Most people in public radio and TV see themselves as “Broadcasters”. Many also see themselves as being tightly connected to the Public Radio and TV world and outside the other organizations both Non Profit and For Profit.

It is truly wonderful to sense the change in “identity” and “World” that is going on as a consequence of this project. Here are a few comments we have received about this transformation:

(CET/WVXU)Although CET has been involved in mortgage crisis issues for the past year the CET/WVXU team have two significant responses.

We are feeling much more connected and knowledgeable about our community. And in saying “community” the word takes on new meaning for us. Our community now goes beyond the public media demographic that we think we know and understand to many new people and organizations that are struggling to make sense out of a very painful crisis. Additionally, our sense of public service has greatly increased and appreciate the value of community engagement – to the point that “community engagement” becomes a non sequitur – how could public media not be fully engaged in their community? Leonard Sternberg

(VEGAS PBS) The number one outcome is that It has affirmed the value that public media has to the community, not just for individuals, but also for organizations. One benefits to having community partners is that we have discovered messages, issues, and opportunities that not previously thought of, such as, the extent of the problem, messages that your community needs to hear, and the work that partners are already doing or planning to do. We are uniquely able to get these messages out to the public at large.

The partner organizations do not have access to people in a way that gets their message distributed so clear and quickly. The partners see us a great benefit for making their programs successful because we make their programs widely known and because the clear message helps community members understand if that organization is a good fit for them. Leslie Fuentes Vegas PBS.

(ThinkTV) While this is very much a public media effort, this project has given us the opportunity to get out of our not-for-profit comfort zone and work with commercial media partners, in the interest of reaching the broadest possible audience. We are working with the local Cox-owned CBS television and radio affiliates, as well as our city’s newspaper. What is remarkable is their willingness to come together to work with us on an issue that is affecting our entire community. For example, the CBS television affiliate is collaborating on our one-hour special and will simulcast it in prime time. We seem to have overcome the traditional commercial/ non-profit divide, and are certain to emerge from this with new partnerships and new ways of working together that will enable us to address other community issues. Gloria Skurski , ThinkTV