by John C. Morley, Independent Producer
Community engagement is critical for local TV stations to remain relevant and valuable to their audiences in 2025. As people increasingly turn to diverse digital sources, local TV must deepen connections by creatively serving and involving their communities. The following are some strategic approaches designed to boost community engagement effectively and sustainably.
Community-Centric Content Creation
Local TV stations should focus on producing content that reflects the identity and interests of their communities. This includes spotlighting local heroes, businesses, cultural events, and pressing local issues through human-interest stories and documentaries. By telling stories that resonate on a personal level, viewers feel recognized and develop loyalty toward the station, reinforcing their role as a vital community voice.
Multi-Platform Interaction and Creator Economy
To engage audiences, especially younger demographics, stations must harness social media and emerging digital spaces actively. This includes not only distributing vertical video formats on TikTok and Instagram, but also experimenting with platforms like Twitch, Discord, and Reddit for unique community interactions. Collaborating with local influencers and content creators blends authentic voices with the station’s brand, expanding reach and relevance beyond traditional broadcast viewers.
Hybrid In-Person and Virtual Community Events
Bringing viewers together through events, both virtual and live, fosters personal connections that deepen engagement. Local TV can host workshops, studio tours, community forums, and celebration events that offer interactive experiences. Hybrid models—combining in-person and streaming options—ensure inclusivity, allowing broader participation irrespective of physical constraints.
Transparent and Inclusive Communication
Stations should prioritize clear, consistent, and transparent communication with their communities. This means providing timely updates on local projects, news, and emergency alerts using a blend of channels such as newsletters, mobile alerts, social media, and the station’s website. Offering multilingual content and partnering with community organizations helps reach diverse populations, enhancing trust and participation.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Forging partnerships with local businesses, civic groups, educational institutions, and cultural organizations can enhance programming and community ties. Co-branded events, sponsorships, and cooperative content creation amplify local relevance and mutual promotion, driving higher engagement and shared value creation.
Leveraging Technology and Data Insights
Utilizing data to understand audience preferences and testing content across platforms allows stations to tailor stories and initiatives that resonate. Exploring generative AI tools can create personalized content experiences and optimize engagement strategies, making outreach more efficient and responsive. Data-driven creativity ensures that programming remains aligned with evolving community interests.
Interactive Contests and Participation
Audience participation can be increased by inviting viewers to contribute through contests, polls, and talent showcases. Encouraging user-generated content generates excitement and social sharing, reinforcing community bonds while increasing the station’s digital footprint.
Audience Development and Membership Programs
Long-term engagement can be cultivated through membership initiatives, subscriptions, or donation programs that offer exclusive content or community benefits. These programs build a dedicated viewer base invested in the station’s success and ongoing impact in the community.
In conclusion, local TV’s strength in 2025 lies in radical imagination and embracing a multi-dimensional approach to engagement. Combining compelling, community-focused content with innovative technology, transparent communication, and inclusive events positions local TV stations as indispensable hubs for connection, information, and civic pride. These strategies foster deeper community bonds and help local stations thrive in a converging media landscape.
This approach, rooted in listening to and serving the community, will enable local TV to grow relevance, reach, and impact in meaningful ways, driving sustained viewer loyalty and engagement in the coming years.
News & Events
Posted: January 9, 2026 by Doug Seidel
Spotlight: Jordan Anderson Independent Producer – A Platform for Career Development
by Jordan Anderson, Television Producer
Jordan Anderson is an aspiring producer and currently produces and directs three television shows at Piscataway Community Television. Jordan graduated from Rider University in December 2023 with a BFA degree in film and television. Having lived and studied in various cities (domestic and international) she strives to do the best work possible.
A background that prepared her for a career in media
Her background in entertainment began in high school, when she decided to pursue storytelling and visual media as a career. She interned and lived in Los Angeles, learning about media in the heart of Hollywood. She also worked as a traveling journalist in Urbino, Italy. These experiences contributed to her current success.
Learning from her mentor and colleagues
Upon meeting her mentor and close friend, Steve Kaiser. Steve has worked closely with PCTV for 33 years and has the longest-running show there called On the Loose. Steve taught Jordan the business with hands-on experience. She and Steve actively work on Non-Profit Television (NPTV), The Green Industry Report, and On the Loose together every week. Steve taught her all she knows about cable television and continuously inspires her.
Their partnership began in January 2024, when her father brought her down to the Total Pro Expo in Edison, NJ. Steve and the host, Lisa, were filming an episode for Growing Green (now The Green Industry Report) where Lisa interviewed her dad. Jordan’s father works for CLC Landscape Design in Ringwood, NJ, and was tasked with receiving their awards that year.
As Steve and Lisa introduced themselves as cable television crew members, Jordan’s dad recommended she meet them. Lisa has worked closely with both of them since. Upon joining her father the second day of the Expo, Jordan met Steve and immediately picked up the equipment and filmed the remaining interviews for that month’s show. Jordan was a natural, and Steve was impressed with how quickly she learned.
Bringing Gen Z flair
Having worked in television for decades, Steve started many different shows during his time with PCTV. When Jordan joined the team, he revived one of his old shows, Non-Profit Television, which had existed for 8 years, and gave Jordan full control of the new age of the show. She started social media pages, YouTube channels, and her own business. She brought the innovations from what she learned in college to make the show better. These shows include:
Non-Profit Television (NPTV) is a show dedicated to 501(c)(3)s and promoting organizations and their upcoming events. Besides being producer, Jordan has worked as a camera operator, director, content creator, social media expert, and host. Although her original intention was to stay behind the scenes, she was encouraged by Steve to be on camera, interviewing the different people they met. This gave her a sense of both sides of the business–crew and talent. Some non-profit organizations that have been featured on the show include: The Fighting Children’s Cancer Foundation, the Meghan Rose Bradley Foundation, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department, the Branchburg Rotary, and many more.
The Green Industry Report was formerly known as the award-winning Growing Green. Originally sponsored by the New Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association (NJNLA), it focused on all things green industry in New Jersey.With host Lisa DeAngelis, the show features various garden centers, business owners, and agriculture experts sharing their knowledge of plants and flowers (most recently sponsored by Hionis Greenhouses). The team loves learning more about the green industry in the Garden State.
On the Loose has been on the air for over 30 years, representing many different businesses. Steve started the show back in 1992, where he has had over 40 hosts. Currently hosted by Lisa and Jordan, the crew gets to meet a multitude of business owners and industry professionals. Best described as a variety show, it captures the fun parts of life by supporting small businesses. Having ice cream shops, meat markets, thrift stores, entertainment venues, etc., Jordan truly loves to see the connection this show has had over the years with so many people.
Jordan’s goals with these shows are to create a portfolio of herself and her work for future projects and opportunities. In addition to working as a producer on the shows, she is also the executive assistant at a production company in New York City. She has worked with Sonia Victoria Werner at the Lighthouse Ladies, LLC., since January 2024 as well. Here, she branches out her narrative film knowledge while still learning the aspects of the broadcast world.
Jordan is very grateful for all of the opportunities she has been given, and strives to work hard every day she can, and thanks those she has met along the way who have helped her out. She is especially thankful to her parents, Steve and Lisa, along with George and Doug at PCTV, who helped her be a part of the JAG community and exposed her to the broadcast world.
Posted: January 8, 2026 by Doug Seidel
How Your Phone Is Making Your Local TV Station Smarter
by John C. Morley, Independent Producer
Instead of competing, pull phones into the community TV experience
Local community TV has always been pretty simple at its core: turn on the channel and see people and places you actually recognize. That part still matters. What has changed is how viewers watch. They sit on the couch with a phone in their hand, half watching and half scrolling. That sounds like a problem, but for community stations it can actually be an opportunity. With a few new tech ideas, you can pull that phone into the experience instead of competing with it.
The easiest place to start is the humble QR code
A few years ago, most people ignored QR codes. Now they’re on menus, posters, buses, and bills—and people really do scan them. For a local station, that means you can turn a passive segment into something a viewer can act on in the moment. Interviewing someone from a nonprofit? Put a small code on screen that goes straight to their volunteer form or donation page. Covering a town event? Link to a map, schedule, or sign up sheet. No apps, no logins, just a clear label like: Scan for more info.
Some simple tools for interacting with viewers
Once you’re comfortable with that, you can try simple viewer input. Big networks are leaning on interactivity to hold on to younger audiences. The same tools are available to community TV, just on a smaller scale. Instead of guessing what people want to see, ask them. A basic online poll, tied to a QR code or short link, can let people vote on low risk decisions: which community event to cover next, which guest to invite back, or what topic deserves a deeper dive. You may not get thousands of responses, but the people who take the time are exactly the ones you want to hear from.
Think of your channel as the front door, not the whole house
Larger broadcasters often air a short piece and then send viewers online for the longer version, extra context, or tools they can use. Community TV can borrow that pattern without getting fancy. Say you produce a five minute segment about a local small business fair. On air, you keep it tight: a few quick interviews and some good visuals. On screen, you add a code or URL that goes to a simple landing page with the full list of vendors, links to their websites, and maybe a longer cut of one of the interviews. The broadcast stays watchable, and the people who really care have somewhere to go.
Younger viewers are a different challenge
Many younger viewers barely touch cable, but they will watch something if it shows up in their feeds and feels like it was made for a phone. That doesn’t mean you have to reinvent everything. When your crew is already out shooting, grab a few extra clips vertically on a phone. Later, cut those into short, captioned pieces for Instagram, YouTube Shorts, or TikTok, with a line like “Full story on Channel 34 this Thursday at 7 p.m.” It’s the same content, just packaged in a way that has a chance to land in someone’s timeline.
Community TV can help viewers acquire basic digital skills
A lot of people in town still struggle with things that tech folks take for granted—spotting a scam text, turning on closed captions, or signing up for local alerts. Stations can create a series of very short “tech tip” segments that show, step by step, how to do one small thing. Point a camera at a phone or laptop screen, have someone talk through the steps in plain language, and then repeat the key point on a graphic at the end. Those tips can fill odd time slots and live online as well.
Think about local emergencies and important events
Finally, think about the serious moments: storms, power outages, big public meetings, or other local emergencies. New TV standards and connected platforms are pushing bigger stations to rethink how they handle alerts and critical information. Community channels can plan ahead too, even with basic tools. That might mean building simple templates for on screen maps and checklists, keeping key hotline numbers handy in your graphics system, and having a QR or short link ready that leads to a “one page” local resource list. When something happens, you’re not scrambling—you’re plugging solid information into a system you already tested.
None of this requires a huge budget or a full time tech team. It’s mostly about small tweaks: adding a code here, a link there, a short poll, or a vertical clip. Community TV has survived everything from cable to streaming by staying rooted in real people and real stories. A few thoughtful tech touches won’t change that. They just make it a little easier for your neighbors to watch, respond, and feel like the station is still theirs in a very different media world.
Posted: January 6, 2026 by Doug Seidel
Legislative Update December 2025: News from Trenton & Washington, DC – Changes in the FCC
by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
American Broadband Act of 2025
On December 3rd, the House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce, hastily voted on a group of bills known together as H.R. 2289, The American Broadband Act of 2025. Inside this potpourri of bills, was one that could affect just about all cable franchises in the United States. Basically, this is H.R. 3557 all over again.
From Gerard Lederer, Attorney – Best, Best and Krieger
A few of the ways this bill impact local franchises include:
This bill has a series of provisions that don’t just affect cable franchising, but may actually affect local governments. The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), The National League of Cities (NLC), The National Association of Counties (NACo), and The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) wrote a joint letter to express their strong opposition to the bills before the Communications and Technology Subcommittee that would preempt local authority over public rights-of-way and land use.
From Mike Wassenaar, President-Alliance for Community Media (ACM)
Whether you are in a state franchising state or a local franchising state. H.R. 2289 affects any organization that benefits from local cable franchising, such as a local government, a school district, or a community media center, nonprofit that’s operating in a local community.
It’s a wide range of organizations and a wide range of people around the United States that will be affected by some of the measures of the bill.
The American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025 is a very interesting logic model in terms of how to get broadband to rural communities that don’t have adequate broadband connections. If you have communities that don’t have broadband, we need to get rid of the rights of all communities that may have broadband.
A couple of the problems H.R. 2289 will cause is that it would implement shot clocks for decision making on new franchises or wireless applications and codifies them. So that if there’s no response from local government by a shot clock deadline, there’s deemed granted provisions for the application, even though the application may be defective.
There are restrictions on local government’s rights in terms of oversight for both telecommunications companies and cable companies. The bill eliminates state and local oversight over cable sales and transactions for mergers and acquisitions, with the idea that if we just eliminate consumer oversight, we’ll have more broadband in rural areas. H.R. 2289, also strips local governments of property rights and compensation in favor of cable, wireless, and telecommunications providers.
Another provision says that a cable company can alter or terminate a franchise with notice based on a number of conditions, including commercial impracticability. Any item within a contract can be altered by a company with 120 days’ notice. A community could dispute this, but they’d have to go to court or to the FCC to dispute it. There’s no negotiation in terms of sort of the way in which power is structured in the bill.”
During this markup, New Jersey Representatives Frank Pallone and Robert Menendez voiced very strong support for local communities and expressed quite coherently a set of protections for local rights. This bill remains a partisan measure even though there was a series of bipartisan measures that were put forward by the Committee on Energy and Commerce that all sides supported.
Now, the bills have been marked up. It passed along what was essentially a party line vote and is waiting for the next steps, which could happen in 2026 as this bill moves forward.
If you need more information, contact:
David Garb, Legislative Chair, Jersey Access Group davegarb@paps.net
Posted: December 10, 2025 by Doug Seidel
Strategies to Increase Community Engagement through Local TV in 2025
by John C. Morley, Independent Producer
Community engagement is critical for local TV stations to remain relevant and valuable to their audiences in 2025. As people increasingly turn to diverse digital sources, local TV must deepen connections by creatively serving and involving their communities. The following are some strategic approaches designed to boost community engagement effectively and sustainably.
Community-Centric Content Creation
Local TV stations should focus on producing content that reflects the identity and interests of their communities. This includes spotlighting local heroes, businesses, cultural events, and pressing local issues through human-interest stories and documentaries. By telling stories that resonate on a personal level, viewers feel recognized and develop loyalty toward the station, reinforcing their role as a vital community voice.
Multi-Platform Interaction and Creator Economy
To engage audiences, especially younger demographics, stations must harness social media and emerging digital spaces actively. This includes not only distributing vertical video formats on TikTok and Instagram, but also experimenting with platforms like Twitch, Discord, and Reddit for unique community interactions. Collaborating with local influencers and content creators blends authentic voices with the station’s brand, expanding reach and relevance beyond traditional broadcast viewers.
Hybrid In-Person and Virtual Community Events
Bringing viewers together through events, both virtual and live, fosters personal connections that deepen engagement. Local TV can host workshops, studio tours, community forums, and celebration events that offer interactive experiences. Hybrid models—combining in-person and streaming options—ensure inclusivity, allowing broader participation irrespective of physical constraints.
Transparent and Inclusive Communication
Stations should prioritize clear, consistent, and transparent communication with their communities. This means providing timely updates on local projects, news, and emergency alerts using a blend of channels such as newsletters, mobile alerts, social media, and the station’s website. Offering multilingual content and partnering with community organizations helps reach diverse populations, enhancing trust and participation.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Forging partnerships with local businesses, civic groups, educational institutions, and cultural organizations can enhance programming and community ties. Co-branded events, sponsorships, and cooperative content creation amplify local relevance and mutual promotion, driving higher engagement and shared value creation.
Leveraging Technology and Data Insights
Utilizing data to understand audience preferences and testing content across platforms allows stations to tailor stories and initiatives that resonate. Exploring generative AI tools can create personalized content experiences and optimize engagement strategies, making outreach more efficient and responsive. Data-driven creativity ensures that programming remains aligned with evolving community interests.
Interactive Contests and Participation
Audience participation can be increased by inviting viewers to contribute through contests, polls, and talent showcases. Encouraging user-generated content generates excitement and social sharing, reinforcing community bonds while increasing the station’s digital footprint.
Audience Development and Membership Programs
Long-term engagement can be cultivated through membership initiatives, subscriptions, or donation programs that offer exclusive content or community benefits. These programs build a dedicated viewer base invested in the station’s success and ongoing impact in the community.
In conclusion, local TV’s strength in 2025 lies in radical imagination and embracing a multi-dimensional approach to engagement. Combining compelling, community-focused content with innovative technology, transparent communication, and inclusive events positions local TV stations as indispensable hubs for connection, information, and civic pride. These strategies foster deeper community bonds and help local stations thrive in a converging media landscape.
This approach, rooted in listening to and serving the community, will enable local TV to grow relevance, reach, and impact in meaningful ways, driving sustained viewer loyalty and engagement in the coming years.
Posted: December 9, 2025 by Doug Seidel
Smarter Workflows for Community Stations: Switchboard Live’s Year of Updates
By Rudy Ellis, President, Switchboard
Dear JAG members,
As we reflect on this past year, we want to speak directly to you: the PEG stations, city teams, and community media communicators who make local transparency possible every single day. At Switchboard Live, our mission has always been to simplify live streaming so you can focus on what matters most: keeping your communities informed, connected, and confident. This year, we’ve introduced several important updates to help you do just that:
Scheduled Events is the go-to tool to plan ahead with confidence. Whether it’s a council meeting, a press conference, town hall, Friday night football game, or election night coverage, you can set up streams in advance and know they’ll go live exactly when needed, to all the channels your audience regularly visits.
With Analytics, you can measure what matters. Track viewership across platforms, see which channels resonate most with residents, and use those insights to strengthen communication strategies.
And with the recent launch of PartnerShare, collaboration has never been easier. Emergencies or large, city-wide events often require coordination across agencies, departments, and community partners. PartnerShare lets you share livestreams directly with trusted partners, ensuring that critical information reaches residents across multiple platforms without adding complexity for your staff.
Together, these updates mean smoother workflows, stronger collaboration, and broader reach for local TV stations. They’re built with your realities in mind: limited staff, tight budgets, and the need to do more with less while still delivering reliable, transparent communication.
Our Commitment to JAG
Outside of these application improvements, we are also proud to have deepened our involvement with JAG this year. From attending the annual conference last May, to hosting two exclusive webinars on relevant topics to the community and being available as a resource on multi-streaming and public-sector communication when needed. Every conversation with you helps us improve. We’re grateful for the chance to learn alongside such a dedicated community.
We’re not stopping here
On December 3, we’ll be joining you in person for a special presentation to JAG members. We look forward to sharing more about these updates, answering your questions, and continuing the conversation about how live streaming can strengthen public trust and community connection.
Looking ahead, Switchboard Live remains committed to building tools that make live streaming easier, smarter, and more resilient for public sector teams. We’re excited to continue this journey with JAG and look forward to another year of collaboration and innovation. Together, we’ll keep building stronger connections and more transparent communities. Remember, you can always reach out to us at success@switchboard.live or directly at rudy@switchboard.live, we’ll be happy to connect—it’s what we’re all about!
Posted: December 5, 2025 by Doug Seidel
Legislative Update November 2025: News from Trenton & Washington, DC – Changes in the FCC
by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
A Recap from the JAG General Meeting on October 29, 2025
Special Section Dedicated to ADA Title II Web and Mobility Access Compliance to WCAG 2.1 Level AA Rules
On October 29th, the Jersey Access Group broke away from our normal general meeting and focused on the ADA requirements that all of us will most likely need to start providing. The following is important information from the meeting:
From Mike Wassenaar, President-Alliance for Community Media (ACM)
Mike Wassenaar and the ACM have also shared with us a slideshow ACCESSIBILITY RULES EVERY PEG CHANNEL SHOULD UNDERSTAND highlighting everything you need to know about these rules, as well as the following list of key takeaways to remember about disability access with your channels and services:
If you need more information, contact:
Posted: October 22, 2025 by Doug Seidel
Spotlight: Ocean County College Supports Television Production
by Mary Granahan, Television Production Director, Ocean County College
I’m Mary Granahan, Director of Television Production, and I’m excited to introduce you to Ocean TV-20, a full-service production studio and 24-hour station operated by Ocean County College. Our full HD studio also functions as an immersive training ground for the next generation of media professionals. So, our operations are a bit different than more traditional PEG operations.
Ocean TV-20 serves Ocean County with a variety of programming, including world news, culture, local stories, live campus events and original programming. For example, our show Shore of Support highlights organizations that enhance the lives of our community through charitable efforts. As a teaching studio, we offer students real-world experience by providing opportunities for them to participate in all aspects of production, from writing and producing to operating equipment and even directing.
Students at Ocean County College have access to our production facilities which include a recently upgraded LED lighting system, 4K cameras, and three working sets: a photo/video backdrop, a news set with removable backgrounds and large monitor, and a recently donated lifestyle set complete with recessed lighting, stonelike walls and monitors. This generous donation elevates our overall space while offering more variety to our students. Our facilities are also available to rent for public use.
In addition to running our studio and station, I’m also the advisor to the Viking Video Club, a welcoming space for students to enhance their creativity, knowledge, and industry experience outside of the classroom. Our members include students and alumni with all levels of experience and areas of study, including those outside of our Digital Mass Media Program. The club meets regularly to work on short films and passion projects, and to share ideas and feedback. Under my leadership, membership has grown tremendously.
A contributing factor to this growth is the very popular Industry Professional Workshop Series. Film, television, and media professionals provide valuable insights and learning opportunities for our students. Past workshops have covered producing, directing, screenwriting, special effects makeup, news reporting, filmmaking and much more. Through my industry connections, I have been able to bring in professionals and alumni with impressive résumés – including those who have worked on productions for Bravo, HBO, NBC Sports, The Olympics, Only Murders in the Building, The Florida Project—as well as professors from the NY Film Academy, Rutgers, Rowan and Rider Universities.
These workshops guide students as they produce their own projects (showcased at a short film screening last year). Many of our industry professionals returned to campus to support the Viking Video Club and their creative work.
An important lesson I emphasize is the power of networking. Through past connections, I secured an on-campus location for a feature film. And, even more exciting, several of our students got to work on the production. Opportunities like this are what make our program unique and truly career focused.
Staying current with rapidly evolving industry technology is a challenge we face as a teaching studio. Thanks to recent investments and generous donations, our studio has undergone significant upgrades:
None of this would be possible without support from the Ocean County College Board of Trustees, President Pamela Monaco, Executive Director of College Relations Jan Kirsten, and the Ocean County Board of Commissioners.
At its core, Ocean TV-20 and OCC equip students with the tools, training, and confidence to succeed in the media industry. Whether a student dreams of working in film, television, digital media, or live production, our station serves as a launchpad for developing real skills in a real-world environment.
We’re proud of what we’ve built, and even more excited about where we’re going. To learn more about our facilities and programming, visit ocean.edu.
Posted: October 22, 2025 by Doug Seidel
Live and Unfiltered: What TV Can—and Can’t—Show Now
by John C. Morley, Independent Producer
The world of television is changing faster than ever. Nowhere is that more obvious than with live streaming. With smartphones in every hand and social platforms offering instant broadcasting, the line between traditional TV and online content is blurring. But, as more broadcasters go live, a big question remains: what’s allowed on TV these days—and what’s off-limits?
A New Era, New Challenges
Not long ago, live television meant carefully scripted programs with hefty delays to censor anything unexpected. Today, anyone with a phone can go live, and TV stations are racing to keep up. The demand for instant, unscripted content is enormous, but so are the risks. Just ask any producer who’s seen a slip-up or unexpected moment go viral for the wrong reasons.
What’s Changed in Live TV Content
Recent years have forced regulatory bodies and networks to rethink what’s acceptable on broadcast TV. Decency laws and FCC guidelines still apply, but the sheer speed and volume of live content mean even big networks are double-checking their procedures.
While violence, explicit language, and nudity are typically banned, what constitutes “indecent” is up for debate—especially when something happens in the blink of an eye. One famous example is the “Wardrobe Malfunction” seen during the Super Bowl halftime show years ago, which triggered years of new restrictions and even higher fines for broadcasters.
But it’s not just about what TV can’t show. Many stations are taking advantage of what is possible: more live coverage of community events, instantly responding to breaking news, and bringing real-time reactions from audiences straight into their programming. The immediacy and authenticity of live TV can boost engagement and trust, so long as proper guidelines are in place.
Streaming Platforms Blur the Line
With major cable companies now offering their own streaming services and platforms like YouTube and Twitch carrying their own “channels,” the distinction between traditional TV and streaming grows less clear. Some streaming platforms aren’t bound by the same FCC rules, leading viewers to question—why are some things allowed on Netflix, but not on their local news?
For TV stations, this means walking a tightrope. While they want to keep up with trends and offer the unfiltered experiences digital audiences crave, they also need to avoid lawsuits, fines, or damaging their reputation with inappropriate content. That’s why newsrooms everywhere are holding regular training sessions, updating delay systems, and developing live response playbooks.
The Surprise Dos and Don’ts
Why Guidelines Matter Now More Than Ever
The stakes have never been higher for TV stations. One misstep can be clipped, shared, and go viral in seconds, potentially costing networks millions and eroding viewer trust. Setting clear, transparent standards and communicating them to the public is essential.
Looking Ahead
As live streaming and traditional TV converge, the rules will keep evolving. Networks that adapt quickly, invest in staff training, and keep the audience informed are best positioned to thrive in this new era.
So, next time you tune into a live broadcast, know that there’s a well-coordinated team making split-second decisions to keep you engaged, informed, and safe from the surprises that come with live, unfiltered television.
For station managers and operators of public TV, adapting to this era of live and unfiltered broadcasts means continually balancing innovation with responsibility. Strong guidelines and a well-prepared team aren’t just safeguards, they’re your foundation for building audience trust and leading in the competitive media landscape. By staying proactive, transparent, and responsive, public TV leaders can make the most of new opportunities while protecting both their viewers and their brand. This will ensure that live coverage keeps communities connected, informed, and engaged today and for years to come.