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In 2012, we resolved to extend our local programming and events even further into the First Coast
community, to hear and respond to the needs articulated by citizens. In this report, we share our
successes, made possible by the multitude of community members, staff and board members,
community partners and organizations who comprise our WJCT family.
— Michael Boylan, WJCT President and CEO
WJCT is a dynamic force on
the First Coast community,
striving to serve the
community in new ways.
In 2012, WJCT launched the
following new services, or
enhanced existing services by
incorporating new technologies:
Complementing the reach of
existing services, WJCT’s new
services had deep impact in the
First Coast community.
WJCT works closely with
community partners to identify and
respond to community needs,
striving to give community
members a voice, opportunities to
be heard, and access to resources
to inform, enhance and improve
their lives.
• American Graduate Teacher
Town Hall for Florida teachers
• TEACH, a one-day conference
for educators
• Hometown, a monthly
production showcasing First Coast
attractions
• First Coast Connect, a call-in
radio program, and its on-location
companion, First Coast Connect
on the Go!
• First Coast Forum, a quarterly
forum on issues of local impact
• Gave statewide voice to more
than 100 teachers.
• Connected 1,000 educators
with national resources, local and
national speakers, and awareness
that they are truly appreciated.
• Showcased dozens of local
artists and arts organizations,
increasing visibility and ticket sales.
• Convened business and civic
leaders for face-to-face discussion,
sparking community conversations.
• And more. Read on ...
In 2012, while continuing its
signature events, WJCT
developed new partnerships and
new initiatives, with a special focus
on educators and students at risk.
2012 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
IN THE COMMUNITY
WJCT is a vital force on the First Coast community, striving to build an informed community through outreach,
partnerships and more. In 2012, WJCT’s efforts and initiatives focused on four key areas: Education, Journalism / Public
Affairs, Arts, and Health / Social Services.
EDUCATION
Since its very first broadcast more than 50 years ago, WJCT has focused on education. In 2012, as a new participant in
American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen, WJCT continued its ongoing efforts to keep kids in schools and determined
to reach educators and students at risk in new ways. WJCT’s 2012 efforts included:
American Graduate Teacher Town Hall. In April, WJCT convened the American Graduate Teacher Town Hall, drawing
more than 100 teachers throughout Florida to the WJCT Studios to address the dropout rate and discuss the issues,
concerns and topics they face each day in the classroom. The town hall was taped and broadcast throughout Florida in
May.
TEACH. In September, WJCT held TEACH, its first-ever development conference for educators. A thousand teachers
attended the sold-out event, which featured national keynote speakers, breakout sessions with local and national
experts, information about community resources, opportunities to network, and more. Response was so positive that
WJCT has begun planning the 2013 conference.
Jax Reads. To promote reading on the First Coast, WJCT partnered with the Jacksonville
Public Library and community organizations to encourage the community to read and
discuss The Things They Carried, a memoir about the Vietnam War. WJCT conducted a
$1,000 scholarship essay contest for high school seniors and brought author Tim O’Brien
to Jacksonville, where he spoke to high school students, veterans and other community
members.
“I wanted to deeply
thank you for ‘saluting’
us Nam Vets as you did
last night.”
Email response to Blues
Horizon special showcasing
the Jax Reads selection,
“The Things They
Carried.”
American Graduate Day. in September, during the national broadcast of American
Graduate Day 2012, WJCT broadcast 14 segments it had produced to showcase local
nonprofits working on the dropout crisis in Duval County. Agencies Included were Big
Brothers, Big Sisters; United Way; Communities in Schools; Al Letson/Sanctuary on 8th Street; ICARE; Jacksonville
Public Education Fund (JPEF); Girls, Inc.; ACE Mentor Program; Grand Park; and Boys and Girls Clubs.
Teachable Moments. In 2012, WJCT produced Teachable Moments, a 26-week radio series that highlights the positive
work being done by public school teachers in Northeast Florida. Profiles were also published in the Florida Times-Union
and remain available at ondemand.wjct.org.
Teacher Wall. At the TEACH conference, WJCT taped attendees discussing teaching and their views on education.
The interviews were uploaded to Teacher Wall, a national teacher town square, and broadcast as radio features on 89.9
WJCT-FM.
Share a Story. WJCT’s Share a Story is the centerpiece of the Annual Reading Celebration, a partnership with Duval
County Schools that celebrates students who have read 25 or more books. In 2012, WJCT presented the 10th annual
Share a Story. The event was hosted by Cyberchase’s Bianca deGroat and featured local “celebrities” reading aloud to
help promote literacy. The 2012 event was attended by 4,500 kids and adults.
Ready to Learn Workshops. WJCT’s corporate supporters sponsor individual schools, funding workshops that show
parents and caregivers how to watch television interactively and promote reading skills. In 2012, WJCT conducted
monthly workshops and related activities at 10 schools, reaching more than 1,000 parents.
WJCT Kids Club. WJCT continued its Kids Club, which extends the reach of PBS Kids programming to help kids learn,
while having fun. Kids Club activities in 2012 included singalong screenings of The Muppet Movie, which reached 325:
Curious George at the Museum of Science and History (MOSH), which reached 250; and participation in Family Fun Day
at the St. Johns Town Center, where WJCT brought gifts, giveaways, crafts and PBS Kids characters to 3,000.
2012 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
IN THE COMMUNITY
JOURNALISM / PUBLIC AFFAIRS
More and more, WJCT is viewed as a community convener, a virtual town hall that brings citizens together to discuss the
local issues affecting our community. WJCT gives First Coast community members direct access to community leaders
through its interactive programming and events. WJCT’s 2012 efforts included:
News Reports. WJCT’s news department produces regular spot news and in-depth news reports that air during Morning
Edition and First Coast Connect.
First Coast Forum. One of WJCT’s signature programs, the quarterly First Coast Forum convenes a panel of
community leaders to discuss issues of importance to the First Coast community and invites community members to
weigh in. In 2012, WJCT addressed downtown revitalization, local transit issues, and civility in America.
First Coast Connect. WJCT’s First Coast Connect continues to make a significant impact on the First Coast. Hosted by
Melissa Ross, the one-hour program airs weekdays on 89.9 WJCT-FM and streams online. The program features local
newsmakers, civic and community leaders, arts, activities and more, along with spot news features and a weekly
roundtable of local journalists. Community members engage via phone, email, tweets and Facebook posts. In 2012, the
program received approximately 200 live callers per month. During one of Sheriff John Rutherford’s appearances, the
Jacksonville Sheriff’s office carried the program’s audio and video streams on its own website.
First Coast Connect on the Go! In response to positive feedback to April’s on-location broadcast from TPC Sawgrass,
WJCT launched First Coast Connect on the Go! to reach more deeply into the five-county First Coast. In 2012, the
program broadcast live from Naval Station Mayport (Nassau County) and St. Augustine (St. Johns County).
Jacksonville Legacy Series. In 2012, in partnership with Leadership Jacksonville, WJCT presented the first in a series
of television programs showcasing local leaders. The first program showcased Dr. Frances B. Kinne, first woman
president of a Florida university.
CreativeWorX Programs. WJCT’s CreativeWorX team shares production expertise with local organizations, helping
them showcase and share activities. In 2012, WJCT produced and broadcast The Power of Religion: Practical Pluralism
in a World of Difference, a conversation with Dr. Diana Eck, Director of Harvard’s Pluralism Project, held during the
University of North Florida’s Interfaith Week.
Weekly Radio Segments. WJCT presents two locally produced radio segment, Closing the Loop, which explores how
North Floridians are coping with today’s challenging economy, and Deemable Tech, which seeks to help people use
technology to its full potential. Deemable Tech was inspired by its principals’ work on First Coast
Connect.
“[T]he phone has been
ringing
today after people
ARTS
heard
your
show this morning.
WJCT is an integral player in the First Coast arts community. In 2012, WJCT made a
We
sold
two
tickets before I
real effort to showcase local artists, allowing them to reach a wider audience through
even
got
back
to the office and
appearances on local radio shows. WJCT also partners regularly with arts
it’s
continued
throughout the
organizations to advance their educational outreach activities, in particular by providing
day.
Thank
you
so much for
access to our production resources, on-air promotion, and a presence on our website.
giving
us
airtime.
It really
WJCT’s 2012 efforts included:
makes a difference.”
Hometown. In 2012, WJCT launched Hometown, a monthly series that showcases the
people, places and things unique to the First Coast. One segment of each episode is
regularly devoted to a local artists, arts organizations or venues. The program airs
monthly and is available online at ondemand.wjct.org.
Email from local theater director
who appeared on First
Coast Connect
First Coast Connect / Studio 5 Sessions. Host Melissa Ross regularly features local venues, artists, authors, singers,
dancers and musicians. In 2012, First Coast Connect produced more than 200 segments on local and national cultural
topics. First Coast Connect’s musical guests often perform live. WJCT has recorded some of these incredible radio
performances (with video), and reformatted them into a new online program, Studio 5 Sessions. Local artists featured in
Studio 5 Sessions include Jenni Reid, Laurel Lee and more.
2012 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
IN THE COMMUNITY
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra / Ritz Chamber Players. During the Symphony’s season, WJCT’s radio
schedule includes 89.9 Presents the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, a weekly one-hour series that includes
performance highlights recorded in Jacoby Symphony Hall, plus conversation with Music Director/Principal Conductor
Fabio Mechetti and guest artists from the program’s performance. In 2012, WJCT also presented a month of weekly
radio broadcasts featuring Jacksonville’s own Ritz Chamber Players, which features preeminent African American
musicians and composers.
After Hours. WJCT’s After Hours radio programming presents a diversity of local music programming for First Coast
community members. In addition to its own music programs (Electro Lounge, Blues Horizon and This Is Jazz), WJCT
gives talented local music enthusiasts an opportunity to produce programs. These weekly programs include Lost in the
Stacks, selections from the Jacksonville Public Library’s often surprising music collection presented by librarians/hosts
Matthew Moyer and Andrew Coulon (both recognized as 2012 “Movers & Shakers” by Library Journal); and Number 73,
which premiered in April and features Eben Britton (Jacksonville Jaguar #73) blending a playlist of music with selected
pieces of literature.
ElectroLounge/Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Film Series. In July, WJCT partnered with the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall to
present a Friday night film series, presenting classic films like Blade Runner, All the President’s Men, and more.
HEALTH / SOCIAL SERVICES
WJCT seeks to empower citizens, reaching into the community to connect them with
resources that can help them live richer, more informed lives. WJCT itself serves as a
resource for other nonprofits in the area, helping them to fulfill their missions by providing
production assistance through CreativeWorX, free access to WJCT’s facilities for
meetings, and on-air promotion through media partnerships. In 2012, WJCT’s efforts to
promote health and well being included:
“Excellent,
well-organized and fun.
Very informative!”
Speaking of Women’s
Health 2012 attendee
Speaking of Women’s Health / Lunch and Learns. In August, WJCT and Baptist Health
again partnered to present the 12th annual Speaking of Women’s Health Conference for
900 women. The much-anticipated event included national speakers, informative breakout
sessions, free personal screenings and more. The event also honored two First Coast women for their efforts to improve
the health and well-being of women and children. WJCT and Baptist Health also partnered to present monthly Lunch &
Learns, providing community members access to a diverse range of health topics and experts free of charge.
Radio Reading Service. Radio Reading Service enriches and empowers the lives of individuals in Northeast Florida
and Southeast Georgia who are visually impaired and print challenged. Staffed by local volunteers, WJCT’s Radio
Reading Service broadcasts continuous readings of local and national newspapers, books and other materials to assist
print-impaired individuals. The service is available online and through special receivers distributed to community
members. In 2012, WJCT distributed 59 additional radio receivers.
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive. Each year, WJCT partners with local schools and businesses in the
annual sweater drive, in 2012 collecting and distributing more than 10,000 items at the Clara White Mission and to other
social service organizations serving neighbors in need.
2012 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
STORIES OF IMPACT
FIRST COAST FORUM
One of WJCT’s signature programs, First Coast Forum
airs on TV, radio and online. Each quarter, WJCT works
with its 21-member Community Advisory Board to identify
topics of local import, then convenes a panel of community
leaders for face-to-face discussion. The live panel
discussion is complemented by spot news reports and
man-on-the-street interviews. In 2012, WJCT expanded
social media participation and showcased three timely
topics: The Downtown Dilemma, covering downtown
revitalization; The Transit Predicament, which
First Coast
particularly engaged the biking community; and
community members
Civility in America, produced in association with
weighed in by
phone, email,
the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission.
Facebook and
Twitter.
In addition to conversations on Facebook
and Twitter, First Coast Forums inspired
more than a dozen articles in online
news and blogging communities in 2012.
HOMETOWN
In 2012, WJCT launched Hometown, a monthly program to showcase local attractions. The program reflects a happy
partnership that promotes community organizations and initiatives, while informing community members. In 2012, the
program featured a diversity of interesting people and places, including the CoRK Arts District, the community initiative
OneSpark, BEAKS bird sanctuary, Jaguars owner Shad Khan and more. The program strikes a chord with community
members.
CoRK Arts District
Segments posted
on Hometown’s
youtube site have
aggregated more
than 9,000 views.
10th ANNUAL MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD SWEATER DRIVE
In 2012, WJCT and VyStar Credit Union again partnered to
present the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive, inspiring
community members to contribute more than 10,000 sweaters,
jackets and blankets to neighbors in need. In 10 years, the
sweater drive has grown from a single drop-off point in the WJCT
lobby to a community-wide partnership with multiple
drop-off points and school participation, celebrated
in 2005 with a visit from David Newell (“Mr.
McFeely”). This year’s items were distributed to 10
local social service organizations, helping them to
fulfill their mission of serving the community.
In 10 years,
First Coast community
members have
contributed 100,000
sweaters to the Mister
Rogers’ Neighborhood
Sweater Drive.
2012 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
STORIES OF IMPACT
AMERICAN GRADUATE TEACHER TOWN HALL
As part of its participation in American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen,
WJCT conducted a Teacher Town Hall to address Florida’s dropout crisis.
Taking the lead, WJCT partnered with five Florida stations. On April 28,
more than 100 Florida teachers convened in the WJCT Studios to
participate in the live forum, which was taped for later broadcast.
Jacksonville poet, playwright, and NPR host Al Letson, a former teacher,
hosted the two-hour conversation. The teachers discussed their ideas and
classroom experiences, providing candid, in-depth and revealing insight into
what needs to be done to address Florida's dropout crisis.
Teachers drove the discussion. Prior to the taping, teachers
filled out an online poll describing their thoughts and
concerns about education and drop outs. Their responses
WJCT and its
helped WJCT identify discussion topics. During the taping, partnering stations have
teachers participated in cell phone polling to provide
created the Florida
instant responses, which helped guide the conversation.
American Graduate
Facebook page, where
Community partners made the day. Photographs on
they continue to share
the set are from the One in Three exhibit at MOSH,
information about the
designed to inspire community-based solutions to the
dropout crisis.
dropout crisis, and reflect WJCT’s ongoing partnership
with the Jacksonville Public Education Fund.
Host Al Letson and PBS NewsHour Reps
Broadcast. The finished program, a one-hour television production also
produced for radio, premiered on WJCT-TV and 89.9FM on May 24. The
Town Hall was simultaneously broadcast on public television and radio
stations across Florida.
HITTING THE MARK
Teacher comments included:
Thank you Florida's American
Graduate for holding this Town Hall
and I hope that it gains the exposure
and attention that is needed to help our
children/students, teachers and
schools.
Continuing the Conversation.
Thirty-three articles about the Town
Hall appeared online, in print and on
air, in media outlets across Florida, in
Mississippi, Indiana, Boston and even
the United Kingdom.
The best part of the Town Hall was that
it allowed teachers to express their
concerns and feel
like they really have
a voice. We were
able to give
valuable input and
we felt like we were
being heard by an
organization that
cares and that
wants to make a
difference.
2012 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
STORIES OF IMPACT
TEACH, A One-Day Conference for Teachers
WJCT’s greatest success in 2012 was TEACH, its first-ever one-day
professional development conference for teachers, presented in
partnership with Community First Credit Union of Florida at the Hyatt
Regency Jacksonville Riverfront on September 15. Nearly 1,000
teachers attended the event, which sold out well in advance. The event
built on the enthusiasm of the American Graduate Teacher Town Hall
and was inspired by WNET’s Celebration of Teaching & Learning.
Community Partners. Partners included co-host Community First
Credit Union of Florida, the Schulz Center for Leadership & Training,
the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, and representatives from five
county school districts. The Duval County School Superintendent and
Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown made surprise appearances at the event.
National keynotes Brad
Cohen and Lucy Calkins
National Keynotes. The Schultz Center conducted a poll of Northeast
Florida teachers and learned that many had to travel long distances to
access national speakers and resources. Responding to the pre-event
survey, the Committee secured two national keynote speakers: Common
Core expert Lucy Calkins and Brad Cohen, an award-winning teacher who
discussed living with Tourette’s Syndrome.
Signature Elements. Breakout sessions with national and local experts
covered 18 educational topics, including PBS Learning Media and
Mission US (taught, respectively, by WGBH and WNET reps),
ATTENDEE COMMENTS
using iPads, and more. Perks included a “Teacher
Prior to TEACH,
Thank you for a great day and
Lounge” staffed by WJCT radio hosts, a gift bag, and 40
only 57.7 percent of
making me proud to be a teacher.
exhibitors secured by corporate marketing to showcase
attendees used PBS or
local resources, along with opportunities for teachers to
WJCT as an educational This was truly rejuvenating and
network, share ideas, and to know that they are truly
resource. After the
motivating. In a time when there
appreciated.
conference, 97.4 percent are so many pressures being
said they would begin
piled on teachers, that was a
Results. Response was so positive that WJCT has
using PBS and WJCT
breath
of fresh air. :-)
already begun planning the 2013 conference.
as an educational
resource.
This was a fantastic event. The
meals were so nice. Friday night I
was so sorry I had signed up and
would be missing my
Saturday. Turns
out it was a
TEACH received
great day.
excellent feedback and
Thank you
rave reviews. In the
so much.
exit survey, attendees
rated the event
Can't wait
for next
year! How
out of 10.
can you
beat this
year's keynote
speakers?!”
9.36
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
2012 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
SUMMARY