisoneofthelargestLatinopopulationsinthestateofOhio

• Promotingtheproject’s“GeneraćionDigital”TVseriesinconjunctionwiththecommunityoutreachevent

• WorkingwithHACUtoprovidenamesofareahighschoolsandcareercentersthathaveaSTEMprogramtheycancontacttoforpromotingupcomingcareerfairs

• PromotingHACUcareerfairs,theSTEMMiowebsiteandourcommunityoutreachprogramthroughvariousWesternReservePublicMediasocialmediaresources

New resources available to educatorsWebsitesfortwonewmultimediaprojectsforeducatorswentliveinSeptember.

DEVELOPING ONLINE ASSESSMENT SKILLS IN EVERYDAY CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

Make-It: Learning Through Exploration (www.wrmakeit.org)offersresourcesrelatedtodevelopingtheMakerspacemodelforgrades5-6.

Digital Skills(www.wroskills.org)helpsteachersintheelementarygradestointegratedigitalskillsintheireverydayteaching.

BothsiteswillexpandtoallgradebandsbytheendofJune2017.

Technology agencies visit stationTheOhioEducationalTechnologyAgenciesvisitedWesternReservefortheorganization’searlyOctobermeeting.WesternReserveservesasoneofthe eightagencies,allofwhichoffer technologyprofessionaldevelopment forOhio’seducators.

Professional development continuesTheeducationalservicesstaffisbusybuildingthewinterquarterofprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesforteachers.Thesessions,offeredatthe21stCenturyLearningCenteratthestation,willhaveanemphasisontheMakerspacemovement,whichpromotesalearningenvironmentwherechildrenandadultscantinker,designandcreatetogether.

ThewintersessionofprofessionaldevelopmentbeginsinJanuaryandrunsthroughMarch.

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Marketing & DevelopmentMembership WesternReservePBSrespects,valuesandholdsinthehighestregardeachandeverypersonthatpledgessupporttothepublictelevisioncause.That’snoteasytodowithadatabaseof14,000membersandamembershipstaffofonlytwofull-timepeople.

Ourcurrentmembershipsoftwareusestechnologyto“process”contributionsanddeliverthank-yougiftsquickly,butthat’snotenough.Ourdreamistogettoknowmembersandunderstandhowwecanbeofbetterservicesowewillearntheircontinuedsupport.

Wearenotalone.Otherpublicbroadcastingstationsacrossthecountryfacethesamechallenges.Inresponsetothisdilemma,publicTVstationWGBHinBostoncreatedtheContributorDevelopmentPartnership(CDP),whichusesdatatoshowhowstationsaredoingincomparisontootherlike-mindedstationsandofferssuggestionsforimprovementorgrowth.

ForyearsCDPhasbeenprovidingWesternReservePBSwithaquarterlybenchmarkingreportcalledtheRevenueOpportunityandActionReport.Thereport’sdatahasshownthatsupportersofWesternReservePBSareloyalandgenerous;italsoindicatesthatthereissomuchmorewecouldbedoingbywayofcustomerserviceifwedidn’thavesuchalimitedstaffandtightbudget.

Fortunatelyforus,CDPalsooffersafee-basedservicecalledtheMemberServicesBureau,whichoffersassistancewithbackroommembershipactivities.Itisdesignedtofreeastations’membershipdepartmentfromtheenormouslabordrainofmanagingtheday-to-daydetailsofthemembershipprogramssotheycanfocusonbettercustomerengagementandlocalservice.

WearecurrentlyworkingwiththeMemberServicesBureautotransitionourmembershipsoftwaretoasystemthatisdesignedtobuildcustomerrelationshipsandintegratedintoourdigitalmarketingefforts.

OnSept.20,fourteammembersfromthebureaucametoKentandeightmoredialedinremotelytomeettheWesternReservePublicMediaemployeesinvolvedwithbackroommembershipactivity.Thepurposeofthevisitwastodoteamintroductions,understandthetimelineandreviewtheMSBonboardingprocess.

Station enters arts partnershipsTheUnderwritingDepartmentcontinuestobuildclosepartnershipswithseveralnotableNortheastOhioartsorganizations.OnesuchpartnershipiswiththeCantonMuseumofArt.

WesternReservePBSisamediasponsorforthemuseum’snewestexhibition,“DreamWorlds:TheArtofImaginativeRealism,”onviewuntilMarch12,2017.

Award-winningartistsfromtheentertainment,fantasyandgamingindustriescreateexcitinganddream-likeimages,whichtransporttheviewertoarealmofunworldlywonders.

Educational Services (cont’d.)

Strongsville City Schools creates MakerspacesLaurieGreen,21stcenturylearningconsultant,isworkingwithStrongsvilleCitySchoolsastheydevelopMakerspacesthroughoutthedistrict.EducationalServiceswillalsobeprovidingrelatedprofessionaldevelopment.

Makerspace creation gives nod to OSU’s bandOhioStateUniversityhasanopportunitytobringonanewbandmember.DuringarecentMakerspaceworkshopheldhere,twoteachersprogrammedanOzo-Bot(programmablerobot)todoScriptOhioanddotthe“I.”

AvideooftherobotdoingtheincomparableScriptOhiowassenttoOhioState’sbandandwaswell-received.NowordyetifOzo-Botwillbeaddedtotherotationof“I-dotters”thisseason.

Station participates in global studies programWesternReservePublicMediaparticipatedinJacksonLocalSchools’annualCapitalizingonGlobalOpportunitieseventheldNov.14.

ThefocusoftheeveningistobringindifferentbusinessesandorganizationstohavemeaningfulconversationswithstudentsintheJacksonAcademyforGlobalStudies.

StationretireeRiaMastromatteorepresentedourorganizationandeducatedattendeesaboutourtwo“global”services,thestandard-definitionchannelsMHzWorldview,whichoffersawealthofinternationalcontent,andVme,offeringcontentinSpanish.

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Board of Directors News

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTubeFollowusforprogramupdates,contests,announcements,funlinksandmoreonourFacebookfanpageandatTwitter.com/WR_PBS.YoucanwatchallofourlocalprogrammingonourYouTubechannel,too!

IT/EngineeringPublic TV stations partner for new emergency alert systemWesternReservePublicMediaiscollaboratingwithOhio’s12publictelevisionstationsindevelopingandintroducingasecure,alternativedeliverysystemtoprovidethepublicwithemergencyinformation.

OEASPublicAlertNetisanewstatewide,multilingual,technologybackbonethatusestelevisionsignalstodelivercriticalemergencyalertsandmessagingtootherbroadcastersandpublicsafetyofficials,whointurndeliverthemtothepublic.OEASwillautomaticallyprovidetheCommonAlertingProtocol(CAP)alertsandmessaginginbothEnglishandSpanish.

Ohio’spublicstationsareworkingwiththeOhioEmergencyManagementAgency(EMA)andthestate’sBroadcastEducationalMediaCommissiontomakethisnewtechnologythestrongestandsafestwaytogettheemergencyinformationtothepeoplewhodeliverittothepublic.

“ExistingemergencysystemshavesometimesfailedduringcrisisperiodssuchasHurricaneSandy,butOEASreliesonbroadcastsignalsimmunetothehackingandinformationcongestionthatcommercialInternetservicescanexperiencewhentheneedisgreatest,”accordingtoDaveFord,CommunicationsBranchChief,OhioEMA.

AsingledigitaldatastreamwithalldigitalemergencymessagingforthestateofOhiowillbesentfromtheEMAheadquartersinColumbusanddistributedtothe12publictelevisionstationsforbroadcastinsupportofthelegacyEmergencyAlertingSystem(EAS).OEAShasbeenbuiltwiththeflexibilitytoacceptnewmessagingformatsastheyaredeveloped.

Matthew Wilson named UA president

By a unanimous vote the University of Akron Board of Trustees approved interim president Matthew Wilson as the permanent president of the university.

Station receives air conditioning upgradeForOhio’sfiscalyear2015-2016capitalappropriationsbienniumbudget,GovernorJohnKasichannouncedthatthestatewouldsupporttargetedcapitalprojectsfound tohavelocalandregionaleconomicdevelopmentimportance.Thegovernor choseeightofthestate’spremiereconomicdevelopmentorganizationstovet andsubmitproposals.

TheGreaterAkronChamberwasselectedtorepresentMedina,PortageandSummitcounties.Wewereverypleasedtolearnthatafterextensivereview,theGreaterAkronChamber’sCapitalBillTaskForcesubmittedourproposaltoupgradeWesternReservePublicMedia’smulti-purposeroom/studioasaregionalpriority.

Partofourproposalwastoseparatetheheatingandcoolingsysteminthisroomfromtherestofthebuildingsowecoulddolocalproductionsinalow-temperature,low-noiseenvironment.TheStateofOhioawardedWesternReservePublicMedia$50,000toaccomplishthisgoal.

InNovember,overatwo-weekperiod,LakesHeatingandAirConditioningofAkronremovedtheHVACconnectionsthatthisroomhadtotherestofthebuildingandinstalledMitsubishiductlessheatpumpsystems.Nowtheroomisequippedwithadditionalheatingandcoolingcapacityatverylownoiselevels.

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Trina Cutter’s recent activitiesOnAug.29,PresidentandCEOTrinaCutterjoinedareabroadcastersforadistrictmeeting

withCongressmanBobGibbs.ThemeetingincludedtheopportunitytogiveCongressmanGibbsvaluablecontextforpolicyissuesthatimpactstations’abilitytoservetheirviewers.

OnOct.24,MarkAuburn,BonnieBurdmanandTrinaCutterparticipatedinaconferencecallwithConvergenceServices.Thepurposeofthecallwastodiscussservicesofferedbythiscompanyinrelationtoapossiblenewtransmissionstandard.

Dennis leads staff meetingOnSept.7,AnthonyDennis,chiefoperatingofficer,ledanall-stationstaffmeetingtodiscussnewFairLaborStandardsAct

(FLSA)wageandhourrulesthatareslatedtobeineffectDec.1.

Welcome, Susan ScheibleSusanScheiblehasjoinedourstaffinthepositionofadministrativeassistant.AnativeofCuyahogaFalls,shenowresidesin

Brimfieldandisanardentloverofanimalsandoutdooractivities.

Scheiblehasmorethan15yearsofadministrativeexperienceintheconstructionandlegalsectors.

Staff News, Training & Conferences

Good to lead ITIP OhioAttheSeptemberannualmeetingofITIPOhio,DirectorofEducationJeffGoodwasreappointedtotheboardandnamed

presidentoftheorganization.ITIPisanacronymforInstructionalTechnologyIntegrationPartnership.

ITIPOhiowasformedasanonprofit(501c3)organizationin2010andWesternReservePublicMediaisonetheagency’sfoundingmembers.ItspurposeistohelppromotetheuseofinstructionaltechnologiesinOhio’sclassrooms.

Good attends conferenceDirectorofEducationJeffGoodrecentlyattendedtheLearn21conferenceinColumbus.GoodrepresentedbothWesternReserveandITIPOhio(aninstructionaltechnologypartnership)andhostedanexhibitspaceattheOSUStudentUnion.

Laurie Green learns of gardening educational initiativesLaurieGreen,21stcenturylearningconsultant,recently

attendedthe2016SchoolGardeningConferenceatTheOhioStateUniversity.

Therehasbeenaresurgenceincreatingcommunitygardensinschools.Academicsubjectsincludingmath,readingandsciencecaneasilybeintegratedintothecurriculumthroughgardening.WehopetoofferProfessionalDevelopmenttosupportthegrowthoftheseprograms.

Educational Services staff members present at conferenceJeffGoodandLaurieGreenattendedtheEastCentralOhioEducationalServiceCenterconferenceinNewPhiladelphiaonOct.14.

GreenpresentedsessionsfocusingontheMakerspacemovement,digitalonlineskillsandournewmultimediaprojectwebsite.

GoodrepresentedWesternReserveandITIPOhiowithinformationalexhibitsaboutbothorganizations.

Underwriters attend seminarUnderwritingsalesrepresentativesDebraRaceyandTerrySchlossercompletedtheCorporateSupportPerformanceInitiativeTrainingconductedinAugustandSeptemberinDetroit.

TheinteractiveseminarwasconductedbyPBSandhostedbyPBSmemberstationDPTV.Thepurposeofthetwo-phaseclassroomseminaristoshareknowledgeandideas,andtointroduceeffectivewaysofcommunicatingthefeaturesandbenefitsofpublicmediaunderwritingandcorporatesupport.

Membership just got much more exciting! Introducing WNEO Passport – a new member benefit that provides you with extended access to an on-demand library of quality public television programming.

Quality shows. On your schedule.For members who donate $60 or more a year, WNEO Passport enables you to enjoy past episodes of many of your favorite PBS shows on demand using your computer, smartphone or tablet.

Look for this icon to identify WNEO Passport videos.Available on the Western Reserve PBS website and PBS.org, plus the PBS video apps for smartphones and tablets.

http://video.westernreservepublicmedia.org

To access WNEO Passport, contact our Membership Department at 1-800-554-4549 to receive your unique four-word activitation code.

WNEO

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ASHTABULALAKE

TRUMBULL

GEAUGA

PORTAGE

MAHONING

CUYAHOGA

COLUMBIANA

SUMMITMEDINA

STARKWAYNE

CARROLL

HARRISON

JEFFERSONTUSCARAWAS

LORAIN

ASHLAND

HOLMES

COSHOCTON

ERIE

HURON

RICHLANDCRAWFORD

MORROW

KNOX

ERIE

CRAWFORD

MERCER

VENANGO

LAWRENCEBUTLER

BEAVER

ALLEGHENY

Cleveland

Akron Youngstown

Ashtabula

Warren

Kent

Chardon

Painesville

Elyria

Medina

Wooster Canton

Carrollton

Steubenville

Lisbon

Ashland

New Philadelphia

Erie

Meadville

Franklin

Sharon

New Castle

Butler

Beaver

Pittsburgh

Availableto5.13millionpeoplein22counties,WesternReservePublicMediaservesthelargestpopulationofOhio’seightPBSmemberstations.(Thesecondlargeststationreaches1.2millionfewerpeople.)Ourover-the-airbroadcastserviceareaisextendedbycarriageonalmostallcablesystemsandsatelliteservicesinNortheastOhioandpartsofWesternPennsylvania.

Western Reserve Public MediaP.O. Box 5191Kent OH 44240-5191www.WesternReservePublicMedia.org

Western Reserve Public Media Viewing Area

Over-the-air broadcast reachCable and satellite coverage