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2011 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE
REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY
“This is the deal: I don’t know if I
could stand a world without public
TV station KUED.”
Peg McEntee. Salt Lake Tribune
March 20, 2011
- Person’s name
KUED is Utah’s Best Storyteller.
LOCAL
VALUE
KUED is a valuable
community resource
broadcasting the core PBS
schedule to the entire state
and portions of four
surrounding states 24 hours
a day over three channels.
KUED helps build a
community where learning is
revered, diversity is
welcomed, intelligence is
respected, free expression is
safeguarded, curiosity is
prized, fairness is expected,
citizens are engaged and
children are cherished and
nurtured.
2011 KEY
SERVICES
LOCAL
IMPACT
In 2011, KUED provided
these key local services:
KUED’s local services had
deep impact throughout
the state of Utah and
beyond. Through
broadcast, our own local
productions, community
outreach activities and
our websites, KUED
serves more than 800,000
people each month.
Produced programs meeting
the highest journalistic
standards to share Utah’s
story and to examine critical
issues important to Utah.
Provided related activities,
workshops, screenings,
resources and materials that
go beyond broadcast to
serve the community.
Provided educational
programs and services to
public schools and libraries.
Delivered content and
services through the Internet
and other media platforms.
KUED’s partnership with
the Utah State Office of
Education serves K-12
classrooms with
educational programs
broadcast between 9 a.m.
and 2 p.m. each weekday.
2011 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
IN THE COMMUNITY
KUED has long distinguished itself through its commitment to local productions and community
service. In FY11, nearly half a million Utah households tuned to KUED local productions that
explored the state’s history, critical issues and local culture. Sustaining a 50-year tradition of
excellence in public service broadcasting, more than 90 hours of KUED’s local productions served a
broad range of issues either neglected or underreported in daily news media.
More than television programs, KUED’s productions represented concerted efforts to engage a
community on a personal level, by providing points of conversation and by assisting with information
allowing viewers to take the next step.
God in Utah
In 2010, PBS invited viewers to consider the historic and contemporary role of religion in
American life through the documentary series, God in America. KUED produced two local
companion programs exploring the unique relationship of religion and history in Utah with
God in Utah and God in America: Utah Voices. More than 30,000 Utah households joined
KUED for the forthright programs exploring the sensitive subject of Church and State.
In collaboration with Utah’s Interfaith Council, neighborhood discussion groups throughout
the state took up the subject of the proper role of faith in public proceedings. KUED held open
houses at area mosques, synagogues and the Hindu center to open dialogue and discussion. In
addition, an Interfaith Musical Tribute at the Mormon Tabernacle involved performances by a
variety of religious groups.
Utah Freedom Riders
KUED produced two documentaries to showcase the important local connections of Utah to
the Civil Rights movement documented in the national PBS series, Freedom Riders. Our first
documentary introduced a number of Utah residents who were part of the front lines of the
desegregation movement in the South during the 1950s and 60s. The second introduced
viewers to a new generation of young Utah residents who were pursuing their own visions of
justice, rights and human dignity in the 21st Century. Young filmmakers explored such diverse
topics as growing up Muslim in Utah and seeking an education in English when it is a second
language.
Combined with the powerful national programs, our productions showed the ever-evolving
nature of human rights in American society and how public opinion is never necessarily in
front of injustice. We partnered with a variety of community organizations, including the
Center for Documentary Arts and Expression, the Salt Lake Community College Writing Center,
The City Library, University of Utah, Utah Valley University, Westminster College and Weber
State University, SpyHop Productions and others on related outreach activities. The SLCC
Writing Center published a 100-page volume book of local short stories and memoirs on civil
rights in our community. An exhibit of Civil Rights era photographs was on display at the
Leonardo Museum for three months. It included a viewing room for KUED’s documentary.
2011 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
IN THE COMMUNITY
Street Vets
KUED produced a powerful local documentary examining the troubling story of
military veterans finding extreme difficulty in readjusting to civilian life long after
their service. Street Vets showed the cumulative impact of combat on soldiers, as
well as the defensive mechanisms that can drive a veteran farther and farther from
mainstream society. The program explores an innovative treatment center in Ogden,
Utah that provides a residential setting and listens to veterans share remarkably
similar stories of lives significantly changed by the ravages of combat. It also
showed the road back to reclaiming their lives with a sense of purpose.
More than 20,000 households watched the searing stories of America’s soldiers
struggling to redefine normalcy after the shattering experiences of war. More than
300 people attended a community screening and panel discussion in Salt Lake City,
which Utah State Veterans Director Terry Schow praised as “an important reminder
of the veterans among us and the toll of their service.” We reached out to veterans
groups across the state. More importantly, the effort signaled the opening of
KUED’s work on a three-part documentary series preserving the stories of Utah’s
Vietnam Era veterans. Utah Vietnam Stories debuts in 2012 on KUED.
Ready to Learn Activities
We hosted or co-sponsored 13 Ready to Learn events and conferences including Be
Well Utah: A Family Health Week, Fiesta Mexicana, Bountiful Summer Fest, our
annual Reading Marathon as well as our annual Super Reader Party and Young
Writers and Illustrators Contest and Event with a special emphasis on reaching a
diverse population. More than 2,000 children participated in our Reading Marathon
at the Utah State Fairgrounds. The children together completed
nearly 900,000 minutes of reading. Outside the Salt Lake City metro area, KUED
provided four mini-grants to support Reading Marathon activities in rural Utah
areas including Santa Clara, Logan, and Richfield.
250 children participated in KUED’s Young Writers and Illustrators Contest that
partnered with Salt Lake CAP, Head Start Reforma de Utah, the Boys and Girls Club
and other local organizations. More than 400 children statewide competed in the
annual contest. Winners’ stories are posted on KUED’s website.
We partnered with the Utah Dream Center in the 3rd Annual Meet the Need event,
in which car seats and safety information is distributed to low-income families.
At the event, KUED distributed 200 books to 190 parents and children.
2011 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
IN THE COMMUNITY
KUED partnered with Title I schools to host a variety of Family Literacy Nights in
underserved areas. We distributed 350 books at the events. We partnered with Head Start on
their Heroic Helpers Event during which kids met local heroes like doctors, police officers
and firemen. KUED participated in five such events around the state and provided 400 books
to children.
Diversity Dinner
KUED was a media sponsor of the Diversity Dinner, hosted by Salt Lake County Mayor Peter
Corroon’s Office of Diversity Affairs. More than 500 people attended the event that was
emceed by KUED talent. The annual dinner brings together people from diverse backgrounds
for provocative roundtable discussions which foster understanding in social issues. The event
continues to grow each year as word spreads. We partnered with the Interfaith Council on a
variety of events aimed at increasing interfaith understanding and dialogue. Events
culminated with a special interfaith musical tribute in the Mormon Tabernacle.
The Magic of Reading
KUED partnered with Mike the Magician and children’s program characters, Maya and Miguel,
for a special evening performance highlighting the magic of reading for Title I schools in
Wendover, Utah, which is an underserved area. More than 400 school children and their
parents participated at the event, during which we distributed free books in English and
Spanish.
The Golden Apple Awards
Recognizing the important contributions of teachers in a child’s life, KUED partnered with the
Utah PTA to present the annual awards program that honored six distinguished Utah teachers
and two prominent school volunteers. The broadcast of the awards included video segments
highlighting each honoree.
Peer Recognition
While delivering measurable standards of public service, KUED local production and
community outreach have also been honored with peer recognition for exceptional quality
from the National Academy of Television Art and Science, the National Educational
Telecommunications Association, the Utah Broadcaster's Association and the Society of
Professional Journalists.
2011 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
STORIES OF IMPACT
Ready to Learn
KUED continues to help parents, caregivers and educators
become more involved in their children’s education
through special programs, activities and resources for
underserved Utah communities. In Fiscal ’11 we
conducted 125 workshops in English and Spanish in Title
I and Head Start Schools in Salt Lake County, Davis
County, Tooele, Wendover and surrounding counties. We
served 2,500 parents and family members, childcare
providers, K-3 preschool educators, Head Start and Even
Start professionals as well as librarians. Through these
workshops we reached more than 8,000 Utah children.
We distributed 8,000 packets and upwards of 8,000
books. The books were used to start or build at-home
libraries for children in need. We distribute all
information in English and in Spanish and conduct
workshops in both languages. In addition, 25 percent of
the children's books we distribute are in Spanish.
Utah’s Freedom Riders
As a complement to the national PBS Freedom Riders
documentary series, KUED produced two high-impact
local documentaries: Utah’s Freedom Riders profiled
the men and women of the state who participated in civil
Rights actions in the South during the 1950s and 60s.
Navigating Freedom, created with local youth film center
Spy-Hop Productions, allowed five crews of teenage
filmmakers to present their personal views on human
rights issues in a contemporary setting. More than 10,000
Utah households watched the local productions.
Vote Utah 2010
Highlighting KUED’s comprehensive “News and Public
Affairs programming were the 2010 Vote Utah debates,
produced in collaboration with the University of Utah’s
Hinckley Institute of Politics. Drawing unprecedented
media coverage, the debates for Utah Governor and United
States Senate were among the most watched local
productions of FY11. Our debate programs were used for
on-demand viewing throughout the election season by
Comcast Cable, and were presented to national audiences
by C-Span Cable Network.
2011 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
STORIES OF IMPACT
On the Edge: Mental Health in
Utah
Reach in the Community:
KUED’s On the Edge community outreach project has made
a significant impact in Utah, helping to de-stigmatize mental
illness; raise public awareness of mental health treatment
issues in the state; and provide critical resources to
individuals with mental illness and their families, as well as
to caregivers and professionals who treat mental illness.
At the core of our project was our local documentary, On
the Edge: Mental Illness in Utah, which shared the stories
of Utahns struggling with mental illness and how the lack
of resources and support has affected them, their families,
law enforcement and the community at large. A special
follow‐up program, Back From the Edge, featured a panel
of local experts who provided mental health information
and resources to callers. A phone bank, manned by 35
mental health professionals and volunteers, took calls from
individuals seeking help. Working with mental health
professionals and organizations, we created a resource
packet that we distributed to callers and to agencies and
organizations dealing with mental health issues. We
distributed more than 2,000 information packets to
individuals and families seeking answers to their personal
issues in responding to mental illness.
Partnerships:
The outreach project, which was honored by the Utah
Broadcasters Association and the National Educational
Television Association, was a partnership of KUED, Utah
National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), Valley Mental
Health, Utah State Department of Justice, Utah State Court
System, Utah State Department of Corrections, Salt Lake
County Adult Detention Center, Salt Lake County Police
Department, and others.
Impact and Community Feedback:
More than 20,000 households tuned in to watch the
programs. While we can measure our impact through the
number of organizations and agencies using the program,
one of the most moving measures comes from viewers
themselves. One individual who has suffered with
depression walked into the station to hand deliver his
donation and express his gratitude for the program.
“Thank you. It’s
the first time
anyone has ever
tried to
understand my
life.”
-- Duncan, mental health
patient , Salt Lake City
2011 LOCAL CONTENT AND SERVICE REPORT
Evaluating Outcomes, Measuring Impact
“The stories are heartfelt. Emotionally
powerful. KUED does not tell you what
to think. But they do encourage you to
think.” – Scott Piece, Salt Lake Tribune
KUED broadcasts to an average of 350,000
viewers each month.
KUED’s website has 1,133,362 page views
annually, including 341,994 visits and
217,710 unique visitors.
More than 100,000 Utah residents of every
age participated in KUED’s wide range of
community outreach activities and service,
from feeding and clothing the homeless to
early childhood literacy to caring for the
most endangered members of our
community. KUED’s Community Outreach is
recognized as one of Utah’s most powerful
and dependable public service agencies.
Special focus has been on children’s literacy
and Ready to Learn initiatives, Health
Matters and Diverse Voices.
In FY 11, more than 1,000 volunteers
contributed their time to KUED. Nearly
21,000 viewers became members of KUED.
For the fourth consecutive year, KUED’s
production of Christmas With the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir ranked as the national PBS
most-watched holiday program. More than 2
million national viewers enjoyed the concert
with the choir and featured soloist Natalie
Cole.
KUED recognizes our greatest service and point of difference from other
local media is our ability to tell moving, enlightening human stories. Our
legacy, charter and new digital platforms give us the opportunity to do this
better than any other media entity in Utah. KUED will engage and serve our
community through our best attributes as a broadcaster and through our
commitment as a public servant. Above all else…we serve.