After more than 25
years Lakeshore Public Media is putting its local news program, Lakeshore
Report, on hiatus following its Feb. 5 broadcast.
“We have
experienced challenges over the last few years with staff departures and
loss of funding that have led us to make a very difficult decision,” said
Matt Franklin, vice-president of TV operations for Lakeshore Public Media.
“We have always been proud that we have been able to produce local news, but
it is a real challenge in a public broadcasting environment. That’s why less
than ten public television stations across the country are doing it.”
Lakeshore’s TV news
resources will be transitioned to its pubic radio news operations and
Lakeshore said that it remains committed to providing locally geared
programming. “While we have made some significant changes to our programming
schedule, we stand by our efforts to produce quality local content for our
viewers and members,” said Carrie Kuck, director of programming and
membership.
The station has a
history dating to the mid-1980s, when a citizen’s group formed Northwest
Indiana Public Broadcasting Inc. with the goal of providing a local
televised voice to the region. Acquiring its original license from the Lake
Central School Corporation, WYIN-56 began operating as a non-commercial
station licensed to the City of Gary on Nov. 15, 1987.
With a mission to
serve its audience with an active local production presence, the station
launched its first newscast in September 1990 with Indiana Nightly Report.
Eight years later, the station transitioned to The 56 Nightly News with even
more focused reporting on Northwest Indiana. In 2006, WYIN-56 rebranded
itself as Lakeshore Public Television and launched Lakeshore News Tonight.