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The list of how local TV stations around the country contribute to the well-being of their respective communities is long, diverse and never ending. While the various causes are all laudable, deserving and appreciated, making sure children have enough to eat is one that ranks among the most important.

WPTV provided viewers with weather coverage of Isaias for more than 20 hours all while staying safe and socially distanced. Due to the virus, everything from food planning to sleeping arrangements at the station had to be modified.

WDIV’s Vote 4 The Best contest, which generated more than 650,000 votes, awarded $7,500 each to 15 small businesses that won in their category.

“The outpouring of generosity we’ve seen from Scripps audiences across the country is an incredible testament to the connection between our brands and their communities,” said Adam Symson, Scripps president.

Susan Pascal has more than 17 years’ experience in TV station marketing in New York, Boston and Providence, R.I. “I’m excited,” said Pascal, “it’s going to be fun.”

Local TV marketers are navigating new territory so far in 2020, one few could have seen coming. In March, routine and normal turned into uncertainty and fear as the pandemic spread around the country. But what about now? What are your plans going forward?

WCJB, a legacy station in Gainesville, Fla., was losing news viewers and revenue three years ago. This May, its 11 o’clock news ratings was up 48% in adults 25-54. See how the ABC affiliate turned itself around.

“We get very good applicants from your ads. Yours tend to bring people that are actually qualified to work in the TV business. Your ads are always top notch and we always get our money’s worth.”

WCAU, the NBC-owned affiliate in Philadelphia, is partnering with The Philadelphia Tribune to air a 30-minute special designed to advance the conversation about social injustice and racial disparities by providing context for this moment in history.

How people think and feel about what’s in the news, politics and other issues like the pandemic and racism, is being used by some local stations to hold news viewers deeper into newscasts and in some cases, drive them to upcomng newscasts. And what people care about is also being used to drive them to stations’ websites, apps and other social media platforms.