The PBS Engage Web site is a laboratory for experiments with new kinds of media. We hope it helps you connect with us better. It’s part of a bigger program, funded by the Knight Foundation, to help PBS, member stations and programs use new technologies to serve the public better.
Why is PBS doing this?
Many of the new technologies we’re talking about—blogs, forums, live discussions, groups, social networks, video and photo sharing sites—are examples of what’s called “social media.” These tools let people communicate with each other about things that matter to them.
We think social media provides PBS with a great opportunity to let viewers and Web users get involved in new ways—commenting on programs, discussing the issues they raise, speaking directly to producers and stations, rating what’s on the air and online, forming fan groups, and doing other things we haven’t thought of yet.
We like to think the goal of Engage is to get the public more involved with public broadcasting.
The Engage Web site
The PBS Engage site was launched in beta form in October 2007. It's very much a work in progress. Come back regularly and you’ll see changes all the time.
Even as the content changes, we'll use the site for the following purposes:
- To showcase creative uses of social media by PBS.org, member stations and program producers
- To offer new ways to interact with PBS programs, personalities and stations
- To experiment with new media that may (or may not) turn out to be useful
How to engage us
All around the site you'll find invitations to tell us what you think. This isn't a mere gesture on our part. We can't do this without you.
We’re using our blog to take you behind the scenes at PBS andlearn more about the people and programs. We hope you’ll ask questions and leave comments.
There are other ways to talk to us. From any page on the Engage site click on Contact (the link’s on the upper right corner) to send us your thoughts.
We need to know what you like and don't like about what you see here, and any ideas you have about what role social media can play in public broadcasting. We want to learn about how (and if) you use these technologies in your own life. Please point out mistakes and annoyances you find on this site so we can fix them.
So: Play around with the site. And let the engagement begin.
