Peak Oil… Meet Public Media: Engaging the Community

Oil prices have skyrocketed, and the cost of everything related to energy is rising in response.

What will be the impact of this new reality on public media. I’ve been offering some thoughts, hoping they’ll serve as conversation starters.

Now, more than ever, it’s time to engage the community.

I don’t recommend holding off on that cool community engagement concept until your organization is down to its last dollar. But economic difficulties shouldn’t be a signal to lay low until times get better. These times can provide opportunities for you to harness your resources to address key issues that matter most to your audience. Doing so may convince the people who matter in your community that you’re committed to meeting urgent social needs; that enhances your position as a significant community institution, and reminds them that your continued financial health is a core community concern.

Here are a few examples I’m aware of. If you know of others, I’d love to hear about them in the comments.

Reaching out to families: Iowa Public Television

Dan Wardell is the face of Iowa Public Television’s outreach to kids. On TV, you’ll catch him here and there in the kids schedule. But if you see him in real life, you realize just how much of a phenomenon he is. Every year, kids (and parents) swarm around him during his appearances at the Iowa State Fair. His shows and story readings are standing room only. This year, Dan went on tour all over Iowa, and you can check out his blog to see the results.

During this year’s horrific flooding, Dan Wardell’s “Reading Road Trip” traveled to libraries in flood affected areas like Iowa City and Burlington. He drew record crowds – families who needed a brief respite from the ordeal.

Now, you can look at this as a heartwarming episode. (“Maybe we’ll do that again sometime, if we can get a grant”). But I’d be very surprised if IPTV’s leadership let it go at that. In recent years, they’ve been a network on a mission to build a sustainable future; I bet this is a defining moment.

Solving Community Problems: KETC

I’ve given several shout outs to KETC’s initiative, Facing the Mortgage Crisis. I’m highly impressed with the active role the station is taking to help find solutions to a huge problem. Here, an aspect of the downturn itself is an opportunity for 9 St Louis to show it’s an invaluable community partner.

Facing the Mortgage Crisis isn’t a segment on the weekly magazine show; it’s not a one hour documentary, shot in true-to-life HD. This is a “get in there and get your hands dirty” effort to help the community.

The station is partnering with local agencies like United Way to channel information to people who’ve lost their homes, or who are facing foreclosure. There are live on-air call-ins, and live on-air community discussions. Check out the blog. It’s not promotional, it’s about getting information to people who need it. And this initiative doesn’t end after a day, a week or a month. It’s a long term commitment to St. Louis.

Imagining Energy Independence on PEI: Robert Paterson

This isn’t strictly a public media example, but I offer it because it’s an interesting approach to the macro-crisis, and it might give you some ideas.

Prince Edward Island depends on oil and gas, like we all do. But with an average household income in the province of $35,000, people are really suffering as prices rise. Robert Paterson (who lives on PEI) and others are asking: if cheap oil will never return, if the joyride is really over, can PEI have a future? They think it can, and they’re thinking about how they can create it, from existing but underutilized alternative energy sources to promoting a resurgence of agrarian culture and local food.

(photo by Raceytay)

Paterson starts with the core concept that the answers to our problems are already out there, in the community; the job, then, is to mobilize the community so people will put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Yes, a concept such as this is bigger than any one public radio or TV station could tackle. But not if public media reaches out to community partners, as IPTV has done in working with teachers and libraries; as KETC has done in working with community agencies.

All of this is big stuff, but it’s tied directly to our long-term sustainability. The community will support us if it listens to us and watches us, and if it sees that we’re a trusted partner committed to addressing the needs of the community.

What do you think? Are you undertaking a similar community initiative? If you are or you have, what have you learned from it? Take a moment to leave a comment.

• Part 1: Virtualizing the Workplace
• Part 2: Social Media for Ourselves