EEO Long-Term Initiatives

EEO Public File Report
Long-Term Initiatives
Iowa PBS, Johnston, IA
Station KDIN (TV), Des Moines, IA
October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024

Posted: Sep. 26, 2024

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i. Participation in at least four events or programs sponsored by educational institutions related to career opportunities in broadcasting.

Iowa PBS Fulfillment

Iowa PBS staff participates in job fairs discussing careers in public broadcasting in general as well as specific job openings at the time of the job fair. Iowa PBS staff present information to students related to Iowa PBS and the career opportunities offered.

  • November 14, 2023 & November 15, 2023 - Engagement Manager Caryline Clark & Graphic Designer Kate Bloomburg presented to Graphic Design students at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC).
  • February 26, 2024 - Human Resources Associate Krystal Ruby, Production Supervisor Chad Aubrey, Director of Emerging Media Taylor Shore, Director of Administration & Finance Michelle Wendel, and Engagement Manager Caryline Clark participated in the Spring 2024 Journalism Discovery Days at Iowa State University Greenlee School of Journalism and Communications.
  • June 26, 2024 - Production Supervisor Chad Aubrey presented to Video Production students at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC).
  • September 9, 2024 - Human Resources Associate Krystal Ruby, Production Supervisor Chad Aubrey, and Director of Administration & Finance Michelle Wendel participated in the Fall 2024 Journalism Discovery Days at Iowa State University Greenlee School of Journalism and Communications.

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v. Establishment of Internship Program

Iowa PBS Fulfillment

Iowa PBS has a long-standing internship program for college and university students providing students with an opportunity to learn and develop practical skills. Iowa PBS offers two production internships reporting to Production Supervisor Chad Aubrey during the fall semester, spring semester, and summer semester. During this reporting period, Iowa PBS offered one individual an internship in the production division as a production editorial intern, also supervised by Production Supervisor Chad Aubrey. Internships are also available in the Communications Division reporting to Director of Communications Susan Ramsey and the Emerging Media Division reporting to Director of Emerging Media Taylor Shore. Interns are eligible to participate in up to two internship periods with Iowa PBS. There were ten internship opportunities made available with a total of ten college and university students participating. (Note: we allow interns to serve up to two internships, they are counted each time for the number of internship opportunities, but only once in the total count of individual students participating.)

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vi. Participation in job banks, internet programs, and other programs designed to promote outreach in general.

Iowa PBS Fulfillment

Between October 2023 and September 2024, staff members hosted or participated in approximately 410 events to promote general outreach to Iowans, resulting in engagement with over 76,300 individuals. Iowa PBS offers both in-person and virtual behind-the-scenes tours including studios, producer/director areas, control room, scene shop, and the Maytag Auditorium/Stage and performance space. Iowa PBS staff members also visit schools to discuss careers in public broadcasting. External job openings were shared with multiple colleges, posted on Iowa PBS’s website, and social media platforms.

Tours/Outreach Activities/Career Days

  • October 3, 2023 – Instructional Media Coordinator Tiffany Morgan presented on Iowa Science Phenomena at the Iowa Science Teacher Professional Learning Conference at Iowa State University.
  • October 11, 2023 – Utilization Specialist Abby Brown offered Iowa PBS Education resources at the Iowa Library Association Conference.
  • October 12, 2023 – Engagement Manager Caryline Clark spoke about Iowa PBS programs and careers at the Travel Federation of Iowa Tourism Unity Summit in Manning, Iowa.
  • October 13, 2023 – Producer/Director Paul Yeager spoke to students at Ankeny High School about careers in sports hosting and sports broadcasting.
  • October 19, 2023 – Instructional Media Coordinator Tiffany Morgan presented on Iowa Science Phenomena at the Iowa Science Teacher Professional Learning (BV)
  • October 25, 2023 – Emerging Media Director Taylor Shore, Engagement Manager Caryline Clark, Instructional Media Coordinator Tiffany Morgan and Programming Manager Matthew McPike presented at the PBS Annual Meeting Virtual Breakouts about Iowa PBS.
  • November 7, 2023 – Engagement Manager Caryline Clark and Utilization Specialist Abby Brown hosted a station tour for a group of homeschool students.
  • December 4, 2023 – Engagement Manager Caryline Clark hosted a station tour and staff visit for Dallas Center-Grimes journalism students.
  • January 31, 2024 – Sr. Producer/Director Dave Miller hosted an agriculture student from Buena Vista University to observe the production of Market to Market. They were also given a tour of Iowa PBS.
  • February 2, 2024 – Instructional Media Coordinator Tiffany Morgan facilitated and organized the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition Winter Workshop at Hawkeye Community College.
  • February 7, 2024 – Educational Outreach Coordinator Angela Hiatt presented on early childhood resources with the Northwestern College pre-service teachers.
  • February 9, 2024 – Engagement Manager Caryline Clark and Communications Coordinator Hayley Schaefer hosted a station tour and staff visit for Loras College media students.
  • February 29, 2024 – Producer/Director Paul Yeager provided a tour of the Iowa PBS production truck to Waverly-Shell Rock students.
  • March 22, 2024 – Engagement Manager Caryline Clark provided a station tour and staff visit for the DMACC Worksite Industry Tour.
  • March 30, 2024 – Sr. Producer/Director Andrea Coyle spoke with Iowa State University broadcast journalism students.
  • April 15, 2024 – Executive Director and General Manager Andrew Batt spoke with Iowa State University broadcast journalism students.
  • April 25, 2024 – Utilization Specialist Abby Brown hosted the Upper Iowa Pre-Service Teachers Conference at Iowa PBS.
  • April 30, 2024 – Producer/Director Paul Yeager attended the Altoona Elementary Career Fair to speak about broadcasting and production.
  • May 9, 2024 – Instructional Media Coordinator Tiffany Morgan presented on Iowa Science Phenomena at the University of Iowa School of the Wild in Solon, Iowa.
  • May 17, 2024 Producer/Director Emily Kestel and Digital Producer Bryon Houlgrave spoke with AP Seminar students about storytelling at Central Academy in Des Moines.
  • June 4, 2024 – Utilization Specialist Abby Brown hosted a story time and career talk at the Algona Public Library.
  • June 17, 2024 – Sr. Producer/Director Dave Miller hosted a student from Martensdale St. Marys Community School to observe the production of Market to Market. They were also given a tour of Iowa PBS.
  • June 24, 2024 – Sr. Producer/Director Dave Miller hosted a student from Central Academy in Des Moines to observe the production of Market to Market. They were also given a tour of Iowa PBS.
  • June 25, 2024 Utilization Specialist Abby Brown shared resources at the Iowa Reading Association Conference.
  • June 31, 2024 – Sr. Producer/Director Dave Miller hosted a student from Des Moines Christian School to observe the production of Market to Market. They were also given a tour of Iowa PBS.
  • July 9, 2024 – Engagement Manager Caryline Clark provided a station tour to the Media NOW Camp. They also met with various Iowa PBS staff to learn about career opportunities within public media.
  • July 9, 2024 – Engagement Manager Caryline Clark provided a station tour and staff visit for the Des Moines Public Schools SUCCESS program participants.
  • July 17, 2024 – A group from Big Brothers Big Sisters was given a tour of Iowa PBS by Educational Outreach Specialist Nicki Mullins, Utilization Specialist Abby Brown and Engagement Manager Caryline Clark. They also met with various Iowa PBS staff to learn about career opportunities within public media.

Mentorship Program

Summer 2024 – Two Iowa high school students participated in this year’s Iowa PBS High School Mentorship program. Senior Producer/Director Dave Miller serves as the main point of contact for this program. The students worked with Iowa PBS professionals both virtually and in person at the studios exploring graphic design, web production, storytelling and studio production. The students observed, assisted in and had hands-on experience in creating broadcast and online content. At the end of the course, the students edited short videos to describe their Iowa PBS Mentorship experience.

FCC Menu Category
viii. Training programs designed to enable station personnel to acquire skills that could qualify them for higher level employment.

Iowa PBS Fulfillment

Iowa PBS employees have the opportunity to take classes through the State of Iowa Performance and Development Solutions and other vendors with courses covering business skills, computer skills, communication and interpersonal skills, conflict management and negotiation, customer service, diversity and cultural competence, government and law, human resources, leadership development, process and organizational management, self development, team development and supervision. Employees are also given an opportunity to attend conferences and symposiums.

  • November 13, 2023 - Director of Educational Services Ken Harrison attended the VIA Incubator Planning Project hosted by WNET.
  • December 22, 2023 - IT Specialist III Adam McKenna attended the Fortinet Certified Associate in Cybersecurity training hosted by Fortinet Training Institute.
  • January 9, 16, 23, 2024 - Director of Administration & Finance Michelle Wendel attended the Public Media Invaluable Laws of Grown training hosted by Public Media Learns.
  • February 7, 2024 - Accounting Technician II Laura Deavers, attended the Association of Government Accountants Grants & General Information Lunch ‘n Learn hosted by the Des Moines Area Chapter AGA.
  • April 11, 2024 - Creative Director Alisa Dodge & Graphic Designer Joe Bustad attended the From Brief to Brand: Logo Design Process with James Barnard hosted by Skillshare.
  • May 8, 2024 - Accounting Technician II, Laura Deavers attended the Association of Government Accountants Fraud/Data Analytics Lunch ‘n Learn hosted by the Des Moines Area Chapter AGA.
  • Jun 20, 2024 - Engagement Manager Caryline Clark attended Discipline, Grievance, and the Merit System hosted by State of Iowa PDS Team.
  • June 25, 2024 - Human Resources Associate Krystal Ruby attended Navigating New Pay Transparencies training hosted by Littler.
  • June 25, 2024 - Human Resources Associate Krystal Ruby attended Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations training hosted by Littler.
  • June 25, 2024 - Human Resources Associate Krystal Ruby attended Avoiding Common Pitfalls of Workplace Investigations training hosted by Littler.
  • June 26, 2024 - Human Resources Associate Krystal Ruby attended Are You Ready for the June 18 PWFA Rule? training hosted by Littler.

FCC Menu Category
xiv. Providing training to management level personnel as to methods of ensuring equal employment opportunity and preventing discrimination.

Iowa PBS Fulfillment

Iowa PBS managers take classes, webinars and attend conferences relevant to diversity and equal opportunity employment.

  • August 31 to December 7, 2023 - Director of Educational Services Ken Harrison attended the Public Media Diversity Leaders Initiative Class VI hosted by the Riley Institute at Furman.
  • November 28, 2023 - Director of Administration and Finance Michelle Wendel and Director of Emerging Media Taylor Shore attended A New Kind of Diversity: General Diversity training hosted by NETA.
  • December 5, 2023 - Director of Emerging Media Taylor Shore attended Destructing Ableism to Create a More Inclusive Community training hosted by WXXI.
  • March 27, 2024 - Director of Administration and Finance Michelle Wendel attended Restorative DEI: How DEI Can Engage Communities and Build Connections hosted by PMBA.
  • May 2, 2024 - Director of Administration and Finance Michelle Wendel, Business Office Manager Kris May, and Human Resources Associate Krystal Ruby attended the Confronting Bias in the Workplace: Addressing Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and Backlash Discrimination hosted by California Lawyers Association.
  • September 10, 2024 - Director of Administration and Finance Michelle Wendel attended A New Kind of Diversity: Generational Diversity hosted by NETA.
  • September 24, 2024 – Director of Administration and Finance Michelle Wendel and Business Office Manager Kris May attended the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Compliance Webinar hosted by Gray Miller Persh LLC.