A Children’s Community offers viewers an inside glance into the lives of children who
dedicate their time and talents to make a difference in their community.

Despite what most may assume, children are actively involved in your community on a daily basis. A Children’s Community hows viewers how the younger generation is making a difference by volunteering with several nonprofit organizations within Alachua County. The featured kids regularly volunteer with the following organizations: Girls to Young Ladies, JIVE, Ronald McDonald House, Star Center, and March of Dimes-Chain Reaction.

The organization, Girls To Young Ladies, encourages girls of all ages to build lasting relationships through peer-to-peer tutoring, spiritual and academic development, and community service projects. The JIVE Teen Leader Program helps youth develop leadership and interpersonal skills by getting involved in their local thrift shop to help benefit Children’s Home Society of Florida. The volunteers of Ronald McDonald House of North Central Florida give back to families with critically ill children through group volunteer opportunities including maintenance work and cooking. The kids of Star Center benefit the community by expressing themselves through numerous plays, musicals, and talent shows. The children are encouraged to work together to produce and perform a successful creative piece. Finally, Chain Reaction members educate their community by spreading awareness about prematurity causes and prevention methods.

Many participate in fundraising and community events to raise awareness about prematurity by promoting “healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices.” These kids show their dedication to bettering their community by expressing themselves through various forms of art, spreading awareness about important causes, and helping those less fortunate. A Children’s Community is truly an inspirational documentary that portrays the willingness of children to step up and be the change.

WUFT airs Gator Nation Innovation, a program highlighting the collaborative initiatives of the University of Florida with Gainesville community businesses and local government.

The University of Florida’s research “creates an environment that cultivates and inspires creative thinking for future investors and entrepreneurs.” Innovation is one of the most positive paths for restoring and creating economic growth and opportunity in the community.

The show introduces viewers to organizations such as Innovation Gainesville. Gainesville is home to one of the nation’s top public research universities, the University of Florida, providing a platform for beneficial-marketable products and services that are changing lives. Also known as the Top Tech City in Florida, Gainesville has become a national hub for the development of scientific and economic innovation. Innovation in Gainesville and the incubators created here have allowed a unique and strategic platform for local, national and international civic and business leaders to present their initiatives in biotechnology.

Gator Nation Innovation airs March 1st at 9:00 pm.

Illustrating the positive impacts of new start-up companies in the community, Gator Nation Innovation showcases the Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator. “The incubator to date has received more than $300 million in equity investments and $175 million in contracts and grants.”

“We are starting to see the fruits of the labor with the Innovation Hub, Innovation Square, and with a number of the companies that are coming out of our incubators…” said Brent Christensen President and CEO of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Gator Nation Innovation is an insightful program depicting the growth in Gainesville and the impact of nuances in research and products in the world.

WRUF-TV, Cox Cable Channel 6 in Gainesville and over-the-air on digital channel 10.1, will launch North Central Florida’s first weather channel today. WRUF-TV, formerly WLUF-TV, will feature city specific weather conditions, forecasts, and severe storm watches and warnings updated in real time 24-hours-a-day. The weather forecast models – exclusive to WRUF-TV – offer accurate hyper-local forecasts for cities within the broadcast viewing area as well as both coasts including tide information, water temperatures, beach conditions, storm forecasts and tropical storm updates. WRUF-TV has a network of three “skycams” that provide live and time lapse views. These steerable cameras, controlled in-house, can tilt and zoom 360 degrees to track weather conditions as they occur. Continue reading →

The annual Gainesville Independence Day eve celebration, Fanfares & Fireworks, has been canceled because of budget cuts to the University of Florida’s public broadcasting stations, officials announced today.

“It’s especially hard to share this news since we recognize the significance of fireworks on this important holiday,” said Randy Wright, executive director of the UF College of Journalism and Communications Division of Multimedia Properties. “Unfortunately, we are not in the financial position to put on the 2011 Fanfares & Fireworks event, and we are very sorry to disappoint the community.”

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Groundbreaking Initiative by UF’s College of Journalism & Communications to support bilingual journalism training for students

University of Florida public radio station WUFT-FM 89.1 will begin broadcasting Spanish language programming on the 89.1 HD3 channel on Monday, April 11. WUFT Ahora will feature news, public affairs and variety programming, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Within the next 60-90 days, WUFT Ahora will also include Spanish language newscasts produced by University of Florida College of Journalism and Communication students. The inclusion of these local Spanish student newscasts throughout the day on a 24-hour Spanish-language radio station is a unique service and distinguishes the University of Florida and WUFT-FM from other colleges of journalism and large universities in America. WUFT 89.1 HD3 can be heard on an HD radio.

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