10 Minutes at Annual Meeting with Billy Somerville, WEDU, Creative Services Manager

1. How long have you been working in Public Television?
   I have been at WEDU PBS for five years.
2. Can you share with us details about a project you’re currently working on that really excites you?
   Our team is set to open the next round of library corners at locations around Tampa Bay. The project is a station-wide collaboration to honor longtime WEDU viewer, and literacy advocate, Phyllis L. Ensign, who included WEDU in her estate plans. Mrs. Ensign’s bequest made it possible for us to provide 40 iPads loaded with PBS KIDS Apps, bookshelves filled with PBS KIDS books and DVDs, and curriculum for librarians and parents. It is wonderful to see resources and content from different platforms curated in a way that makes them accessible to everyone.
3. What was your favorite part/session of Annual Meeting so far?
   Participating in the young professionals (YoPro) pre-conference workshop was a great way to connect with peers across the system and share ideas. Presentations focused on everything from digital first content strategies to shooting documentaries for virtual reality.
4. What is your biggest Annual Meeting or DevDay takeaway or favorite part?
   The news and public affairs portion of the general session on primetime programming was eye-opening to say the least. Seeing the depth and scope of coverage in the pipeline for this fall is something our stakeholders value. This is evident by the +11 percent increase in PBS NewsHour viewers this year.
5. What did you learn at the meeting that you plan to incorporate into your work back at your station?
   The audience insights concurrent session provided information I can share with colleagues in development, underwriting, education and programming. Knowing your viewers is just as important as knowing your donors.
6. What is your favorite PBS series or program?
   The latest series of ART21 was captivating to me as a designer. This season highlighted the relationships artists have with where they live. Understanding how your own sense of place influences your work and how your audience interprets it is key.
7. If you could switch places with any PBS character, who would it be and why?
   Nature Cat because he’s always ready to explore outside.
8. On days that you’re feeling a little tired or overwhelmed, and you imagine going ‘off-the-grid”… what is your ideal situation? Where do you go?
   The west coast of Florida is home to some of the world’s best beaches, so you’ll find me at Siesta Key Beach, or canoeing down Weeki Wachee River.
9. What is the 1 thing you wish people knew about you or your work at the station?
   Working on projects from different departments is one of the best aspects of creative services at a mid-sized station. This unique perspective has given me a deep understanding of the value our educational services, development, underwriting and production teams bring to the table.
10. Twitter & LinkedIn?
    LinkedIn | Twitter