Friends of WLRN, Inc.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Morning Edition
Every weekday for over three decades, NPR's Morning Edition has taken listeners around the country and the world with two hours of multi-faceted stories and commentaries that inform challenge and occasionally amuse Morning Edition is the most listened-to news radio program in the country.
The Sunshine Economy
A weekly series of one-hour radio programs, former Nightly Business Report co-anchor and managing editor Tom Hudson will explore key industries to our region by talking with top business leaders throughout the region. Tourism, health care, real estate and the technology sectors are key drivers of the South Florida economy and important contributors to its future vitality. These programs will capture and reflect the unique voices, challenges and spirit through fresh storytelling, fascinating guests and community engagement.
The Takeaway
The Takeaway is the national morning news program that delivers the news and analysis you need to catch up, start your day, and prepare for what's ahead. Host John Hockenberry, along with the BBC World Service, The New York Times and WGBH Boston, invites listeners every morning to learn more and be part of the American conversation on-air and online.
Fresh Air
Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
The World
A one-hour, weekday radio news magazine offering a mix of news, features, interviews, and music from around the globe.
All Things Considered
In-depth reporting and transformed the way listeners understand current events and view the world. Every weekday, hear two hours of breaking news mixed with compelling analysis, insightful commentaries, interviews, and special - sometimes quirky - features.
Marketplace
In-depth focus on the latest business news both nationally and internationally, the global economy, and wider events linked to the financial markets. The only national daily business news program originating from the West Coast, Marketplace is noted for its timely, relevant and accessible coverage of business, economics and personal finance.
On Point
Hear provocative voices and passionate discussion as Tom confronts the stories that are at the center of what is important in the world today. Leaving no perspective unchallenged, On Point digs past the surface and into the core of a subject, exposing each of its real world implications.
Evenin' Jazz
The best of jazz and blues. Evenin' Jazz brings you America's indigenous art form in all its colors. From cutting-edge young lions to venerable originators, electric to acoustic, high-voltage to easy-going, you'll be treated to a broad palette of the finest in music.
Weekend Edition Saturday
The program wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories.
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! is NPR's weekly hour-long quiz program. Each week on the radio you can test your knowledge against some of the best and brightest in the news and entertainment world while figuring out what's real news and what's made up. On the Web, you can play along too.
Radiolab
Radiolab is a show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience.
The Moth Radio Show
The Moth is an acclaimed not-for-profit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. It is a celebration of both the raconteur, who breathes fire into true tales of ordinary life, and the storytelling novice, who has lived through something extraordinary and yearns to share it. At the center of each performance is, of course, the story – and The Moth’s directors work with each storyteller to find, shape and present it.
TED Radio Hour
An idea is the one gift that you can hang onto even after you've given it away. Welcome to TED Radio Hour hosted by Guy Raz – a journey through fascinating ideas: astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, new ways to think and create.
Ask Me Another
A rambunctious hour that blends brainteasers and local pub trivia night with comedy and music.
Folk & Acoustic Music
The "Acoustic" in Folk & Acoustic Music accounts for all contemporary music that has roots in folk music. Included in this broad definition is blues and gospel music, contemporary singer/songwriters, bluegrass, old-time music, and music from around the world, good music that deserves to be heard.
The Tavis Smiley Show
The Tavis Smiley Show is a high-energy exchange of views, information, and insight hosted by Tavis Smiley. The one-hour weekly show offers a unique blend of news and newsmakers in expanded conversations.
This American Life
First-person stories and short fiction pieces that are touching, funny, and surprising. Hosted by Ira Glass, from WBEZ Chicago Public Radio.
On Being
On Being is a spacious conversation — and an evolving media space — about the big questions at the center of human life, from the boldest new science of the human brain to the most ancient traditions of the human spirit. The program began as an occasional series on Minnesota Public Radio in 1999, then became a monthly national program in September 2001, and launched as a weekly program titled Speaking of Faith in the summer of 2003.
Snap Judgement
Putting the public back in public radio. Everybody's got a story to tell. Make a long story short, spin a yarn, or divulge your darkest secret. Then share it with the world and experience others' stories.
Night Train
Since 1977, Ted has devoted himself to collecting and popularizing the jazz and big band music of the '30's and 40's. Over the past twenty years, he has accumulated an enviable collection of vintage performances including WWII recordings, Glen Miller concerts and Armed Forces Radio Services broadcasts. Listeners can tune in to Night Train each week to hear performances by the artists and ensembles who shaped jazz along with Ted's anecdotes and knowledgeable commentary. But Ted's musical interests don't end there. You will also find him playing selections from classic modern recordings.
Sesame Street
Sesame Street put television to work as an educational tool, and independent research has repeatedly and conclusively proven that the approach succeeds in improving cognitive skills, teaching respect and social skills, and promoting school readiness skills. Children who watch the show as two-year-olds gain an advantage in math, vocabulary, and other school readiness skills by the time they are five.
Curious George
CURIOUS GEORGE is a 2-time Daytime Emmy® award-winning animated series based on the popular books by Margret and H.A. Rey. It airs daily on PBS KIDS. (Check local listings or theTV Schedulefor dates and times.)
Aimed at preschool viewers (ages three to five), the goal of the series is to inspire children to explore science, engineering, and math in the world around them. And what better guide is there for this kind of exploration than the world's most curious monkey?
George lives to find new things to discover, touch, spill, and chew. Everything is new to George and worth investigating. Of course, in George's hands — all four of them — investigation often leads to unintended consequences! Throughout George's adventures, he encounters and models basic concepts in each of the three content areas. (To learn more, read about theeducational philosophythat drives the series.)
PBS Ready to Learn
Supporting parents and teachers through PBS educational programming.
WLRN Radio Theater
Using creative theater and radio broadcasting methods to deliver civic engagement and education opportunities for under-served communities.
Where we work
Awards
National Awards 2013
Edward R Murrow Award
Regional Awards 2013
Edward R Murrow Award
Investigative Reporting: Second Place 2013
Education Writers of America
Radio Stations News Series: First Place 2013
National Headliner Awards
Radio Station Documentary: Second Place 2013
National Headliner Awards
Overall Excellence 2013
Radio Television Digital News Association
Breaking News 2013
Radio Television Digital News Association
Continuing Coverage 2013
Radio Television Digital News Association
Feature Reporting 2013
Radio Television Digital News Association
Investigative Reporting 2013
Radio Television Digital News Association
News Documentary 2013
Radio Television Digital News Association
Reporting: Hard News 2013
Radio Television Digital News Association
Use of Sound 2013
Radio Television Digital News Association
Writing 2013
Radio Television Digital News Association
Website 2013
Radio Television Digital News Association
Various Awards 2013
Florida Associated Press Broadcasters Assoc.
Various Awards 2013
Sunshine State Awards
Various Awards 2013
Green EyeShade Awards
Various Awards 2013
Online News Association (ONA)
Various Awards 2013
Florida Society of Newspaper Editors
Bronze Award 2013
Richard M. Driehaus grant recipient
Affiliations & memberships
National Public Radio 2014
Public Radio International 2014
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of broadcast audience members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total number of new organization members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
WLRN exists to serve the civic engagement, education and economic development goals of south Florida.
WLRN Public Media aims to accomplish reaching a larger audience not only by terrestrial radio and television but also through multi-media platforms.
WLRN Public Media has increased audience range in Palm Beach County to 700,000 with 101.9 FM and has provided Classical Music with it's HD2 channel. This extension of services has kept public media access alive across the entire south Florida geography.
The innovative partnership of WLRN / Miami Herald News has grown exponentially since it's inception and provides the community with credible local and national news.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
In order to become the “round-the-clock pervasive and constant source of news and information about South Florida," WLRN embarked upon a 3-year plan beginning on July 1st of 2013. That plan emphasized these strategies:
1. A tight and clear editorial focus, including geographic inclusion, ethnic, racial and age diversity and appeal; well-chosen content verticals; sense of place storytelling.
2. Strategic partnering: With partners who bring to the table reputation and resources, shared aspirations including the desire to perform significant public service and integrity in their business practices. The current unique and powerful relationship between The Miami Herald and WLRN is a perfect example of the kind of partnering we're seeking.
3. Leveraging of our existing assets and relationships: WLRN is partnering closely with NPR on digital services, training and editorial collaboration. NPR provides an ideal platform for us to reach local audiences.
4. Engagement of audiences in helping to tell the story of South Florida through social media, including Twitter, Facebook, the Public Insight Network and other engagement platforms.
5. Cross-platform distribution, transitioning from being radio-centric to being multi-platform to grow our digital audiences.
6. Buy-in and engagement from all parts of the organization, overcoming silo thinking.
7. Assessing our resource needs to compete in a very-fast-changing multimedia environment.
8. Investing in our news operation.
9. Diversifying our income to include direct editorial content funding in the form of grants and major donors; digitally derived revenue; packaged marketing services and events sponsorship.
Our plan:
1. News is the future of WLRN.
2. WLRN must be digital. Radio continues its strength and appeal, but it is essential that any media organization present its content on multiple digital platforms including radio, web, mobile and social media. WLRN must develop a specific digital strategy and partnerships to be a key player in the new digital space.
3. As an organization, WLRN must be active in its communities with outreach, events and activities that engage the audience.
4. WLRN will develop special plans to serve currently underserved audiences, especially:
•Broward and Palm Beach Counties
•Black and Hispanic citizens
5. WLRN will focus its news coverage and journalism. “Covering the waterfront" (covering everything) would be a prescription for failure, especially when public radio's appeal is tied to its in-depth reporting.
•WLRN must cover stories that help South Floridians gain a better “sense of place" where they live and work.
•WLRN must interact with its audience: communication must be 2-way.
•WLRN must select a small number of very-important “content verticals" for in-depth coverage. These include politics, arts and education.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
WLRN Public Media has expanded its broadcasting frequency to reach approximately 700,000 new listeners in Palm Beach County to fill the public media gap. Additional investment in digital properties and original programming enables us to address civic engagement, education and economic development goals across our broad and diverse community.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Our impact areas of community engagement, education and economic development are clearly evident in the warm and sustaining support we receive daily across the community we serve. We continue to seek partners that treasure story-telling, high integrity in news and information and community-wide engagement. We look for ways to bring the best of PBS and NPR and more to our community.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Friends of WLRN, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 07/17/2023
Mr. Joseph Goldstein
Shutts
John LaBonia
WLRN
Joseph Goldstein
Shutts and Bowen
Robert McGrath
BDO
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data