Corporation for Public Broadcasting

For FY 2010, 2011 and 2012, the National Center for Media Engagement (NCME) and CPB established as goals for the public broadcasting community:

1. A shared understanding of the value and practice of community engagement, its critical role in public media’s mission, its return on investment and the value of sharing stories of impact as a way of communicating “proof of performance.”

2. A research-based understanding about strategic engagement, effective complementary fundraising practices, smart practices for engaging local communities and how public media can effectively use emerging digital and social media technologies in their engagement with local communities.

To address these goals, NCME will articulate the case for engagement, the benefits of community engagement and its return on investment, and it will deliver professional development opportunities. This work includes development and maintenance of interactive tools to collect stories of impact; facilitation of peer network exchanges of ideas, tools and templates; and coaching and consultation to stations and producers.

It also includes administration of CPB community engagement grants for stations and producers. NCME will continue to build a more robust presence in public radio among both stations and producers, form an advisory council and regularly poll its customers, both stations and producers. Finally, NCME will deploy fee-based services to move the organization toward self-sustainability.