WGBH IMPACT - Letter from President and Chair
How does WGBH measure impact? By the number of minds we open, the number of lives we change, the difference our programs and services make.
Millions of people count on WGBH every day for programs that offer perspective on the important issues of our time...that celebrate the arts and culture...that help children grow into successful learners. We provide regular forums—on air, online, and out in the community—that encourage discussion and debate, fortifying our democracy and deepening our understanding of the fragile world we share.
Digital cable channels and programs On Demand. Online streaming. Satellite and digital radio. Podcasting. Portable digital devices. TiVo. The opportunities for WGBH to have an impact have never been greater than in today's "my-time" media universe. Every hour of every day, every week, and every year—24/7/365—someone somewhere in the world is touched by WGBH's productions.
And there is so much to choose from. As you'll see in this year's report, WGBH tackled a number of important subjects simply not covered by commercial broadcast or cable media, from global health (Rx for Survival) to Einstein's seminal equation (Nova), from a nuanced look at founding father and mother John and Abigail Adams (American Experience) to what it means to come of age in rural America (Frontline).
Americans appreciate the difference. For the second year in a row, a Roper Poll showed that Americans consider public broadcasting the nation's most trusted institution. And a 2005 Harris Poll reported that the public ranks PBS and NPR as the most trusted sources of news in the nation today.
WGBH has worked hard to earn that trust by vigilantly guarding our non-commercial status and our independence. Our audiences, and our sister public broadcasting stations, know they can count on WGBH to act with editorial integrity and to make the right editorial decisions. That's what we did this year when we stood behind an episode from our children's series celebrating diversity, Postcards from Buster, that happened to include a family with two mothers, and when we supported Frontline's A Company of Soldiers, with its uncensored language integral to the story of young Americans on the front lines in Iraq.
Come the end of 2006, the opportunities for WGBH to make a difference in people's lives—around the world and at our doorstep—will expand even further as we move into our new studios in Brighton. Soon, we'll be able to throw open our doors to the public we serve for screenings, lectures, and performances that amplify the impact of our productions and strengthen our partnerships with mission-congruent organizations. This new, all-digital facility will foster not only efficiencies, but new synergies that will further fuel our creativity.
Thanks to the wisdom of our board leadership, the talents of our diverse staff, and the generous support of our community, WGBH stands ready to create powerful content across a range of media that will have impact 24/7/365 for many generations to come.
Henry Becton, Jr.
President
Amos B. Hostetter, Jr.
Chair