PMFA Featured in Current
The work and progress of Public Media for All has recently been featured in Current. This extensive review also featured honest and courageous interviews with senior leaders from several organizations that have joined PMFA, including Jim Schachter from NHPR, Amy Shaw and Kate Midgett from Nine PBS, and Steve Bass and Jenn Chávez from OPB. PMFA fully supports conversations that showcase the real challenges of this essential work, as well as sharing lessons learned.
“According to the coalition, more than 75% of the organizations have gone on to complete three of the recommended changes, which include incorporating commitments to DEI work in their mission and values statements, goals, budgets and work schedules; affirming that rapidly diversifying programming, audiences, donors, staff and leadership is imperative to their survival and success; and compensating all interns.
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Public Media for All has also launched a peer group pilot project for smaller groups to meet monthly. “This new project was identified by PMFA and the participating organizations as the best way to provide themselves with more accountability and support,” the coalition said. ”
We Are Listening
Public Media for All remains an accessible resource for stations and individuals as our industry navigates this period of trying times. Being present on multiple platforms such as Facebook and Slack allows secure lines of communication amongst BIPOC. Understanding the sensitivity, trust and candor required in achieving a more racially diverse and equitable industry, the coalition positions itself to be an amplifier of anonymous stories and experiences with the goal of providing tangible examples that we all can learn and grow from.
These stories not only help guide our mission to convene spaces for BIPOC and provide resources for all but also influence the direction for our quarterly webinar creation and Organizational cohort conversations.
We are paying close attention to the recent departures of BIPOC across our industry, but anecdotal data is not enough. We look forward to more forthcoming data as presented previously by CPB, PBS and cohort member NPR.
We are listening. Connect with us at contact@publicmediaforall.com.
KNKX Joins PMFA
Joey Cohn, General Manager of KNKX, offered the following about why they decided to participate.
“I’m proud to have KNKX support the goals of Public Media for All. We are working to build a station whose content and staff represent the diversity of our community. Our plan is to focus that work in three areas—audience, staff & culture, and content.
AUDIENCE—Our work here is to deepen and expand our listenership to be a more inclusive organization, and to represent the entire population as a true community station.
STAFF & CULTURE—Creating an inclusive workplace in which all voices are encouraged and affirmed is a core part of our values as an organization. We acknowledge the need to add diversity to our staff and create an inclusive culture.
CONTENT—We believe that diversity is essential to authentic, accurate storytelling and reporting. We want to introduce audiences to people and ideas they would not be aware of if it weren’t for KNKX. We honor jazz and blues - music from the African Diaspora. We want the music to remain relevant, innovative, uplifting, and celebrated in our community and worldwide.”
PMFA Annual Report 2020 - 2021
Our first year of Public Media for All has brought far more than we ever could of imagine. Our community has rapidly grown, and the impact of our work has reverberated throughout public media. Learn more in the Public Media for All Annual Report 2020 - 2021 We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to grow diversity, equity and inclusion in public media in 2023 and beyond!
WTJU Joins PMFA
Nathan Moore, General Manager of WTJU, offered the following about why they decided to participate.
“As a community radio station, it's incumbent on WTJU to reflect the community we serve. And we need to do better at that. I'm impressed with the action steps laid out by Public Media For All -- they're very smart steps that are clear and doable, while also addressing real structural issues. WTJU needs to work to be more relevant to the diverse people who make up our community and help address divisions and problems that face our community (and beyond). These steps combined with other inclusivity work offer a needed road map to help make that happen.”