witf Blog

Get the best Next Avenue content in your inbox

2013-05-21T13:44:56Z

We hope by now you've heard about the new witf service called Next Avenue. Next Avenue is a vibrant online website for people over age 50, designed to engage us with comprehensive, accessible and intelligent information, perspective and inspiration. We hope you’ve checked it out.

Every week some of the best Next Avenue content is included in an e-newsletter. We’d like to offer this e-newsletter to you as a new benefit. We encourage you to sign up. Each week, the witf Next Avenue e-newsletter ensures you’ll be among the first to access the best of what the Next Avenue site has to offer, from articles and blogs, to slideshows and videos that address a wide range of financial, caregiving, health and lifestyle topics. We hope you like it!

Subscribe now!

"What's Your Big Idea?' video contest

2012-07-12T19:57:00Z

NPR is hosting the "What's Your Big Idea?" Video Contest for listeners ages 13 to 25. We want you to share a video pitching your "Big Idea" on YouTube. The contest launched July 9th, and runs through August 12th.

Your big idea could be a winner if it's powered by science, technology, or math, and is thinking creatively about the kind of innovations needed to make the world a better place.

Contest entrants will explain their "Big Idea" in a video posted to YouTube and by filling out the submission form here. Joe Palca and members of the science desk will judge the video submissions. The Top 10 Finalists will have their "Big Idea" videos featured at NPR.org, and on the Facebook page for "Joe's Big Idea." The First Place Winner will get personalized advice or commentary from a leader in their field of innovation, facilitated by Joe Palca, on how to make their "Big Idea" become a reality.

You can enter the contest as an individual or as a team of up to three members. All team members must be in the 13-25 years age group at time of entry. Official rules are posted here.

The contest and "Joe's Big Idea" series are part of NPR's commitment to offer audiences a greater insight on how scientific developments impact everyday life. The series airs occasionally throughout the summer on Morning Edition on WITF your home for NPR News and All Things Regional.

(Photo: NPR's Joe Palca of Joe's Big Idea.)

Storify: witf 89.5 and 93.3FM changes to all news and information format

2012-06-26T09:00:00Z

Take this short survey for witf 89.5 listeners

2012-05-23T20:50:20Z

Thank you for listening to WITF 89.5! witf is committed to serving our listeners and the community, and we value your support and opinions. Please take a moment to fill out this short survey. Help us better serve radio listeners like you in Central PA! At the end of the survey, you’ll have an opportunity to share your ideas and opinions about witf 89.5. As always, we appreciate your feedback.

Click here to take the survey

Lebanon boy who raised money for Dick Winters Leadership statue to blog about trip to Normandy to watch unveiling

2012-05-22T22:47:34Z

13-year-old Jordan Brown, of Lebanon, has raised close to $100,000 for a project honoring the late Major Dick Winters in Normandy, France by selling olive green wristbands displaying the leader of the Band of Brothers' famous motto "Hang Tough." The money will go toward a statue in the likeness of Winters, in rememberance of the leadership of all junior U.S. officers on D-Day in 1944.

Jordan is slated to be among the speakers at the unveiling of the statue on June 6 near Utah Beach, the 68th anniversary of the allied invasion.

witf will have the unique opportunity to cover the events surrounding the unveiling and those marking the anniversary of the largest invasion force in history through the multimedia project, “Hang Tough: Dick Winters in Normandy.” Multimedia News Director Tim Lambert will spend six days in Normandy, from June 3-8, covering how Major Winters’ is remembered and honored.

Brown will also be blogging about his experience attending the Major Dick Winters statue unveiling in France for witf. Follow along with his blog from June 3-8 to get the young man's perspective on the anniversary in France and the memorial that he helped raise money for.

A new threat to public broadcasting

2012-05-17T23:16:11Z

Friends and supporters of witf:

Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) is circulating a letter in the House of Representatives asking that the federal government eliminate funding for public broadcasting. Congressman Lamborn has also introduced legislation, H.R. 68, to cut all funding for public broadcasting.

Please make your voice heard in the House of Representatives by sending emails, placing calls, tweeting and Facebooking your support of public broadcasting. Call, email, tweet or Facebook your Representative (Rep. Platts, Pitts, Holden or Shuster) as follows:

Ask your representative not to sign Congressman Lamborn’s letter or support HR 68. (To send an email to your Member of Congress, click here).
Or send this Tweet: @Your Member of Congress I urge you to support public broadcasting: I do. http://170MillionAmericans.org #standupforpublicbroadcasting
Post to Facebook: Congressman Doug Lamborn from Colorado wants to eliminate funding for public broadcasting, whose programs are important to us all. More than 170 Million Americans access public media every month! Protect witf and join us at 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting.

Song: Slow Jam the Pledge

2012-05-03T18:01:56Z

Well our radio spring fundraising campaign is just about over. You’ve heard us talking and talking about pledging, the benefits of public radio and how your contribution helps. But in case our message just wasn’t jiving with you, we thought we’d break it down and slow-jam the pledge for you. Awww yeah.

{mp3remote}http://witf.vo.llnwd.net/o35/fmfeatures/Slow-Jam-The-Pledge.mp3{/mp3remote}

Make that pledge of support today by clicking the “Give Now” link or by calling us at 1-800-233-9483. Because everybody has needs, and public radio needs your support.”

Get information and view photos of some of the great thank you gifts we have to offer for your donation to witf. And if you haven't seen the video of a bulldog singing along to our Auto-Tuned pledge song, don't miss it!

Video: Bulldog sings along to our Auto-Tuned pledge song!

2012-05-01T22:19:37Z

As many of our radio listeners are probably aware, we're in the midst of a pledge drive.

In order to kick things up a bit, we posted an Auto-Tuned pledge song that our Audio Specialist and "Classical Air" host Joe Ulrich created to YouTube.

Take a listen below:

We shared a link to the song via Twitter and that's when Explore PA host Elizabeth Jennings and her bulldog Floyd decided to turn it up! Luckily, she had a video camera on hand and Tweeted back with this hilarious video of the bulldog singing backup.

We think it's clear that Floyd is a witf (and Auto-Tune) fan! How about you? If you are a fan of our news, educational and cultural programming, please consider becoming a donor now. We're excited to be able to offer you a number of great thank you gifts for your pledge. Find out more here.

Public broadcasting funding update

2011-09-23T00:08:35Z

The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) is pleased to announce that the final bill that passed out of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations committee provides level funding for all three of public broadcasting’s programs -- the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) two-year advance, Ready To Learn and CPB Digital -- and maintained the two-year advance mechanism for the CPB main account.

The ability to maintain level funding in this difficult environment is a huge win and credit to all of the work that stations like witf and community supporters like you have provided during this appropriations process.

Here are the highlights of the bill:

CPB’s main account was two-year advance funded at $445 million for FY 2014
Ready To Learn was funded at $27.3 million for FY 2012
CPB Digital was funded at $6 million FY 2012

$3 Million in Funding Secured for the Rural Digital Program in FY 2012

APTS is also pleased to report that the Senate Appropriations Committee has included $3 million in funding for the Rural Digital Program for FY 2012 in the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration (Agriculture) Appropriations bill. The Rural Digital program ensures that rural America is not left behind by the digital transition by providing targeted assistance to rural public television stations.

While funding for the Rural Digital program was cut by $1.5 million from the FY 2011 funding level, the continued existence of this program is a victory for public broadcasting and rural stations.

As you may know, the House has passed an Agriculture Appropriations bill that does not include funding for the Rural Digital Program.

Next Steps for Funding Bills

The next steps in the appropriations process remain unclear. APTS expects that the majority of the appropriations bills will not be voted on as stand-alone bills and the House and Senate will negotiate the bills within an omnibus appropriations package providing funding for many government agencies.

Good News from Congress, Thanks to You!

2011-04-13T02:14:03Z

Eight weeks ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that eliminated all federal funding for public broadcasting. Today, Congress is on the verge of approving a compromise bill that preserves federal funding critical to witf. Funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting went from being completely eliminated to experiencing just a 0.2 percent cut.

Who changed the mind of Congress? You did.

Thanks to you, members of Congress realized how essential public broadcasting is to our communities and to their constituents. You spoke up and Congress listened – and for that, we say thank you!

But our work is not done. Public broadcasting funding will again be a target when debate on the FY12 budget begins later this week and we will need you to act again to protect your programs and services at witf. On behalf of witf’s listeners, viewers, readers and leaders – thank you again – 170 million times!

Anti-Public Radio/Anti-NPR Bill Passes in the House

2011-03-18T18:36:02Z

Friends of witf and public radio:

A bill was voted on by the House yesterday (Thursday, 17 March), HR 1076, that will defund NPR and prohibit public radio stations from using federal funds to acquire ANY radio programming from ANY source.

This legislation prohibits public radio stations from using federal funds to acquire programs such as This American Life, Prairie Home Companion, Morning Edition, Car Talk and All Things Considered and many, many others.

The legislation will still be voted upon by the Senate, so please call your Senators today and ask him to oppose HR 1076. This radical, disruptive legislation is far-reaching and unfairly punitive to public radio stations and their listeners.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Lamborn (R-CO), interferes in witf’s right to select programming and would endanger 9,000 jobs at local public radio stations in communities across the country.

Without so much as a single hearing on the subject, this legislation dismantles a public radio system depended upon by 34 million Americans weekly and in which Americans across the political spectrum place high trust.

These funding restrictions will devastate the public radio economy and local stations’ ability to serve audiences, seek donor support, and produce programs.

Don’t let HR 1076 get between you and witf and the programs you love, call your Senators today!

Click to read the PMA Press Release:

Public Media Association Condemns House NPR Vote

The names and office numbers for the Pennsylvania Senators are listed below.

Please call your member of Congress!

Tell them public broadcasting is too important to cut!

PA Senators
Name	Party	Address	City/State	Phone #
Robert P. Casey, Jr.	D	393 Russell Senate Office Building	Washington DC, 25015	202/224-6324
Pat Toomey	R	3440 Hamilton Blvd	Allentown, PA 18013	202/224-4254

I respectfully ask for your help.

Kathleen Pavelko,
President and CEO, witf

You can sign up for alerts at 170MillionAmericans.org.

Public Radio at Risk: An Open Letter from witf CEO, Kathleen Pavelko

2011-03-16T19:28:52Z

Friends of witf and public radio:

A bill being considered in Congress tomorrow (Thursday, 17 March), HR 1076, would defund NPR and prohibit public radio stations from using federal funds to acquire ANY radio programming from ANY source.

Please call your Member of Congress today and ask him to oppose HR 1076. This radical, disruptive legislation is far-reaching and unfairly punitive to public radio stations and their listeners.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Lamborn (R-CO), interferes in witf’s right to select programming and would endanger 9,000 jobs at local public radio stations in communities across the country. You must call today because the vote is scheduled for this Thursday.

These funding restrictions will devastate the public radio economy and local stations’ ability to serve audiences, seek donor support, and produce programs.

Don’t let HR 1076 get between you and witf and the programs you love!

The names and office numbers for the Members of Congress serving the witf region are listed below.

Please call your member of Congress!

Tell them public broadcasting is too important to cut!

PA Senators
Name	Party		Address	City/State	Phone #
Robert P. Casey, Jr.	D		393 Russell Senate Office Building	Washington DC, 25015	202/224-6324
Pat Toomey	R		3440 Hamilton Blvd	Allentown, PA 18013	202/224-4254

PA House of Representatives
Name	Party	District	Address	City/State	Phone #
Bill Shuster	R	9	204 Cannon HOB	Washington DC, 25015	202/225-2431
Tom Marino	R	10	P.O. Box 653	Williamsport, PA 17703	202/225-3731
Joseph R. Pitts	R	16	420 Cannon HOB	Washington DC, 25015	202/225-2411
Tim Holden	D	17	2417 Rayburn HOB	Washington DC, 25015	202/225-5546
Todd Russell Platts	R	19	2455 Rayburn HOB	Washington DC, 25015	202/225-5836

I respectfully ask for your help.

Kathleen Pavelko,
President and CEO, witf

A New Attack on Public Radio
Help Us Defeat H.R. 1076

You can sign up for alerts at 170MillionAmericans.org.

An Open Letter from Kathleen Pavelko, witf CEO 2/14/11

2011-02-14T20:51:56Z

“In coming weeks, public media in this country could quietly cease to exist as we know it.” That’s the view of my colleague Bill Kling, founder of Minnesota Public Radio. And I agree.

Public television and radio have received a modest amount of federal funding since 1968, but today the Corporation for Public Broadcasting—and stations such as WITF—are facing the biggest threat ever. These funds help pay for the programs you love, including the PBS Newshour, Antiques Roadshow and local favorites such as TV Smart Talk and Radio Smart Talk.

There have been defunding fights before—in 1980, 1995 and 2005, among others. The 1980 fight (which slashed funding by 25%) triggered layoffs and service cuts at WITF. The 1995 and 2005 defunding failed, but required significant, months-long efforts by staff, board and donors. But the challenge now posed in Congress is much more dangerous than anything we have seen before.

Many stations in the country are in a weak financial position because of the Great Recession. While WITF’s balance sheet is strong, we and our Pennsylvania public station colleagues are still dealing with the sudden and total termination of state support ($917,000 per year for WITF). Our staff complement now stands at 86, down from 100 before the recession and rescession. Programs and services have been preserved so far, but only because our staff members are working several jobs and have endured salary cuts.

If federal funding ($1.3 million per year) is severely cut or eliminated, WITF would not be able to absorb the blow without double-digit staff layoffs and dramatic cuts in programs and services. Programs—especially ones produced here, about our region--would disappear from WITF-TV and FM. In other states, some smaller stations in rural areas would cease to exist. National programs are also at risk because stations wouldn’t be able to pay PBS and NPR’s program fees. And the system that links the public stations and the nation together—including PBS’s programs and NPR’s news services—would be damaged or destroyed.

The Juan Williams affair at NPR has given opponents of public funding a rallying point. Add to that concern about the federal deficit and you have a perfect storm of negative trends for public broadcasting. Republican leaders in Congress are proposing draconian cuts, and the Obama administration's own bipartisan deficit-reduction commission has proposed to eliminate CPB’s funding.

The worst case legislative scenario may be upon us, as a vote on defunding CPB could be packaged in a wide-ranging budget-cutting bill that would be hard for our defenders to oppose. The upcoming expiration of the continuing resolution funding the current federal budget is a likelym trigger for such legislation. The debate may occur the week of February 14^th.

Here's the reality: public television and radio were designed based on a social and financial compact with states and the federal government. Public stations would provide commercial-free, high quality programs that respect the intelligence of adults and nurture the curiosity of children. In return, the federal government would provide a modest level of support (about $1.35 per citizen today) to make up for the commercial revenue that our stations do not seek. That compact is at risk, and so is a locally based, national system of civil discourse--at a time when citizens need fact-based journalism more than ever to understand the decisions we face.

Speaking recently about the funding cuts proposed to libraries in the U.K., author Philip Pullman said “there are things above profit, things that profit knows nothing about ... things that stand for civic decency and public respect for imagination and knowledge and the value of simple delight.”

I submit to you that WITF and our public television and radio colleagues also stand for “civic decency and public respect for imagination and knowledge and the value of simple delight” and are worthy of the small amount of funding we receive.

Because you are one of the 170 million Americans who use public media every month — I ask you to speak up and tell your legislators that public media deserves federal support and must be permitted to serve its vital public service mission.

You can sign up for alerts at 170MillionAmericans.org. Sometime in the next several weeks, you’ll be called up to take action. I respectfully ask for your help.

Kathleen Pavelko,
President and CEO, WITF

Blog Roll

2010-08-06T23:59:10Z

State House Sound Bites Scott Detrow's blog covering Pennsylvania's state government. Education Blog Advice and tips for families and educators on everything from choosing books and naptime challenges to talking to kids about the oil spill. WITF Blog The WITF Blog is about WITF and its public media programs, services and operations. Posts will be contributed by WITF staffers in various departments. Program Updates Be on the inside track, as we share hand-picked selections for not-to-be-missed shows airing on WITF TV and radio in the week to come. From time to time, we’ll also highlight things we think you’ll like in the most recent issue of WITF’s Central PA Magazine.

FM 89.5 Transmitter Issue

2010-05-12T19:19:09Z

WITF FM experienced a main transmitter issue yesterday afternoon (5/11) which required a switch to the station's backup transmitter. WITF FM will broadcast on this backup transmitter while the main transmitter is being repaired. The backup transmitter operates at a lower power signal than the main transmitter so listeners may notice a difference in their ability to receive WITF 89.5 in certain areas. Restoration of the full power signal for WITF 89.5 is the number one priority of our technology department and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

This issue will not affect your ability to receive 93.3 in Chambersburg or WITF-TV.