The Weekly SPI Debrief - September 30, 2011

By Marla Krueger, Station Products & Innovation 

Welcome to the Weekly PBS Interactive Station Products & Innovation Debrief, designed to give PBS stations a rundown of product updates and opportunities announced this week on our blog.

Wanna become a member of the PBS Interactive Station Advisory Council (SAC) or nominate someone whom you believe would be an excellent candidate for the council? There are currently openings and we are looking to fill them with station smartness. 

For more information on the role of SAC members visit the SAC Charter in Station Remote Control (station login required). 

To nominate someone or nominate yourself visit: http://tinyurl.com/3zfdc8m   

Nominations must be submitted by October 14th, before 5:00pm ET. 

This week on The SPI Files, we interviewed Jess Snyder, Web Systems Manager at WETA.  Jess has worked at WETA for over 9 years and recently had a hand in launching web features related to the Prohibition experience in the DC-area, including an interactive, make-your-own Prohibition-era WANTED poster. 

In our FYI Corner,  this week we bring you recommendations for a Social Media Handbook and Benchmarking Tools. Social media continues to fascinate us. We research it, study it, measure it, love it, and curse it. We still have a hard time figuring out the latest trends before something new comes along that we then need to research, study, measure, love and curse.

And finally, the THIRD Webinar in the Project VoiceScape Webinar Series will be Thursday, October 6,   12:00-1:00PM ET, The Best of Free: Share/Freeware Lightening Session. This series of five webinars introduces PBS stations and educators to the how and why of integrating youth media making into public media.

RSVP to Leslie Rule at Leslie_rule@mail.harvard.edu.   She'll provide the phone number for each webinar.  The registration link for each webinar is my.adobe.acrobat.com/ayvtrain

Follow the links below to continue reading...

• The SPI Files: Jess Snyder, WETA
• FYI Corner: Social Media Handbook and Benchmarking Tools

As always, the SPI team appreciates all of your valuable comments and participation on our site this week and every week.

FYI Corner: Social Media Handbook and Benchmarking Tools

By Amy Baroch, Station Products & Innovation

Sitting here in the Interactive Department at PBS we get a front row seat to how hard public media is working to innovate and take advantage of all that new media has to offer. We have a forward thinking leader in Jason Seiken as someone who not only wants us to survive, but to come out on top by experimenting with technology, striving to reach ambitious goals, and evangelizing the use of new media across the entire PBS system.

One area that continues to fascinate us is social media. We talk about it constantly, participate in it consistently, research it, study it, measure it, love it, and curse it. But the fact is, we still have a hard time truly figuring it all out before something new comes along that we then need to research, study, measure, love and curse. Not to toot PBS's horn too loudly but according to a recent review of Facebook, PBS's Facebook Fan Page generated nearly 1 billion post views over the past year. That's BILLION, with a "B" and the @PBS Twitter channel grew 42%. Our very own @SPI_PBS has doubled in followers since just this past February.

Over the past several years, PBS has refined its strategy and we've created a Social Media Policy with input from all areas of the organization including human resources, legal, marketing and PBS Interactive that we share across the systems and encourage stations to mold it to their own needs. We provide best practices and have conducted numerous training webinars for stations around the use of social media. This is why we are very happy to share something new - with a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, iStrategy Labs, a DC-based marketing firm with expertise in social media, recently completed the Public Media Social Media Handbook and social media benchmarking tool.

"There are lots of resources floating around the web – but now there’s one just for public media stations," says Daniel McCoy, Project Manager, Media Strategies at CPB. "If you've been searching for the right tools to help your station take its social media efforts to the next level, this is it," he continued.

Harvard’s Nieman Journalism Lab featured an overview of the tools on its blog last week and earlier this month NCME hosted a webinar to announce the tools. An archive of the event can be accessed here. The handbook has insights into how your station can use social media across various departments and includes templates to help plan and focus your efforts. You can find the handbook and benchmark tool at NCME’s site, mediaengage.org.

What do you think of the new Public Media Social Media Handbook and benchmarking tool? Let us know in the comments field below and as usual you can always shoot us an email.

The SPI Files: Jess Snyder, WETA

By Amy Baroch, Station Products & Innovation

Last week in The SPI Files, we walked down the halls of PBS to interview Senior Associate, Jessie Sampson. This week we travel to our own local PBS station to chat with WETA's Web Systems Manager, Jess Snyder.

1. Who are you and what do you do at WETA?
I'm Jess Snyder. I'm the Web Systems Manager at WETA, which is a fancy way of saying that I'm responsible for the back-end processes that keep the website and our other assorted online activities running –content management system wrangling, online tv schedule and radio playlist data flow, programming, form building, database administration and so on and so forth.

2. How long have you been at WETA?
9 years. (Wow.)

3. Before WETA, what did you do?
I came to WETA from a private non-profit foundation – the Morino Institute. At the time I was there, it was very focused on helping entrepreneurs find success in the Internet-based economy, though it has shifted focus somewhat in more recent years.

It was at the Morino Institute where I met Pam McKeta, formerly with WETA. It was my first job out of college and though I learned a lot from the wonderful group of people who were mentors in every sense of the word, Pam introduced me to public television and the rest is history.

4. If you didn't work in public media, what would you be doing?
If I wasn't working in public media, I suspect I'd be doing something internet-related – it definitely seems to be where I've found my niche. If I wasn't working at all (say, I won the lottery or otherwise became independently wealthy), I'd be embarking on a grand round-the-world adventure.

The Weekly SPI Debrief - September 23, 2011

By Marla Krueger, Station Products & Innovation 

Welcome to the Weekly PBS Interactive Station Products & Innovation Debrief, designed to give PBS stations a rundown of product updates and opportunities announced this week on our blog.

Prosper Portal usernames and passwords were issued this week to everyone who has confirmed their Portal Manager contact. If you have confirmed your station contact and have not received your username and password please contact pbsi_stationservices@pbs.org .    

This week on The SPI Files,  we spoke with the incomparable Jessie Sampson, about her work as the Senior Associate for PBS Interactive and working directly with Senior Vice President of Product Development & Innovation, Jason Seiken.

Also this week, in Mobile Station Stories, we caught up with Lynne Pollard, Vice President of New Media, at Oregon Public Broadcasting and new grandmother. OPB has developed both an OPB News app and an OPB Music app for iPhone and Android; these apps offer live streams of radio content, feeds of local headlines and podcast subscription capability. They also manage the app for KMHD, the jazz radio station in Portland, Oregon.

In our FYI Corner this week we examine the importance of  COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act). At PBS one of primary demographics is children and is therefore, important that stations' online kids presence follows COPPA's guidelines. How can your station create kids modules that maintain a fun and safe online space? Follow the link below to learn more.  

Finally, PBS Interactive will have a presence at NETA 2011. If you’re in town, swing by and say hello at the PBS Interactive Station Products & Innovation booth or drop by a PBSi session.

Follow the links below to continue reading...

• The SPI Files: Jessie Sampson, PBS
• Mobile Station Stories: Lynne Pollard, OPB
• FYI Corner: COPPA

As always, the SPI team appreciates all of your valuable comments and participation on our site this week and every week.

FYI Corner: COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)

by Mike Smith, Station Products & Innovation and Tricia George, PBS KIDS

In 1998, Congress passed into law the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, requiring all online businesses/entities that format their websites to cater to children under the age of 13 to adhere to a certain set of rules and regulations when requesting personal information from these children about themselves, their parents, and even their friends. Personal information includes but is not limited to first and last name, home or school address, social security number, and email address.

IQ Zoo from WQED

At PBS, one of our primary demographics is young children. Because of this, it is important that stations' online kids’ presence comply with these guidelines. PBS KIDS Interactive provides COPPA-compliant tools and modules to help create and maintain a fun, educational and safe online space.

Mobile Station Stories: Lynne Pollard, OPB

by Rachel Lim, PBS Station Products & Innovation

As part of the launch of the Mobile White Label Series for Stations (available in SRC, login required), we are profiling mobile efforts at stations throughout the system on a variety of topics, ranging from mobile giving to the differences between mobile Web and mobile apps. Over the next six weeks, these stations, who are part of the Station Mobile Working Group, share their experiences, plans, successes and lessons learned about mobile.

Lynne Pollard, OPB

This week in Mobile Stories we're catching up with Lynne Pollard, Vice President of New Media, at Oregon Public Broadcasting.

OPB has developed both an OPB News app and an OPB Music app for iPhone and Android; these apps offer live streams of radio content, feeds of local headlines and podcast subscription capability. They also manage the app for KMHD, the jazz radio station in Portland, Oregon. See more about OPB’s apps at http://www.opb.org/connect/apps.

What motivated you to pursue mobile, and how did you develop your initial mobile strategy?
We created our mobile strategy to fit into our overall strategy, which is to make our content available to the audience wherever the audience is and whatever platform they happen to be using. Moving to mobile was simply an extension or a piece of that strategy, if you like. We have on the radio side three services: our main FM services, news and public affairs primarily; the digital music service; and we also manage KMHD, the jazz station here in Portland. It was quite logical to make these streams available through mobile and to break them out into their individual services – not one giant OPB app but into their individual services – KMHD, OPB Music and OPB News.

OPB is a joint licensee with a very successful radio and television operation, and three ongoing local television series, one ongoing radio show plus local news integrated into our radio service, so we have a lot of content – a lot of local, original content. We first developed an iPhone application , and after we had the iPhone app, it was a small step to include Android as well. We are looking into developing an iPad app built around the radio news service. And on the video piece of the iPhone and iPad – we are actually on hold in those plans, at least for the time being, until PBS can firm up its plans to localize video on its own applications.

What were your initial goals for mobile, and how have they changed over time?
We have plans to expand our Arts & Life content into the mobile platform as well. Our Arts & Life vertical on our site integrates content from radio and television and also includes original web content covering visual arts, performance arts, books, food, outdoor life, that kind of thing. Access to those stories will come as part of the OPB News app – so that this “feature-y” content will be included in our apps. We’re also currently looking at creating a mobile site, in essence going beyond the apps.

The SPI Files: Jessie Sampson, PBS

by Amy Baroch, Station Products & Innovation

Last week in The SPI Files, we turned our sites on Karen Mell to learn more about her work KCPT in Kansas City. This week, we are simply walking down the PBS corridors to ask the incomparable Jessie Sampson, about her work as the Senior Associate for PBS Interactive and working directly with Senior Vice President of Product Development & Innovation, Jason Seiken. Jessie is featured on the left in a photo she took during a recent vacation to the Swiss Alps.

1. Who are you and what do you do at PBS?
I’m Jessie Sampson, Senior Associate for PBS Interactive.

2. How long have you been at PBS?
My two year anniversary was Friday!

3. Before PBS, what did you do?
I worked at a small direct marketing company, helping fundraisers and other non-profits come up with marketing plans.

4. If you didn't work in public media, what would you be doing?
Hmmmm… maybe being a high school drama teacher?

5. Explain the best part about your job Twitter-style, 140 characters or less.
The people! Everyone at PBS- and the stations- is so friendly! People love what they are doing and it makes every day better.

6. Working directly with Jason Seiken, you have insight into all the goings on here in PBS Interactive. Any secrets you'd like to share with us?
Bake cookies for a long meeting. It makes everyone happy and they are much more likely to stay engaged.

7. What do you see as the future for public media and how does Jessie Sampson fit into that vision?
Probably the same as it is now, except with space suits and hovercrafts, and I would like to design our new, flashy, public media metallic space suits.

And – just for fun – a few quick-fire questions:

1. iPhone or Android? iphone
2. Dogs or cats? dogs
3. Blog platform of choice? wordpress
4. Elmo or Grover? grover
5. I am currently listening to… Katy Perry
6. I am currently reading… Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
7. I’m currently watching (TV, film, etc)… Mad Men
8. Most overused phrase: “sorry but I need to reschedule your meeting…”

The Weekly SPI Debrief - September 16, 2011

By Marla Krueger, Station Products & Innovation 

Welcome to the Weekly PBS Interactive Station Products & Innovation Debrief, designed to give PBS stations a rundown of product updates and opportunities announced this week on our blog.

PBS Interactive will have a presence at NETA 2011. If you’re in town, swing by and say hello at the PBS Interactive Station Products & Innovation booth or drop by a PBSi session. Conference sessions will include:

Jason Seiken's, senior vice president, PBS Interactive, Product Development & Innovation, updates on how PBS Interactive is using the power of digital platforms to strengthen stations.

Amy Baroch, Sr. Manager, Station Products & Innovation, is leading “What is this thing called ‘Station Bento’?”  This session will touch on how PBS is developing a tool for creating station web sites, managing online content, and leveraging data called Station Bento.

Be sure to follow the NETA Conference on Twitter @NETAKC
Hope to see you there. 


This week on The SPI Files, we shine the spotlight on Karen Mell and ask her some questions about her role as graphic & web site designer at KCPT in Kansas City. Karen has been at KCPT for fourteen years and during this time has worked in the areas of educational services, online video, production graphics, print media, station branding,  and on occasion, the voice for the KCPT Kids mascot, PT the owl.

Also this week, in Mobile Station Stories, David Dickinson, Online Manager of Wisconsin Public Television, shares his station’s experience working in the mobile space.  David’s team has developed a mobile website that offers a TV program schedule and a link to their non-mobile website, with plans to add additional website pieces to the mobile browser in the future.

In an earlier FYI Corner, we discussed making the move to Google+ as an individual, but did you know there are steps you can be taking right now in order to get your nonprofit into one of the fastest growing social networking parties, err...websites around? This week we take a look into Google+ for Nonprofits. 

And finally, the SECOND Webinar in the Project VoiceScape Webinar Series will be Thursday, September 22, 12:00-1:00PM ET.  This series of five webinars introduces PBS stations and educators to the how and why of integrating youth media making into public media.

RSVP to Leslie Rule at Leslie_rule@mail.harvard.edu  She will provide the phone number for each webinar.  The registration link for each webinar is my.adobe.acrobat.com/ayvtrain

Follow the links below to continue reading...

• The SPI Files: Karen Mell, KCPT
• Mobile Station Stories: David Dickinson, WPT
• FYI Corner: Google+ for Nonprofits

As always, the SPI team appreciates all of your valuable comments and participation on our site this week and every week.

News from the PDC September

by Amy Baroch, PBS Station Products & Innovation

This must be the Year of the Webinar! There are so many great opportunities in the public media system these days and our Professional Development Calendar (PDC) is packed.

As always, you can find the calendar on the right rail of our blog - just scroll down a little and there it is. Feel free to send us opportunities you want to share with the rest of the system or access the calendar to attend some of the posted events.

Here are just a few highlights for the upcoming weeks:

Thursday, September 22 @ 12PM EDT

Essentials - A Guided Tour of Adobe Educator Resources for Youth Media Making
(Free webinar presented by Project VoiceScape) RSVP to Leslie Rule.

• This is the 2nd in a series of five webinars presented by Project VoiceScape - a partnership with Adobe Youth Voices, PBS and POV to mentor today's best young documentary filmmakers. The series introduces PBS stations and educators to the how and why of integrating youth media making into public media.

Thursday, September 22 @ 2PM EDT
State of the Internet in the U.S. in Q3 2011
(Free webinar presented by comScore) RSVP

• Please join Comscore for this free webinar presented by Elise Neel, comScore VP, Marketing Solutions and Bryan Goski, comScore Director, Marketing Solutions to discuss key insights into recent trends in the U.S. and the unique opportunities existing in this dynamic online market. Session Highlights Include an overview of audience trends in the U.S. and worldwide, top line analysis of video, search, mobile and e-commerce, analysis of the top online activities and sites driving visitation and engagement across U.S. markets, and a review of top online trends in 2011 and what factors will be important as we look ahead to 2012. Please note: Only corporate e-mail addresses will be approved.

Mobile Station Stories: David Dickinson, WPT

by Rachel Lim, PBS Station Products & Innovation

David Dickinson (and fish), WPT

As part of the launch of the Mobile White Label Series for Stations (available in SRC, login required), we are profiling mobile efforts at stations throughout the system on a variety of topics, ranging from mobile giving to the differences between mobile Web and mobile apps. Over the next six weeks, these stations, who are part of the Station Mobile Working Group, share their experiences, plans, successes and lessons learned about mobile.

David Dickinson is the Online Manager of Wisconsin Public Television, where his team has developed a mobile website that offers a TV programs schedule and a link to their non-mobile website, with plans to add additional website pieces to the mobile browser in the future: http://wptschedule.org (visit through mobile browser).

What motivated you to pursue mobile, and how did you develop your initial mobile strategy?
What motivated us was looking at our statistics: we saw that our mobile traffic increased fivefold last year. So we identified mobile as a growing segment. And we knew that the most viewed page on our site was the TV schedule. When we decided to redesign our schedule, we wanted to make sure it was mobile friendly, since we knew the demand would be there.

FYI Corner: Google+ for Nonprofits

by Mike Smith and Amy Baroch, Station Products & Innovation

In an earlier FYI Corner, we discussed making the move to Google+ as an individual, but did you know there are steps you can be taking right now in order to get your nonprofit into one of the fastest growing social networking parties, err...websites around?

In July, Google announced that business and organization pages will soon be introduced into G+, allowing them to mingle with the nearly 30 million users already registered. This means that, in much the same way Facebook allows users to connect with organizations that they support, Google+ will allow users to keep themselves up to date on the latest business happenings that spark their interest.

For nonprofits, this is big.

Since its birth, social networking has been a major source of free* marketing (*virality, word of mouth, etc., the only major cost of its use has been time). So for nonprofits, this means that there is now a new frontier in which to parlay opportunity.

How, you ask? Mashable published an article in which blogger Zoe Fox asked non-profit staff for their best practices while experimenting with Google+ and their hopes for the future of the new social network. Here are four ways Fox found that non-profits can make the most of the growing network and what we think are ways that public media stations can take advantage:

1. Host Exclusive Hangouts - Hangouts is Google+’s video conferencing feature. These are great ways to attract younger viewers and members. Host Hangouts with station celebrities and give your attendees some special attention.

2. Cater to Your Circles - You can organize circles any way you want: members, donors, sponsors, parents, educators, etc... In doing so, you can cater to your audience by sending targeted messages to these individuals via Circle. Also, as Fox says, "circles are a great way to "crowdsource" ideas from your valued followers. You can ask your volunteers what types of events they would like to see, or ask your donors for upcoming campaign ideas. Spark conversations among people with shared interests."

The SPI Files: Karen Mell, KCPT

by Mike Smith and Amy Baroch, Station Products & Innovation

Last week on the SPI Files, we took a trip to Pittsburgh and learned more about WQED's Executive Director of Educational Partnerships, Jennifer Stancil. This week we are turning our sites on KCPT in Kansas City to ask Karen Mell some interrogative questions.

Q: Who are you and what do you do at KCPT?

A: I'm Karen Mell and I am a graphic & web site designer at KCPT. I work on KCPT web sites and I produce print promotions and TV graphics and animations. (One other thing I sometimes do is voiceovers for the KCPT Kids mascot, PT the owl!)

Q: How long have you been at KCPT?

A: I have been at KCPT for fourteen years. I started as a web developer and have worked in educational services, online video, production graphics, print media and station branding.

Q: Before KCPT, what did you do?

A: Before KCPT, I was working on my B.F.A. and teaching children's art classes. I served for a year as an Americorps VISTA at KCPT in the education department before I was hired on as a web developer.

Q: What is one accomplishment at KCPT that you feel most proud of?

A: I'm pretty proud of our recent web site redesign, which was completed in March. Even though it's very much a work in progress, it's fulfilling its purposes of distributing content authoring to non-web staff and of signaling our local value to our audience...and it's exciting to see the possibilities for what we can do with it next.

Q: How has KCPT managed to remain so successful throughout the years?

A: Right now we are really hitting our stride with localism through strong partnerships with organizations in Kansas City which enables us to tell stories and address issues of our community (like childhood obesity, regional growth, the arts and business). We have a one-year-old show (called "The Local Show") that's a regular venue for exploring all things local, and we are working to embrace the explorer brand/archetype in everything we do; we've designed some events to help Kansas Citizans explore their interests and their community.

The Weekly SPI Debrief - September 9, 2011

Welcome to the Weekly PBS Interactive Station Products & Innovation Debrief, designed to give PBS stations a rundown of product updates and opportunities announced this week on our blog.

If you were unable to attend the Prosper Portal Training webinar on August 31, the audio file and the ppt deck are now available in Station Remote Control in the Prosper Resource Center (station login required). It is also available on PBS Connect in the Attend Learn> Past Meetings and Conferences section.

This week on The SPI Files, we're heading to the "Steel City" to speak with Jennifer Stancil, Executive Director of Educational Partnerships at WQED in Pittsburgh. Jennifer is also the architect of the new six-year education strategy, iQ:smartmedia strategy.

Also this week, in Mobile Station Stories, Michael Williams, Interactive Strategies Manager from WITF, shares his station’s progress in the mobile space. WITF has developed an iPhone app that includes podcasts, an alarm clock and News RSS Feeds. In addition to the WITF app, WITF has a mobile website, and a strong SMS text community through which announcements are sent.

Last but certainly not least, Camila Jones from PBS Education shares a sleek, newly re-designed eblast under the name “PBS In Education.” Not only has the new edition been refreshed and rejuvenated - it has also spent some time under the editors’ knife, so to speak.

Follow the links below to continue reading... Have a happy weekend!

• The SPI Files: Jennifer Stancil, WQED
• Mobile Station Stories: Michael Williams, WITF
• COSMeTIC SURGERY: PBS Education eNews

As always, the SPI team appreciates all of your valuable comments and participation on our site this week and every week.

COSMeTIC SURGERY: PBS Education eNews

By Camila Jones, PBS Education
Following the debut of PBS LearningMedia (pbslearningmedia.org) this past June, PBS Education has launched a sleek, newly re-designed eblast under the name “PBS In Education.” Not only has the new edition been refreshed and rejuvenated - it has also spent some time under the editors’ knife, so to speak.

Prior to the launch, PBS Education published two content-rich newsletters – a weekly one from PBS Teachers and a quarterly one from PBS TeacherLine. Though each was instructive, the newsletters relied heavily on an audience that was willing to scroll…and scroll… and scroll some more.

In its current state, “PBS In Education” pools together the most salient tidbits from PBS Teachers, PBS TeacherLine and now – also from PBS LearningMedia. Inside the body of the eblast, snippets of text reveal just enough content to whet the audience appetite and funnel them into the respective PBS websites. Content is showcased in themed boxes with headlines that resonate not only with the primary audience (teachers, administrators) but also with tech coordinators, bloggers, and the general, education-minded audience.

Below, PBS Education expands on several considerations that were made during the reconstruction of the eblast in the interest of benefitting stations with similar objectives. Though the process was ultimately an elective one, the fresh new face of “PBS In Education” is the perfect complement to the bold marketing efforts underway for PBS LearningMedia.

Graphics/Color Scheme:

• Limited use of graphics in order to speed up downloading time. 
• Avoided stock images of teachers – opted for icons instead.
• Selected monochromatic color scheme; rejected primary colors 

Text/Content:

• Trimmed out descriptive text in order to reduce need for scrolling. 
• Relied on hyperlinks in favor of less text and greater audience interaction
• The focus on themes (Digital Resources, New and Noteworthy, Professional Development) rather than the site of origin (PBS Teachers / PBS TeacherLine / PBS LearningMedia) reflects the way the audience consumes the content – rather than how the internal team thinks of it; use of themes also widens the audience appeal. 
• Also, given the ease of rewriting shorter content blurbs and given the recent events on the East Coast, some of the stories in this inaugural e-Newsletter included PBS resources on earthquakes and hurricanes. 

Navigation:

• Like content grouped into boxes. Newsletter contains 3 boxes. 
• Navigation on left side of the newsletter leads audience to specific areas within targeted websites. This tactic eliminates one of the barriers between the audience and the product – enabling them to reach their destination in one rather than two steps. 

Mailing:

• Eblast is sent out twice a month, and the kickoff send was Monday, August 29. To sign up, please register on PBS Teachers, PBS TeacherLine, or PBS LearningMedia. Or contact PBS Education Station Relations representative, Rachel Morrison.

Mobile Station Stories: Michael Williams, WITF

by Rachel Lim, PBS Station Products & Innovation

Michael Williams, WITF

As part of the launch of the Mobile White Label Series for Stations (available in SRC, login required), we are profiling mobile efforts at stations throughout the system on a variety of topics, ranging from mobile giving to the differences between mobile Web and mobile apps. Over the next six weeks, these stations, who are part of the Station Mobile Working Group, share their experiences, plans, successes and lessons learned about mobile.

This week, we catch up with Michael Williams, Interactive Services Project Manager, as we discussed WITF's diverse mobile capabilities.

WITF has developed an iPhone app that includes podcasts, an alarm clock and News RSS Feeds, as well as a link to their site. They also offer a mobile website, and an SMS text community through which announcements are sent. See more about WITF’s mobile capabilities at http://www.witf.org/mobile.


What motivated you to pursue mobile, and how did you develop your initial mobile strategy?
The motivation was the need to be accessible from all devices in this day in age. With smart phones and iPads and everything else, internet usage through mobile devices has increased dramatically – it was a natural decision. We have to go where the customer is, and they were increasingly on a mobile device. We outsourced to Jacobs Media and had them build us an iPhone app so that we at least had a presence. The iPhone app isn’t perfect, and it’s something that we’d like to tweak in the future – but at least we have it.

The SPI Files: Jennifer Stancil, WQED

by Mike Smith, Station Products & Innovation

Last week on the SPI Files, we got the inside scoop on Montana West, Integrated Media Producer at NHPTV. This week, we're heading out to "Steel City" to speak with Jennifer Stancil, Executive Director of Educational Partnerships at WQED in Pittsburgh.

Q: Who are you and what do you do at WQED?

A: I am the Executive Director of Educational Partnerships and the architect of our new six-year education strategy, iQ: smartmedia*. (*iQ: smartmedia is a new paradigm in multimedia. iQ is a network, a tool, an action…and more. iQ harnesses the power, inspiration, and creativity of new media and provides a framework for expression, learning, and collaboration. It aspires to help each child realize their full potential. iQ: smartmedia allows WQED to create and curate multimedia and corresponding educational opportunities toward a best-practices model for our region, nation, and the world in integration of media and education.)

Q: How long have you been at WQED?

A: Since March 2010

Q: Before WQED, what did you do?

A: I spent almost 14 years in the museum industry, opening and running two new museums in the southeast from an educational leadership role. Just prior to WQED, I was the Executive Director of the Girls, Math & Science Partnership, which went from pilot program to global authority on the issues of Girls and STEM education. I advise the White House to this day on the issue.

Q: What skills and expertise did you gain in your previous work that you were able to integrate into your role at WQED?
A: Beyond the really important “administrative” functions such as relationships management and fundraising, I think that my work with informal learning has made project collaborations like www.iqzoo.org (with the Pittsburgh Zoo) and www.getcuriouspittsburgh.org (with the Children’s Museum) a lot more seamless because I understand the business.

I also have treated the opportunity at WQED as a “start-up.” The goal is to reimagine the integration of multimedia for educational purposes. That I was given a tabula rasa plays to my strengths – creativity, collaboration, brand strategy – and I am thankful that the leadership of WQED has given me that blank canvas.

Q: How has WQED managed to remain successful over the past 50+ years?

A: I think that WQED isn’t about a particular set of productions, a division/department that has consistently performed, or even our core values of innovation and changing lives. For me, WQED is part of the culture of Pittsburgh. It’s woven in the tapestry of who we are in Southwestern Pennsylvania – the narratives we tell, the pride in our neighborhoods. WQED is as relevant and essential to the Pittsburgh community today and possibly even more so than in 1954.

Q: How is WQED engaging with social media like Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr?
A: I’ve become a big fan of WIRED and TedTalks and Mashable. Keeping abreast of what’s happening with the intersection of kids, creativity and multimedia – especially in the social sphere – really pushes us to explore what we can do in education. Being next door to Carnegie Mellon University helps as well in many ways. But being the first to use QR codes with iQZoo (locally combining zoo animals with PBS video content) in the system is really great. We hope there is more to come with gaming, augmented reality, and engagement with kids.

Q: What is the next big thing for WQED?

A: As it relates to education, I think WQED is in the first stages of its “next big thing” already with the iQ:smartmedia strategy. I believe it is an ambitious and potentially transformative set of initiatives that we have already delivered partially on and will continue to do so over the coming years.

Q: What do you see as the future for public media and how does WQED fit into that vision?

A: I think there are PR issues for public media that are really shaping the landscape that is before us. For me, to watch my own four year old daughter be able to experiment with physics after watching a 60 second segment of Curious George is brilliant. If I am the face for WQED in this regard, even I have been astonished at what public media can teach children. We need to, at both the national and local levels, start telling our stories at a different volume. We need to be louder and more frequent in sharing the successes that we allow millions of people to achieve every day, regardless of their race, socioeconomic status, or gender. There is no lack of ideas or innovation or access. As we say with the Pittsburgh Steelers, you gotta have a little “swagger.”

And - just for fun - a few quickfire questions:

1. Elmo or Grover? Super Grover. Hands down.
2. iPhone or Android? I have two phones, iPhone and Blackberry
3. I am currently listening to ... The Fleet Foxes, Jennie O and Neko Case
4. I am currently reading ... I’m taking The Emporer of All Maladies and Cinderella Ate My Daughter to the beach. That and the new Annie E. Casey Foundation report on raising the potential of kids.
5. I'm currently watching (TV, film, etc) ... anxiously awaiting the next season of Fringe and the DVD of Super 8. And an adorable French kids’ short that I brought back from Europe for my daughter. And football.

Know anyone you'd like us to profile? Let us know in the comment box below!

The Weekly SPI Debrief - September 2, 2011

by Marla Krueger, Station Products & Innovation

Welcome to the Weekly PBS Interactive Station Products & Innovation Debrief, designed to give PBS stations a rundown of product updates and opportunities announced this week on our blog.

We hope everyone is on their way to a safe holiday weekend. But first, don’t forget your weekly debrief of this week’s happenings.

Many thanks to all who participated in this week’s Prosper webinar. If you missed it, we’ll be posting an archive of the webinar in the Prosper Resource Center of Station Remote Control. For those who attended, you will receive an email from us to confirm your point of contact for the portal. Documentation for the portal will also be available in the Prosper Resource Center.

We have another mobile station interview with Leng Caloh, Interactive Strategies Manager, and Nathan Gibbs, Web Producer of KPBS. KPBS has developed a mobile site with radio streams and a feed for the latest in news releases, and is currently concentrating on building out apps for both iPhone and Android.

For this week’s edition of The SPI Files, we're moving up to New Hampshire to speak with NHPTV's Integrated Media Producer, Montana West. Montana shares his tips and what’s next for NHPTV.

Mark your calendars. AFP will host a webinar, Wednesday, September 28, 1:00-2:30 PM EST, on Nonprofit Internet Management Strategies, Tools & Trade Secrets. Topics include:

• How to raise money online,
• How to harness social networks, as well as tips for strong website design.
• How to stay ahead of the curve from author and e-fundraising guru, Ted Hart

To register visit: http://afp.peachnewmedia.com/store/provider/provider09.php#blank
If you have not already created your special AFP member account please contact vmpletcher@pbs.org

Check out the latest in the music sharing experience, Turntable.fm, in this week’s FYI Corner and add your thoughts or comments. Will this hold up among other social sites?

Finally, this week the SPI team welcomed our new SPI Project Associate! Please welcome Jennifer Carter and be on the look out for any new SPI Communiqués from our newest team member. We’re very excited about the experiences she is bringing to PBS Interactive and her role with Station Bento and Merlin.

Follow the links below to continue reading... Have a happy weekend!

• Mobile Station Stories: Nathan Gibbs and Leng Caloh, KPBS

• The SPI Files: Montana West, NHPTV

• FYI Corner: Turntable.fm

• Getting to Know... Jennifer Carter

As always, the SPI team appreciates all of your valuable comments and participation on our site this week and every week.

FYI Corner: Turntable.fm

by Mike Smith, Station Products & Innovation

Have you ever caught yourself driving down the road with your windows open, your favorite radio station blasting tunes so sweet they could open a downtown candy shop, and wondered if everyone else appreciates how delicious your taste in music is?

With the new music-sharing experience Turntable.fm, you can finally know the truth.

No longer will you sit and wonder if the Flock of Seagulls track you're enjoying is still hip enough to be keep an audience, (sidenote: it probably isn't), or if U2's "The Sweetest Thing" really is the sweetest thing.

Turntable.fm (formerly StickyBits) has taken a page from Andy Warhol and given everyone a chance to have their 15 minutes of digital fame through music sharing. The main concept is quite simple. It's something like a combination of the shuffle mode on your iPod and an epsiode of the X Factor (minus the usually disappointing singing dogs).

So, what is it exactly? According to a blog post on BETABEAT by Adrienne Jeffries, Turntable.fm is a:

• "...browser-based chatroom that streams music based on the choices of a rotating cast of DJs drawn from whoever is in the room. There are up to five DJs at any one time who create playlists; the station cycles through the playlists one song at a time, moving from one DJ’s pick to the next, as the room votes on how “lame” to “awesome” the track is... DJs get points for picking popular songs and if enough people think a song is lame, it skips to the next."

The catch is that right now, Turntable.fm is strictly invite-only and is tied in seemingly exclusively with Facebook users. That means that unless any of your friends have been invited to take part in the product's beta-testing, you probably won't be able to have access until all the kinks have been worked through.

Although several people are speculating that this product will produce somewhat of a "productivity plague", it is already becoming evident that Turntable.fm is going viral.

Have anything else you'd like us to explore? Let us know in the comment box below and check back soon!