Sure, it combines elements of sound, emotions and education. But at its very core, television is a visual medium.

Because there is so much going on behind the camera, there's more to WGAL than meets the eye.

"Our audience today is more diverse than it's ever been in our 77-year history," said Cindy DeLuca, who's been the president and general manager of WGAL-8 for four years. "When you look at our content across all of our platforms, more people have access to it at all times each day. Our audience is anyone seeking information or entertainment that's relevant to their lifestyle. I can't say it's local specifically, because our audience is that diverse. We are still the distributor of national content because it's relevant to local people."

Located "up on the hill" at 1300 Columbia Ave., Lancaster, local television broadcaster WGAL-8 is a local resource, a societal pillar and a community partner. An NBC affiliate, WGAL airs a mix of local programming, national content and sports broadcasts designed to entertain, inform, engage and enrich the lives of its viewers.

"Our purpose is to serve the community as a trusted local broadcaster," said DeLuca. "We like to refer to ourselves as being a bridge. We're building a lot of connections, people to people, by sharing their stories. We're connecting people with information that helps them stay safe. We bridge fundamental human needs to resources and sometimes the resources to the needs."

The local television station broadcasts a total of 41.5 hours of local newscasts each week, on weekdays beginning at 4:30 a.m., at midday, during the supper hours and late at night.

WGAL also produces local community programming like Brain Busters, public affairs show In Focus, its Very Local series and sports specials. In addition, the station is active as an altruistic supporter in the local nonprofit community, a fact evidenced by its three-decade commitment to the Salvation Army's Coats for Kids initiative.

"We serve local needs," said DeLuca. "We can give a voice to the local community and to the leaders and people of authority whose decisions affect our lives. We have to be committed to making connections in our neighborhoods. (Central Pennsylvania) is a compilation of towns and communities that have unique qualities of life."

WGAL employs more than 100 skilled workers, including producers, writers, dedicated content creators, account executives, administrative personnel, marketing and salespeople, tech and engineering support team members and photojournalists. The TV station's on-air talent, like news anchors, sports reporters and meteorologists, make up just 20% of its workforce.

"It's way more than the people you see on camera," said DeLuca, a resident of Manheim. "The people you see on camera are just a fraction of the entire team that it takes to effectively serve the entire community. Careers in local broadcasting can be challenging with unusual work schedules and stressful deadlines. That's why the team dynamics and culture are so important. I'm so proud of how the WGAL team collaborates, supports and uplifts each other."

Primarily, WGAL serves the Lancaster, Lebanon, York and Harrisburg area, a top-50 television market in the United States. But WGAL's reach extends into Berks, Cumberland, Adams, Franklin, Perry, Juniata and Mifflin counties and even as far away as State College, Altoona and the suburban Baltimore area.

Technological advances like cable, streaming, apps and improved antennas have pushed WGAL's viewership well into the multiple millions.

When WGAL first came on the air on March 18, 1949, it became the fourth television station in Pennsylvania and the first west of Philadelphia. WGAL still operates from the same building that was constructed in 1957, the first facility in the United States built solely for the purpose of broadcasting television programming.

WGAL is one of 35 stations owned and operated by Hearst Television.

"We have a very rich legacy here at WGAL," said DeLuca. "It's about the people and the shared values of the people. This station has always shared a passion for our purpose, and we strive for excellence."