As a news anchor at KGMB and later at KHON, Leslie Wilcox was one of the most watched
TV news anchors in Hawai‘i. Today, her
PBS Hawaii program,
Long Story Short, airs opposite some of the highest-rated TV shows,
including American Idol. But attracting a mass audience is not what PBS
Hawaii is all about. For Wilcox, her focus is on creating quality programs that
serve as an educational and cultural resource in the community.
Does PBS Hawaii have a role in finding solutions to community issues and problems?
I think it’s the community that finds the solutions. What we do is bring together
people with different perspectives in a trusted environment, reaching households
statewide. It’s not unusual for bitter opponents to agree to meet at PBS Hawaii
and go on live television, even though they generally avoid each other. This is
a safe haven where they know they’ll be treated fairly. We show them respect
and insist that they engage in civil discourse. Viewers make up their minds about
issues.
A big part of PBS Hawaii is showing national programs viewers have come to love,
like Sesame Street, the News Hour and Nova.
And Frontline, Antiques Roadshow, Great Performances and many more favorites!
More than 90 percent of our programming is national and international. Our local
presence will not edge out terrific primetime shows and children’s programming.
Where do you see PBS Hawaii in the future?
I see a locally focused, globally aware media organization that bucks the trend
toward specialized, niche content and commercially driven information. We provide
a diverse array of interesting programs that allow viewers and Web users to stumble
upon subjects that they would never have known they were interested in. We’ll
celebrate a sense of wonder and exploration. We’ll keep in mind the sweet
intangibles, family and cultural traditions, and natural beauty that are the reasons
we choose to live in Hawai‘i. We’ll look for ways to enhance the quality
of life here. We’ll press for straightforward answers from leaders and pursue
answers community-wide. And we’ll be deeply engaged in education.
Did you come into this job after leaving commercial TV news knowing things have
to change?
Change is a constant in the media. PBS Hawaii must keep moving and creating. I figured
that with the extensive consolidation of media, PBS Hawaii’s local identity
would resonate more, not less. Even with hundreds of TV channels and unlimited websites,
PBS Hawaii can stand out because it offers high-quality programs and it’s
a trusted place. Commercialism doesn’t drive its content. I didn’t anticipate
the economic crisis, but as the Weinberg
Fellows Program is teaching me, “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste.”
My colleagues and I are working thoughtfully to get through tough times well-equipped
for the “new normal.” I’m one of those people who doesn’t
fear change or failure. I like trying new things. It’s also important to know
what should not change – values, balance, fairness, respect for viewers, civil discourse,
and lifelong learning. Old-school values, new approaches.