See the Impact You Made in 2026
From newsrooms to neighborhoods, here's how your support shaped Virginia communities this year.
Letters From Our Leadership
Jayme Swain — President & CEO
This past year has tested our resilience. With AI reshaping media, shifting audience consumption behaviors and the loss of federal funding, public media faces significant changes. Yet, we see this as a moment of opportunity, to innovate and reimagine the future of public media. Thanks to your support, VPM is strong. Our mission is more important than ever.
Patricia Merrill — Board Chair
This is a remarkable time to be involved with VPM. The organization celebrated its 60th anniversary by delivering award-winning content and experiences to communities across Virginia. In 2026, VPM will begin its next chapter by opening the doors to our new home in the heart of downtown Richmond.
Making an Impact in Our Communities
Chasing Cambodia Premiere
More than 400 people joined VPM at Richmond's Byrd Theater in May for the premiere of Chasing Cambodia, a documentary that explores one cyclist's journey to finding the balance between his Cambodian heritage and American upbringing.
Learn MoreEducation Forum
VPM sparked engaging conversations in February with our Education Forum. Moderated by the Honorable Anne B. Holton, the forum brought together more than 100 people to discuss opportunity gaps and innovative solutions by local school districts.
Take Your Child to Work Day
In April, VPM and Clark Construction Group welcomed the children of construction trade and craft workers to our future headquarters site for a day of learning and fun.
Learn MoreLife in the Heart Land
On September 18, more than 150 people celebrated season 3 of Life in the Heart Land at the Sipe Center in Bridgewater, with panel discussions, screenings, artisan demonstrations and musical performances.
Learn MoreRichmond Folk Festival
Style Weekly and VPM Music celebrated at the 21st Richmond Folk Festival in October. VPM Music hosted a live broadcast, and Style Weekly set up a Listening Lounge for festival goers.
Learn MoreHealthy Birth Healthy Baby Expo
In September, VPM joined more than 30 community partners for the 2025 Healthy Birth Healthy Baby Expo in Charlottesville, an annual free event that celebrates community, pregnancy, birth and babies.
Virginia Home Grown
In May, the Virginia Home Grown team, along with host Peggy Singlemann, visited the RVA Big Market to talk with community members, answer gardening questions, and teach kids how to make wildflower seed balls.
Learn MoreNews
Capitol Correspondents Team
If you're walking through the Virginia State Capitol during session, chances are you will run into the VPM News capitol correspondents team, made up of state politics reporter Jahd Khalil and multimedia journalist Shaban Athuman.
Learn MoreJahd Khalil & Shaban Athuman
"As journalists, we have a responsibility to uncover and spotlight what our state government is doing," says Jahd. "Building relationships, so we can have access to the senators, delegates and staff to ask questions. And knowing that we're capturing history is a huge motivator," adds Shaban.
Learn MoreStaying Plugged in with Podcasts
2025 was a big year for VPM's podcast RVA's Got Issues as it launched both its second and third seasons. New to the podcast line-up in 2025 was The Virginia Press Room, featuring reporters from the Virginia Press Corps.
Learn MoreCovering All the Races
In November's election, all three statewide offices and all 100 members of the House of Delegates were on the ballot. "We're sharing our news stories across multiple platforms and in multiple formats," explained Elliott Robinson, VPM's news director.
Learn More2025 By the Numbers — VPM News1,000,000+ views of VPM News Shorts1,025+ stories published across all platforms15 stories published in Spanish25+ staff on the VPM News team
Arts & Culture
Life in the Heart Land
VPM's award-winning docuseries celebrated the launch of its third season at a community event in Bridgewater in September. Over six episodes, Life in the Heart Land spotlighted Virginia's rural areas as sources of innovative solutions and change.
Learn MoreStyle Weekly
With its award-winning journalism and photography, Style Weekly remained a fixture in the Richmond community. In August 2025, Style Weekly celebrated the best of Richmond with Best Fest at The Branch Museum of Design.
Learn MoreVirginia Home Grown — 25 Years
Happy anniversary to VPM's longest-running series, Virginia Home Grown! In 2025, host Peggy Singlemann and team kicked off the 25th season of the fan-favorite show that highlights the unique richness of gardens and natural ecosystems throughout Virginia.
Learn More2025 By the Numbers — Style Weekly & Arts67,000+ Central Virginians read Style Weekly's quarterly print issues20,000,000+ views across Style Weekly social media platforms8,700+ streams and nearly 10,000 new followers on Facebook for Virginia Home Grown3,600+ views of Finding Edna Lewis on VPM's YouTube channel1,300+ views of Democracy360 on VPM's YouTube channel
Education
Sharing Resources in Impactful Places
In July, VPM delivered posters, Sesame Street materials, booklets, videos and other early learning resources to five Charlottesville-area WIC (Women, Infants & Children) offices in partnership with the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation and the Blue Ridge Health District.
Learn MoreSpreading the Message
Did you know that 90% of a child's brain develops by age 5? VPM partnered with the Robins Foundation and Thrive Birth to Five to develop a broadcast and digital campaign called "90by5." More than 5,000 people visited 90by5.org to learn more.
Learn MoreExploring Solutions in Science
Zero Waste, a YouTube series focused on sustainability, offers solutions to help people improve their health, finances and the environment. In 2025, more than 40,000 people watched episodes on growing plants, sustainable lawn care and fixing fast fashion.
Learn More2025 By the Numbers — Education4,000+ books, activities and other learning resources delivered54 community partnerships raising awareness of early brain development37,000 families served with materials at 24 WIC offices100,000+ views of Science Might Surprise You! on VPM's YouTube channel
Thank You
Growing the Newsroom
Because of your support, VPM expanded our news coverage in Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. In May, we welcomed Hannah Davis-Reid to the VPM News team as our new general assignment reporter based in Charlottesville.
Learn MoreFrom Classroom to Newsroom
Because of your support, VPM welcomes students to our headquarters to learn about media and community engagement. In March, a Spanish class from Rockingham County's Turner Ashby High School traveled to Richmond to tour VPM.
Learn MoreThe American Revolution
VPM proudly hosted the country's first screening of The American Revolution in March at the Altria Theater, featuring acclaimed filmmakers Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt.
Learn MoreShenandoah
VPM's original production Shenandoah premiered at the Virginia Film Festival in October and is poised to bring national recognition to this Virginia treasure in 2026. This extraordinary film immerses viewers in the heart of Shenandoah National Park.
Learn More"We rely on public media for news coverage, information, entertainment and local programming. We find the news balanced and well-researched. PBS Passport is absolutely the best. We choose to watch VPM every night - it's our 'go to' channel."Cindy & Doug SkelleyHarrisonburg"We love nature and the outdoors, and so the documentary Shenandoah was an excellent opportunity to support VPM and promote our extraordinary national park."Michelle Gluck & John McGurlRichmond"My family has been pleased and proud to support VPM for decades. We appreciate the nonpartisan national news and the truly fine local interest stories and videos. Shenandoah is an outstanding example of the excellent films produced by VPM."Fred W. Scott, Jr.Charlottesville
Awards Received During 2025
29Total Awards — Recognizing Excellence in Public Media11Telly Awards6Virginia Associated Press (AP) Broadcaster Awards4Public Media Awards from National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA)3Regional Murrow Awards2Capital Emmy Awards2Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) Awards1"Salute to Excellence" award from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)Your commitment and investment in VPM's mission is the foundation of our success. Your support not only sustains our operations, but it enables us to carry out award-winning work. Thank you for helping to educate, entertain and inspire Virginians.
Annual Impact Report
VPM MissionTo use the power of media to educate, entertain and inspire.Want to learn more about where VPM is headed? Check the VPM 2028 Strategic Plan, a five-year roadmap for the next phase of our evolution as a local storyteller. This plan puts the VPM audience at the center of our work and prioritizes community impact.
Stories of Impact
Busy month of events and awards make up VPM's March 2026 community engagement
Announcements — April 2, 2026
Learn MoreLocal church uses VPM's Dementia Docuseries to help educate community members
Announcements — March 26, 2026
Learn MoreRESONATE Pitch Party winner launches first season of winning podcast with VPM's help
Announcements — March 12, 2026
Learn MoreEducation and events highlight VPM's February 2026 community engagement
Announcements — March 4, 2026
Learn MoreVPM morning news show inspires visit by former U.S. Ambassador to Maggie L. Walker Governor's School
Announcements — February 27, 2026
Learn More