Community Programming

The Foundation continued support for the "newspaper of the air" concept. "Newsroom" programs in San Francisco and Pittsburgh had been assisted by earlier Foundation grants, and initial support went this year to adaptation of the concept by public television stations in Dallas and Washington, D.C. At the core of these nightly programs is first-hand analysis of events and trends by experienced newspaper reporters.

In Jacksonville, Florida, station WJCT received assistance for its noted "Feedback" program, which covers important local issues, includes on-the-air audience responses, and provides live coverage of legislative hearings, city council and school board meetings, and other community events.

Audience Expansion

The progress of public broadcasting depends not only on quality programming but also on conscious efforts to expand the audience through advertising, promotion, and publicity. Hard-pressed for production and day-to-day operational funds, the medium spends almost nothing to call attention to its wares. This year the Foundation granted $1 million to PBS and several production

APPROPRIATIONS:

The Public Broadcasting appropriation approved in 1970 was $16,311,678; these are funds earmarked for grants and projects in the present year or subsequently. At the end of the fiscal year, the uncommitted balance of this and earlier years' Public Broadcasting appropriations was $4,617,955.

GRANTS:

The first column shows grants approved in 1970. The second column shows payments on old and new grants during the 1970 fiscal year. The third column shows the unpaid balance at the end of the 1970 fiscal year.