Tag: About Us

Celebrating 30 Years of Beth Vorhees at West Virginia Public Broadcasting

News Director Beth Vorhees signed on to work for West Virginia Public Radio 30 years ago Sunday. To commemorate the occasion, Beth tweeted a photo of the agreement she signed when she was hired:

When it comes to news from West Virginia Public Broadcasting there is no other voice and name more well-known and respected than Beth’s. Those who have chimed in on a post on our Facebook page make it clear that Beth’s impact in radio and television has stretched the entire state and spans age demographics.

In marking the occasion ourselves, we thought we’d allow some of Beth’s colleagues over the years to weigh in on her personality and her work.

Scott Finn, Executive Director (Former Reporter and News Director):

I remember Beth taking a reporter who had never done television before and making him feel like it was possible. Beth did that for me, just like she’s done that for so many other reporters over her 30 years of service. Thanks, Beth.

Giles Snyder, NPR Newscaster (Former West Virginia Public Broadcasting Program Director and News Reporter):

Beth built a news department second to none. It’s infused with her confidence, not only in her own ability but in the ability of all of us who had the pleasure to work for her over the years. Here’s to another 30!

Andy Ridenour, Mountain Stage Co-Creator (Former News Host at West Virginia Public Radio):

Beth’s hiring was one of the key moments in the history of the organization’s news operation.  Her journalistic professionalism combined with her on-air talents has provided the “anchor” to which a creditable, award winning and nationally recognized news team could grow and continue to flourish.  

Jeanne Fisher, WXXI Vice President of Radio (Former West Virginia Public Broadcasting Reporter):

I worked with Beth when she first started at West Virginia Public Radio. She and Susan Leffler and I worked on Dateline when it was just 15 minutes long. We had no staff so everyday we’d gather reports from stringers who worked at the various newspapers around the state. We laughed a LOT because something seemed to go wrong every day. Beth built the show to a full half hour and brought in the bureau chiefs to build our resources in Morgantown and the Panhandles… More bureaus followed after I left West Virginia to work at WXXI in Rochester. Congratulations, Beth, on 30 great years!

Cecelia Mason, Eastern Panhandle Bureau Chief:

I became one of those stringers in 1989 when I took a job at a Charles Town, West Virginia radio station. By the end of 1990 Beth had hired me after Shepherd University agreed to host the first college-supported bureau. Beth has twice led West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s news department and thanks to her vision, it’s grown from two or three people in Charleston to a staff that reaches across the state. Beth is wonderful to work with. She is thoughtful, considerate, professional and someone I greatly admire.

Anna Sale, WNYC Reporter (Former West Virginia Public Broadcasting Reporter):

When I think about Beth Vorhees, I think absolutely unflappable. She is grace under pressure personified. And that’s all the more remarkable when I realize that so much of her work on radio and television at West Virginia Public Broadcasting has been live. She’s been our steady hand through coal mining disasters, water emergencies, political crises, and one gubernatorial administration after another. That consistency, day in and day out, is what has earned the trust of so many legislative sources, and more importantly, of listeners and viewers.

Erica Peterson, WFPL Reporter (Former West Virginia Public Broadcasting Reporter):

West Virginia residents should be used to hearing and seeing Beth Vorhees on their televisions and radios by now. After 30 years–and counting!–with West Virginia Public Broadcasting, she’s become a force to be reckoned with. And not only has she become one of the most trusted and consistent presences in statewide news, Beth always seemed to have time to take new reporters under her wing, pointing out the nuances of the legislative culture and West Virginia politicians.

Pretty much, Beth Vorhees is news in West Virginia. The station and the state–not to mention the numerous reporters who have been fortunate enough to have worked with her–owe Beth a debt of gratitude.

Credit Glynis Board
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Suzanne Higgins, Senior Producer:

Beth is such a strong yet compassionate leader. She inspires all of us every day with the confidence she shows she has in us. She’s always in our corner, and it just makes us want to work all that much harder! We both arrived in 1984 – and she’s always been there for me – for work and family situations. Beth, you really are the best!
 

Ben Adducchio, Assistant News Director:

Beth has been the voice of West Virginia Public Radio for many years. Everywhere I go in the state, people know her voice and they trust what she says. If people have no trust in us, then our mission doesn’t work. One of the reasons why people trust us is because of the work of Beth Vorhees. She’s an inspiration to all of us.

Glynis Board, Morgantown Reporter / Producer:

My gratitude for Beth extends far beyond the professional realm into the personal because she was so instrumental in giving me a shot at proving myself as a journalist. What do you say to someone who takes a chance on you and tells you that they believe in you? ‘Thank you’ falls short of the mark.

Last summer I was in the field and someone pulled me aside to rave about how listening to Beth was like listening to a mother–someone you trust, who has never lead you down the wrong path, a comfort, an authority, and a pleasure. I think that kind of sums her up! I’d add “buddy” to the list.

Jessica Lilly, Southern West Virginia Bureau Chief:

 
Usually, when I tell folks I work at West Virginia Public Broadcasting, their first question is, “What’s it like to work with Beth Vorhees?” 

Beth is such a great role model. She leads by example with her professionalism and care for her employees. Since I’ve been here, Beth has always been a strong voice in the newsroom. She’s tough but courteous as she encourages us reporters to take on our next lead. I trust her to make the right decisions in the newsroom just as listeners trust her on the air.

Clark Davis, Huntington Reporter / Producer:

Beth is a great leader for us as a news team and allows us to flourish and grow comfortably. When people hear her voice they know they’re getting the facts on the latest news.

Marilyn DiVita, Director of Development:

I had never been part of a broadcast operation before coming to West Virginia Public Broadcasting.  When I attended the first radio meeting, I was mesmerized by the voices I heard.  These people naturally talked like they sounded on the radio! Another common thread was their deep passion for the product.  It was contagious.  There is no better example of this passion and commitment than Beth Vorhees.

Kristi George, Director of Radio:

While I don’t have a vivid memory of when I first met Beth, it’s as if she’s always been here since our inception. Yet she never ages – how DOES she do that?! Anyway, I do recall working with her when I was at West Virginia Public Radio the first go ’round, back in the late ’90s through the ’00s. Prior to that, I remember Beth coming over to WCHS-AM 580 when I was a board op; we were both a bit younger then! I think what I appreciate most about this pillar is her constancy & consistency. In this day of transitions, it is refreshing to be able to count on someone like Beth, no matter what. Thanks, Beth, for all you do!

PBS KIDS is a Vital Resource in Preparing Children for School

Parents Overwhelmingly Agree No Other Media Brand Meets Their Children’s School Readiness Needs Like PBS KIDS

West Virginia PBS airs 11 hours of PBS KIDS programs each weekday and serves children and their families statewide through its Ready To Learn service.

Arlington, VA — February 25, 2014 – A national survey of parents with young children age 2-6 has found that media and technology are an essential part of preparing children to enter elementary school. Overwhelmingly, PBS KIDS stands out as the most trusted and relied upon media brand for this school readiness, ranking first in delivering on every measured skill. The findings were announced yesterday by PBS KIDS, who commissioned the study with a leading youth and family research firm. The survey looks at PBS KIDS and other major children’s media brands.

Results show that American families are struggling to prepare their children for kindergarten and five out of 10 parents worry their child won’t have the skills they need when they start elementary school.

In addition to academic skills like math and reading, parents recognize that a broader skill set is needed for early learning success today. When asked to name school readiness skills, parents cite math and reading first, but social and emotional skills rank first when parents are asked to rank skills in order of importance for learning success, with 88% saying it’s important that social skills be mastered before school. Among the resources used by parents to help develop kids’ social and emotional skills, TV shows are No. 1 for both categories (56% and 59%, respectively), followed by books (48% and 53%), electronic learning toys (25% and 21%), computer games (25% and 21%), websites (20% and 19%) and apps (18% and 14%).

In fact, the survey shows that parents clearly understand the educational benefits of exposing their children to media and technology, with 89% in agreement that these resources can be partners in educating kids. Three-quarters (75%) have used new technology – computer games/activities, websites and apps – to prepare their child for kindergarten. Of those, 82% have used new technology to help their child develop math skills, 75% for reading skills and 67% for writing skills.

PBS KIDS Is a Vital Resource

Helping All Children Succeed: PBS KIDS has the greatest benefit to those most in need, the survey confirms. In fact, PBS KIDS reaches nine million low incomes families each year. Families with a lower household income report having fewer resources for school preparedness and are less likely to use technology or formal education to prepare kids for school. These families recognize PBS KIDS’ ability to help them prepare their children for school, with nearly two-thirds (63%) reporting that PBS KIDS “helps a lot” to prepare kids for school.

Diverse Reach: PBS KIDS is especially important in African American and Hispanic households for school readiness help. Specifically, 71% of African American parents and 63% of Hispanic parents agree PBS KIDS helps prepare their kids. In comparison, on average, 37% of African American parents and 29% of Hispanic parents say the same for other networks. 

Preparing Kids for School: Parents confirm that no other media brand meets the readiness needs of children like PBS KIDS. When asked how well networks prepare children for school, 86% say PBS KIDS helps a lot/somewhat, topping the next closest network by 14%. Parents also rank PBS KIDS as the kids’ media brand most likely to offer activities and products that support basic math (86%), basic reading (83%), life skills (78%), social skills (77%), emotional skills (75%), personal hygiene (69%) and basic writing (67%).

Improving Kids’ Behavior: In addition, PBS KIDS leads all networks in improving kids’ behavior, with 74% of parents saying their child exhibits more positive behavior after engaging with the network. Other networks have a smaller positive impact on behavior, with the next closest at 61%.

Serving Families: No other brand serves families as well as PBS KIDS. Results show that parents are far more likely to use PBS KIDS content for school readiness than content from other networks in every category, including TV shows (65%), websites (58%), computer games and activities (58%) and apps (56%).

Trusted by Parents: PBS KIDS is also the most trusted media brand and the brand parents are most likely to use for school preparedness. Sixty-six percent of parents say they completely trust PBS KIDS to provide high quality content, and 60% confirm they are extremely likely to use PBS KIDS for school preparedness, topping the next closest competitor by 12% in both categories.

These findings follow recent industry recognition for PBS KIDS. In February 2014, PBS KIDS was named Channel of the Year and Best Channel Website at the Kidscreen Awards, which celebrate the year’s best in children’s media and broadcasting. PBS KIDS was also honored at the iKids Awards, which recognize the best digital media products and platforms, where PBS KIDS won for Best Website (Preschool) and Best Streaming Video Platform (Preschool).

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted January 11-25, 2014, by Smarty Pants. More than 1,000 parents with children age 2-6 completed the online survey. All respondents were aware of PBS KIDS and the survey base is representative of TV-viewing households with young children with regards to household income and ethnicity. Any statistical differences are at a 90% or higher confidence level.

Public Television Remains #1 as a Trusted Media Source

Nationwide Research Confirms that PBS and Member Stations are America’s Most Trusted Institution and an “Excellent” Use of Tax Dollars for 11th Consecutive Year.

During a time of significant increase in broadcast audience numbers and growing reach on digital platforms, PBS and its member stations were again named #1 in trust among nationally known institutions, and called an “excellent” use of tax dollars by the American public in a national poll for the 11th year in a row.

This same survey found that the American public considers PBS KIDS the most educational TV/media brand, the safest place for children to watch television, the safest online media destination, as well as the top provider of content that helps children learn reading, math and essential skills. PBS KIDS significantly outscored cable and commercial broadcast television in each one of these categories.

The research was conducted in January 2014 by the independent, non-partisan research firm ORC International. Each year, PBS commissions research to measure its performance and value as judged by its most important stakeholder – the American public.

PBS Ranks #1 in Public Trust – Significantly Higher Level of Trust Than Courts of Law

Four in 5 people trust PBS (80% “trust a great deal” or “trust somewhat”). The 2014 study marks the 11th time in a row that PBS was called the nation’s most-trusted institution among a consideration set that includes courts of law, newspapers, and others. The study found that respondents had a significantly higher level of trust in PBS (42% “trust a great deal”) over the nearest institution, courts of law (25% “trust a great deal”).

PBS Considered Top Use of Tax Dollars and “Money Well Spent”

  • Only military defense outranked PBS as the best value for the American tax dollar. More than 7 in 10 (71%) of those polled called PBS an “excellent” (19%) or “good” (52%) use of their tax dollars. Military defense was described as “excellent” or “good” by 73% (23% “excellent” or 50% “good”).
  • More than 3 in 4 participants (77%) believe federal funding for PBS is money well spent.

PBS KIDS Called #1 Educational TV/Media Brand, Top Builder of Critical Skills, and Safest
On-Air and Online Destination

  • More than 4 in 10 respondents (44%) named PBS KIDS the most educational TV/media brand, significantly outscoring the second most highly rated brand, Disney, which was considered most educational by 16%.
  • Eighty-five percent (85%) agreed “strongly or somewhat” that PBS “helps children improve their reading and math skills.” Cable and commercial broadcast television received this rating from 47% and 42% of respondents, respectively.
  • Eighty percent (80%) agreed “strongly or somewhat” that “PBS helps prepare children for success in school and life.” This statement was equated with cable television and commercial broadcast television by 47% and 33% of participants, respectively.
  • Eighty-seven percent (87%) agreed “strongly or somewhat” that PBS “is a trusted and safe place for children to watch television.” Fifty-one percent (51%) and 49% of respondents agreed with this statement regarding commercial broadcast and cable television, respectively.
  • More than 3 in 4 respondents (76%) agreed “strongly or somewhat” that PBS “is a trusted and safe place for children to visit online,” while this statement was attributed to cable television and commercial broadcasters by only 37% and 40% of the sample, respectively.
  • Seventy-nine percent (79%) agreed “strongly or somewhat” that PBS is “the innovator” in children’s educational media. Forty-seven percent (44%) percent and 37% of participants also applied this statement to cable and commercial broadcast television, respectively.

Public broadcasting is America’s largest classroom, its biggest stage for the arts and a trusted window to the world, providing a place for all Americans to access new ideas and information to help every citizen build a brighter future.
Full results are available at http://to.pbs.org/most-trusted-2014.

Survey Methodology

The 2014 Public Opinion Poll was conducted by phone, including landlines and cell-phone only homes, within the United States by ORC International’s CARAVAN on behalf of PBS from January 9-12, 2014 among 1,004 adults ages 18 and older. The sample included 502 men and 502 women. Survey results are weighted to be nationally representative of the U.S. adult population.

 

West Virginia Public Broadcasting Awarded $750,000 Grant

West Virginia Public Broadcasting has been awarded a $750,000 competitive grant to replace all equipment in its main Charleston studio and record and transmit local programs in high definition.

This grant was very competitive — we received about a quarter of all funding available this year! And it will transform what we can do from our Charleston studio in two ways:

1. We will finally be able to replace our failing, 25-year-old equipment.

It’s so old, our engineers have to go to hobbyists on e-bay to find parts.

These cameras were purchased in 1988.

Our current cameras date back to 1988. We know this because they were bought after a debate between then-Gov. Arch Moore and challenger Gaston Caperton. As the story goes, the color on one of the cameras was off, making the candidates appear green. Soon after, money was found to purchase the “new” cameras, which we still use to this day.

We’ve had some quality issues in the last two years with our broadcast of the Legislature Today. Occasionally, a red vertical line appears across the screen that we can’t get rid of. By this time next year, all those worries should be gone.

2. We will be able to record and broadcast locally-produced shows such as ‘The Legislature Today’ in HD.

…as well as our town hall specials, and election debates, and even the West Virginia Lottery drawing, which we produce daily from our Charleston studio.

The grant application received bi-partisan support from Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Rep. Shelley Moore Capito.

Capito said that as a regular PBS viewer, she was delighted to support West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s mission to provide high-quality educational and community programming to West Virginians and surrounding states.

“Grants such as this invest in the people of West Virginia, improve our local communities and help our economy grow,” she wrote.

USDA Rural Development awarded the grant through the Public Television Digital Transition Grant program. For more information on the grant, visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_dtv.html.

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