How does WGBH measure its impact? Our goal is to help people improve their own lives, to encourage a life of learning -- from toddlers to nonagenarians and beyond. We look for tangible measures that we've had an effect, whether it's research proving that young children are learning to read by watching Between the Lions or studies confirming that 9 out of 10 media materials used in our nation's schools come from public broadcasting.

Sometimes our effect is even more dramatic. Over the years, Frontline has shed light on many injustices. This year, the acclaimed WGBH-produced public affairs series turned its lens on the US criminal justice system. As a result, the case against a North Carolina inmate was overturned, making him the 11th prisoner freed following attention from Frontline. Whether it's shining a spotlight on wrongful convictions or educating the public about terrorist networks, Frontline documentaries always have a strong impact.

Unlike our commercial counterparts, we in public broadcasting don't simply aim for the largest audience for every program. Nevertheless, we're pleased when audiences come in droves, as they did for our American Mystery! Special, Skinwalkers, based on Tony Hillerman's book and produced with Robert Redford. Nearly triple the usual prime-time audience tuned in to watch this riveting tale. ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre's Forsyte Saga also drew a record number of viewers, with its timeless depiction of love, money, and power.

As a public broadcaster, we look for evidence that we are reaching WGBH's viewers, listeners, and Web visitors with something they value. This year, our work received a gratifying and rewarding validation when WGBH was singled out with a special George Foster Peabody Award for 50 years of service to the community, the nation, and the world with outstanding productions and collaborations. Our Web site, wgbh.org, was selected for the Massachusetts Interactive Media Council (MIMC) Award as the best portal Web site.

We're gratified to have so many honors, signaled in these pages, corroborating our effectiveness.

In addition to reaching people in virtual space, we strive to have a direct impact on communities across New England. As the last locally owned television stations in Boston, WGBH has an important role to play in illuminating local issues and events, including state politics, education, and the arts. We're proud to partner with organizations that make this such an exciting cultural hub: the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Lyric Opera, New England Conservatory, the Boston Children's Museum, and so many others...and with institutions like the YWCA, the Ford Hall and Cambridge Forums, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the Museum of Science for our online WGBH Forum Network. The Forum Network offers virtual front-row seats to lectures by New England's foremost scholars, authors, artists, and social leaders. WGBH was founded more than 50 years ago to bring public lectures to a wider audience by broadcasting them, first through radio and later via television. Today, we're proud to extend that legacy to the Internet.

Our mission of serving the community extends to Cape Cod and the Islands. We are proud to give this underserved region its own public radio voice. Programs address local concerns and issues as well as tap into popular NPR offerings. Audiences for WCAI 90.1 and WNAN 91.1 continue to grow at a rapid rate. Also extending our reach across the Commonwealth and into Southern New England for more than 30 years is WGBY 57 in Springeld.

There's no doubt that the use of technology has broadened our reach. It's also given us a new venue for original content, as is the case with Global Connections, a WGBH-produced, Web-only initiative designed to provide understanding about the events occurring in the Middle East. The site includes materials created in conjunction with the Centers for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard and UCLA and draws on WGBH's Frontline and other public broadcasting resources.

Were also harnessing the Internet as a tool to give international exposure to new American music. Launched this year, www.artofthestates.org is the only place online where visitors around the globe can listen to performances of new American music in their entirety via streamed audio -- for free. Art of the States offers a growing archive of selections, searchable by composer, performer, instrumentation, time period, and genre.

As we look to the future, we cannot ignore the past. This summer marked the retirement of Peter McGhee, for 32 years WGBH's vice president for national programming. It's impossible to explore The WGBH Effect without acknowledging the tremendous impact Peter has had on our programs.

Large shoes to fill, but we're excited that one of the world's foremost television executives has joined us to succeed Peter. John Willis managed worldwide production for Granada television and film, one of Britain's largest media production companies and WGBH's partner on several programs. We're very lucky to have him lead us into the next era.

Over the years, WGBH has dramatically expanded our services and our reach. We now have the opportunity to retune our physical facilities in line with our growth. Our new home in Boston s Brighton Landing neighborhood, where we plan to move in 2005, will allow us to consolidate office space into one location. Moving WGBH is an ambitious yet exciting undertaking. Our new space, yet to be configured, will give us more capabilities in the growing digital arena -- and, we hope, provide an inviting public area for screenings, performances, and lectures.

It is an exciting time for WGBH and an important time. In an age of media conglomerates and globalization, WGBH offers an independent, distinctive alternative. With your continued support, we will continue to make a difference -- to expand The WGBH Effect for individuals, families, our community, and society.


Sincerely,

Henry Becton, Jr. President

Edith L. Dabney Chair