EEO PUBLIC FILE REPORT
November 21, 2007 – November 20, 2008
III. RECRUITMENT INITIATIVES
TYPE OF RECRUITMENT INITIATIVE
(MENU SELECTION)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY
1 Internship Program (#5)
WCSH offers the student/intern active participation in a professional broadcast
organization. The intern learns to apply classroom theories as well as what works
in a live work environment. The intern earns academic credit for their participation
in the program. Internships are available in News, Promotions and Community
Relations. Selection is based on an application, followed by interview and
orientation. Internships last one semester. During the reporting period there were
9 interns in the program. The interns came from University of Southern Maine,
Quinnipiac University, Marist College, New York University, The College of New
Jersey.
2 Participation in at least four job fairs by station
January 30, 2008 A General Manager, Business Manager, and Accounting
Manager participated in the University of Maine’s Career Fair. The day long job
fair sees close to 400 students come through and provides station staff an
opportunity to have one on one conversation with over 39 students in various
degree programs. Spoke to many students about Gannett’s Talent Development
Program. One conversation at the fair turned into an applicant for the WLBZ 2
Multimedia Producer vacancy. The University began a New Media Study degree
that provides students with a varied background that fits well with many of the
positions in broadcasting. Additionally, the University graduates communication,
engineering and business students.
3 Training programs established to develop
Training is available to employees in all departments and requests for training are
solicited by human resources and department heads on a regular basis. Our goal
is to provide training that the employee is interested in which will allow the
employee to learn new skills that can be used in their present job as well as
learning skills that will allow them to grow into higher-level positions within the
television station and develop employees’ skills for our emerging digital platforms.
personnel who have substantial responsibility in
the making of hiring decisions. (#1)
station personnel for future higher level
opportunities. (#8)
An in-house training center was developed to assist employees with their training
needs and interests. Self taught programs available in the center include
Microsoft Office suite, Newsmaker, Flip Factory, Photoshop, and HTML
Fundamentals. In addition, the center is used when outside training professionals
are brought in-house.
In December 2007, 6 staff members from many departments trained in the art of
posting storm center cancellations.
Eighteen staff members from many departments participated in Sprint/Nextel’s 2G
BAS Operator training via satellite. The training was held on December 4, 2007.
Programming and Promotion Director participated in a webinar titled “5 steps to
Effective Retransmission Agreements” presented by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw
Pittman LLP.
16 employees took part in the inaugural round of Information Center training on
Newsmaker. The trainees used a newly developed Newsmaker Tutorial which
they could also take with them as a future reference guide. 68 employees from
multiple departments have received basic Newsmaker 3 training this year.
Two promotion producers/writers attended the Maine Association of Broadcasters’
Spring session in March for the “Techniques for Better Story Telling (in
promotion)” and “Dealing with Quick(er) Turn Around”.
37 employees received training in Flip Factory, the software that transfers video
into Adobe Flash files for use in the website immersive video player.
‘Professor Teaches’ is a computer based, self directed training courses focusing
on a number of PC, Windows, Adobe and web related software and is offered to
all employees in our training center. Excel, Photoshop, HTML Fundamentals, and
Web Design Basics have all been taken by multiple employees. This year 24
employees have taken advantage of Professor Teaches modules.
Business Manager and Accounting Manager attended SHRM Maine State Council
on Governmental Affairs Mini-conference. SHRM listens meeting was one of five
held nationally on the proposed new regulations with FMLA. This information was
shared with hiring managers and supervisors.
The Business Manager is a member of the Diversity Hiring Coalition of Maine.
The coalition is a partnership to help employers recruit diverse workers.
Additionally, the DHC provides scholarships to individuals that are furthering their
education.
The General Manager attended a Gannett Broadcast Division General Managers
meeting from April 7-9, 2008.
29 employees received Maven training. Maven is the 3rd party software used to
display video on our website and provides a cross-referenced database of
available videos across the entire company.
Six production department employees were trained on ‘Pipeline’, video streaming
software that allows posting of projects like webcasts, digital weather product, etc.
12 employees from many departments took search engine optimization training
with SEO Specialist Patty Fousek from Creative Mind Search Marketing.
On July 22, 2008, a two hour time management seminar attended by 32
employees. Emphasis was on effective and timely communications and was lead
by an employee of Southern Maine Community College.
A talent coach visited with 15 NEWS CENTER staff – working with six anchors, six
MMJs, two reporters, and one producer on a variety of performance and story
telling issues.
Five employees were trained on Pluck which engineers the photo gallaries,
bulletin boards, forums and social commentary on news stories.
On September 3-5, 2008, 23 employees from sales and management attended
STAR training. STAR is a sales program focused on servicing customers needs.
Full sales team training focusing on the changing world and being “customer
centric”.
Six employees trained in Shoutmix software which runs and moderates “live”
chats on a website.
Fifteen Producers and MMP attended Axis Graphics training.
Full day retreat for managers and supervisors with agenda items covering
important training on new job description forms, reviews, new Information Center
technologies and policies was held on September 29, 2008.
A dozen employees have been trained to use Mogulus – video webcasting
software.
WCSH 6 also offers a tuition assistance program designed to encourage selfdevelopment through under graduate and graduate course work. Two employees
participated in this program during this reporting period.
4 Participation in events sponsored by
organizations representing groups present in
the community interested in broadcast
employment issues. (#4)
Ten students from Southern Maine Community College attended a career seminar
at WCSH6. The first was held on Saturday April 7, 2007. Joe Streble, Writer and
Producer, conducted the tour which included the station’s technical facilities, a
behind-the scenes screening of News Center at Noon, and a question and answer
session which included careers in broadcasting.
Lewiston Reporter (and alum) spoke to over 100 graduating honor students at
Leavitt Area High School about being a Reporter and the broadcast industry.
Anatomy of Leadership was developed by administrators at Portland and Deering
High Schools. The purpose of this program is to identify and mentor students who
exhibit leadership qualities and give them an opportunity to propose solutions to
real business issues. The schools partner with a business and chose WCSH 6 for
the 2007-2008 academic year. Teachers select 20 students from the sophomore
and junior classes. Students were divided into 5 groups and met with WCSH
department heads who developed case studies. Students and class advisors
worked on these cases for three months and then presented their
findings/solutions to a team from WCSH.
On October 7, 2008, Executive Producer for 207 spoke to 25 students of a Mass
Media class at Southern Maine Community College regarding generating ideas,
producing a magazine style program, and careers in broadcasting.
On October 21, 2008, Anchor of 207 spoke to the same Mass Media class at
Southern Maine Community College about the interviewing process and
discussed careers in broadcasting..
Lewiston Reporter spoke to English students at Lewiston High School on careers
in broadcasting and particularly how important English is to being a Reporter.
5 On air announcements for community
organizations that distributes information on
employment opportunities. (#16)
6 Participate in scholarship programs designed to
assist students interested in pursuing a career
in broadcasting. (#7)
:15 public service announcement runs on-air an average of 22 times per month.
As part of our commitment to grow the next generation of broadcasters and to
create a diverse workforce, WCSH supports the Emma L. Bowen Foundation
through a grant from the Gannett Foundation Media Fund. The Emma L. Bowen
Foundation was established by the media industry to increase access to
permanent job opportunities for minority students. The foundation’s program is
unlike other intern programs in that students work for a partner company during
summers and school breaks from the end of their junior year until they graduate
from college. During that 5 year period, students learn many aspects of corporate
operations and develop company specific skills. Corporations guide and develop
minority students with the option of permanent placement upon completion of their
college degree. Students in the program receive an hourly wage, as well as
matching compensation to help pay for college tuition and expenses. Mentoring
from selected staff in the sponsoring company is also a key element of the
program.
7 Listing each upper-level category opening in a
job bank or newsletter of media trade group
who membership includes substantial numbers
of women and minorities. (#12)
As part of our commitment to wide dissemination, WCSH posts all positions with
the Maine Human Right Commission, the N.A.A.C.P., the Maine Civil Liberties
Union, and American Women in Radio & TV.
8 Provide training to management level personnel Business Manager attended a 2008 Maine Employment Law update on August
as to methods of ensuring equal employment
opportunity and preventing discrimination. (#14)
20, 2008. Changes to the Maine FMLA law were the focus of most of the update.
The information was shared with managers and supervisors.
Any organization that distributes information about employment opportunities to job seekers or refers jobs seekers to employees may
request to be placed on our opening notification list. To receive notice of openings you must provide your organization name, mailing
address, email address, telephone and fax numbers, and contact person to: WCSH 6, Attn: Human Resources, One Congress Square,
Portland, Maine 04240.