FISCAL YEAR 2017LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE

REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

“WNED | WBFO has become our region’s most influential storyteller and in so doing served as a catalyst for the re-imagining and rebirth of Buffalo. WNED-TV’s productions are thoroughly researched, beautifully written and artfully shot. In documenting the breadth and depth of the cultural and historic richness of Western New York, WNED-TV has captured the imaginations of audiences both within and outside the region, boosting the community’s self-image and promoting it to potential visitors.”

- Edward J. Healy Vice President of Marketing, Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitor’s Bureau

WNED | WBFO strives to offer valuable learning experiences for our Western New York and Southern Ontario audiences. All services contribute to public broadcasting’s reputation as a trusted community resource that enlightens, inspires, entertains and educates.

WNED | WBFO is a valuable part of Western New York and Southern Ontario. We are a binational station, producing and airing unique content that makes a real difference. In collaboration with various community organizations, WNED | WBFO’s broadcast and outreach projects successfully serve two important goals:

• To create awareness for and enhance the image of the Buffalo/Niagara/Toronto region.

• To address vital education needs for people of all ages.

In 2017, WNED | WBFO provided these vital local services: • the celebrated and diverse culture of the Western New York and Southern Ontario regions with our local and national audiences. • Providing a community meeting place for discussions of regional issues. • Engaging children with educational programming to improve their math skills, literacy rates, and critical thinking abilities.

WNED | WBFO’s local services have deep impact in the Buffalo/Toronto region. Objective information, intelligent entertainment and top-notch documentaries attract an estimated 3.1 million viewers and listeners each week to WNED | WBFO’s locally programmed television (WNED-TV, thinkbright Create, and PBS KIDS) and radio (WBFO-FM 88.7 and Classical 94.5 WNED). WNED-TV consistently ranks among the most-watched U.S. public television stations in primetime.

LOCAL VALUE

LOCAL IMPACT

2017 KEY SERVICES

2017 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORTIN THE COMMUNITY

Updated Digital Presence

In March 2017, WNED | WBFO launched a new and improved website. The redesigned site has the capacity to more effectively serve as a unifying home for all of the organization’s unique services. In addition, it is more compatible with evolving technology needs: responsive design improved the ability to view the website and stream content using smartphones and tablets; pages were added to house digital projects created specifically for the web; and capability to stream WNED original productions directly from the website has increased the accessibility of this unique content to audiencesthroughout the community.

Decision 2016: The Race for Erie County District Attorney Premiere: October 27, 2016

The candidates for Erie County District Attorney met at the WNED | WBFO Studios in October 2016 for a debate on issues facing county voters. Candidates John J. Flynn, Jr. and Joseph V. Treanor, III faced off in this debate which was moderated by WBFO News Director Brian Meyer. Meyer also served as a panelist along with Robert J. McCarthy of the Buffalo News and WGRZ-TV and Claudine Ewing of WGRZ-TV. Decision 2016 was broadcast live on WBFO-FM 88.7 and WGRZ-TV and streamed live on buffalonews.com, wgrz.com, and wbfo.org. Community members could also follow along on social media using the hashtag #ecdadebate.

Telling the Stories of Buffalo/Niagara: Local Productions

2017 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORTIN THE COMMUNITY

Telling the Stories of Buffalo/Niagara: Local Productions, cont.

Chautauqua Spotlight Premiere: May 12, 2017

Through a conversation with WBFO’s News Director Brian Meyer, Chautauqua Spotlight offers viewers the opportunityto meet Michael Hill, the new president of the Chautauqua Institute. The program looks at Hill’s visions and plans for the Institute, the building of its new amphitheater, and the season’s upcoming highlights.

2017 Shaw Festival Season Preview Premiere: March 31, 2017

The Shaw Festival’s artistic director Tim Carroll sat down for a conversation with Theater Talk’s Anthony Chase. The festival, which runs from April to October and features eleven separate plays, takes place in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Carroll discusses 2017’s theater lineup, the plans he has for the festival as its new artistic director, and his extensive background indirecting and the performing arts.

2017 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORTIN THE COMMUNITY

Local Radio: Classical 94.5 WNEDFrom Sorrow to Joy

A two-part celebration of Polish heritage and culture, From Sorrow to Joy shares the songs and stories surrounding Easter and Lent. The program is split into two hour-long sections: Lent and Holy Week and Easter. The events’ importance to the Polish community, the Catholic tradition, and American and Canadian culture are discussed not only through music, but by hosts Eileen Koteras Elibol, Sophie Hodorowicz Knab, author of Polish Customs, Traditions & Folklore, and Father Czesław Krysa, Rector of St. Casimir Roman Catholic Church in Buffalo.Partner: The Permanent Chair of Polish Cultureat Canisius College

Holiday Programming

To usher in the holidays, Classical 94.5 WNED offered seasonal classics including the Metropolitan Opera’s St. Olaf Christmas Festival, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, and Handel’s Messiah. For the New Year, hosts chose the Vienna Philharmonic’s annual waltz compilation, featuring polkas and gallops live from the Musikverein in Austria.

Local Radio: WBFO-FM 88.7Arts and Culture News Desk

WBFO launched the Arts and Culture News Desk in January 2017. Created to increase understanding on this topic and visibility of local arts and culture organizations, this news desk produced 58 stories in FY17. Highlights included coverage of local performing arts organizations, including Neglia Ballet, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Raices Theater, and theColored Musicians Club; updates about the funding challenges faced by arts & culture organizations; and various public art displays throughout the city spearheaded by the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.Partner: Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, Arts Services Initiative of Western New York

2017 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORTIN THE COMMUNITY

Education News Desk

In July 2016, the Education News Desk was added to WBFO’s reporting lineup. This news desk provides robust reporting on education in Western New York, helping to increase understanding on this topic throughout the community. Stories included reporting on activities at local universities, including SUNY/CUNY participation in New York’s free tuition program; student activities, leadership changes, and budget challenges at elementary, middle, and high schools; examinations of state learning standards; and updates on education policy.Partner: KeyBank Foundation

Health and Wellness News Desk

February 2017 saw the creation of WBFO’s Health and Wellness News Desk. Notable stories included reports on the use of blues music to treat chemical dependence and the discovery of radioactive waste buried in Niagara County. This desk also focuses on topics like drug addiction and the opioid crisis, medical legislation, and wellness tips. The Health and Wellness News Desk produced a total of 89 reports in FY17.Partner: BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York

Business and Economy News Desk

A proud feature of the WBFO newsroom is the Business and Economy News Desk, focusing on the local economy, business growth and development, and the revitalization of downtown Buffalo. The news desk blends broadcast journalism with written articles, and is one of the most prolific additions to date, producing over 130 stories in FY17 alone. Partner: The M&T Charitable Foundation

2017 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORTIN THE COMMUNITY

Local Radio: WBFO-FM 88.7, cont.

An Award-Winning Year

WBFO was honored to received two major awards—“Best Spot News Coverage” from the New York State Broadcasters Association and “Outstanding News Operation” in radio by the New York State Associated Press. The former was awarded to WBFO for its stellar reporting on the Bethlehem Steel fire, which destroyed a portion of the former plant. WBFO was also presented with three first place awards, eight second place awards and four third place awards during the annual Associated Press awards competition.

An Evening with NPR Special Correspondent, Renee Montagne

WBFO reporter Eileen Buckley held an open conversation with Renee Montagne, former NPR host of “All Things Considered” and “Morning Edition,” in the WNED studio. Buckley and Montagne discussed the most memorable moments of Montagne’s career, the awards she’s received, and herpersonal experiences as a woman in broadcast journalism.

Investigative Post

A WBFO collaborator, the Investigative Post, led a series of stories on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s promise to restore jobs to upstate New York. Investigative Post editor Jim Heaney discussed his findings—the number of jobs generated by Cuomo’s efforts are well below the national averages, and there has been an overall stagnant response to the economic development efforts—with WBFO staff for a piece that was later aired.

2017 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORTIN THE COMMUNITY

Local Radio: WBFO-FM 88.7, cont.

Great Lakes Today

Great Lakes Today has become the leading source forin-depth, multi-platform reports on the environment, economic development, and other issues across the Great Lakes Region. As the lead station, WNED | WBFO partners with WXXI in Rochester and ideastream in Cleveland to produce this project, and 49 stations across the Great Lakes region and beyond have distributed and/or produced content. More than 30 reports have been featured on national shows, including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Marketplace.

The Great Lakes are home to 20 percent of the earth’s fresh water, and millions of people, both in the US and Canada, depend on the lakes for sustenance and life. Now, more than ever, communities are concerned about this vital fresh water source.

Great Lakes Today reporting has impacted the communities along the Great Lakes corridor in a variety of ways, many addressing the health of the Great Lakes, tackling issues like pollution, algae, and politics. “What’s next for oil pipeline under the Great Lakes?” discussed an oil pipeline that runs underwater near the area between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. This pipeline is old and some say is a ticking time bomb at risk of leaking and breaking. The impact of a break in the line could have disastrous consequences for the Great Lakes.

A series of stories titled “Troubled Waters | Trump and the Great Lakes” addressed the effects the Trump administration may have on the Great Lakes and programs that help keep the lakes clean and full of native fish – including the lake sturgeon featured in “Sturgeon recovery in Lake Ontario could face Trump cuts.”

Through these stories, Great Lakes Today impacts the community by educating residents throughout the entire Great Lakes region, keeping them informed about what’s at risk, what’s at stake, and what they stand to lose if these issues aren’t addressed.Partners: Corporation for Public Broadcasting, WXXI, ideastream

2017 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORTIN THE COMMUNITY

Community EventsWBFO’s Buffalo Blues Bash The October 2016 and April 2017 Blues Bash concerts were, once again, successful events for WNED | WBFO. Featuring acclaimed national performers like the Jeremiah Johnson Band and the Altered Five Blues Band, the shows also incorporated local talent—the second featured performer of 2016 was Buffalo’s own Hayden Fogle, a talented sixteen-year-old blues guitarist, while the 2017 event showcased the Jeremy Keyes Band, the Western New York winners of the Memphis Bound Competition. That accolade earned them the chance to compete at the 2017 International Blues Challenge. Event partners: Goldfarb Financial, Westermeier Martin Dental Care, Arrowhead Springs Vineyards, Gowanda Harley-Davidson, Hodgson Russ LLP, TRANE, Elderwood, Progressive Direct Marketing, Erie County, and Flying Bison Brewing Company

The Artie Awards

Produced by WNED | WBFO, the annual Artie Awards honor excellence in Western New York theater and serve as a benefit for local HIV- and AIDS- related charities. Over $14,000 has been raised for the current recipient, ECMC’s Immunodeficiency Clinic. The awards were started by WBFO’s own Anthony Chase, now the host of Theater Talk, and are in their 27th year. Mike Desmond, Peter Hall, and Kathleen Rizzo Young, all of WNED | WBFO, also serve as members.Event partner: Artvoice

Kid Fest & Character Breakfast 2017 WNED-TV’s Kid Fest 2017 was held on February 4-5. 1,550 children and their families from around the region joined us in the WNED | WBFO Studio to meet beloved PBS characters, including Daniel Tiger, Clifford, Princess Presto, and Arthur and to enjoy live performances, crafts, coloring contests, prizes, and more. An additional Character Breakfast at Buffalo RiverWorks gave young fans a chance to hob-nob and eat breakfast with their favorite PBS characters.

2017 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORTIN THE COMMUNITY

Community Events, cont.

Say Yes Buffalo Scholar Kickoff

Say Yes Buffalo held their second Say Yes Scholar Kickoff at the WNED | WBFO Studios on June 27-28, 2017. The goal of this two-day event was to assist new Buffalo high school graduates with their transition to college. Participants had access to engaging speakers and workshops, including Tips for Time Management & Staying Organized, Say Yes to Budgeting: How to Create a Personal Budget for College Life, and Goal Setting for Success. One hundred graduates participated in this important event.

WNED │ WBFO’s Antiques Home Show

Thirteen local appraisers gathered at the WNED │ WBFO Studio on May 20, 2017 to value the best of Western New York’s antiques. Participants were able to have their vintage books, toys, clothes, and other heirlooms assessed for $10 per item during one of the day’s four appraisal sessions.Partners: Corning Museum of Glass, Roadshow Antiques Pickering, Center for the Arts, University at Buffalo, Goldfarb Financial and Around The Block

Public Meeting on the Great Lakes

In March 2017, WNED | WBFO held a public meeting to discuss the problems facing the Great Lakes and the regulations that may help. This event was attended by hundreds of local residents and was also broadcast on Facebook Live. Eight experts singled out the major difficulties facing the waterways today: pollution, access, and habitat restoration. The International Joint Commission, which is responsible for creating Great Lakes guidelines, joined the event to better understand the concerns and questions from those who live on the lakes’ shorelines.

2017 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORTIN THE COMMUNITY

Community Events, cont.

StoryCorps Comes To Buffalo

Traveling in a modified Windstream trailer, the crew of StoryCorps, a mobile recording platform, spent a month in fall 2016 at Canalside as part of their MobileBooth tour. Founded in 2003 by award-winning documentary producer and MacArthur fellow Dave Isay, StoryCorps travels throughout the U.S. to record interviews in the station’s effort to create a world where people listen closely to each other and recognize the beauty, grace and poetry in the lives and stories found everywhere.

In pairs, over 100 participants recorded meaningful conversations about who they are, what they’ve learned in life, and how they want to be remembered. All participants received copies of their interviews, and, with their permission, a second copy was archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress for future generations. StoryCorps Site Manager Stacey Todd observed that frequent themes among these conversations were the importance of family, pride in their hometown of Buffalo and excitement around recent changes in the city, and a strong commitment to community and public service.

EPIC Storytime at Canalside

Every Person Influences Children (EPIC) partnered with WNED | WBFO’s Education Department to host weekly children’s book readings at Canalside. Other activities, including performances and special guest readers like Mayor Byron Brown, attracted local families, tourists, and summer camp organizations.

2017 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORTSTORIES OF IMPACT

Experts Discuss Cyberbullying

In May 2017, in partnership with AT&T, WBFO hosted Cyberbullying: A Relentless Cycle – a virtual town hall focused on cyberbullying. Senior Reporter Eileen Buckley talked to a panel of experts: Tracy Rodemeyer, mother of Jamey Rodemeyer who took his own life after being cyberbullied; Amanda Nickerson, director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention; and Daniela Wolfe, social worker and Dignity Act Coordinator at Amherst High School. The panel went beyond simply raising awareness of the issue of cyberbullying by offering tangible ways for students, parents and teachers to minimize its harm.

Jamestown Theater Group Tries New Approach in Battle against Addiction

In April 2017, WBFO reported on Jamestown native Steven Cobb, who teamed up with Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church rector Luke Fodor and playwright Richard Olson-Walter to create “Least Resistance” – a play that addresses the topic of addiction. In response to the impact of the opioid epidemic in Jamestown, Cobb used his own recovery experience as his inspiration with the goal of using theater as a vehicle to develop community support and understanding and to directly influence recovery. This play brings a mixture of different approaches and styles to the stage to tell the stories of real people touched by drug abuse. “Least Resistance” premiered on April 28, 2017 at Jamestown’s Willow Bay Theatre.

2017 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORTSTORIES OF IMPACT

Stories of Impact, cont.

Radioactive Contamination in Niagara Falls Neighborhoods

In February 2017, WBFO reported on residents and property owners throughout Niagara Falls who were notified that radon, a potent radioactive gas linked to lung cancer, is present at alarmingly high levels in the ground underneath houses, businesses, and parking lots throughout their neighborhood. A federal government survey in 1979 had identified 100 properties with levels of radioactivity at least double what is normal in the local environment, and subsequently the Department of Energy cleaned only one-third of those properties. The remaining 62 were left untouched. US Senator Charles Schumer has urged the Environmental Protection Agency to do a thorough investigation, however the EPA has responded that most of the sites on the list were deemed not to present any public health issues. In the meantime, local residents worry about what this means for their health, safety, and property value.

Local Churches are Adapting to Changing Times

Faced with changing church-going habits, some houses of worship in Buffalo are branching out to maintain their presence in the community. In April 2017, WBFO reported on this topic. True Bethel Baptist Church is tackling economic development needs by providing affordable housing on Buffalo’s East Side with the goal of stimulating much-needed growth in the area. Other churches, including First Presbyterian Church and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church have found a new way of covering their ongoing maintenance costs by renting their facilities to local groups including colleges, cultural tourism organizations, nursery schools, and music teachers.

2017 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORTSUMMARY

“From the beginning, WNED has been committed to educate as well as entertain, to provide content that has meaning for every listener and to build our community through the shared experience of incredible music. The collaboration with other arts and cultural organizations has helped to build an exciting and forward moving arts community here in Western New York.”—Karen Arrison, community leader and philanthropist

OUR MISSION

WNED | WBFO is a trusted public media resource that enriches its audience by providing educational, entertaining programming and services, as well as engaging the Western New York and Southern Ontario communities through cultural and civic involvement.

WNED | WBFO strives to be a binational resource, providing a platform forexploring and addressing relevant community issues.

Through collaborations with diverse community partners, our broadcastand outreach services have proven to be a powerful catalyst for change.

Tremendous Community Support We’re incredibly fortunate to have a network of over 270 dedicated volunteers to assist WNED | WBFO with pledge drives, events, mailings and much more.

In FY17, more than 51,000 members contributed to carrying out the mission of public broadcasting, making a true difference in our community and beyond.