Broadcasters encouraged to tout Public Service

 - TAB readies annual report to DC, Austin lawmakers

TAB is in the midst of compiling data for the industry’s 2014 Public Service report to lawmakers in Austin and DC.  Now in its 15^th year, this research project has generated invaluable information on the depth and breadth of Texas broadcasters’ service to local communities. The survey deadline is Dec. 12.

To date, TAB has documented $4.8 billion in public service contributions by Texas stations.  The industry’s public service makes local broadcasters unique in the media marketplace, and the data gathered from the survey have been instrumental in many of TAB’s state and federal legislative successes.

Each year, the survey focuses on a particular component of stations’ good work in addition to the general public service stations provide.  This year, the subject is a station’s investment in news.  This component was selected to help policymakers better understand the extraordinary commitment required to produce meaningful local journalism and to help distinguish between true journalists and opinionated bloggers and news aggregators.

As always, responses are confidential; only aggregate results are reported.  They are compiled by Dr. August Grant, formerly of UT-Austin’s College of Communications, who serves as TAB’s consultant on this project to ensure accuracy of the report.

TAB does not extrapolate data, so every station in Texas is asked to respond.  For the first time, this year’s survey can be completed electronically in Adobe Acrobat Reader.  Download here.  Note that a separate form is needed for each station.

Contact TAB’s Craig Bean with questions.