WSIU Community Impact Report 2013 by WSIU Public Broadcasting

2013

Local Content and Service Report to the Community

Wendell Hughes, host of WSIU Radio’s soul, smooth jazz, and R&B music series Magic Soul “Didn’t know this was on. Just got lucky and heard it. FANTASTIC!” Natalie | WSIU Radio listener, via email

“I really love this job. Not many students can say they have networked as much as I have, or that they have published research in their undergraduate program. I thank WSIU for these opportunities.” Lindsay DuBois | SIU Carbondale Education Graduate

WSIU At-A-Glance

Loc al Value WSIU Public Broadcasting works with public media, educational, governmental, and community partners to improve the quality of life in our region and beyond by: • • • •

Encouraging civic responsibility, dialogue, understanding, and positive change; Engaging teachers, administrators, children, families, and the public with public media resources; Connecting people with history, arts, culture, health, issues, and each other; and Empowering people of all ages and backgrounds to achieve their full potential

2013 ke y s er vi ces WSIU engaged diverse audiences through these key services: • Fall 2012 Election Specials and Illinois Lawmakers coverage of the Illinois General Assembly; • PBS KIDS Ready to Learn activities, including the launch of WSIU’s Mobile Learning Labs and a new regional children’s health conference, and Illinois PBS LearningMedia; • Community Cinema and related film screenings and discussions; • New local music and computer news programs, and a new movie review series on WSIU Radio; • Local TV and FM news, the Southern Illinois Radio Information Service, and local programs showcasing SIU Carbondale, prominent Illinoisans, and our region’s people, places, and issues; and • Professional development in the broadcast industry for college students and volunteers

LOC AL I MPAC T WSIU transformed local communities through: • 1,200+ hours of local programming focusing on the Election 2012 season, state politics, public affairs, arts and culture, education, health, history, science, the environment, and SIU Carbondale sports, and the addition of local programs Magic Soul, Computer Ed, and SIU Reviews on WSIU Radio; • Direct contact with nearly 15,000 teachers, students, families, and the public through PBS KIDS Ready to Learn and Illinois PBS LearningMedia, our online professional development resource for teachers; • Community engagement and outreach activities, including 12 Community Cinema and related film screenings and the distribution of 1,900 books to the Big Muddy Correctional Center; • Over 8,000 hours of professional development in the broadcast industry for SIU students; and • Sponsorship of local health and cultural events, including the Southern Illinois Men’s and Women’s Health Conferences, the Big Muddy and New Harmony Film Festivals, Carbondale’s Friday Night Fairs, the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and the Southern Illinois Music Festival

WSIU In the Community

2013 service spotlight

The Power to Make a Difference

NEIGHBORHOOD OF MAKE BELIEVE

our mission of service

WSIU, in partnership with Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, nurtured the imaginations of children and families at a “Neighborhood of Make Believe” spring family event in April 2013. Approximately 750 participants from three states attended the event at Cedarhurst – achieving a new record as our largest station event! Based on the PBS KIDS series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, the event featured a Salley Mavor embroidered fabric art exhibit entitled “Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes”, a trolley ride through Cedarhurst grounds, nursery rhymes with Mother Goose, activities such as creating a keepsake book and character mask, group crafts, videos of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, kite flying, a nature hike, and PBS KIDS online games and game apps for mobile devices. WSIU also distributed free educational materials, and guests were entered in a PBS KIDS prize drawing by completing an event survey. WSIU also collaborated with the SIU Carbondale Craft Shop to create an interactive art piece – an oversized shoe based on the nursery rhyme “There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe”. Participants were invited to “add themselves to the family” by making people figures and attaching them to the shoe, which was displayed outside Cedarhurst’s main building. Event sponsors included Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Old National Bank – Southern Illinois branches, and Southern Illinois Healthcare.

WSIU Public Broadcasting is a vital community resource dedicated to improving the quality of life of the people we serve. Since 1958, our programs and services have inspired personal growth, community engagement, and a love for learning in people of all ages and backgrounds. As a community convenor, we believe we have a responsibility to use our public media assets for the betterment of society. With support from our partners, we encourage informed civic participation; transform the classroom experience; explore our region’s history, people, and places; address the key issues of our time; promote dialogue and positive change; provide equal access to the arts and culture; and encourage all people to achieve their full potential.

OUR PARTNERS Meaningful partnerships maximize the strengths of participating organizations, creating greater flexibility and accuracy in identifying and meeting community needs. From SIU Carbondale and regional schools to our WSIU Friends Board, from donors and corporate sponsors to schools, libraries, and museums, from state and local service agencies to students and volunteers, our partners play an important role in helping us to fulfill our service mission. These relationships enable us to be more strategic in our efforts, to expand access to public media resources, and to improve outcomes.

2013 KEY SERVICES Among WSIU’s key services to the community in FY 2013: Fall 2012 TV and FM election specials; PBS KIDS Ready to Learn activities, including PBS KIDS Mobile Learning Labs, Martha Speaks Reading Buddies, Raising Readers Theater performances, and our most successful spring family event to date, the Neighborhood of Make Believe; 12 Community Cinema and related film screenings; the debut of three new WSIU Radio programs, Magic Soul, Computer Ed, and SIU Reviews; new seasons of local programs Expressions and WSIU InFocus; eight SIU Men’s Basketball games; the annual Lincoln Laureates TV special; sponsorship of key regional events; and student training in the broadcast industry.

My wife listens to NPR to and from work every day, my 2-year-old daughter watches PBS KIDS in the mornings, and my 10-year-old son and I watch NOVA, Nature, and other PBS shows in the evenings. The whole family greatly enjoys WSIU!” The Thoms family, Makanda, Illinois

WSIU In the Community OUR commitment to local programming WSIU produced 1,200+ hours of original programming and contributed thousands of hours towards community engagement and student training in the broadcast industry. A few highlights… WSIU RADIO participated in the production of Fall 2012 Election specials, including live broadcasts of three Illinois 12th Congressional District debates, special election features during local news, election night coverage, and post-election analysis. WSIU Radio’s Jennifer Fuller served as a debate panelist and co-moderated multiple candidate forums with WSIU-TV’s Jak Tichenor and the Southern Illinoisan’s Caleb Hale. Fuller also hosted multiple segments of the local heart health feature “Keep the Beat.” Three new programs were added to the local lineup: Magic Soul, a weekly soul/R&B series hosted by Wendell Hughes, a graduate student in SIU Carbondale’s College of Mass Communication & Media Arts; the computer news series Computer Ed, hosted by southern Illinois residents Edward Chrisler and Doug Berner, and which serves a growing audience interested in gaming; and SIU Reviews, a film critique series hosted by Dr. Walter Metz, Professor and Chair of SIU Carbondale’s Cinema & Photography department, and Ph.D. student Liz Faber. The Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS), which serves residents who are blind or visually impaired, raised nearly $9,000 through its annual fundraiser, the Classic Vinyl & Media Sale – the most successful to date. WSIU-TV participated in Fall 2012 election specials, including copresenting three Illinois 12th Congressional District debates moderated by Jak Tichenor, producing multiple candidate forums for individuals running for Illinois House and Senate districts, election night coverage provided by the River Region Evening Edition, and post-election analysis on WSIU InFocus. WSIU broadcast coverage of the spring and veto sessions of the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor’s annual speeches through the statewide series Illinois Lawmakers, produced the annual Lincoln Laureates program showcasing prominent Illinoisans, and broadcast eight SIU Men’s Basketball games live. WSIU also produced 18 new episodes of the weekly TV arts series Expressions and nearly 40 new features for the weekly series WSIU InFocus. Student-produced programs the River Region Evening Edition, Studio A Presents, alt.news 26:46, and Scholastic Hi-Q featured award-winning news, unique human stories, local and national artists, and regional high school scholar bowl teams.

2013 service spotlight PBS KIDS Raising Readers Theater WSIU’s Raising Readers Theater series inspires students, parents, and teachers, while teaching critical reading and vocabulary skills to children.

Parents and students at Unity Point School’s Family Circle Even Start Program and at Giant City School, both in rural Carbondale, Illinois, perform Raising Readers Theater performances based on the PBS KIDS programs The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! and Martha Speaks. WSIU provides costumes, props, direction, and coaching. Unity Point’s focus is on multicultural, multilingual families. Giant City School incorporates Raising Readers as part of their Giant City Stories event series, with a focus on Poetry Café during which older students read the Readers Theater lines while younger students perform. Plans for next year include students learning to recite the Gettysburg Address (to coincide with the debut of the Ken Burns film The Address and performing Liberty’s Kids skits.

My favorite program is Morning Conversation. I really like to listen to Jennifer Fuller because she asks some of the same questions I would ask. In fact, she’s asking the same questions I’m yelling at the radio as I’m driving to school. I think she and I have a lot in common, and could be best friends! Public radio is an important part of our American culture. I enjoy hearing news from an international perspective and hearing stories from people who are living the news they are reporting.” Denise McCleary, Goreville, Illinois - Senior Lecturer, SIU Speech Communication

WSIU Stories of Impact

WSIU Election 2012 Events

We struck an exciting and rewarding partnership with WSIU-TV and the Belleville News-Democrat to present a series of debates for candidates in the Illinois 12th Congressional District. We gave the voters a chance to see the candidates in person and to hear their views, in their own words.” Gary Metro Editor, Southern Illinoisan Carbondale, Illinois Panelist for Illinois 12th Congressional District Debates

The second of three Illinois 12th Congressional District Debates in Marion, Illinois.

WSIU, the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIU Carbondale, the Southern Illinoisan, and the Belleville News-Democrat partnered to encourage civic participation and informed voter decision-making by co-hosting three debates between candidates running for the Illinois 12th Congressional District. Broadcast live on WSIU-TV and WSIU Radio from WSIU’s TV Studio A, the Marion Cultural & Civic Center in Marion, Ill., and Lindenwood University in Belleville, Ill., the debates also were available online at WSIU.org, thesouthern.com, and bnd.com. WSIU’s Jak Tichenor served as moderator, with questioning by Southern Illinoisan editor Gary Metro, WSIU Radio morning news anchor Jennifer Fuller, and Belleville News-Democrat reporter Beth Hundsdorfer. WSIU also hosted candidate forums with individuals running for office in Illinois Senate and House Districts as part of the WSIU InFocus series, with interviews by Jak Tichenor, Jennifer Fuller, and Southern Illinoisan reporter Caleb Hale. Other election specials focused on election results and a proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution concerning state employee pensions. Panelists included Jak Tichenor; Republican State Representative Mike Bost of Murphysboro, Ill.; Ed Caumiant, Regional Director for AFSCME; David Yepsen, Director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute; John Jackson, visiting professor at the Simon Institute; and Amanda Vinicky, Statehouse Bureau Chief for Illinois Public Radio. In addition, WSIU Radio News and WSIU-TV’s River Region Evening Edition student news program provided election night coverage and post-election analysis.

RELATED PROGRAMMING: WSIU raised awareness about the political process by covering the spring and veto sessions of the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor’s annual speeches as part of the statewide legislative TV series Illinois Lawmakers. WSIU InFocus also taped interviews with former Illinois Governor James R. Thompson and former U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon in recognition of WSIU-TV’s 50th anniversary and the Simon Institute’s 15th anniversary.

WSIU’s Jak Tichenor (right) and guests on the set of an Illinois Constitutional Amendment election special.

Guests listen during the first of three Illinois 12th Congressional District Debates at WSIU-TV’s studios in Carbondale, Illinois.

quick facts WHEN Fall 2012

Where WSIU-TV Studios, Marion Cultural & Civic Center, Lindenwood University

PARTNERS

Belleville News-Democrat, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, SIU Carbondale, Southern Illinoisan

SPONSORS Forbes Financial Group, Marion Subaru

RESULTS Over 700 citizens attended the three 12th Congressional District debates. Approximately three million people across WSIU’s service region had direct access to WSIU’s Election 2012 programming, either on the air or online. Multiple print, TV, and radio media outlets provided extensive coverage. WSIU also raised awareness of these programs through the mass distribution of eCards, posters, and press announcements, online calendars and social media, and through SIU Carbondale, the WSIU Friends Board, regional Chambers of Commerce, project partners, and sponsors.

WSIU Radio’s Jennifer Fuller (left) and the Southern Illinoisan’s Caleb Hale during a candidate forum.

WSIU Stories of Impact quick facts WHEN Fall 2012-Summer 2013

Where Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, SIU Carbondale Child Development Laboratories, Southern Illinois Schools

PARTNERS

Title I Schools in southern Illinois, Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale, SIU Carbondale Child Development Laboratories

SPONSORS Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Old National Bank - Southern Illinois Branches, Southern Illinois Healthcare (for Daniel Tiger event, see page four)

RESULTS Nearly 15,000 teachers, students, children, and families benefitted from PBS KIDS Ready to Learn resources and experiences. WSIU strengthened joint efforts with other Illinois public media stations. SIU student teachers have incorporated mobile media devices in their teacher training and students produced PBS KIDS Ready to Learn videos, soon to be online at http://www3.wsiu.org/ educators.

PBS KIDS Ready to Learn WSIU strengthened reading, vocabulary, math, and financial literacy skills in children, transformed the educational culture among project partners, and inspired imaginations through PBS KIDS Ready to Learn. For the sixth straight year, WSIU enhanced reading literacy among hundreds of young children through Martha Speaks Reading Buddies at Title One elementary schools. WSIU also assisted schools in hosting Raising Readers Theater Performances featuring Martha Speaks, SuperWHY, and The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That. WSIU transformed student learning experiences by teaching educational partners how to integrate mobile media devices in their curriculum and instruction. We emphasized PBS KIDS Ready To Learn math and literacy frameworks, and new PBS KIDS game content, by establishing Mobile Learning Labs using iPad and Kindle Fire tablets and other mobile applications. Labs were installed at SIU Carbondale’s Child Development Laboratories and the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale. WSIU’s leadership in this area is critical as the majority of the early learning community in southern Illinois would not otherwise have access to such resources. WSIU’s Beth Spezia and WILL’s Molly Delaney shared details about Mobile Learning Labs at the annual conference of the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children. WSIU provided after-school and summer learning programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale with The Electric Company literacy toolkits and financial programming, such as Biz Kid$. We also hosted a Neighborhood of Make Believe event featuring Daniel Tiger (see spotlight on page four).

WSIU’s Mobile Learning Lab has been very helpful for us to grow our academic programs, and it’s easy to use. The project fits in very well with the Boys and Girls Club of America’s mission to offer ‘high yield learning’ activities that keep the youth engaged and are fun!” Tina Carpenter Program Director, Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale, Illinois

Related Project: New Children’s Health Conference WSIU helped to build healthier communities by partnering with the Southern Illinois Coalition for Children and Families, Child Care Resource & Referral, and Illinois Action for Children to launch “Healthy Children, Brighter Futures,” the first regional professional development conference focusing on children’s health. The inaugural event – the only one of its kind in Illinois – was held November 1-2, 2012 at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Ill. For the first time, WSIU staff and SIU Carbondale students organized a successful social media campaign that resulted in a virtual conference to share with the general public. SIU students documented and shared the conference using live blogging, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Videos, photos, tweets, and other social media posts from the conference can be found at storify.com/ wsiuhealth. WSIU outreach coordinator Beth Spezia and SIU student Lindsay DuBois also co-presented on healthy living practices.

(Left-right): SIU Carbondale student social media volunteers Mohanad Ajina of Saudi Arabia, Lindsay DuBois of Springfield, Ill., Nick Mertens of Fenton, Mo, Lacy Gibson of Carbondale, Ill., and Jeanette Grosman of Carpentersville, Ill.

“This event is so healthy, I can feel my life lengthening right before my eyes,” tweeted one participant. Says another, “It was great to learn about healthy lifestyles/medical involvement in the conference and work towards community support of children in child care resources.” KEY RESULTS: WSIU’s campaign deepened the impact of the sessions and policy discussions on over 300 health professionals and child educators who attended and helped SIU students to strengthen their research, organizational, and professional social media skills.

WSIU Stories of Impact Community Cinema and Related Film Screenings WSIU engaged local audiences in respectful dialogue about key social issues while strengthening community ties and encouraging positive change by hosting nine Community Cinema and four related film screenings and discussion around the region.

I was the discussion moderator for the screening of the Community Cinema film Love Free or Die. As a Pastor and member of a highly diverse community, I have seen first hand how dialogue broadens our perspective through story and respectful conversation. I am deeply grateful to public broadcasting and WSIU for the vision and dedication in producing such films and engaging public sharing around potentially divisive issues in a safe environment.”

Rev. Katherine Graves Pastor, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Carbondale, Illinois

WSIU and the Carbondale Public Library partnered Community members discuss the Independent Lens film for a second season of the ITVS national civic ‘Solar Mamas’ during a film screening in Fall 2012. engagement initiative Community Cinema from September 2012 through June 2013. Independent Lens films featured included Half the Sky, As Goes Janesville, Solar Mamas, Soul Food Junkies, The Powerbroker, Wonder Women!, The Island President, The Revolutionary Optimists, and Love Free or Die. Local experts led honest discussions about each film’s themes and the challenges individuals face when trying to promote acceptance and change in their communities. Films were screened in the library’s community room, which was frequently at capacity. Diverse audiences continued to grow throughout the season, forging deeper ties between community members and WSIU. Plans were confirmed at the end of the season for the SIU College of Mass Communication & Media Arts to join WSIU as co-host for the 2013-14 season and to take the lead in coordinating film screenings and securing moderators. RELATED ACTIVITIES: WSIU partnered with Artstarts in Marion to co-host a preview of the Ken Burns documentary The Dust Bowl in October 2012 and to discuss human impact on the environment. Following the film, USDA District Conservationist Mindy Scott, and Illinois State Conservationists Ivan Dozier and Ron Ziehm led a discussion about the causes and impact of the region’s 2012 drought. WSIU also partnered with the Native American Student Organization of SIU Carbondale and the African American Museum of Southern Illinois to host public screenings of the PBS films Racing the Rez in November 2012 and The Abolitionists in January 2013 as part of Native American Heritage Month and Black Heritage Month, respectively. Both events were followed by a discussion about each film’s themes and the importance of promoting harmony, understanding, and equal rights and opportunities for all. WSIU-TV and WSIU Radio raised awareness about these important community conversations on the air, online, and through social media, press announcements, eCards, posters, program guides, newsletters, and outreach by project partners.

Lincoln Laureates 2013 WSIU raises awareness about prominent Illinoisans who have been awarded The Order of Lincoln, the State’s highest honor for achievement, encourages philanthropy, and provides professional broadcast training to college students through it’s annual Lincoln Laureates special, produced in collaboration with the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. WSIU records the awards ceremony each spring, along with taping one-on-one interviews with individual honorees. WSIU’s Jak Tichenor serves as lead producer, with assistance from WSIU staff and students, who gain invaluable hands-on experience in the broadcast industry while working on the program. Although SIU students have been assisting with the program Illinois Governor Pat Quinn (left) and Tom Johnson (right), Chancellor of the Lincoln Academy, and honoree Chad Pregracke since 1995, WSIU and the Lincoln Academy have expanded their partnership to include (center). Photo: Dave Blanchette, studio131photo.com. students from Eastern Illinois University, the University of Illinois in Springfield, Illinois State University, and Augustana College. “The Lincoln Academy honors the legacy of Abraham Lincoln by recognizing the achievements of Illinois’ outstanding sons and daughters,” says Julie Kellner, Executive Director of the Lincoln Academy. “Our annual PBS program is a powerful means of sharing the stories of the Lincoln laureates with the people of Illinois and the world.”

WSIU Stories of Impact

PROGRAM: Magic Soul WSIU Radio expanded the musical horizons of its listeners by launching Magic Soul, a new weekly hour-long soul/R&B music program featuring national and local artists and roots music artists, along with the best of smooth jazz, neo-soul, and blues. Hosted by Wendell Hughes, aka “DJ Sweets”, the program airs on Sunday nights at 9pm on WSIU Radio’s primary channel, WSIU 91.9 FM/HD, with additional broadcasts on Saturdays at 10pm and Sundays at 9pm on WSIU’s second channel, WSIU 91.9 HD2. Hughes, a Master’s degree candidate in the SIU Carbondale College of Mass Communication & Media Arts, says “I thought a show with a strong ethnic influence would broaden the musical experience of WSIU’s current listeners, while also attracting new public radio fans.”

I didn’t know this was on. Just got lucky and heard it. FANTASTIC! Please keep it up and let me know if there is a mailing list or Facebook page. Thanks!” Natalie, WSIU listener, via email

SERVICE: Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS) WSIU Radio and SIRIS connect 1,000 individuals who are blind or visually impaired to their communities and empower them to live more independent lives. Broadcast on a sideband channel of WSIU Radio, SIRIS broadcasts daily recordings of local, regional, and national newspapers and magazines, books, and more – all read aloud by over 30 community and SIU Carbondale volunteers. In September 2012, the SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale (photo at left), the organization’s largest fundraiser, raised a record breaking $8,686.60 to support its services to the community. Hundreds of shoppers from across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri purchased vintage vinyl, CDs, DVDs, audio books, cassettes, stereo equipment, and more. KEY PARTNERS: University Mall in Carbondale, Du Quoin Public Library, the SIU Credit Union, Wright Do-It Center, Holz Tool Supply, WIDB, and the SIU College of Applied Science’s Electronics Club.

Volunteering just once a week for SIRIS not only helps people who need the service, it also makes me feel more a part of this community.” Dr. Sandy Pensoneau-Conway, SIRIS volunteer, Carbondale, Illinois

PROGRAM: Scholastic Hi-Q WSIU-TV showcases the talent of scholar bowl students from 32 regional high schools, while providing SIU Carbondale students with professional development in the broadcast industry through it’s single-elimination competitive quiz series Scholastic Hi-Q. Produced by SIU Carbondale students, the series, which has been in production for over 35 years, airs weekly from September through May. Through Scholastic Hi-Q, participating teams improve their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, gain poise and self-confidence, and learn life lessons in responsibility and teamwork. Scholastic Hi-Q also gives SIU students studying broadcast and electronic media the opportunity to coordinate all aspects of a television production - from scheduling teams, preparing the set, and hosting and directing to running lights, audio, and cameras. Students say working on the program teaches them skills they will need on the job, including how to be resourceful and to collaborate to produce a quality product.

I love Scholastic Hi-Q, especially the host’s tongue in cheek humor. He’s great. I’m 81 and still working as an RN, and I can’t wait to get home to watch the show. Tell those contestants to loosen up and smile, and to scream out their answers!” Shirley V., WSIU-TV viewer, Piedmont, Missouri

WSIU Evaluating Outcomes, Measuring Impact PARTNERING FOR POSITIVE IMPACT LOCAL / REGIONAL PARTNERS

WSIU established a PBS KIDS-themed family study room at SIU Carbondale’s Morris Library.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES

• Encouraged civic participation and raised awareness about the

political process through Election 2012 debates, candidate forums, special election features, election night coverage, and post-election analysis by WSIU Radio news and local TV programs Illinois Lawmakers, WSIU InFocus, Morning Conversation, and River Region Evening Edition

• Addressed the educational needs of nearly 15,000 teachers, students,

children, families, health care professionals, and the public through PBS KIDS Ready to Learn activities, including the launch of WSIU Mobile Learning Labs and a new regional children’s health conference; Illinois PBS LearningMedia webinars and presentations; Martha Speaks Reading Buddies and Raising Readers Theater performances; Read for the Record & Read Across America events, and local Kids Fairs

• Initiated dialogue about and understanding of key social issues by hosting monthly Community Cinema and related film screenings and discussions in collaboration with regional partners

• Provided equal access to a diversity of new musical styles and

musicians, plus the latest in computer and technology news, through the new local soul/R&B series Magic Soul, WSIU Radio’s nationallydistributed Celtic music series Celtic Connections, local jazz series Rhythm in Bloom, experimental music program Sounds Like Radio, and new local computer and technology news series Computer Ed

• Inspired an appreciation of the arts, culture, history, and more through a second season of Expressions, new WSIU InFocus features, and the new FM series SIU Reviews featuring film critiques, and by sponsoring the Big Muddy and New Harmony Film Festivals, the Southern Illinois Music Festival, and the Southern Illinois Symphony Series

• Connected 1,000 area listeners, who are blind or print-impaired, to their communities and empowered them to live more independently through the Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS)

• Empowered over 100 students from around the world to develop their full career potential by providing thousands of hours of hands-on training in all aspects of the broadcast industry

African American Museum of Southern Illinois Area PreK-12 Schools Area Public & Community Libraries ArtStarts Belleville News-Democrat Big Muddy Film Festival Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival Carbondale Community Arts Carbondale Kiwanis Club Carbondale Main Street Carbondale Public Library Carbondale Rotary Club Cedarhurst Center for the Arts Child Care Resource & Referral Chocolate Factory - Golconda College of Agriculture, College of Education & Human Services, College of Engineering, College of Mass Communication & Media Arts, educ8kdz Registered Student Organization - SIU Carbondale 4-H Youth Development Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Holz Tool Supply Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Illinois Heartland Regional Library System Jackson County Health Department John A. Logan College Kaskaskia District of the Boy Scouts of America Mail Boxes Etc. - Carbondale Marion Cultural & Civic Center NAACP - Carbondale Chapter Newman Center Regional Offices of Education Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Science Center of Southern Illinois Shawnee National Forest Southern Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children Southern Illinois Association of Museums Southern Illinois Coalition for Children & Families Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market - Veterinary Tech Program Southern Illinois Healthcare Southern Illinois Healthy Communities Coalition Southern Illinois Humane Society Southern Illinois P-20 Education Alliance Southern Illinois Music Festival

Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra Southern Illinois Technology Showcase Southern Illinoisan SIU Athletics SIU Child Development Laboratories SIU Center for Inclusive Excellence SIU Center for International Education SIU Credit Union SIU Head Start SIU Morris Library SIU Native American Student Organization SIU Non-Traditional Student Services SIU Recreation Center Southern Region Early Childhood Programs University Mall Varsity Center for the Arts WIDB Women With Infants & Children, Region V Wright Do-It Center

ILLINOIS PARTNERS Illinois Arts Council Illinois Department of Agriculture Illinois Farmers Market Association Illinois Humanities Council Illinois Migrant Council Illinois P-20 Education Council Illinois Public Broadcasting Council Illinois Public Radio Illinois State Board of Education Illinois State Library USDA - Illinois WILL - Illinois Public Media WTTW Chicago WTVP Peoria WUIS Springfield

NATIONAL PARTNERS American Public Radio American Public Television Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Independent Television Service (ITVS) National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) National Public Radio (NPR) PBS PBS KIDS Ready to Learn Public Radio International (PRI) United Way WGBH Boston WTTW Chicago

Mother Goose entertains children at WSIU’s Neighborhood of Make Believe event. “‘This was a wonderful event for the whole family!” Karla R. | Mt. Vernon, Illinois

Alice Dunn Johnston, a 95-year-old painter from Cairo, Ill., talks with Najjar Abdul-Musawwir on the second season of WSIU’s art series Expressions. “One of the best shows on the air! I’ll be tuned in.” Robert H. | Cape Girardeau, Missouri

In Their Own Words WSIU is powered by me, and I’m powered by WSIU. The intelligent and informative content I receive while listening to WSIU all day makes me a much better informed individual, allowing me to make more intelligent decisions in my daily life. Brenda J., Carbondale, Illinois I don’t know how many times I day I tell someone, ‘I heard it on NPR’. WSIU is an invaluable resource. Bridget P., Mt. Vernon, Illinois I’ve had a wonderful time here at WSIU. I’ve learned many new aspects of the broadcasting field, like working with a camera and editing footage at our events. My favorite part of the semester is doing voiceovers. Being able to hear myself on radio and television is so empowering. Kristopher L., SIU Radio, TV & Digital Media Student, Mascoutah, Illinois I’ve been listening to (Celtic Connections) on and off for several years, and consistently for the past three or so. It has such a great variety of music, so much fun to listen to, and it’s been a fantastic way of finding great new bands and artists. Deborah, via email One of the things we like to do is listen to WSIU while we are in the car. We count on WSIU news to give us a balanced and reliable view of the world. WSIU serves the needs of the audience, not advertisers, which makes it such a valuable service. Dafna Lemish, Interim Dean, SIU College of Mass Communication & Media Arts, and Peter Lemish, Visiting Assistant Professor, SIU School of Journalism, Carbondale, Illinois WSIU is my lifeline to the world. Mary B., Carbondale, Illinois

public media fans share their thoughts about WSIU

At Pomona Winery, we have WSIU Radio on almost all the time. All the news programs are essential in order to function. Fresh Air, This American Life, Wait! Wait! Don’t Tell Me!, Rhythm in Bloom, World Café, American Roots, Illinois State Week in Review, and many more contribute to our quality of life. Jane P. and George M., Pomona, Illinois We love the news, Saturday morning shows, Rhythm & Bloom, and World Café. Thank you for making southern Illinois a better place to live. Sue & Bob T., Mt. Vernon, Illinois I commute to Southern Illinois daily and listen, and time my trips, to WSIU to and from work. Denise D., Paducah, Kentucky I may as well throw away my radio if I don’t get public broadcasting. Mary Lou S., Shumway, Illinois Thank you so much for reaching out on my behalf (through WSIU’s Prisoner Re-entry Program). You have been more than helpful, and I’m grateful. Timothy V., Federal Prison Camp I don’t know what I would do without Morning Edition, ATC, Radio Reader, Fresh Air, and all the rest of the great programming. Locally, I enjoy Celtic Connections, and I appreciate Jennifer Fuller’s interviews of SIU officials. Keep up the good work! Aaron L., Anna, Illinois We are really enjoying our new partnership with WSIU and have received great feedback from students using the family study room at Morris Library. You are great to work with. Deborah B., SIU Non-Traditional Student Services, Carbondale, Illinois

Thanks for the great programming. I listen to Morning Edition and All Things Considered when I can. I also enjoy watching Frontline, NOVA, and NOVA scienceNOW on WSIU-TV. Sean E., Marion, Illinois NPR is the last true bastion of responsible journalism. Nathan & Suzie S., Texico, Illinois My wife listens to NPR to and from work every day, my 2-year-old daughter watches PBS KIDS in the mornings, and my 10-year-old son and I watch NOVA, Nature, and other PBS shows in the evenings. The whole family greatly enjoys WSIU! Randy T., Makanda, Illinois WSIU is one of the few stations that makes you think. No fluff. Matthew & Laura B., DeSoto, Illinois Unless you live in a world without sight, you don’t understand what it’s like to feel cut off from the world. Volunteering at SIRIS has been life-changing. I’m grateful to be able to make a difference. David W., Carbondale, Illinois Thanks for all the great programming and reporting. I love having ‘driveway moments’ with you every day! Susannah M., Carbondale, Illinois I remain impressed at WSIU’s efforts to deliver more programming via its web streaming. I live in Philadelphia and much prefer listening to WSIU on the web than listening over the air to my local station… the move to a second stream and more programming not heard over the air is impressive. Jan P., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania