Four times a year, WCSC-TV in Charleston, SC, does just that to find out what's on their viewers' minds. They've had lunches with educators, PTA reps, clergy and law enforcement officers. All department heads, reporters and producers attend the get-togethers. And they listen to what community leaders have to say. After one of the lunches, the station hired a full-time reporter to cover parenting, youth and family issues.
Education gets some positive coverage.
The network gathers great goodwill. That's how Cable Television Network of New Jersey's Golden Apple Teacher Award program works. One of the 12 is also crowned Teacher of the Year. Each month the network visits the winning teacher in the classroom. The principal, the school superintendent, and usually the town's mayor attend.