history
WQED was the nation's first community-supported television station and went on the air on April 1, 1954. WQEX-TV signed on in 1959 to provide televised classroom instruction to the region's schools. In 1973, Classical WQED-FM 89.3 was founded as the region's only 24-hour classical radio station and Pittsburgh Magazine evolved from a program guide called QED Renaissance to a full-fledged city magazine. Pittsburgh Magazine was sold to WeisnerMedia in May 2009 so that WQED could concentrate on its core educational mission through television, radio, and the Internet.
WQED's local production schedule is impressive: seven locally-produced programs every Monday through Saturday evening: Experience; Horizons; It's Pittsburgh and a lot of other stuff; Pittsburgh 360; 4802; Filmmakers Corner; and QED Cooks. WQED also produces local specials, documentaries and town hall meetings on topics of importance to southwestern Pennsylvania. WQED is one of the busiest producers of local programming in the country. The Pittsburgh History Series, with more than 30 documentaries that highlight the reasons this region is special, has generated DVD and VHS sales of almost 300,000 units to people all across the country and the world.
Today WQED Multimedia encompasses WQED-HD; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the WQED Education Department; WQED Interactive; and local and national television and radio production.
Throughout its history, WQED has partnered with hundreds of local community organizations toward improvements in education; arts and culture; community health; economics; and important local issues through its form of civic journalism. These partnerships are a hallmark of WQED's mission and are an important part of its daily activities. As the only community-owned public service media in the region, WQED is a convener, a central gathering place, and a conduit for other local non-profit organizations.
The WQED Education Department has an illustrious history of service and innovation to local and national students, families, educators, and care providers. Today, WQED's Education Department helps provide effective life-long learning to the entire region.
WQED reaches every facet of life in southwestern Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, and western Maryland. No other local media can match WQED's footprint or impact.
Mission Statement:
The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Changes Lives.
President's Report:
