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PBS Station Forges Ties to CountyBy Jen Thomas - September 12, 2007
 | | Berkshire Visitors Bureau acting President and CEO Ray Smith celebrates a new partnership with WGBY-TV. |
PITTSFIELD - WGBY-TV is moving into the Berkshires.
On Tuesday night, at a reception at Spice Restaurant, the public television station for Western Massachusetts announced the installation of a WGBY Berkshire County Bureau, housed at Hancock Shaker Village.
"It’s important for WGBY to have eyes and ears on the ground in the Berkshires," said Ellen Spear, president and CEO of Hancock Shaker Village. "This provides a great opportunity to present what we know and love to the rest of the state."
As part of an ongoing effort to develop more community programming in the county, WGBY decided to establish a permanent location in the area to better serve a larger audience. With the nearest station located in Springfield, WGBY needed a closer connection to Berkshire County and its residents.
"We’ve been trying to do more programming for the residents of the Berkshires but it isn’t enough. We have to be in the community," said Russell Peotter, WGBY’s general manager. "Having a regular, ongoing, physical presence with people on the streets, in the coffee shops, going to shows - that’s the key. That’s when people will approach us and tell us about what’s happening in our community."
According to Spear, WGBY has already showcased its commitment to the Berkshires by highlighting some important events at the village.
"It’s not just words with them. From what we have seen with their help on the upcoming 10th annual Country Fair, I can say they're the genuine article. They’re committed partners and they’ve already demonstrated that they can put the resources into the community."
Calling Hancock Shaker Village "a microcosm for the best of the Berkshires," Spear said she hopes the station will learn a lot about the county through the collaboration she called "a partnership of shared values."
WGBY General Manager Russ Peotter said he planned to keep WGBY a 'community station.' |
"It’s an opportunity to get to know the Berkshires and at Hancock Shaker Village, we have breathtaking landscapes, a blending of arts and culture, historic buildings and a group of really deep thinkers, people who celebrate the life of the mind," she said.
Another partnership
A second announcement from the station will aid the region in attracting valuable tourism to the area.
"The Berkshire Visitors Bureau and WGBY are going to work together to capture footage here in the Berkshires for use on our Web site," said Ray Smith, acting president and CEO of the Berkshire Visitors Bureau.
Additionally, WGBY will also help create small productions for the bureau.
"These short productions will focus on the creative fabric of the Berkshires. The wonderful part of the Berkshires is the breadth and depth in the tourism, recreation and hospitality sectors but the community is the lifeblood," said Smith. "We want to get behind the scenes and record the human element."
In addition to a strengthened relationship between the two parties, the Visitors Bureau will receive quality productions at a reduced cost. Even with help from a $100,000 grant for Web site development last year, the bureau is set to benefit from pairing up with WGBY.
"Because of costs, we were looking at higher expenses. Now, we're getting experts in historic, cultural productions for less," said Smith.
WGBY is a Public Broadcasting Service station whose most popular shows include "Making It Here," "Reflections Through Watercolor" and "The State We’re In." Covering Western Massachusetts, Southern Vermont and northern Connecticut, WGBY concentrates on community programming and outreach, as well as education for kids, parents and teachers.
"We can do a lot more than public television," said Peotter. "But we have to earn it and we’re going to do it by continuing to be in the community."
Jen Thomas can be reached at jthomas@iberkshires.com or at (413) 663-3384, Ext. 23. |
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