May 5, 2004
As homeland security concerns continue to dominate the national discourse, public television stations are stepping up and providing a leadership role in local and state preparedness issues.
New Hampshire Public Television (NHPTV) helped to address this critical need by coordinating the Partnership for a Safe New Hampshire. Partnering with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, the New Hampshire Library Association, and Volunteer NH, NHPTV designed a series of forums to help communities across the state create dialogue about emergency preparedness and related issues.
The forums were held in eight separate communities each chosen for their unique emergency preparedness needs (rurality, proximity to a nuclear facility, accessibility by sea, etc.). NHPTV standardized the format of the forums, and each meeting featured a question and answer session with local emergency management personnel to connect the broader message with local needs. The project was funded by a National Center for Outreach 4x4 grant, and drew on public television's tradition of convening communities through outreach.
"The Partnership for a Safe New Hampshire is an excellent example of how public television can reach into local communities to help citizens address timely issues," says Peter Frid, New Hampshire Public Television's general manager and CEO. "Working with our partner organizations, NHPTV has initiated community dialogues that will improve the quality of life in our state."
