Community Rochester
Goals | Program Examples | Schedule | FAQ | CR Contact
- Why is WXXI developing Community Rochester?
- What kind of partnerships will be part of Community Rochester?
- Where are Community Rochester programs seen?
- Why would a non-profit partner want to participate?
- What is each partner expected to do?
- What does each partner get?
- How do these partnerships get started?
- What kinds of programs does Community Rochester pursue?
- What kind of projects won't Community Rochester pursue?
- Which organizations are already working on Community Rochester projects?
- Which organizations are already working on Community Rochester projects?
- Not "infomercials" for non-profits
- How is "control" over the project managed?
1. Why is WXXI developing Community Rochester?
The on-going conversion of American broadcast television to "digital" transmission is resulting in major change. WXXI, for example, has expanded from providing one channel of free broadcast service to the community (Channel 21) to four full power digital channels and one analog channel.
At the same time, we know that many Rochester area non-profits create important "content" (in the form of events and services) but lack sufficiently effective distribution for that content. Together, this combination of opportunities and needs offers us an opportunity to create new community programming…. in a manner that will benefit many other worthy organizations and become self-supporting over time.
2. What kind of partnerships will be part of Community Rochester?
WXXI is pursuing discussions with organizations that share our mission of honest community-service. With such groups we explore joint-productions in which WXXI would seek to adapt for broadcast "content" created by or with the non-profit partner. This "content" could include speeches, lectures, concerts, performances, documentaries and the like. This specifically does NOT include "infomercials" or other primarily self-promotional vehicles.
3. Where are Community Rochester programs seen?
Community Rochester programs air on both WXXI’s analog channel (Channel 21/ Time Warner cable Ch. 11) and one of our new digital channels (WXXI DTV 21.2/Time Warner Digital Channel 524) Currently, Community Rochester programs air on Channel 21 on Sunday afternoon from 4:00 to 5:00, and twice daily on our digital channel WXXI-Q (DTV 21.2) Schedules are subject to change.
4. Why would a non-profit partner want to participate?
Enhanced community impact. Multiple broadcasts on Community Rochester will normally result in sizable audiences (depending of course on the nature of the program). Our hope is that partners will find this to be an innovative and cost-effective method for dramatically expanding the impact in the community of their best work.
5. What is each partner expected to do?
Basically, WXXI offers to provide broadcast time, promotion time and production support in exchange for the partner providing content, production funding and project development. WXXI Television and the partner share responsibility for project design, development and promotion. WXXI will be completely transparent as to who our community partners are and where the funding for the program came from.
6. What does each partner get?
WXXI seeks the right to broadcast the program an unlimited number of times over an extended period of time. Partners own all other rights including the right to sell or otherwise re-distribute the program.
7. How do these partnerships get started?
First, senior staffs of WXXI and the partner meet to better understand each other's goals and capabilities. Once both partners agree to proceed, WXXI prepares a plan and budget that is discussed and modified during a second meeting with operational staff of both organizations. The project is then executed, edited, evaluated and scheduled for broadcast (at a time chosen in close cooperation between the partners). We then begin planning for the next joint project.
8. What kinds of programs does Community Rochester pursue?
Community Rochester programs can take the form of any kind of video/television production.
- Speeches / Lectures
- Performances / Concerts
- Citizen Briefings / Town Meetings
- Weekly studio-based series
- Full Documentaries
9. What kind of projects won't Community Rochester pursue?
We operate under a set of editorial guidelines. Of course, we will not pursue projects designed, in any way, to mislead Rochestarians. In practice this means that we will not pursue projects that are primarily focused on self-promotion, lobbying or include an unbalanced presentation of matters of current public controversy.
Client services can provide production services to any project, but not for broadcast.
10. Which organizations are already working on Community Rochester projects?
Community Rochester is now working with some of the most respected institutions, organizations and not-for-profit groups, including:
- The Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC)
- The New York State Department of Transportation & Erdman Anthony
- The Center for Governmental Research (CGR)
- The University of Rochester
Recently, the architect Moshe Safdie, the architect hired to design the Renaissance Square project, addressed a luncheon of about 500 people at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. Community Rochester taped the event and produced a program so the rest of the community that could not attend the event could hear Safdie’s ideas on design.
11. Not "infomercials" for non-profits
We insist that programs not be primarily self-promotional. Rather, programs need to serve the public through broadcast of content that supports the missions of both organizations. So, for example, we would not pursue a partnership with a hospital to discuss the attributes of that hospital. We WOULD pursue a partnership with that same hospital if the topic of the presentation were "new developments in Pediatrics" and featured the participation of multiple health care facilities.
12. How is "control" over the project managed?
In general, WXXI and the partner reach early consensus on the overall design and focus of the project. The partner brings to the discussion specific content expertise and WXXI provides production and broadcast savvy. If consensus proves difficult, the project does not move ahead. As in all programs, WXXI is charged by the FCC with having sole responsibility for all final broadcast decisions.
For more information about Community Rochester Partnership opportunities please contact
Michael L. Collins
Partner Services Manager
Phone: (585) 258.0345
Email: mcollins@wxxi.org
