The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) created the Community Lifeline Award in 2012 to demonstrate to local and state constituencies, industry and government leaders, and the American public, the important contributions public media stations make to their local communities.
The Community Lifeline Award will recognize public media stations that provide exemplary service to their communities during local emergencies, such as natural disasters, major industrial accidents, acts of terrorism or other urgent situations.
More information about award criteria and the nomination process follows below.
2012
WNET, New York Public Radio
Honored for their service to the citizens of New York and New Jersey leading up to and in the weeks following Hurricane Sandy
» Press release
Award Criteria
- Only public media stations in CPB's Community Service Grant (CSG) program are eligible for consideration;
- Eligible circumstances include significant emergencies caused by severe weather events, such as floods, earthquakes, fires, and other natural disasters; major industrial accidents, such as chemical spills, which cause significant community impact; acts of terrorism; or other occurrences that result in widespread risk to life and property;
- The station must have played a significant role ameliorating the risk to life and property by providing information and updates in close coordination with government agencies and first responders;
- The station must have provided extensive local coverage about the emergency and delivered reliable information that informed the community or region at large about the nature of the situation;
- The station should have collaborated with community organizations to assist citizens affected by the emergency. When possible, the station should have also used broadcast or other technologies in innovative ways, or otherwise acted to provide useful information or extraordinary assistance to those impacted by the situation; and
- Station staff must have demonstrated a strong personal commitment in helping the community address the situation. For example, working extensive hours, demonstrating calmness under pressure, making personal sacrifice and/or exhibiting personal valor.
Nomination Process
- Local communities or individual community representatives may nominate a station for its service. Station personnel may also nominate their station.
- Nominations must be for an event and subsequent station action that occurred within one year previous to the nomination.
- Nominations should include a written narrative that describes the station's contributions, as well as station endorsements from community leaders (e.g., government representatives, emergency responders, citizen assistance organizations, etc.).
- Nominations may be submitted at any time.
- CPB will have the option to issue an award by its own action.
Review Process
- Using the Award Criteria and Nomination Process, a CPB Board member designated by the Board Chair and a CPB senior vice president will select award recipients and notify the Board of their decision.
- CPB management will notify the station that it has been selected to receive the award.
