WHRO Public Media

Long known for its public service mission, WHRO is the only public broadcasting station in the United States that is owned by a collaboration of 21 local public school districts. Through WHRO TV, WHRO FM, WHRV FM, its digital platforms, and educational content delivered online to more than 286,000 students and 25,000 teachers, WHRO enriches the lives of the people of Eastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina every day.  WHRO has been committed to excellence in public media. Today, WHRO's consumer base resides throughout Eastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina.

WHRO Public Media Content Submission
Submit to WHRO Public Media Content Submission

WHRO Public Media is dedicated to showcasing compelling stories from our region. We welcome completed works from filmmakers and audio content creators in Virginia and North Carolina that reflect the diversity, history, and voices of our communities. Selected works will be featured across WHRO’s broadcast and streaming platforms.


Who Can Submit

  •  Independent filmmakers and audio content creators based in Virginia or North Carolina.  
  •  Submissions must be completed projects — we do not accept works-in-progress.  
  •  Eligible content includes:  
  •  Short or feature-length films  
  •  Documentaries  
  •  Short-form or long-form audio productions  
  •  Other audio/visual storytelling formats suitable for public media


Submission Requirements

 Completed Work 

  •  Film submissions must be in broadcast-quality video format.  
  •  Audio submissions must be in high-quality, uncompressed formats (e.g., WAV).  

Synopsis & Creator Bio 

  •  A short synopsis (150 words or fewer) and creator biography.  

 Technical Specifications 

  •  Must meet WHRO’s technical delivery standards for broadcast and streaming (to be provided upon acceptance).  

Editorial Standards 

  •  Content must adhere to WHRO Public Media’s Editorial Standards (see below).  
  •  No commercial advertising or sponsored content.  
  •  Content should be factually accurate, respectful of diverse viewpoints, and appropriate for public audiences.


Editorial Standards

WHRO’s editorial guidelines are based on PBS and NPR standards for fairness, accuracy, and independence. Content must:

  •  Be factually accurate, with credible sourcing.  
  •  Avoid defamatory statements or unverified claims.  
  •  Represent diverse voices and perspectives where possible.  
  •  Refrain from obscene, indecent, or profane material.  
  •  Disclose any conflicts of interest or funding sources influencing content.  
  •  Respect copyright laws and secure rights for all material (music, footage, images, etc.).  


Selection Process

  •  Submissions are reviewed by WHRO’s Local Content Committee for quality, relevance, and alignment with our mission.  
  •  Creators will be notified by email within 6–8 weeks of submission.  
  •  Due to high volume, we cannot provide detailed feedback on all submissions.


Agreement & Compensation

  •  Selected creators will receive a small stipend as an honorarium.  
  •  WHRO will license selected works under a three-year, non-exclusive rights agreement for both broadcast and streaming distribution on WHRO platforms.  
  •  Creators retain full ownership of their work and may distribute it elsewhere.


How to Submit

  1.  Complete the WHRO Local Content Submission Form [link to form/portal].  
  2.  Upload your completed project file (or provide a secure download link).  
  3.  Attach all required documentation (synopsis, bio, rights clearances).


WHRO & WHRV Content Proposals and Program Submissions
Submit to WHRO & WHRV Content Proposals and Program Submissions

Thank you for your interest in collaborating with WHRO.  



WHRO is proud to showcase many hours of independently
produced content across our multiple platforms, including WHRO TV, WHRO World,
WHRO Create, WHRV 89.5 FM and WHRO 90.3 FM, AltRadio, WFOS and WHRO.org.
We are excited to work with innovative independent producers and filmmakers
from our region and across Virginia.



Below you will find our online application, including a
place to post your work sample and our submission release form. The information
you provide will help us review your program or proposal. 



WHRO receives many more submissions and proposals than we
could possibly use across our platforms. However, best efforts will be made to
respond to all inquiries within six weeks of the submission date.



Please note that WHRO does not currently have dedicated
funding for the production of independent projects, or the staff capacity to
help you raise funds. Resources WHRO can offer include:



·        
in-kind production and post-production services



·        
distribution



·        
consulting



·        
letters of support



·        
broadcast or streaming on our platforms



We are most interested in content that is directly related
to our mission of educating, enlightening and inspiring our members, listeners
, and viewers across the state. Topics and areas of interest include:



·        
arts/culture



·        
documentary



·        
local and state history



·        
public affairs



·        
sea level rise



·        
diversity and race




Topics or types of programming we are not interested in
include:



·        
advocacy programs



·        
commercial or promotional programs



·        
religious programs




Independent productions may be presented as series, stand-
alone programs, or folded into some of our current productions, like Curate, or Another View. WHRO is also seeking digital content for whro.org and our other digital platforms. 



We look forward to reviewing your materials.

WHRO