"Leadership Through Relevance"

Overview of the Vermont Public Radio Strategic Plan

The Strategic Plan builds on VPR's commitment and the shared mission of the national network to lead through relevance in news and classical music during a time of great change. The Strategic Plan clearly expresses VPR's responsibility and dedication to public service now and in the future. VPR states in its Mission, Vision and Values that it will be "essential and trusted," "relevant," and the most "widely used media institution in Vermont." From these big ideas sprang a set of inspired goals for the next three years, from fall 2010 through fall 2013.

VPR: Greater Relevance and Public Service

VPR will be the most relevant media institution in Vermont by providing greater public service journalism and expanding station-produced content on-air and online to fill the need for more state and local news coverage.

VPR will build upon the strong journalistic institution established over the past three decades to provide increased public service in a time when citizens need more and better news and information from reliable news leaders.

VPR will deepen and expand its statewide news and feature coverage over the air and online through increased regional reporting and investigative partnerships.

VPR also will invest specifically in the development of an innovative online local news service that will serve the public needs in the digital age. With these actions VPR will connect Vermont's communities through broadcast and increased utilization of online platforms and social media.

VPR will continue to analyze and improve the overall sound of the station to serve listeners with the highest quality broadcasts possible.

VPR will develop and maintain news, programming and classical music partnerships in our communities that further VPR's mission and vision to provide increased relevance and public service.

VPR Classical: Reaching More Listeners, Providing A Sense of Place

VPR Classical will reach more listeners and provide an increased sense of place that reflects the rich classical music landscape of our region.

Classical music accounts for 15 percent of all public radio listening in the United States. VPR joins public radio stations across the country by committing to reach more listeners with more frequencies.

VPR Classical will expand and deepen its engagement with the community through increased local content and relevance, including more live broadcasts of classical music performances from across the region.

VPR Classical will continue to analyze and improve the overall sound of the station to serve listeners with the highest quality broadcasts possible.

A digital music catalog, library and storage system will replace our library of deteriorating CDs, making it possible for VPR's classical music hosts to efficiently create daily programs, online playlists, and retrieve and play music from a comprehensive database.

Building Capacity for the Future

VPR will strengthen its overall capacity in the areas of personnel, fund raising, and infrastructure to secure the position as Vermont's leading media institution.

VPR will recruit and retain a professional, highly qualified, creative work force.

Facility upgrades will provide a healthy and productive workplace, including the planning for a 21st Century Newsroom.

VPR's revenue stream is strengthened through an increase in sustaining membership, major and planned gifts and also specific initiatives including a newly launched Journalism Fund that will provide opportunities to enhance and expand VPR's news initiatives.

Regional capital campaigns will help fund the VPR Classical network expansion to reach more listeners.

New and existing listeners are engaged through the development of a strategic marketing plan.