Local Content and Service Report

2024 Mission Overview

Iowa PBS educates, informs, enriches and inspires Iowans.

Iowa PBS is Iowa’s statewide public television network, producing original, educational and free media. Our mission is not just about the content we make, but for whom we make it. Our award-winning team of producers, educators, artists, journalists and public media experts create a broad spectrum of rich and entertaining programming and services that respond to the changing needs and priorities of the diverse communities we serve. Iowa PBS cultivates lasting relationships by actively engaging our many audiences in a manner that aligns with their interests and exceeds their expectations. We work to enrich the lives of Iowans: our viewers, our neighbors, our partners and collaborators.

Our annual goals and objectives remain motivated by four strategic priorities:

• Who we are: the best, comprehensive, statewide educational media organization serving Iowa with an empowered, engaged team and a thriving work culture.
• What we do: provide enrichment and entertainment opportunities for everyone, either through Iowa curriculum-aligned educational resources that inform, enlighten and engage students or through exceptional national and local programs that inform, enrich and inspire
• How we do it: by innovating and expanding the Iowa PBS multiplatform media and services enterprise to embrace the variety of technologies, platforms and formats available to today’s audiences.
• Why we matter: we strive to engage our audiences through quality interactions that result in stronger relationships, increased awareness of and connection to our educational content and positive impacts on their outlooks, their experiences and their futures.

Purpose

Iowa is at the heart of Iowa PBS. We offer Iowans a partner in their quest for community and lifelong learning by engaging people of all ages with trusted services and programming that both educate and inspire. A statewide hub for public policy and a platform for civic and civil discourse, we provide news and information with historical perspective that enhances the lives of Iowans from all backgrounds, all generations, and all walks of life. We are committed to delivering high-quality and innovative media and services that create insight, fulfillment, and growth while offering companionship, comfort, and entertainment. Iowa PBS provides the lens through which Iowans may better see their world.

Vision

Iowa PBS enriches lives.

Strategic Plan

The Iowa Public Broadcasting Board governs Iowa PBS, holds the broadcast licenses for the statewide network, and sets broad programming objectives and policy guidelines. At the Board’s direction, Iowa PBS underwent a strategic planning process designed to set priorities and define impact areas helpful to our success. Leadership and staff-driven strategy meetings along with independent, internal and external research revealed critical challenges and opportunities, and ultimately priority setting to establish and align annual goals.

Iowa PBS is committed to our focused and accountable service to Iowans. Iowa PBS is an autonomous agency aligned with the State of Iowa Department of Education.

Broadcast and Online Programming Overview

In support of our mission, Iowa PBS broadcasts/streams 96 hours of quality educational content every day over our four unique programming channels – Iowa PBS (.1), Iowa PBS KIDS (.2), Iowa PBS WORLD (.3) and Iowa PBS Create (.4). Our studios in Johnston, Iowa distribute our programming to our statewide network, including: Channel 11, Des Moines; Channel 12, Iowa City; Channel 21, Fort Dodge; Channel 24, Mason City; Channel 27, Sioux City; Channel 32, Waterloo; Channel 32, Council Bluffs; Channel 36, Davenport; and Channel 36, Red Oak. More than 700 broadcast hours were devoted to locally produced programs over the reporting period. Nearly half (46.02%) of the households in our viewing area* watched Iowa PBS via our broadcasts each month.

While our broadcast audience remains strong, today’s media consumers also seek ‘on demand’ options that allow them to watch where they want and when they want. We continue to broaden our online offerings to meet Iowans expanding interests and preferences, reaching them on YouTube (7.5 million video views in FY24), Facebook (117,536 followers) and the PBS app (2.72 million streams for FY2024). Iowa PBS’s social media engagement continues to exceed one million (1,347,285) and our website visits surpassed 3.6 million last year!

* Nielsen Data and TRAC Media measured between July 2023 and June 2024 for KDIN

Iowa PBS combines the programs and services of the PBS KIDS brand with local programming to serve Iowa’s children. Iowa PBS takes very seriously its responsibility to provide child-focused and violence-free children’s programs that promote the joy of learning – not products for advertisers.

Iowa families enjoyed unique opportunities to interact with our online educational services during 2024. We experienced a 35% growth in the number of active users on iowapbs.org during FY 2024, with 3.6 million pageviews over our entire website. More than 255 thousand visitors learned from our iowapbs.org/education resources, with information on how Iowans fared in the Great Depression and how the state fared following WW II and the 1980s’ Farm Crisis receiving the most views.

We served more than 3.5 million users online, (across multiple platforms) including pbskids.org, PBS KIDS OTT apps, and PBS KIDS Video apps. Both Iowa PBS .1 and Iowa PBS KIDS .2 are live streamed 24 hours a day and 7 days a week on iowapbs.org. Broadcasts of Iowa PBS’s children’s programs remain a significant value to Iowa families as well.

Local Production

Producing content about who we are, where we live and what it means to be an Iowan is the most important thing we do at Iowa PBS. There is nowhere else where Iowans can turn to see programs that showcase the talent, spirit and beauty of our state, and where public policy is not just discussed, but explained. Iowa PBS is able to cover the entire state with its digital mobile production unit. The unit has allowed us to provide remote HD coverage of the Iowa State Fair, operas, high school championship sports, live concerts and more.

Here is the list of projects we produced in 2024:

• 2024 Iowa High School Theatre Awards Showcase featured an unforgettable evening of entertainment celebrating Iowa’s high school musical theater productions. This is a can’t-miss event for anyone who loves musicals and believes in the power of the arts to impact young people.
• 2024 Iowa State Dance Team Championships featured highlights of winning routines and interviews with coaches and dancers. Teams from approximately 250 high schools and 25 colleges, nearly 5,000 of Iowa’s top dance athletes, competed for championship honors in what is considered one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious events of its kind.
• Christmas with Wartburg has inspired audiences for more than 75 years. The program features the talents of nearly 400 students from the Wartburg Choir, Castle Singers, and Wind Ensemble, The Ritterchor, St. Elizabeth Chorale, Kammerstreicher, Kantorei, and Handbell Choir. A one-of-a-kind experience that fills the heart and starts the Advent and Christmas season.
• College Wrestling highlights pulled from our video archives offer iconic coverage of college wrestling, showcasing the intense battles on the mat from the late 1970s to the early 2010s. This collection highlights legendary duals between the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and other powerhouse wrestling programs.
• Condition of the Guard 2024 provided a live stream from the Iowa State Capitol as Major General Ben Corell, Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard, delivered the annual Condition of the Guard address to a joint session of the Iowa Legislature.
• Condition of the State 2024 provided a live broadcast and stream from the Iowa State Capitol of Governor Kim Reynolds’ Condition of the State address to the 90th General Assembly of the Iowa Legislature.
• Des Moines Metro Opera Presents American Apollo explores the relationship between famous portraitist John Singer Sargent and his most significant model, Thomas Eugene McKeller, a Black hotel worker, in this simmering exploration of love, erasure and art.
• Fair 2024 Host Paul Yeager showcased all the Iowa State Fair sights and sounds, including live coverage of the fair parade, a livestream of the queen coronation, and six hour-long highlights shows featuring contests, unique stories, food, animals, music and more. Iowa PBS's Iowa State Fair coverage brings the sights and sounds of the fair home.
• FIND Iowa is a theme-based, standards-aligned virtual learning experience showcasing the science and history of Iowa and addressing critical gaps in resources. The project encourages students grades 2-5 to investigate the state through immersive and interactive resources. Students can virtually explore Iowa through 360° video and images, interactive maps and three-dimensional artifact models.
• Gardening with Steil season 4, with host Aaron Steil, assistant director at Reiman Gardens, and Cindy Haynes. They discuss plant passions such as bonsai and daylilies, tour an herb garden and unique water-wise garden, show how to set up a worm composting bin, and learn about the future of autonomous mowers.
• Historic Buildings of Iowa: Council Bluffs explores the history and architecture of “The Gateway to the West” along Council Bluffs earliest railroads, inside the home of a transcontinental pioneer and throughout a farm machinery factory converted to a cutting-edge arts and entertainment center.
• Iowa All-State Music Festival 2024 showcased Iowa’s finest high school musicians and vocalists gathered at Hilton Coliseum in Ames to perform with the All-State bands, choirs and orchestras. The programs include performances from two thousand top high school musicians.
• Iowa Life uncovers the diverse tapestry of Iowa's people, cultures and stories. Through compelling interviews, scenic visuals, and authentic storytelling, each episode explores the extraordinary lives of individuals who call Iowa home.
• Iowa Pathways is an online learning environment for grades 5-12 that challenges students to create their own story of Iowa history as they explore the people, places, events and ideas of our state. Students choose topics that interest them, build research questions and examine relationships among Iowa concepts—past to present.
• Iowa PBS Sports showcased the outstanding accomplishments of Iowa high school athletes by televising and streaming their championship volleyball, softball, soccer and basketball games. Iowa PBS is the home for Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Championships.
• Iowa Press season 50 and 51 engaged the best local journalists to interview experts, political and other newsworthy figures while exploring issues of state and national interest. Host Kay Henderson, moderates Iowa’s only statewide public affairs television program featuring politicians, political reporters, academics and guests.
• Iowa Press Debates: 1st Congressional District was broadcast in October 2024, moderated by Iowa Press host Kay Henderson. Candidates Christina Bohannan (D - Iowa City) and U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R - Davenport) answered questions from reporters and discussed their platforms, concerns and future plans.
• Iowa Press Debates: 2nd Congressional District was broadcast in October 2024, moderated by Iowa Press host Kay Henderson. Candidates Sarah Corkery (D - Cedar Falls) and U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson (R - Marion) answered questions from reporters and discussed their platforms, concerns and future plans.
• Iowa Science Phenomena is a growing collection of resources created, curated and collected by Iowa educators for use in the classroom. The collection emphasizes the identification and publication of Iowa-specific phenomena, particularly those that represent locally-relevant or unique concepts. The standards-aligned resources and teaching guides are developed to help implement phenomena-based and place-based teaching practices in the classroom.
• Market to Market seasons 49 and 50, the weekly journal of rural America reached a broadcasting milestone when it began its 50th season in August of 2024. The series has covered the issues affecting the more than $1 trillion business of agriculture, explaining the issues faced by the nearly 60 million people who live and work in rural America.
• Market to Market Classroom connects curriculum with stories about the science, technology, culture, and the business of agriculture from the nation's longest-running agribusiness television program. These educational resources challenge students to explore the connections among science, technology and agriculture; and to imagine a new scientific, technical, or engineering innovation to solve a specific problem.
• MtoM Podcast is another weekly production of the Market to Market team that offers a behind the scenes look at the show’s production, stories and interviews about and with those in agriculture and other topics of interest. With over 900 episodes, new content is posted each Tuesday.
• Ready for School initiative provided access to high-quality educational media resources including online games, instructional materials and educational activities that help children increase their school readiness and success. Educational specialists work with educators, parents, childcare providers and local partners in selected Iowa communities to implement STEM and literacy-based activities for children 2 through 5 years old.
• Road Trip Iowa takes you on an adventure across Iowa's scenic byways, showcasing the historic sites, unique attractions and natural beauty along the way. Season 1 of his new, weekly travel show consists of ten, 30-minute episodes featuring the businesses, towns and landscapes along the byways of Iowa.
• State of the Judiciary 2024 offered a livestream as Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen delivered the annual State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the Iowa Legislature.
• Studio 3 LIVE invites local, regional and national artists to take the stage, perform original sets and share their musical journeys. Hosted by Mickey Davis, each episode features interview segments woven throughout the program to learn about each performer, their creative process, and what drives them to make their music. Season 2 of Studio 3 LIVE premiered in October.
• The Des Moines Symphony’s Yankee Doodle Pops presented the Des Moines Symphony’s 30th Annual Independence Day celebration concert at the Iowa State Capitol for all Iowans to enjoy. Music Director and Conductor Joseph Giunta and the Des Moines Symphony musicians have partnered with Iowa PBS since 2021 to broadcast the beloved program statewide.
• The Film Lounge season 8 is produced in partnership with the IEDA. Program objectives include highlighting art and experimental films by underserved Iowa artists; elevating the process of filmmaking as an art form; recognizing the contributions of filmmaking to the economic and cultural vitality of Iowa; and sharing stories important to Iowans.
• The Pope’s Visit to Iowa documents the first visit by a Pope to the state of Iowa. The Des Moines Roman Catholic Diocese hired a filmmaker to document preparations and that film was made available to Iowa PBS to commemorate the event’s 45th anniversary. A unique look at the history and the logistical and spiritual planning it took for such a momentous event.
• Tractor Wars documented the fight to build the first all-purpose tractor. In 1909, hundreds of companies were trying to bring powered implements to America’s farms. By the 1920s, Deere, Ford and International were in a battle to develop a reliable tractor that would become part of everyday agriculture.
• Wander and Wonder is a digital video campaign encouraging students grades PreK-3 to be curious, observant and eager to learn. Videos demonstrate activities related to STEM learning with interactive, seasonal activities, crafts and projects families can do at home. From homemade slime to pancake science, and backyard fun to fun crafts, young explorers can imagine and plan their own adventures.
• Woodsmith Shop season 18 is an information-packed presentation of woodworking furniture projects, along with the tips and techniques to build them in 18 seasons. Roundtable discussions explore a range of woodworking topics to help woodworkers set up and enjoy spending time in their shops.
• World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony 2024, founded by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Iowan Norman Borlaug, gathers hunger fighters from across the globe to honor award winning achievements with remembrance, pageantry, international music and a celebration of agricultural breakthroughs.

Award-Winning Production

Iowa PBS was honored at the 56th Annual Public Media Awards event of the National Educational Telecommunications Association, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2024. Iowa PBS won the award in the Community Engagement: Local Project category for localizing a national project with an equally compelling and engaging local project.

Iconic Iowa, which helped to promote PBS’s nationally broadcast documentary Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David Rubenstein during Summer 2023, featured a comprehensive online and in-person campaign to provide local content and engagement around iconic landmarks and symbols of Iowa. This project featured a traveling photo competition and exhibit, a trivia night, local digital content and an online photography showcase where Iowans submitted photos of their local communities.

Iowa PBS was a 2024 PMA finalist in three other categories:

• Marketing/Communications: Social Media — Iowa State Fair Social Media Campaign
• Content: Historical Feature — Tractor Wars
• Content: Short Form — Iowa Life: Dasia Taylor

The PMAs are a national honor for public television's finest work in community engagement, content, education, marketing/communications, independent productions and overall excellence. NETA is a professional association that provides leadership, general audience content, educational services, professional development and trusted financial management services to individual public media licensees, their affinity groups and public media as a whole.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences — Upper Midwest Chapter honored Iowa PBS with a Regional Emmy® Award. The 2024 Upper Midwest Emmy® Awards Ceremony took place in Prior Lake, Minnesota in October. The award recognized Des Moines Metro Opera Presents Carmen in the Entertainment — Long Form Content category.

The Upper Midwest Chapter also recognized our network as nominees in six other categories:

• Documentary — Topical: Citizen Diplomacy
• Magazine Program: Iowa Life: Episode 108
• Entertainment — Long Form Content: Des Moines Metro Opera Presents Carmen
• Diversity/Equity/Inclusion — Short Form Content: Iowa Life: Lantern Center
• Public Service Announcement: Brain Snacks
• Talent — Program Host/Moderator: Brooke Kohlsdorf — Road Trip Iowa Photographer — Short or Long Form Content: Kenny Knutson Composite — Western Skies Scenic Byway

Iowa PBS was recognized for work in four large market television award categories at the Iowa Broadcast News Association (IBNA) annual convention and awards event held April 2024.

Farm and AgriBusiness

Market to Market: Hay Prices Remain High
Colleen Brandford Krantz, Market to Market producer

General Reporting

Market to Market: Fighting Back Against HPAI
David Miller, Market to Market producer

Podcast

MtoM Podcast: Land Ownership Survey Reveals Surprises
Paul Yeager, MtoM Podcast host

Sports Play-by-Play

2023 IGHSAU Girls State Softball Championships: Class 2A
Paul Yeager, Iowa PBS Sports announcer

Iowa PBS competes in the large market television category against stations in the Waterloo/Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs/Omaha and Des Moines TV markets.

PBS honored the recently retired executive director and general manager of Iowa PBS with the Dan Miller Station Leadership Award. Molly Phillips celebrated three decades of service in public media when she retired at the end of January 2024. The Dan Miller award recognizes leaders in the public media system whose vision, courage and commitment to the mission of public media have inspired their colleagues and created a lasting impact in their communities. PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger presented the award to Phillips at the organization’s annual gathering of member stations in Las Vegas.

The annual award is named in honor of Dan Miller, a longtime executive director and general manager of Iowa PBS who passed away in February 2018. Receiving the inaugural PBS Station Leadership Award in 2016, Miller was recognized for his outstanding contributions to public. Phillips led Iowa PBS as executive director and general manager from 2013-2024 and began her service in 1990, devoting her entire professional career to the advancement of public television both locally and nationally.

Iowa PBS Education’s Iowa Science Phenomena project was honored in 2024 with a gold level Trendsetter in Distance Learning award from the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA). Iowa Science Phenomena is a growing collection of science phenomena resources created, curated and collected by Iowa educators for use in the classroom and beyond. The collection emphasizes the identification and publication of Iowa-specific phenomena, particularly those that represent locally relevant or unique concepts. The standards-aligned resources and teaching guides are developed to help educators implement phenomena-based and place-based teaching practices in their classrooms. USDLA recognizes innovators and leaders within the distance/digital learning industry each year as part of its International Award program. The Trendsetter in Distance Learning award is given to an agency, institution, company, project, individual or unique pedagogy that has shown innovation in the field of distance learning. The award recognizes pioneering initiatives in the field that have profoundly changed distance learning, existing practice, or developed new and effective solutions.

America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) presented the 2024 Pillar of Public Service Award to Molly Phillips, former executive director and general manager of Iowa PBS, for her pioneering work in creating remarkable educational programming and content for the people of Iowa. Under Phillips’ leadership, Iowa PBS became deeply embedded in the life of the state. From the network’s high-quality educational resources that help prepare Iowa’s children for success in school, to its hyperlocal coverage of agricultural news, to its broadcast of high school sports state championships, Iowa PBS provides services unique to Iowans that are unrivaled. The Pillar of Public Service Award recognizes the contribution of an extraordinary leader and innovator in one or more of public television’s three essential public service missions: education, public safety and civic leadership.

Educational Resources Overview

Our Iowa PBS Education team continues to deliver on strategies that assist students, educators and parents succeed in life. Education staff support STEM learning throughout Iowa by traveling to different communities bringing STEM resources and family activities. They provide families, educators and students with content-rich, age appropriate resources and media to create welcomed learning opportunities, by using trusted multimedia resources to support instructors and students. These resources are a curation of assets from PBS, local Iowa content produced in close consultation with educators and child development experts to achieve specific curriculum objectives, and contributions from our educational partners. Our multimedia resources range in age appropriateness from pre-K through the 12th grade, and address all subject areas.

Iowa PBS Education believes that the research-based programs we provide engage children and enhance their learning. In addition to our high-quality educational media, we offer resources to those teaching young children, on-air and online resources to local school districts, home learning support by program collections grouped by grade and educational themes so parents and kids can learn together. Our education team participated in 381 separate events and engaged with 28,852 Iowans throughout the year.

Early Childhood Resources Birth to Age 8

Iowa PBS’s early childhood site provides information and resources supporting the development of young children. With articles addressing children’s development and support for those caring for young children, we provide access to high-quality educational media resources to those caring for and teaching young children, as well as training to support the use of those resources.

Ready for School

Iowa PBS continued to invest in the state’s youngest learners in 2024, with 14 new communities benefitting from the Iowa PBS Ready for School initiative. Now in its 12th year, the Ready for School program brings education specialists from the statewide network together with teachers, parents, childcare providers and community partners to implement STEM and literacy-based activities in classrooms for children 2-5 years old. Ready for School has now been deployed in 229 Iowa communities. The 2024-2025 Ready for School communities are associated with the following school districts: AHTSW - Avoca, Hancock, Shelby, Tennant, Walnut, West Central Valley, Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center, Ottumwa, Central Decatur, Clarke, Chariton and Cardinal.

The 2024-2025 roll-out helps to further Iowa PBS’s commitment to serve families across Iowa with trusted educational content. The Ready for School program offers multimedia content and related activities based upon the work of educational children’s programming from PBS KIDS, such as Work It Out Wombats!, Odd Squad, Molly of Denali, Peg + Cat, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Super WHY! The high-quality educational media resources, including online games, instructional materials and activities aim to help children increase their school readiness and focus on giving all children equal opportunity to succeed.

Ready to Learn

Iowa PBS was one of 14 public media organizations to receive an additional Ready To Learn grant in 2024 to extend early childhood educational resources. The 18-month contract has allowed Iowa PBS to work with local partners to expand educator, parent and caregiver training, as well as use digital media resources and hands-on learning activities from PBS KIDS. As part of this grant, Iowa PBS Education staff worked with community partners to develop a Learning Neighborhood in Perry, Iowa to foster a community-wide culture of learning at home, in the neighborhood, and within local systems and spaces. Each month between November and April, Iowa PBS offered a lesson to the children at Acorns and Oaks preschool, New Opportunities Head Start, Perry Child Development Center afterschool program, and the Perry PACES after school program based on curriculum that focuses on computational thinking, world of work and everyday literacy. In addition, the Perry Learning Neighborhood has held an Adventure Cube Kick Off and Family Game Nights to explore how families can strengthen those same skills. The Perry PACES preschool children also completed four lessons using the Lyla in the Loop series called LEAP into the Loop. The Perry Learning Neighborhood project emphasized financial literacy, agriculture and farming, and how other careers serve the community. This effort is part of a five-year grant awarded to CPB and PBS through the U.S. Department of Education’s Ready To Learn Initiative to develop new, multiplatform media and engagement tools that introduce children to career and workforce options and help them build everyday literacy skills.

School-Age Resources

Collections of multimedia activities based on particular themes target math, technology, social and emotional learning, engineering and much more. These out-of-school programs deepen children’s understanding of content using combinations of online games, video segments, mobile content and hands-on activities:

Iowa Science Phenomena is a growing collection of resources created, curated and collected by Iowa educators for use in the classroom. The collection emphasizes the identification and publication of Iowa-specific phenomena, particularly those that represent locally-relevant or unique concepts. The standards-aligned resources and teaching guides are developed to help implement phenomena-based and place-based teaching practices in the classroom.

FIND Iowa is a theme-based, standards-aligned virtual learning experience showcasing the science and history of Iowa and addressing critical gaps in resources. The project encourages students grades 2-5 to investigate the state through immersive and interactive resources. Students can virtually explore Iowa through 360° video and images, interactive maps and three-dimensional artifact models.

99 Counties Tour takes Iowa students to every county in the state with a story that has meaning, whether it's historical - like touring a Hobo Museum in Hancock County, cultural - like walking across the famous swinging bridge in Louisa County, or scientific - like spotting the white bison in Pottawattamie County. This series virtually covers it all as we have fun investigating new discoveries in Iowa.

Wild Kratts science games offer a perfect blend of fun and learning. These awesome games, available online or on the free PBS KIDS games app, allow kids to embark on their own “Creature Adventures” while learning about animals and the world we share with them.

Iowa Land and Sky developed classroom lessons with a team of veteran Iowa science teachers. The lessons are anchored in engaging, question-provoking environmental phenomena and provide authentic, Iowa-based approaches for middle school science classrooms.

Wander and Wonder is a digital video campaign encouraging students grades PreK-3 to be curious, observant and eager to learn. Videos demonstrate activities related to STEM learning with interactive, seasonal activities, crafts and projects families can do at home. From homemade slime to pancake science, and backyard fun to fun crafts, young explorers can imagine and plan their own adventures.

Raising Readers from PBS KIDS provides a fresh set of resources, printables, lesson starters and ideas to support teachers, families and students. The Teach Your Way collection is updated from September to May with timely suggestions on how to integrate media in creative and developmentally-appropriate ways.

PBS LearningMedia provides a central destination for students and educators to access current and relevant content from more than 200 respected public media partners. PBS LearningMedia provides high-quality, trusted digital content and solutions that inspire students and transform learning. The Iowa PBS Education team has published 631 resources of locally produced, original content to the PBS LearningMedia library, accessible to 188,762 users in 2024.

STEM AND STEAM Learning

Science knowledge, technology skills, engineering design, art creativity and mathematical reasoning are the cornerstone of modern scientific approaches, and Iowa PBS is helping to build Iowa’s future scientists, engineers, and artists to further grow opportunities for both our community and our state. From STEAM kits that go out into our communities to online, interactive, Iowa place-based virtual field trips, we offer resources and engagement opportunities for students of all ages and skill levels.

Iowa PBS Education has a custom designed trailer and bins full of interactive, hands-on STEAM-based activities available to spark curiosity in children. The STEAM trailer traveled to 99 different locations reaching 12,738 by visiting libraries, childcare centers and schools. It is available to schools and libraries for extended stays, allowing them to be used for classes and program events. When the trailer is booked, we share packaged STEAM activity bundles provided on loan at no cost to the organization.

Our education staff is also available for STEAM events with an interactive STEM booth that includes activities such as Discovering Senses, Ecosystems, Stargazing and Ooblick. We reached over 21,979 Iowans through educational STEAM events during 2024.

Community Outreach Overview

Iowa PBS strives to ensure a position of public trust and equity across today’s multi platform landscape by developing a strategic engagement plan that builds upon the network’s position as a thought leader and convener in early childhood education, public policy and arts and culture. We work to serve Iowans beyond our broadcast as a community resource for quality television programs, educational services, civil and civic engagement with outreach projects and involvement in the community.

During FY 2024, Iowa PBS hosted 469 events, enriching and engaging with 83,563 people over the course of the year.

Iowa PBS at the Iowa State Fair

Visitors to our 2024 exhibit at the Iowa State Fair found entertainment for all ages and a chance to explore everything that makes Iowa PBS special. Attendees were invited to show off their love for Iowa PBS with a free foldable fan giveaway. Fans of Iowa PBS were invited to test their knowledge on 12 shows exclusive to the statewide network with an interactive trivia wall. Three-sided selfie stations showcasing elements from exciting new programs like Road Trip Iowa and Behind the Scenes of Antiques Roadshow Iowa. Additionally, daily meet and greets with familiar faces of Iowa PBS, offered fairgoers a chance to connect with their favorite personalities from the network, along with a larger-than-life tribute to everyone’s favorite big red dog, Clifford.

Community Conversations With Iowa Life

In October, Iowa PBS invited aspiring professionals and change-makers to a night of discussion and connectivity at Community Conversations With Iowa Life. This special event at the Grand View University Student Center, celebrated the upcoming second season of the Iowa PBS human interest show, Iowa Life. The event featured an inspiring panel discussion with four remarkable individuals who have significantly impacted their communities and were featured in the show's first season.

The discussion was led by Charity Nebbe, the recently announced program host, and Nathan Beacom, executive director of the Lyceum Movement. Panelists included Dasia Taylor, an inventor and STEM advocate; Gabi Torres, an artist and creative placemaker; Dana James, founder and publisher of Black Iowa News; and Kevin Mason, professor at Waldorf University and creator of Notes on Iowa. Guests enjoyed appetizers and refreshments prior to the hour-long discussion, and then had the opportunity to network with other professionals in Iowa following the panel.

Carl the Collector family screening events

In November 2024, Iowa PBS hosted two premiere screenings of Carl the Collector, at a special event with fun for the whole family. The program began with a special sensory-friendly screening in a relaxed environment designed for children who benefit from a low-key experience with softer volume, dimmed lights and where audience movement was welcome. This screening offered all the fun of the show with a few thoughtful adjustments, including a more limited audience capacity.

A second screening of Carl the Collector was at full capacity and created the perfect opportunity for families to come together and enjoy the debut of this funny and engaging new series. At both showtimes, families enjoyed a snack and drink before heading into the theater to watch two advanced episodes on the big screen. After the screening, children participated in interactive activities from the Iowa PBS Education team or picked up a grab-and-go activity kit.

4-H Reporters Camp

Iowa PBS remains a proud partner in the Iowa 4-H Reporters program, taking place every August. High-school students that are involved with Iowa 4-H and have an interest in media and communications may attend this one-day camp to learn more about the broadcast industry. The training workshop provides students instruction from Iowa PBS professionals and broadcast partners in everything from script writing, to audio recording, interviewing and video editing. The student reporters then use these new skills during the Iowa State Fair to capture stories for the Iowa 4-H reporting team.

High School Mentorship Program

In order to broaden opportunities for high school students, Iowa PBS offers an annual television production mentorship program. High school students receive a unique glimpse into the world of television production and public media while gaining practical and valuable experience in the industry. This unpaid mentorship allows two successful applicants the opportunity to learn about and observe all aspects of media journalism including videography, lighting, editing, graphic design, web production and storytelling.

Each student interacts directly with Iowa PBS personnel during the process of creating broadcast and online content. Des Moines area students Isabella Brandi of Ankeny and Brodie Figgins of Polk City participated in the 2024 Mentorship Program. During the eight-weeks long program they shadowed the production, graphics, promotions and emerging media departments to find out more about careers in media production. Part of their mentorship experience included producing a 4- to 6-minute feature short about what they learned from the program.

Community Crisis Response - Perry, IA

In times of unimaginable crisis, it's hard to know how to support the children we care for. Following the tragic shooting at Perry High School that killed two and injured six others, Iowa PBS offered support to the Perry, Iowa community and all those affected by the shock and tragedy. Our Education team worked alongside first responders last year, providing educational and support resources to help Perry’s children through the immediate crisis, and later with access to public media's Meet the Helpers series and Sesame Street Communities' crisis resources.

Special Events and Speeches

Iowa PBS hosts events, often in partnership with community organizations, to premiere upcoming programs and engage viewers in dialogue surrounding the topics of significance to Iowans. Iowa PBS’s Executive Director, communications and production staff are available to virtually and personally travel the state telling the story of Iowa PBS, and explaining why public television in Iowa matters more today than ever before. Local civic or service groups that have regular keynote or educational programs can schedule a presentation in any of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Conclusion

Iowa PBS aims to leverage our noncommercial, public-service mission to multiply our impact for the communities we serve. We plan to better serve the educational, informational and inspirational needs of Iowans by meeting viewers where they are – on the air, online, or on the ground – to increase the value of our services to the citizens of Iowa. During FY 2024, Iowa PBS continued our focus on creating and providing locally produced and locally-focused programming and educational content that appeals to our varied audiences. We met or exceeded our performance targets in 10 of our 13 strategic goals for 2024.