Tampa, FL (May 1, 2018) —The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) today announced a grant of $25,000 to WUSF Public Media for Veterans Coming Home: Finding What Works, a digital-first content and engagement project. WUSF 89.7 will focus on successful examples of veterans negotiating the transition to civilian life: Advancing their education, furthering their careers and contributing to their community.
“Approximately 20 percent of Florida’s 1.6 million veterans live in the west central region of the state and WUSF is looking forward to continuing to tell the stories of veterans in our community who are successfully transitioning to the civilian workplace,” said WUSF General Manager JoAnn Urofsky. “We’re grateful to CPB for helping us showcase and honor these outstanding members of our community.”
The new grants are the third phase of CPB and Wisconsin Public Broadcasting’s Veterans Coming Home project, which has shared nearly 200 new, digital, veteran-related stories across public media, partner organizations and social media since 2016. The videos in the cohesive national digital series include locally-produced stories, and have been viewed more than 4.5 million times in an innovative campaign to help bridge the military-civilian divide.
“One of the most important ways public media honors and supports those who serve our country is telling their stories of commitment, courage and perseverance,” said Pat Harrison, President & CEO of CPB. “As veterans return to civilian life, public media connects them and their talents to productive futures and careers.”
WUSF 89.7 is one of 14 stations receiving the Veterans Coming Home: Finding What Works grants as part of the national effort. These stations will produce local digital content as part of a co-production and social media campaign with national producer The Kindling Group and Wisconsin Public Broadcasting.
WUSF 89.7 will convene local organizations, community leaders and engaged citizens to increase dialogue around “what works” for post 9/11 veterans’ reintegration. The events and social media engagement will launch over the summer, and culminate in a digital series premiering on Veterans’ Day, November 11, 2018.
About WUSF Public Media
WUSF Public Media is a comprehensive media organization that provides media services to the community and businesses through public broadcasting and multi-media production services. Licensed to the University of South Florida, WUSF Public Media serves the public interest through programming, educational outreach and community partnerships. For more information, visit www.wusf.org.
About Veterans Coming Home
Veterans Coming Home is a collaborative, multi-platform effort to highlight innovative, effective programs and individuals that are leading the way to better outcomes for veterans transitioning to civilian life. Combining public media storytelling, local station convenings, deep local partnerships, and innovative digital distribution and dialogue, Veterans Coming Home is moving the narrative beyond traditional veteran stereotypes to build understanding of veterans’ value to their communities and ease their transitions to civilian life.
About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of nearly 1,500 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related online services. For more information, visit http://www.cpb.org, follow on Twitter @CPBmedia, Facebook and LinkedIn, and subscribe for email updates.