Earning your trust

You will often hear us say during membership campaigns that “we work to earn your trust every day.” It’s a phrase that we do not take lightly. Though we receive your endorsement through your membership gift, we look to validate that support throughout the year. From in-depth news stories to inspiring arts programs to extending our community reach, you can always rely on WXXI to make a positive difference every day.  Some of our latest activities at the station certainly demonstrate that.

WXXI News recently developed a series of reports helping to outline the complexities of the proposed Mayoral Control of Rochester City Schools. It is a controversial subject that affects many families. (You can listen to the entire series of reports here on our Center for Public Affairs page.) Not only were the reports concise and enlightening, WXXI’s foundation in education helped us to deliver the kind of reporting and analysis of the issue that you depend on. 

Similarly, FRONTLINE delivered a powerful episode examining last year’s deadly crash of Flight 3407 in Clarence Center.  (If you missed it, you can watch FRONTLINE: Flying Cheap here on our video player.) In unparalleled FRONTLINE style, the program illustrated not only what happened, but also why it happened, and what the regional airline industry’s response has been. A week earlier, WXXI’s Need to Know included an interview with the correspondent who took part in the FRONTLINE investigation. It exemplified the type of trusted programming PBS delivers… again, the kind of programming you expect every day from WXXI.

As we look forward, two upcoming specials will provide previews of programs that WXXI will be presenting in the next several months. The first will be our sneak peek of Restoring a Masterpiece: The Renovation of the Eastman Theatre on Thursday, March 18 at 8 p.m., which presents a fascinating look at the history of the theatre, as well as some memorable performances. When the completed program airs later this spring, Restoring a Masterpiece will demonstrate again why Rochester is considered a world-class center for the arts. Meanwhile, Rochester’s home team – the Rochester Red Wings – will be profiled in another upcoming WXXI presentation. The 13-part, reality-based series Minor League not only takes a historical look at the Red Wings, but also brings you inside the clubhouse to see what it takes to make it to the Major League from a player's perspective. The series premiers on WXXI this May and we will be airing a special preview episode on Thursday, March 11th at 8 p.m. Both Restoring a Masterpiece and Minor League will be made available to public television stations across the country, helping showcase Rochester to a national audience.

We do hope we earn your support and trust every day. And with that support and encouragement, we will continue to build a world-class public broadcasting service that brings the best in news, arts and culture to our community.