Our client, WDIY 88.1 FM, was honored with five awards at the 2022 Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Excellence in Broadcasting Awards. Awards were presented for their diverse feature stories and program series, but WDIY also received the Outstanding Use of Digital Media award for the excellent use of their mobile app.
About WDIY
Located in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, WDIY is a “public radio station and NPR station” serving eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey. The station has a long history dating back to the 1970s, but it has been officially on air since 1995. WDIY is run and supported by its community, and its team consists of over 120 volunteers.
Our Story
When WDIY first came to jacapps, they aimed to continue connecting with their audience beyond the car radio. Their goal was to increase their reach in the community and provide an accessible platform to their listening base. The best way to do this, they determined, was through a mobile app.
During the spring of 2020, our mobile development team began designing an iOS and Android mobile app. By the end of summer 2020, the app had been launched.
The mobile app features a stream player on the homepage, allowing users to easily listen to their favorite WDIY programs. A 2 week archive is also provided, which lets users scroll through and replay previous programming aired within the last two weeks. In addition to radio broadcasts, the station’s numerous podcasts can be found within the app.
To help WDIY achieve their goal of boosting engagement, the app includes features centered on encouraging listener participation. These features, known as “Open Mic” and “Submit Media”, facilitate communication between listeners and the station. The “Open Mic” feature lets users record a voice message and send it directly to the station. This provides a quick way for listeners to share their thoughts regarding feature stories or public affairs programs. Similarly, the “Submit Media” feature allows for photos or videos to be sent to the station.
Since WDIY relies largely on the support of its local community, the station recognizes the importance of keeping its user base aware of local news and events. Aside from featuring locally-produced programming, the app also highlights relevant news stories pertaining to the Lehigh Valley area on the main page.
WDIY proudly states that its mission is “to engage the Lehigh Valley community through a wide-ranging exchange of news, music, arts, and culturally diverse information.” At jacapps, we are thrilled their mobile app has played a part in fulfilling their mission, and that their efforts have been recognized on a statewide scale.
Originally published by Jacobs Media
