What is Outreach & Community Engagement
within
Public Broadcasting?
Public Broadcasting has a long tradition of engaging and reaching out to audiences. From bringing people together in person before, during or after a broadcast to helping people connect online with resources and each other, public broadcasting has at its core a mission to serve the public both on-air and off.
We have traditionally referred to this part of public broadcasting as "outreach." Over the years, and with the addition of new platforms, several station approaches have emerged:
- Community Outreach extends the impact of on-air content through a variety of media services, educational materials and collaborative activities. Always in partnership with other community organizations, efforts are designed to engage individuals and foster community participation. Most often, initiatives address specific issues of importance and target a particular segment of a community.
- Educational Outreach refers to activities that support formal or classroom-based education, as well as informal education outside the classroom. Educational outreach campaigns often provide educational experiences in classrooms, libraries and within community-based organizations. In addition, efforts support the professional development of adults who work with students of all kinds. Click here for a toolkit for producers.
- Community Engagement represents a more strategic approach that includes all aspects of a station’s work. Multiple projects connect to an overall mission to improve the civic health of the community and increase the station’s local significance as a community institution. The station has ongoing conversations with multiple segments of the community, using what they hear to guide decision-making.
Each of these approaches provides stronger connections to community, giving local stations the ability to provide tangible services beyond broadcasts.
