Wqed Multimedia

“Financial management reviews a copy of the draft form 990. Upon their review, the finance, business and operations committee reviews an online copy posted to the board portal. A quorom of the committee discusses and approves the return in a conference call or meeting. Subsequent to approval by the finance, business and operations committee all members of the board review the final 990 by accessing the board portal before it is filed.”

“Every year each board member is required to complete a new conflicts questionnaire which addresses all the points in the conflict of interest policy. The forms are reviewed and monitored by financial manegement.”

“Wqed multimedia is a public tv and radio operator of which there is a larger network; therefore based on the type and demographics, there is comparable compensation available on an ongoing basis. Every three or four years, or as deemed necessary, an independent salary consultant does a survey to make sure that compensation is within the market range of comparable organizations. The executive committee of the board approves the executive compensation annually for the organization and also approves a sum of money that can be used for general staff raises if applicable. Compensation amounts for general staff are agreed upon by department heads and human resources using the findings of the independent consultant and comparable data for similar oranizations as a guideline. All compensation amounts are based on market rates and are determined to be reasonable.”

“The organization's governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are available to the public upon written request.”

“In july 2017, wqed was awarded approximately $9.4 million in net proceeds from the fcc reverse broadcast spectrum incentive auction. These proceeds enabled wqed to retire its debt, reimburse funds borrowed from the endowment, contribute additional funds to the retirement plan, and to cover technical and equipment costs, estimated to be $1,000,000, to move wqed's spectrum position.”

“The wqed pbs kids channel wqed launched the wqed pbs kids channel https://www.wqed.org/education/schedule on january 16, 2017. The free service is a completely new tv channel on over-the-air 13.5 and is available on cable and fiber optic systems throughout the region. Children's hospital of pittsburgh of upmc is the premiere sponsor of the wqed pbs kids channel, with additional support from the grable foundation. The new channel is wqed's latest initiative to support early learning in the community and provide multiple platforms for content. Wqed pbs kids broadcasts 24 hours a day and offers a live stream, making it easy for children to watch their favorite series during primetime and other after-school hours when viewing among families is high. With the addition of wqed pbs kids channel, wqed now offers 238 hours of quality educational children's television programming every week. Hope after heroin shines a light on a regional crisis from 2002 to 2013, heroin-related overdose deaths in the united states increased more than 280 percent - and the pittsburgh region hasn't escaped the drug's vicious grip. Wqed examined the local crisis in a new documentary, hope after heroin: the epidemic in our backyard.. The documentary was followed by a live community discussion, hope after heroin: fighting the epidemic in the fred rogers studio. Both programs are available at wqed interactive at www.wqed.org/heroin. At 9pm, the community discussion continued on wqed interactive only. More than 150 people participated in a live panel and audience discussion following the documentary. People who have experienced addiction - themselves or through a loved one - shared their stories of struggle, stigma and loss. They also showed how they've managed to use their pain as a catalyst for change - providing hope for those struggling with the disease of addiction. Local organizations featured in the documentary include sage's army, not one more - pittsburgh and gateway rehabilitation. The documentary was narrated by michael bartley. The community conversation featured a panel and audience of informed participants from nearly every county in southwestern pennsylvania. The discussion centered on efforts to deal with the heroin crisis as well as initiatives already in place, or in the process of being implemented. Moderator chris moore welcomed panelists state representative ed gainey, (d) 24th legislative district, allegheny county; state representative jason ortitay, (r) 46th legislative district, washington & allegheny counties; dr. Jan pringle, university of pittsburgh school of pharmacy; and addiction support advocate sharon jones. Mental health initiative continues with new local documentary before stage four: confronting early psychosis building on a multi-year initiative to educate and promote understanding of mental health issues in the community, wqed premiered before stage four: confronting early psychosis a new documentary that focuses on early detection and treatment. This documentary focused on personal stories and featured fep early treatment programs that are literally saving young lives - and fascinating upmc brain studies that could predict who will become psychotic so that families can intervene "before stage four." before stage four: confronting early psychosis is part of wqed's living with mental illness initiative and is available at www.wqed.org/mentalillness the website also includes wqed digital first video shorts on important facts families should know about first-episode psychosis and links to resources for families seeking help and information. Wqed has centralized its substantial inventory of locally-produced mental health documentaries at www.wqed.org/mentalillness with award-winning productions including: losing lambert: a journey through survival and hope (teen suicide) long road home (veterans coping with ptsd) rose's garden: surviving my mother's mental illness (impact on families) bundle of nerves: our anxiety epidemic ne”

“Filmmakers corner's eighth season featured local independent productions filmmakers corner returned in 2017 for its eighth season, presenting original work by a gallery of the region's most talented students, independent artists and filmmakers. The season premiere screened four films: guardians, featuring actor-producer rejeana palma, the end of blessings by point park university's john rice, the beat goes on by randy kovitz, and happy birthday to me, which also took first place in this year's 48 hour film project. Also this season on filmmakers corner, host minette seate interviewed kathryn spitz cohan, executive director of film pittsburgh, the sponsoring organization for the jfilm and reelabilities festivals talks about film pittsburgh and the 2017 jfilm festival. A new film from the dravosburg community archives: silent tales from richland cemetery, a journey through one cemetery's rich history. This episode also featured two new short films: mark notarberardino's suspenseful short the next shot you hear and dave petti's dark comedy all swans are white. Minette seate interviewed david bernabo, a multi-disciplinary artist and screened his film: food systems pittsburgh. The four chapter film uses lush visuals as it examines the many ways we interact with food. Sabira bushra, producer of the sembene arts and film festival was interviewed to talk about sembene's current season and their new collaboration with city of asylum. A "best of" film, anthony poremski's award winning steeltown entertainment film escape from st. Quentin's. Minette seate interviewed composer/director/ videographer emmai alaquiva on his past work and screened his newest film. Alaquiva traveled to poland with the non-profit educational organization classrooms without borders and a group of local students to document their journey to learn the lesson and legacy of the holocaust. That's a lot! Featured interesting things in the region wqed traveled through the pittsburgh region to find stories that boast a bundle of goods - in factories, offbeat museums, quirky collections and more in that's a lot! Https://www.wqed.org/thatsalot. This documentary featured pinball perfection with its giant treasure of pinball machines; dellalo's italian marketplace, a massive importer and distributor of olives; bicycle heaven with the world's largest bicycle museum and shop; the pymatuning spillway with a frenzy of fish; and st. Anthony's chapel, home to the largest collection of relics outside of the vatican. Segments of the program were posted to wqed's facebook page beginning december 12. Volunteers: a call to serve highlights local volunteerism western pennsylvania has a rich history of volunteerism and wqed highlighted three volunteers who are helping their community in volunteers: a call to serve https://www.wqed.org/tv/watch/specials/volunteers-call-serve this documentary focuses on three local volunteers who give their time in very different ways: john edward hutchinson of the greensburg vfd is believed to be the nation's oldest-living volunteer fire chief; former pittsburgh steeler charlie batch combines athletics and academics in a highly-successful program for at-risk youth; and linda lafferty organizes blessings in a backpack in wilkinsburg, providing food for students who might not have a meal waiting at home. Pittsburgh's melting pot mission looks at local immigration the melting pot of the early 1900s helped build pittsburgh. But today, city leaders struggle to attract and retain an immigrant population. Beyond the immigrants, the region must integrate a growing number of refugees. Studies show that cities thrive economically, socially and culturally with active programs that welcome and retain new arrivals. Pittsburgh's melting pot mission https://www.wqed.org/tv/watch/specials/pittsburghs-melting-pot-mission aired october 13. This new local documentary introduced the people and organizations working on this important mission - and shows how immigrants and ref”

“Wqed spread the word and encouraged participation in thoughtful, productive conversations that matter to the entire community. Those conversations were held in october at community forums in downtown pittsburgh and washington, pa. Online forums were open two weeks in advance of the broadcast and the conversation continues at wqed's virtual public square at www.wqed.org/think, in social media on facebook and on twitter at #thinkpgh. The project culminated with the broadcast of think! Guns in a free society on november 17 on wqed and online at www.wqed.org/think with host chris moore. The first topic in this ongoing series was guns in a free society. The conversations did not focus on politics or second amendment issues. Instead, the conversation explored productive ideas for living with guns in a free society. The discussion focused on the following three areas: mental health and guns promoting gun safety as a cultural norm the economic impact of guns in our communities wqed's community partners for guns in a free society were the league of women voters of greater pittsburgh and public source. Second think! Initiative focuses on equity and opportunity in pittsburgh wqed, in partnership with the art of democracy, held the second in an ambitious original series of multi-platform initiatives in april. The project culminated with the broadcast of think! Equity and opportunity in april 2017 on wqed-tv and on www.wqed.org/think with co-hosts chris moore and lisa washington. The conversation continued online at www.wqed.org/think, where think! Equity and opportunity streamed for viewers after the television broadcast ended. Online forums were open prior to broadcast and the public provided thoughts and shared their experience on how to promote equity and opportunity in the region at wqed's virtual public square at www.wqed.org/think, in social media on facebook and on twitter at #thinkpgh. Think! Community forums were facilitated by the art of democracy to encourage participants to engage in thoughtful, productive conversations that matter to the entire community. Those conversations were held in february at the hill house association and in march at the gay and lesbian community center. Wqed's community partners for think! Equity and opportunity were the city of pittsburgh's inclusive innovation week and public source. Think! Poverty in western pennsylvania wqed third think! Initiative was held in december 2017. The many voices taking part in wqed's poverty initiative over the past four months coalesced in an hour-long broadcast from the fred rogers studio where civic leaders and community members came together for this culminating event. The program was televised and streamed live online. Https://wqed.org/tv/highlights/think-poverty-western-pennsylvania. State of black pittsburgh 2017: a community forum wqed, in partnership with the urban league of greater pittsburgh, presented the state of black pittsburgh, a live town hall forum on the urban league's annual examination of political, social and economic conditions that impact the state of black pittsburgh in june 2017. Https://www.wqed.org/tv/watch/specials/state-black-pittsburgh-community this live community forum examined the "state of black pittsburgh and facilitated discussion on how the city's african american community can meet the challenges of an evolving pittsburgh. Discussion topics included: strengthening our communities; young black pittsburgh and fostering a diverse workforce. The program included a robust social media presence throughout the evening, with #sbpgh trending on twitter. Viewers were tweeting their comments and asking about resources and sharing video. The program was hosted by chris moore, co-hosted by lisa washington and featured esther bush, president of the urban league of greater pittsburgh. Wqed-fm classical wqed-fm continued as "the voice of the arts in western pennsylvania," offering classical and fine arts and cultural programs to its 61,000 weekl”

“Wqed and the fred rogers company worked collaboratively to develop the very first be my neighbor day in conjunction with the united way. Hundreds of local families participated in volunteer activities, including decorating squares to be sewn into quilts for local veterans; planting sunflowers in decorative pots for seniors; creating literacy kits and making trail mix as a healthy snack for local children; and more. Families also engaged in activities that simulate what it would be like to have a disability, meet with first responders, and create masks of some of their favorite wqed characters. Community events when i'm 65 screening wqed hosted a community screening and panel discussion for the american public television (apt) program when i'm 65 on april 26, 2017. The event was followed by an informative discussion about investments before and during retirement and included speakers from aarp, hefren tillotson, teachers, and banking and securities representatives. Victoria event more than 150 guests attended wqed's victoria event on may 24, 2017 at the mansions on fifth in shadyside. The mansion was the perfect victorian setting and included creative guests who dressed in period costume, scrumptious food, and a young queen victoria (played to perfection by carnegie mellon university musical theater student caroline mixon). Music was provided by amadeus quintet. Solar eclipse over wqed this summer's solar eclipse created a lot of excitement across the country, and wqed capitalized on that interest with an eclipse party at the station on august 21, 2017. More than 200 people came for the party that included a live feed from nasa in the fred rogers studio, as well as a short session on kundalini yoga, where a certified instructor led sessions for people in studio b (there is a correlation between the eclipse and how it affects moods) and louise sturgess from pittsburgh history and landmarks foundation was on hand to give a talk about how pittsburgh has changed since similar eclipses in 1918 and 1979. Attendees then moved to the wqed parking lot to view this rare event through special glasses. Next generation fellows one of wqed's outreach efforts is the next generation fellows project, an in-house four-year fellowship program with the goal of guiding a new generation of media makers. The program seeks to enhance the skill set of college students and community media makers by providing actual working experience for emerging creators. Four individuals participated in the training program this year. Fellows learn about the editorial process by developing, researching, writing, shooting and editing their own productions. Fellows are mentored by wqed senior producers and are given the opportunity to learn the finer points of editing, sound mixing, and videography and post production by wqed's award-winning production and media team. Each year, wqed focuses on one city of pittsburgh neighborhood. In 2017, wqed and its fellows focused on pittsburgh's hazelwood neighborhood. Each new fellow was encouraged to find facets of the neighborhood that "speak" to them, and develop a documentary (and often more than one) to be featured on the wqed web page and on pctv. These profiles help illuminate the community and its people while helping the fellows hone their skills as they work toward becoming documentary filmmakers. Design lives here students and educators attended design lives here events at inventionland and the wqed studio; students worked with engineers, mentors and inventors. Design lives here is a student outreach program based on the pbs show design squad nation, a reality-style program created to "inspire the next generation of engineers." the original show featured teens engaged in challenges all over the united states and globe, vying for available scholarships by engaging in the engineering design process to discover solutions that addressed various challenges which occur in the complex, yet compelling, world of engineering. Thi”

“The organization did not change either its oversight process or selection process during the tax year.”