November 11, 2022
Broadcasters support their local communities with news, investigative reporting and unparalleled public service. This Veterans Day, stations are supporting and honoring our nation's veterans with all of these tools.
Broadcasters are a bastion of investigative reporting in local communities, with investigative programs to hold government accountable and help citizens get fair treatment from businesses and organizations. An investigation from Minneapolis, Minn., station KARE, owned by TEGNA, recently uncovered a pattern of veterans being misdiagnosed by the same VA doctor and subsequently denied benefits and care. This is part of the station's years-long commitment to investigating veteran care in their community.
With wide reach and Americans' most-trusted news, local broadcasters are a key avenue for state and local officials, nonprofit organizations and community groups to get the word out about their initiatives. West Michigan's Fox 17 from Scripps Local Media covered Small Business Week, recognized by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. They highlighted the initiative's support for veteran-owned small businesses and resources for veterans wishing to start their own businesses.
Fox owned-and-operated station Fox 13 Tampa Bay profiled local nonprofit New Beginnings of Tampa on their work providing housing and other care to veterans in need. Highlighting this work provides a platform for the nonprofit and for the issue of veteran homelessness. "The most important thing you can do to help a vet is showing them love and caring," said Pastor Dr. Tom Atchison, the nonprofit's founder.Veterans advocate Tom Von Kaenel spoke with Nexstar Media-owned 7 News in Spartanburg, S.C., about resources available for veterans in their hometown, giving veterans several opportunities to connect with the tools they need to transition from service to civilian life.
Local broadcasters' public service initiatives raise billions for charity every year. Beasley Media Group is partnering with Wreaths Across America as part of the company's fourth quarter Community of Caring public service initiative. “As a remembrance of our late founder George Beasley, a U.S. Army sergeant, as well as the many past and present Beasley employees who have served our country in the U.S. military, it is such an honor to support Wreaths Across America,” said Beasley Media Group Chief Content Officer Justin Chase. “During the kickoff of this holiday season, we'll be encouraging our audience to volunteer or donate to this worthy cause.”
From September 6-11, 2022, iHeartMedia-owned WAEB 790 AM in Allentown, Pa., hosted its annual WAEB Remembering 9/11 fundraiser. The station raised $111,704 for national nonprofit Folds of Honor, which provides scholarships to spouses and children of wounded and fallen soldiers.
Earlier this year, Liz and Mike, morning show co-hosts at Audacy-owned 105.1 The Buzz in Portland, Ore., raised more than $25,000 for their second annual “Service Pet for a Vet” initiative to collect funds to adopt and train a service dog for a local veteran battling PTSD. “Seeing the community come together for such a great cause made us ugly cry,” said Liz and Mike. “With times so tough it was moving to see so many people give what they could.”
More than 2.47 million American jobs depend on broadcasting, and the local broadcast radio and television industry - and the businesses that depend on it - generate $1.17 trillion annually for the nation's economy.
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