After a rigorous six-month process of listening and learning from audiences and conducting comprehensive market research, Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio today announced Ocean State Media as the new name of their merged organization. Informed by feedback from people across the region, the name represents an important step in the process of uniting public radio and television into a single community-centered entity.
As work continues to merge the organizations, Ocean State Media will collaborate with the community to reimagine programming – delivering content in new ways across all platforms. The official launch of the new brand will happen this fall.
“This has been such a thoughtful and inclusive process. We’ve heard from our loyal members and audiences, as well as from neighbors who have never watched or listened to public media before. We learned about what kinds of stories resonate with Rhode Islanders, how we can serve our community even better, and what it is people love about living here,” said Pam Johnston, president and CEO of Ocean State Media. “These insights will help shape our vision and our future as we meet audiences where they are to tell relevant, local stories in ways that are both distinctive and engaging.”
The process that informed the development of the new name included extensive community engagement and outreach across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. A randomly selected sample of 835 adults from across the local area, as well as 341 members to one or both organizations, completed an extensive market research survey. Over 50 community partners completed their own survey, and more than 200 community members and leaders participated in live small group listening sessions, focus groups, and one-on-one conversations. Feedback was also solicited on the Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio websites, promoted both on-air and on digital platforms.
“Local public media has always had an incredible network of supporters in the region, and that community stepped up once again through this process to give us the kind of honest feedback and valuable insights we needed to move forward as a strong, united, and responsive public media organization,” said Elizabeth Delude-Dix, co-chair of the Board.
Across all the feedback, a deep connection to the coast was a common observation, now reflected in the new name.
“Now more than ever, Rhode Island needs a public media home that informs, connects, and represents us all,” said Dave Laverty, co-chair of Board. “The community support for merging our organizations has been tremendous, and we are so excited to begin a new chapter for public media locally.”
In state business filings, the organization will be listed as Ocean State Media Group. To stay informed about the ongoing rebranding process, visit ripbs.org/about and subscribe to Ocean State Media’s monthly newsletter, The Rundown.
