The Mission of WFYI
As a trusted catalyst for lifelong learning, WFYI Public Media engages and enriches our community through distinctive programs and services.

Going Beyond Programming
Renown for quality programming, WFYI Public Media is more than a radio and television service. WFYI promotes open dialogue and debate about issues that are important to the Central Indiana community by facilitating conversations among diverse voices. Its award-winning documentaries and public affairs programs have addressed many relevant topics, including financial literacy, healthcare, workforce development and environmental affairs. These programs, combined with community outreach with partner organizations, focus attention on developing workable solutions. WFYI has been a partner in education for more than four decades. Examples of WFYI's educational initiatives include its GED Connection series, which prepares individuals to pass the high school equivalency examination; Ready to Lead in Literacy, an outreach program that teaches parents and childcare providers how to utilize PBS KIDS' award-winning programs in an interactive fashion to prepare young children for entry into school; and TeacherLine, an online PBS resource that makes it possible for Indiana teachers to meet their professional development goals and renew licenses. WFYI is committed to serving as a community resource and leader in relevant educational programming.

Community Support
WFYI Public Media was founded in 1970 by thousands of Central Indiana citizens who wished to establish the community's first educational television station. At the time, Indianapolis was the largest city in the nation without an educational television station. Through the years, WFYI has evolved from a single UHF television station into a state-of-the-art public service media center that consists of three distinct digital public television services; two digital public radio services; an array of community outreach and lifelong learning services; Indiana Reading and Information Services (IRIS) — free statewide service for Hoosier citizens with reading impairments; and WFYI Productions, a full-service video and audio production facility that partners with Central Indiana's leading cultural organizations.

WFYI Public Television's broadcast signal covers a 58-mile radius over the most heavily-populated urban and rural areas of Indiana. More than 80 cable companies extend WFYI's educational television programming to residents in West Central and East Central Indiana, bringing WFYI Public Television's service area to nearly two million households. WFYI also serves as the flagship PBS and NPR member station for Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations Inc. (IPBS). Through this unique collaboration, WFYI produces numerous television and radio public affairs programs (i.e., Across Indiana, Indiana Week in Review, Sound Medicine, Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick and Indiana Lawmakers), which are offered for statewide broadcast on Indiana's public television and radio stations. Currently, more than 30,000 Central Indiana citizens and corporations support WFYI Public Media's programming and educational services. Approximately 450,000 households throughout Central Indiana tune to WFYI Public Television at least one time per week, and 110,000 listeners tune to FM 90.1 HD1 each week.

Four Decades of Service to Central Indiana
For more than four decades, WFYI Public Media has been serving the Indianapolis community as Indiana's flagship PBS and NPR member station. WFYI has come a long way since October 4, 1970 when the station first signed on the air with a staff of nine employees, three black and white television cameras and a signal that barely reached beyond downtown Indianapolis. WFYI was the city's first UHF television signal and the only channel to provide commercial-free programming – a novel idea even 40 years ago.

It was all made possible by a grass-roots effort led by the late Ardath Y. Burkhart. "Ardath's Army," as the group became affectionately known, raised money door-to-door across Indianapolis and six surrounding counties. The volunteers pushed the station into existence by raising enough money to cover the first year's operating expenses in a matter of weeks.

From those humble beginnings, WFYI Public Media has grown with its focus squarely on serving the Central Indiana community. Its free services now include digital television and radio programming, community engagement and lifelong learning services, rich online program content and educational resources, and Indiana Reading and Information Services (IRIS).

Through the years of expansion and evolution there has been one constant – the desire to serve as a leading community resource. WFYI Public Media has been serving as a center of discovery through television and radio programming, outreach and special events. It all started four decades ago with an "army" of dedicated volunteers who shared the vision of bringing public television to Indianapolis, and today more than 30,000 Central Indiana residents and the dozens of local businesses continue to make that vision a reality.

DTV Offers Viewers More Channels, More WFYI Public Television!
WFYI Public Television inaugurated its first digital broadcast in 2003. Today, WFYI is home to three distinct public television services.
WFYI 1 (20.1) is the station's main channel — offering the traditional PBS fare that Central Indiana families have enjoyed for more than four decades.
WFYI 2 (20.2) carries V-me, a Spanish language service that features smart, engaging and empowering entertainment for Central Indiana's Hispanic and Latino families — and for those who wish to broaden their knowledge of the Spanish language and the Hispanic/Latino culture.

WFYI Public Radio Features Two Distinct Digital Services
WFYI 90.1 FM HD1 — Home to WFYI Public Radio's traditional NPR and BBC program fare, along with 90.1 FM's award-winning local news and public affairs shows.

A New Era in Public Service Media
As Indiana flagship PBS and NPR member station and one of Central Indiana's leading not-for-profits, WFYI Public Media is an organization comprised of more than 80 professionals. Its headquarters is a state-of-the-art facility situated at 1630 North Meridian Street in Indianapolis. WFYI has transformed its headquarters into one of Indianapolis' premier media hubs and centers for civic engagement. The upper two floors of the facility are home to more than one dozen educational organizations and media groups. Their presence fosters remarkable synergy, which in turn, helps WFYI Public Media expand its educational mission to the Central Indiana community. These facility partners include:

• Baxter Communications
• Career Investments, LLC
• Fine Arts Society
• Grow Indiana Media Ventures
• Home Elevator Company
• IHETS
• Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations, Inc.
• The Mind Trust
• P-1 Productions
• Teach for America
• Thomas P. Miller and Associates
• The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation

As WFYI Public Media sets its sights on the future, it will focus on expanding its local production capacity; enhancing its community services to both mainstream and underserved audiences; and building on its proven track record of delivering first-rate local, national and international news coverage.