Spring 2025
If you are like me, you probably spend a lot of time on a phone or tablet consuming content. With video, social media, podcasts, and news available online—most of us carry around a huge library of information right in our pocket. I’ve even switched my physical library of books to reading books on my iPad!
At WHRO Public Media, we are committed to reaching people where they are. According to Statista.com, YouTube was the most popular social video platform in the United States in 2024, with an estimated viewership of 211 million viewers. For a TV and radio station, that’s an important stat to know! That’s why we’ve worked hard to make sure you can find our programs wherever you are—in your home, your car, at work, and on the go.
We have several online programs that have become quite popular. Curate 757, which highlights local artists, aired this winter on YouTube and Facebook. You can find past episodes at whro.org/curate Our beloved program for kids, Ms. Martha Reads, airs every Friday online, and WHRV Host Jae Sinnett whips up fantastic recipes every Sunday at 6 p.m. on Cooking with Jae. We also recently launched Time Machine Video, a fun retro channel that offers a glimpse into the past. You can find all of these programs on our YouTube channel.
Of course, you can access livestreams of all of our radio and TV stations online, and we also have a huge library of programs available on-demand through WHRO Passport. To learn more about the many ways to watch our programs, including the WHRO app, check out the listing under “Watch & Listen” on our website. Our goal is for you to never miss any of the great content we offer!
Speaking of not missing anything, we have some great events scheduled in the next few months. Our next Story Exchange event is coming up on April 17. This promises to be a fun night of unscripted storytelling. You can read about it on page 8. WHRO will also have a presence at the Hampton Roads PrideFest in June. To see all of our upcoming events, visit whro.org/events
As the weather (hopefully) starts to warm up, I hope to see you out and about in the community. Enjoy your spring!
Bert Schmidt
President & Chief Executive Officer
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In 2007, while I was interviewing with the WHRO board as a candidate to be the station’s next president and CEO, my wife, Missy, and I traveled back and forth from Harrisonburg several times. During those four-hour drives, we made a habit of listening to the podcast of HearSay with Cathy Lewis during those trips.
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As we look forward to Earth Day this month, I’m excited to announce a big development in our environmental education services.
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As the old English proverb says, “March comes in like a lion...”
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February is always an exciting time at our station, and one of my favorite events occurs this month—our annual Spelling Bee.
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I don’t know about you, but I was ready to see the end of 2020. What a year! While we all still have concerns about the ongoing pandemic, I’m very hopeful about the new year.