WDCQ-TV Produces Compelling Programming to Foster Dialogue and Understanding Between Delta College's Diverse Communities
For over ten years, WDCQ-TV has spent local resources, talent, and money to support monthly magazine programs in the Flint-Saginaw-Bay-Midland County African American and Hispanic communities. These shows were started in the late 1990s with focus groups in the Hispanic and African American population centers and created around the area Churches.
The original Community Advisory Groups were chosen by the areas community leaders and lead to the creation of individual show’s mission, vision, and values. With complete support by WDCQ-TV professional producers and directors, the programs, once defined, were turned over to the Advisory Groups who soon became the executive producers of their shows. The committees hired on-air producer/hosts to lead the programs from month to month and we assigned an individual station producer director to team up with the host and advisory group.
The programs have made a number of changes over the years, but the common theme of dealing with community issues, heroes, events, and community talent have been a key component since the beginning. During a recent controversy related to a newspaper editorial that was perceived as discriminatory, a series of events broke out that could have been dangerous for the community’s well being. WDCQ-TV's African American advisory group met and the station aired a live call in show that helped to ease tension and bring the overall community back from the streets and into the conference room where it was eventually resolved.
A year ago a third monthly magazine show was created. This time the program looks into the issues, opportunities, and needs of our community’s 50+ year old residents. This show has been very successful and with the other two magazine shows has made a significant difference in our broadcast regions attitudes and cooperation.
These programs as well as an annual documentary about the region’s history have been made available to our areas high schools and over the air for free. All local programs are made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Community Service Grant. Without these dollars, WDCQ-TV's response to these serious community groups and issues would not be possible.
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