My Source NJN Public Television and Radio and WBGO-FM
New Jersey Public Television and Radio (NJN) is getting great viewer feedback about a spot featuring a Trenton resident who relies on NJN's audio news service. Watch it here.
This audio spot from WBGO-FM in Newark features a 16-year-old saxophone player who stumbled across "bee-bop" on public radio. The spot received the first place My Source Radio Testimonial Award at PRDMC.
My Source Testimonial Tool to Launch
The My Source Testimonial Tool will soon be available for public broadcasting stations. The tool will allow public broadcasting stations to directly engage viewers and listeners in a conversation about the power and importance of public broadcasting. Local stations will be able to use the tool to display stories in an online mosaic on their local Web sites and allow users to post comments and share their favorite testimonials with friends and family. Keep an eye on MySourcefor.org or sign up for the My Source newsletter to receive notification when the tool launches.
Design Squad’s Trash to Treasure Contest Extended until August 31
There's still time for your station — and your community's youth — to participate. See NCO's PlanIT! for details.
Engaging your Community on Environmental Issues
Starts Aug. 27
The Peer-to-peer Dialogue Group on Environment begins discussions Wednesday, August 27 at 2 p.m. ET. The audio call is open to public broadcasters who want to share ideas and resources with colleagues interested in implementing engagement on environmental issues. 
After the first meeting, discussion will continue over the phone and in an online Forum created just for the group. Sign up at nco@ncoengage.org. To keep group size manageable, we will register participants on a first–come, first–served basis.
My Source
Grants Awarded
Congratulations to the 94 public radio and television stations who received My Source Community Impact grants. Three kinds of grants were awarded to help stations leverage My Source as a tool to meet their public awareness and engagement goals. To read about the grants and see the list of stations, click here.
Discuss “From Outreach to Community Engagement”
Share your thoughts about Outreach, Community Engagement and differences between the two at our online Forum. There you can read what your colleagues have posted, upload documents on the topic and listen to the audio call from July 31.
More News
New Resources: Trends in Community Engagement
Community engagement is a growing trend not only in public broadcasting, but also among non-profits in general and even for-profit companies. NCO Executive Director Maria Alvarez Stroud observed these trends and what they mean for public broadcasters during her remarks to a group of station managers at PRDMC in July. Also, check out resources from a separate breakout session called "Beyond Your Airwaves: Mission-driven Community Engagement."
Connect with Us at DevCon
We look forward to connecting with you in San Antonio this October. Join us for our breakout session "Increasing your Community Engagement Value: Tools to Accelerate your Impact" or let us know you're attending so we can set something up. Email us at nco@ncoengage.org
My Source Web Conferences
My Source Web conferences are designed to give stations the tools and guidance to build and execute a successful My Source effort. Webinars will be held through August and the recordings will be available through September, 2008. Each 90-minute conference will be repeated three times to allow for different schedules. Register here.
Community Opportunity: the Annual Day of Caring
Rub elbows with your community by volunteering a team of station colleagues for your local United Way Day of Caring. There's a variety of tasks available. This year, NCO staff are helping to restore a prairie. To learn more, find your local United Way.
Did You Know?
The NCO Online Directory
Contact information for colleagues at public radio and television stations is a couple clicks away once you log into ncoengage.org. Go to the station directory and search the map for names, titles, phone numbers and email addresses. Try it!
Online Tools Available to Help You Know Your Community
Discussions between public broadcasting stations and their communities are win–wins for all involved. Use these online tools to help your station initiate community discussions or strengthen ones you already implement. The tools are gathered from different sources, including The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation.
Congratulations to My Source Award winners!
WBGO, KWMU and VPR were recognized at PRDMC as the winners of the My Source Radio Testimonial Awards. Their on–air spots were judged to have the most compelling testimonials and the best authentic voices of all the entrants. Listen to the winning spots at MySourcefor.org.
Pipeline Videoconference Now Online
NCO's Community Engagement Pipeline Videoconference reached 400 pubcasters on June 5. If you weren't one of them, click here to watch and learn about important initiatives and programs that will guide your strategic planning.
