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WSRE/Pensacola - A Gateway to Creativity and Culture
- by Diane Jowers
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(Posted December 1, 2002) WSRE-TV, which is owned by the District Board of Trustees of
Pensacola Junior College, signed on in 1967 and operates from the Kugelman Center for
Telecommunications in Pensacola, Florida. During 35 years of service, the station has
become known as the Florida Gulf Coast’s "gateway to creativity and
culture." "We are dedicated to providing programs and services that educate,
inform, and entertain," said General Manager Sandy Cesaretti Ray. |
WSRE-TV’s locally produced programming has earned a reputation for doing all three. Legislative
Update keeps viewers up-to-date on community issues being addressed by their
legislators. Open Forum gives them a voice in local public affairs, and Aware focuses
on minority interests. Garden Magic is a source of solutions for avid
gardeners’ problems.
Recently, WSRE-TV launched Flavors of the Coast, a regional cooking show. Viewers
enjoy road trips along the Gulf Coast and visit cheese houses, wild game reserves, and
food festivals; in the kitchen, Chef Irv Miller transforms the fresh ingredients from
these journeys into memorable masterpieces. |
The station has a history of creative, food-related work, and its 12th Annual WSRE Wine
& Food Classic won first place in the Development category at the 2000 NETA
Awards. The event rallied community appreciation for great food, fine wine, and public
television. |
Sightline is an outstanding example of WSRE-TV’s community service and
educational outreach efforts. Trained volunteers operate the reading service every day of
the year, and for 10 years, many who cannot read for themselves have been able to enjoy
short stories and stay informed with newspapers. |
WSRE-TV touches mores than 50,000 children, parents, teachers, and caregivers through
educational outreach services. It is one of the nation’s 26 sites selected to host
the National Teacher Training Institute, an annual workshop to help educators enhance
curriculum through technology and television. The station is one of 40 PBS stations
participating in ZOOM, an interactive series and website that challenge young
viewers to become involved in their communities. Locally produced segments feature
Northwest Florida students and the positive results of their volunteer work.
Through PBS Ready to Learn, WSRE-TV conducts 20-30 annual workshops to train adults
to help children prepare to start school and donates 7,500 books each year to those who
have limited access to reading materials.
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As WSRE-TV educates, informs, and entertains, it also works
to improve the quality of all of its offerings. The station launched its digital signal in
July 2001 and is now in the second phase of its "FutureVision" Capital
Campaign to raise $2 million to complete the digital conversion. The campaign is expected
to conclude in summer, 2003. This campaign will enable WSRE to purchase the equipment
needed to begin producing digital programs.
"We are excited about this technology that will raise the visual and audio standards
in our area and ensure that we can continuously inspire and entertain our viewers in new
and exciting ways," said Ray.
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| Visit WSRE's Web site: www.pbs.org/wsre |
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