<![CDATA[ Latest from Next TV in Public-service ]]> https://www.nexttv.com/tag/public-service Wed, 09 Sep 2020 19:57:24 +0000 en <![CDATA[ Pai Accelerates FAST 5G Plan, Cable Rule Changes ]]> From its aggressive 5G deployment plan and a proposal to eliminate cable TV administrative paperwork – with additional action on robocalls, foreign ownership and IP calling services - the Federal Communications Commission intends to cover a lot of turf at its Sept. 30 monthly Open Meeting. The agenda, unveiled Wednesday, will focus on the spectrum re-allocation, including shared use of mid-band channels for government and commercial applications.  

The Sept. 30 line-up also includes two Media Bureau items dealing with carriage changes and reporting requirements, described here.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s vision to reassign 100 megahertz of mid-band spectrum for commercial 5G will top the agenda for the Commission’s Sept. 30 Open Meeting. 

Even before the agenda was issued on Wednesday, Pai shared a draft proposal that, he said, “would take decisive steps toward making the 3.45-3.55 GHz band available for commercial use” throughout the contiguous United States.  Pai shared his plan in a message late Tuesday to the other Commissioners, explaining that the plan was coordinated with the Executive Branch. The Defense Department and the White House agreed last month that the spectrum, now used for key radar applications, could be freed up quickly to share with commercial 5G without sacrificing national security or military uses.

Citing his “5G FAST Plan” (“Facilitate America's Superiority in 5G Technology”), Pai said, “We are moving forward quickly … to ensure that this mid-band spectrum is available for commercial 5G deployment. He called it “another major step forward in advancing American leadership in 5G.”

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking includes a call for comments regarding use of the spectrum to enable commercial use and coordination between federal and non-federal users.

If adopted, the plan “would be an important step toward satisfying Congress’s directive in the MOBILE NOW Act to make new spectrum available for flexible use,” Pai added. He said the FCC will coordinate with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration about the feasibility of allowing commercial use in this band. 

 Related: CBRS Auction Bids Top $450 Million

 “Our 5G FAST Plan is in full swing,” Pai said. “With this 3.45 GHz band proposal, the upcoming C-band auction of 280 megahertz of spectrum, and the recently completed auction for Priority Access Licenses in the 3.5 GHz band, the Commission is on track to make a wide swath of 530 megahertz of continuous mid-band spectrum available for 5G.”  Citing related low- and high-band spectrum flexible use plans and “efforts to expedite the deployment of wireless infrastructure and fiber,” Pai said that, “We are establishing a strong foundation for wireless innovation and investment.”

CTIA, 5G Action Now Embrace Pai’s Plan

CTIA - the Wireless Association quickly praised Pai's plan. Scott Bergmann, CTIA's senior VP, regulatory affairs, focused on Pai's "successful 5G FAST Plan to make more mid-band spectrum available for commercial 5G services.”

“Quick delivery of exclusive use mid-band spectrum is critical to fueling our transition to a new, 5G economy," Bergmann said. “We thank the FCC and Administration for recognizing this urgent need.”

5G Action Now Chairman Mike Rogers, the former Congressman who now heads the aggressive 5G lobbying group, called Pai’s proposal “another critical step toward ensuring that American innovation unleashes the full potential of this next generation communication’s capability.”

Rogers joined the international competitive choir, saying, “We need to do everything we can to ensure that it is America, and not China, that defines the 5G future for our country.”

Also Overhauling 4.9 GHz Public Safety Band with State Oversight

In his fantasy football-themed blog on Tuesday that preceded the release of the Sept. 30 agenda, Pai also previewed his game plan “to make better use of the 4.9 GHz band.”

His proposal will give states the opportunity to lease 4.9 GHz band spectrum to commercial entities, electric utilities, and others.

“This market-driven path will protect public safety incumbent operations while providing states the flexibility to use the spectrum to boost wireless broadband, improve critical infrastructure monitoring, or facilitate new public safety use cases that meet the unique challenges and geographies of each state,” Pai said.

“Way back in 2002, the FCC designated 50 megahertz of contiguous spectrum in that band for public safety use,” he explained. “Unfortunately, only about 3.5% of potential licensees — less than 1 out of 25 — have actually taken advantage of this spectrum,” he continued, acknowledging “the unusual licensing framework which allows bandwidth sharing by ad-hoc coordination to avoid interference.”

Last month, the newly formed Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) debuted with a call for allocation of 50 MHz in the 4.9 GHz spectrum to the FirstNet Authority.

Foreign Ownership, Robocalls and Captioned Telephone Pricing, Too

The FCC’s Sept. 30 agenda will also include a look at the “Transparency and Timeliness of Foreign Ownership” reviews. The Commission intends to improve the process by which it seeks the views of the Executive Branch, security, law enforcement and foreign policy (including trade) agencies when it is handling applications from foreign companies or individuals – an increasingly complex factor in the global communications ecosystem.

A proposal to combat spoofed robocalls and a revision of compensation rates for Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) are also on the Sept. 30 agenda. 

]]> https://www.nexttv.com/news/pai-accelerates-fast-5g-plan-cable-rule-changes rMw5DBbuHMnTc7vV3puWYX Wed, 09 Sep 2020 19:57:24 +0000 Wed, 09 Sep 2020 20:07:38 +0000 false false false

From its aggressive 5G deployment plan and a proposal to eliminate cable TV administrative paperwork – with additional action on robocalls, foreign ownership and IP calling services - the Federal Communications Commission intends to cover a lot of turf at its Sept. 30 monthly Open Meeting. The agenda, unveiled Wednesday, will focus on the spectrum re-allocation, including shared use of mid-band channels for government and commercial applications.  

The Sept. 30 line-up also includes two Media Bureau items dealing with carriage changes and reporting requirements, described here.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s vision to reassign 100 megahertz of mid-band spectrum for commercial 5G will top the agenda for the Commission’s Sept. 30 Open Meeting. 

Even before the agenda was issued on Wednesday, Pai shared a draft proposal that, he said, “would take decisive steps toward making the 3.45-3.55 GHz band available for commercial use” throughout the contiguous United States.  Pai shared his plan in a message late Tuesday to the other Commissioners, explaining that the plan was coordinated with the Executive Branch. The Defense Department and the White House agreed last month that the spectrum, now used for key radar applications, could be freed up quickly to share with commercial 5G without sacrificing national security or military uses.

Citing his “5G FAST Plan” (“Facilitate America's Superiority in 5G Technology”), Pai said, “We are moving forward quickly … to ensure that this mid-band spectrum is available for commercial 5G deployment. He called it “another major step forward in advancing American leadership in 5G.”

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking includes a call for comments regarding use of the spectrum to enable commercial use and coordination between federal and non-federal users.

If adopted, the plan “would be an important step toward satisfying Congress’s directive in the MOBILE NOW Act to make new spectrum available for flexible use,” Pai added. He said the FCC will coordinate with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration about the feasibility of allowing commercial use in this band. 

 Related: CBRS Auction Bids Top $450 Million

 “Our 5G FAST Plan is in full swing,” Pai said. “With this 3.45 GHz band proposal, the upcoming C-band auction of 280 megahertz of spectrum, and the recently completed auction for Priority Access Licenses in the 3.5 GHz band, the Commission is on track to make a wide swath of 530 megahertz of continuous mid-band spectrum available for 5G.”  Citing related low- and high-band spectrum flexible use plans and “efforts to expedite the deployment of wireless infrastructure and fiber,” Pai said that, “We are establishing a strong foundation for wireless innovation and investment.”

CTIA, 5G Action Now Embrace Pai’s Plan

CTIA - the Wireless Association quickly praised Pai's plan. Scott Bergmann, CTIA's senior VP, regulatory affairs, focused on Pai's "successful 5G FAST Plan to make more mid-band spectrum available for commercial 5G services.”

“Quick delivery of exclusive use mid-band spectrum is critical to fueling our transition to a new, 5G economy," Bergmann said. “We thank the FCC and Administration for recognizing this urgent need.”

5G Action Now Chairman Mike Rogers, the former Congressman who now heads the aggressive 5G lobbying group, called Pai’s proposal “another critical step toward ensuring that American innovation unleashes the full potential of this next generation communication’s capability.”

Rogers joined the international competitive choir, saying, “We need to do everything we can to ensure that it is America, and not China, that defines the 5G future for our country.”

Also Overhauling 4.9 GHz Public Safety Band with State Oversight

In his fantasy football-themed blog on Tuesday that preceded the release of the Sept. 30 agenda, Pai also previewed his game plan “to make better use of the 4.9 GHz band.”

His proposal will give states the opportunity to lease 4.9 GHz band spectrum to commercial entities, electric utilities, and others.

“This market-driven path will protect public safety incumbent operations while providing states the flexibility to use the spectrum to boost wireless broadband, improve critical infrastructure monitoring, or facilitate new public safety use cases that meet the unique challenges and geographies of each state,” Pai said.

“Way back in 2002, the FCC designated 50 megahertz of contiguous spectrum in that band for public safety use,” he explained. “Unfortunately, only about 3.5% of potential licensees — less than 1 out of 25 — have actually taken advantage of this spectrum,” he continued, acknowledging “the unusual licensing framework which allows bandwidth sharing by ad-hoc coordination to avoid interference.”

Last month, the newly formed Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) debuted with a call for allocation of 50 MHz in the 4.9 GHz spectrum to the FirstNet Authority.

Foreign Ownership, Robocalls and Captioned Telephone Pricing, Too

The FCC’s Sept. 30 agenda will also include a look at the “Transparency and Timeliness of Foreign Ownership” reviews. The Commission intends to improve the process by which it seeks the views of the Executive Branch, security, law enforcement and foreign policy (including trade) agencies when it is handling applications from foreign companies or individuals – an increasingly complex factor in the global communications ecosystem.

A proposal to combat spoofed robocalls and a revision of compensation rates for Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) are also on the Sept. 30 agenda. 

]]> <![CDATA[ Peabody Awards Names 60 Nominees ]]> The Peabody Awards Board of Jurors has picked 60 nominees that represent the most compelling and empowering stories released in broadcasting and digital media during 2019.

The nominees were chosen by unanimous vote of 19 jurors from nearly 1,300 entries from television, radio/podcasts and the web in entertainment, news, documentary, children’s and public service programming, the awards producers said. The Peabody Awards are based at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.

“Peabody is proud to champion this year’s nominees who inspire our connection, provoke our thinking and delight our senses. From the communal strength of black women to the eminence of science to the conviction of those who speak up, these stories and their creators celebrate the diversity of human experience and of our democracy,” Jeffrey P. Jones, executive director of Peabody, said in a statement. “Amidst the challenges of our present moment, we can find empathy, entertainment and truth in these nominees.”

The nominated programs encompass a wide range of pressing issues, including the criminal justice system, repercussions of the #MeToo movement, and immigrant rights, according to the statement.

Of the 60 nominations, PBS and HBO lead with 11 and seven, respectively, followed by Netflix (five), Amazon (three), and SHOWTIME, CNN, NBC News, and the podcast company Pineapple Street Studios (two each). From the list 30 winners will be named at a later date.

The 60 Peabody Award Nominees, listed by category and in alphabetical order (network/platform in parentheses) are:

CHILDREN’S & YOUTH

“Molly of Denali” -- This captivating animated show explores Alaskan Native culture and traditions though the eyes of young Molly. WGBH Educational Foundation, Atomic Cartoons (PBS Kids)

“Treasure Island 2020” -- This wonderfully fun podcast inventively reworks Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, now with time traveling pirates. Gen-Z Media (BYUradio)

DOCUMENTARIES

“16 Shots” -- This moving and impressively comprehensive forensic account from director Rick Rowley examines the killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by Chicago police. SHOWTIME Documentary Films in association with Topic, Impact Partners, and Chicago Media Project (SHOWTIME)

“American Factory” -- Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert’s film offers an excellent fly-on-the-wall account of the arrival of the Fuyao factory and its Chinese leadership in Moraine, Ohio, and the clash of cultures at play as American workers seek to adapt to Chinese ownership and its fight against unionization of workers. Higher Ground Productions and Participant Media for Netflix (Netflix)

“Apollo 11” -- Comprised entirely, and masterfully, of archival materials, the film is a riveting as-it-happened presentation of the 1969 NASA mission landing the first men on the moon. CNN Films (CNN)

“For Sama” -- Composed as a love letter from co-director Waad al-Kateab to her daughter, and as an explanation of why she and her husband remained in besieged Aleppo to help run a hospital, “For Sama” is a profound, beautiful tale about both the war and the families caught in it. FRONTLINE, Channel 4 News, ITN Productions, Channel 4 (PBS)

“Independent Lens: HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING” -- Intimately exploring the everyday lives of African Americans in rural Alabama through artistically rendered vignettes, director RaMell Ross captures the feel, atmosphere, fiber and culture of a community rarely seen on film. A production of Idiom Film, LLC and Louverture Films, in association with Field of Vision (PBS)

“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if you’re a girl)” -- The story of a skateboarding camp and school for girls in Afghanistan, Carol Dysinger’s delightful film empathetically charts the young skaters as they develop courage and allow their personalities to shine. Grain Media for A&E IndieFilms Network (A&E)

“Leaving Neverland” -- A brave if deeply troubling account from Dan Reed of pop legend Michael Jackson’s relationships with children, told through profiles of James Safechuck and Wade Robson, offering their accounts of being groomed for, suffering under and attempting to recover from alleged abuse. Amos Pictures and HBO Documentary in association with Channel Four (HBO)

“One Child Nation” -- Directors Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang powerfully explore the impact of China’s one child policy on the parents and siblings who lost loved ones, on those who rescued children or performed the abortions, and ultimately on a nation, its culture and its conscience. Next Generation in co-production with ITVS, WDR/ARTE, Motto Pictures and Pumpernickel Films in association with Chicago Media Project and Chicken & Egg Pictures (Prime Video)

“POV: América” -- A beautiful portrait from Erick Stoll and Chase Whiteside of grandsons taking care of their charming 93-year-old grandmother in Colima, Mexico. Lifelike Docs, American Documentary | POV (PBS)

“POV: Inventing Tomorrow” -- Laura Nix’s inspiring profile of six amazing teenage scientists from around the world preparing for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair by working on solutions to complex environmental issues. Fishbowl Films, Motto Pictures, 19340 Productions, Shark Island Institute, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, IQ190 Productions, American Documentary | POV (PBS)

“POV: Midnight Traveler” -- Filmed on phones by Hassan Fazili, this poignant autobiographical account of his refugee family’s journey from Afghanistan to Hungary is a beautiful testament to parenting through trauma. Old Chilly Pictures LLC, American Documentary | POV, Independent Television Service (PBS)

“POV: Roll Red Roll” -- Harrowing yet powerful retelling by Nancy Schwartzman of the 2012 rape of a teenage girl by members of a beloved high school football team in Steubenville, Ohio, and of many in the town’s refusal to believe. Sunset Park Pictures, Artemis Rising, Fork Films, Doc Society, Multitude Films, American Documentary | POV (PBS)

“POV: The Distant Barking of Dogs” -- This arrestingly beautiful film from Simon Lereng Wilmont follows a year in the life of a boy and his grandmother living on the frontlines of war in Eastern Ukraine. Final Cut for Real, Mouka Filmi, STORY, Bayerischer Rundfunk, ARTE, American Documentary | POV (PBS)

“POV: The Silence of Others” -- Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar’s film offers a stunning reflection on fascism, memory and forgetting by documenting the struggle of victims of Spain’s Gen. Franco to seek legal redress and be remembered by the state, society and world. Semilla Verde Productions, Lucernam Films, American Documentary | POV, Independent Television Service, Latino Public Broadcasting, El Deseo (PBS)

“Sea of Shadows” -- This action-packed documentary examines the illegal trade from Mexican cartels to Chinese traffickers of the rare totoaba fish in the Sea of Cortez, and of the impact on the endangered vaquita porpoise. Terra Mater Factual Studios in association with Appian Way, Malaika Pictures, The Wild Lens Collective for National Geographic Documentary Films (National Geographic)

“Surviving R. Kelly” -- Unflinching, brave and impactful six-part series based on interviews with women who survived alleged sexual abuse from R&B superstar R. Kelly. Bunim/Murray Productions and Kreativ Inc. for Lifetime (Lifetime)

“The Edge of Democracy” -- Telling the epic tragedy of what happened in Brazil, from Lula to Bolsonaro, this film from director Petra Costa commandingly and chillingly shows how precarious a democracy can be. A Busca Vida Filmes Production in association with Violet Films for Netflix (Netflix)

“True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality” -- A superb profile of the remarkable Bryan Stevenson and his work seeking justice for death row inmates amounts to a searing indictment of the U.S. criminal justice system and its history of racism. HBO Documentary Films and Kunhardt Films (HBO)

“Warrior Women” -- An intimate and soulful profile from Elizabeth Castle and Christina D. King of Madonna Thunder Hawk, an American Indian Movement leader, fighting for Native rights. Co-production of Castle King, LLC and ITVS in association with Vision Maker Media (WORLD Channel)

“Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics And Men” -- This four-part account by Sacha Jenkins of rap and hip-hop superstars Wu-Tang Clan skillfully plumbs the depths of their music, lives and commentary. SHOWTIME Documentary Films presents A Mass Appeal Production in association with Endeavor Content (SHOWTIME)

ENTERTAINMENT

“Chernobyl” -- This emotionally searing miniseries about the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and political aftermath is written, acted and composed to perfection. HBO Miniseries and SKY in association with Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, and Word Games (HBO)

“David Makes Man” -- This visually stunning coming-of-age drama by Tarell Alvin McCraney follows a gifted 14-year-old African American boy (superbly acted by Akili McDowell) growing up in the projects in Florida and haunted by the death of a friend. Page Fright and Outlier Productions in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

“Dickinson” -- While set in the appropriate time, this historical dramedy about famous poet Emily Dickinson is infused and energized by a fresh, contemporary sense and sensibility. Apple / wiip / Anonymous Content / Tuning Fork Productions / Sugar 23 Productions (Apple TV+)

“Fleabag” -- Phoebe Waller-Bridge writes and stars in the second season of the hilarious and caring show about a woman struggling with the death of a friend, and attraction to a hot priest. All3Media International Limited and Amazon Studios (Prime Video)

“Float” -- A figuratively and literally uplifting animated short about parenting a child who is different from their peers. Pixar Animation Studios (Disney+)

“Good Omens” -- This adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s novel about the unlikely friendship of an evil and a good angel and the march to the end of the world is gloriously fun and genre-bending. BBC Worldwide Limited and Amazon Studios (Prime Video)

“Our Boys” -- Gripping and heart-wrenching, the series tells the story of the 2014 “retaliation” kidnapping and murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir and the ensuing investigation. HBO in association with Keshet Media Group and MoviePlus Productions (HBO)

“Ramy” -- Ramy Youssef writes and stars in a touching, thoughtful and very funny sitcom focusing on a first-generation American Muslim and his family in New Jersey. Hulu, A24 Television (Hulu)

“Stranger Things” -- Season three continues the fun, nostalgic, horror-meets-sci-fi series about a group of adolescents fighting dark forces in their 1980s Indiana town. Monkey Massacre Productions & 21 Laps Entertainment (Netflix)

“Succession” -- Boasting one of the best ensembles on television, the second season of this satiric comic drama follows the devolution of the fictional Roy media magnate family, and their battles over who will succeed its imperial patriarch. HBO Entertainment in association with Project Zeus, Hyperobject Industries, and Gary Sanchez Productions (HBO)

“Unbelievable” -- The superb dramatization of intersecting, albeit vastly-differently-executed investigations into a serial rapist, features standout performances from Toni Collette, Merritt Weaver and Kaitlyn Dever. Timberman-Beverly Productions, Sage Lane Productions, Escapist Fare, Katie Couric Media, and CBS Television Studios for Netflix (Netflix)

“Watchmen” -- Brilliantly penned by Damon Lindelof, this high concept sci-fi superhero show refashions the famed DC Comics series to tell a story about racism, policing, fear and more. HBO in association with White Rabbit, Paramount, Warner Bros. Television and DC (HBO)

“When They See Us” -- Devastating and commanding, the powerful miniseries from Ava DuVernay about the Central Park Five case and the lives it ruined, offers riveting work from a strong ensemble cast. Participant Media, Tribeca Productions, Harpo Films, Array Filmworks for Netflix (Netflix)

NEWS  

“A Different Kind of Force: Policing Mental Illness” -- A poignant examination of how law enforcement officers tackle the challenge of policing the mentally ill that sagely approaches the complex topic from various standpoints. (NBC News)

“American Betrayal” -- Richard Engel reports on the U.S. decision to abandon their allies the Kurds, combining unflinching frontline coverage and thoughtful forensic analysis. NBC News, Engel Unit. (NBC/MSNBC)

“Capitol Hill Controversy” -- A dogged, revelatory and continuing investigation of highly toxic culture at the Tennessee state house. NewsChannel 5 Investigates (WTVF-TV)

“Coal’s Deadly Dust” -- Powerful, up-close investigation of the rise of black lung disease among coal miners and the lack of effective response. FRONTLINE, NPR (PBS)

“Flint’s Deadly Water” -- An impressively comprehensive report on Flint, Michigan, focusing on the less-reported presence of Legionnaires’ disease in the water. FRONTLINE with Five O’Clock Films (PBS/WGBH)

“Police. Arrest” -- A bold and revelatory report into the Hong Kong police force’s treatment of anti-extradition bill protesters. PCCW NowTV (Now News)

“Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Raced to Death—The Plight of the American Thoroughbred” -- Hard-hitting and important account of the high incidence of racehorse deaths and their poor treatment in the United States. Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO)

“The Hidden Workforce: Undocumented in America” -- The special report on undocumented labor across rural America humanizes those who live in the shadows yet contribute to their communities as neighbors and laborers. (CNN)

“The Invisibles” -- This Dallas-Fort Worth report explores the previously untold story of Texas-born children deported to Mexico who are unable to get paperwork allowing them to register for government services such as schooling due to Texan red tape. NBC5/KXAS-TV & Telemundo 39 (NBC5/KXAS-TV)

“Unwarranted” -- A moving investigation of Chicago police raiding the wrong houses that chillingly recounts the traumatization of many children amidst botched raids. (WBBM-TV)

PODCAST/RADIO

“70 Million” -- This standout series on criminal justice reform crosses the country to document the impact of local jails on people and communities. Lantigua Williams & Co.

“Dolly Parton’s America” -- Exploring how and why everyone loves Dolly Parton, the show’s host, Jad Abumrad, and producer, Shima Oliaee, offer superb pop cultural, political and artistic analysis that is as engaging as it is insightful. Osm Audio and WNYC Studios (WNYC)

“Finding Fred” -- Carvell Wallace seeks the soul, magic and ministry of Fred Rogers in a multipart podcast that asks a key, if under-asked, question for our day: How can we be good people? Co-produced by iHeartMedia and Fatherly in partnership with Transmitter Media (iHeartMedia)

“Gangster Capitalism: The College Admissions Scandal” -- The first season of the podcast mixes sterling and deep journalistic investigation with thoughtful framing analysis to explore 2019’s college admissions scandal involving celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs alike. C13Originals, a division of Cadence 13 (C13Originals)

“Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul” -- CeCe Winans hosts an engaging three-part documentary series celebrating and uncovering the influence of African American gospel music on early rock-and-roll and soul music. (WXPN)

“Have You Heard George’s Podcast?” -- George the Poet’s richly evocative, sharply analytical, gorgeously composed, and utterly genre-defying podcast recounts and explores the black experience in Britain and beyond. BBC Sounds/George the Poet Ltd. (BBC Sounds)

“Headlong: Running From COPS” -- Dan Taberski’s podcast explores the ethics, impact and problems of the long-running reality show “COPS,” offering as much fun as substance and analysis. Pineapple Street Studios, Topic Studios (Stitcher)

“In The Dark: The Path Home” -- In the second season of this story, Madeleine Baran and Samara Freemark once again set the benchmark for what truly superb true crime podcasts can and should be, digging into the troubling case of Curtis Flowers and uncovering a weak case bolstered by a pattern of discriminatory jury selection. American Public Media (APM Reports)

“Silencing Science” -- Timely and damning, this investigation into the Trump administration’s rejection and censorship of the science of climate change focuses on suppression of research by the National Park Service’s scientists. Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX (Public radio, Reveal)

“Stonewall OutLoud” -- StoryCorps marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising by collecting and sharing a wide-ranging selection of often beautifully told stories from LGBTQ elders. (NPR)

“The Catch and Kill Podcast with Ronan Farrow” -- Ronan Farrow immerses listeners in the story about bringing Harvey Weinstein to justice. Pineapple Street Studios (a division of Radio.com), Glass Cannon Inc. (Pineapple Street Studios)

“The Refuge” -- This five-part series examines the battle for the future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and opens up into a superb account of environmental activism, Alaskan Native rights, and the politics of oil and gas exploration. Auricle Productions, Montana Public Radio, Pulitzer Center (Montana Public Radio)

PUBLIC SERVICE

“Border Hustle” -- A troubling account of those on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border profiting off migrants, from coyotes to ICE labor camps, and revictimizing them. The Texas Tribune and TIME

“Detained” -- This project tells the story from 1978 to now of the U.S. government’s detention of asylum seekers, mixing archival footage, data analysis, interactivity and text to offer a strong example of multimedia journalism. The Marshall Project in partnership with The Guardian

“Long Island Divided” -- This investigation into discrimination in real estate and housing on Long Island, built upon tireless work over three years, deftly combines large data sets with humanizing case studies. Newsday

]]> https://www.nexttv.com/news/peabody-awards-names-60-nominees axLiv2qaKLB6bszA8HYvb6 Sat, 09 May 2020 09:20:12 +0000 Mon, 18 May 2020 09:20:21 +0000 false false false

The Peabody Awards Board of Jurors has picked 60 nominees that represent the most compelling and empowering stories released in broadcasting and digital media during 2019.

The nominees were chosen by unanimous vote of 19 jurors from nearly 1,300 entries from television, radio/podcasts and the web in entertainment, news, documentary, children’s and public service programming, the awards producers said. The Peabody Awards are based at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.

“Peabody is proud to champion this year’s nominees who inspire our connection, provoke our thinking and delight our senses. From the communal strength of black women to the eminence of science to the conviction of those who speak up, these stories and their creators celebrate the diversity of human experience and of our democracy,” Jeffrey P. Jones, executive director of Peabody, said in a statement. “Amidst the challenges of our present moment, we can find empathy, entertainment and truth in these nominees.”

The nominated programs encompass a wide range of pressing issues, including the criminal justice system, repercussions of the #MeToo movement, and immigrant rights, according to the statement.

Of the 60 nominations, PBS and HBO lead with 11 and seven, respectively, followed by Netflix (five), Amazon (three), and SHOWTIME, CNN, NBC News, and the podcast company Pineapple Street Studios (two each). From the list 30 winners will be named at a later date.

The 60 Peabody Award Nominees, listed by category and in alphabetical order (network/platform in parentheses) are:

CHILDREN’S & YOUTH

“Molly of Denali” -- This captivating animated show explores Alaskan Native culture and traditions though the eyes of young Molly. WGBH Educational Foundation, Atomic Cartoons (PBS Kids)

“Treasure Island 2020” -- This wonderfully fun podcast inventively reworks Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, now with time traveling pirates. Gen-Z Media (BYUradio)

DOCUMENTARIES

“16 Shots” -- This moving and impressively comprehensive forensic account from director Rick Rowley examines the killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by Chicago police. SHOWTIME Documentary Films in association with Topic, Impact Partners, and Chicago Media Project (SHOWTIME)

“American Factory” -- Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert’s film offers an excellent fly-on-the-wall account of the arrival of the Fuyao factory and its Chinese leadership in Moraine, Ohio, and the clash of cultures at play as American workers seek to adapt to Chinese ownership and its fight against unionization of workers. Higher Ground Productions and Participant Media for Netflix (Netflix)

“Apollo 11” -- Comprised entirely, and masterfully, of archival materials, the film is a riveting as-it-happened presentation of the 1969 NASA mission landing the first men on the moon. CNN Films (CNN)

“For Sama” -- Composed as a love letter from co-director Waad al-Kateab to her daughter, and as an explanation of why she and her husband remained in besieged Aleppo to help run a hospital, “For Sama” is a profound, beautiful tale about both the war and the families caught in it. FRONTLINE, Channel 4 News, ITN Productions, Channel 4 (PBS)

“Independent Lens: HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING” -- Intimately exploring the everyday lives of African Americans in rural Alabama through artistically rendered vignettes, director RaMell Ross captures the feel, atmosphere, fiber and culture of a community rarely seen on film. A production of Idiom Film, LLC and Louverture Films, in association with Field of Vision (PBS)

“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if you’re a girl)” -- The story of a skateboarding camp and school for girls in Afghanistan, Carol Dysinger’s delightful film empathetically charts the young skaters as they develop courage and allow their personalities to shine. Grain Media for A&E IndieFilms Network (A&E)

“Leaving Neverland” -- A brave if deeply troubling account from Dan Reed of pop legend Michael Jackson’s relationships with children, told through profiles of James Safechuck and Wade Robson, offering their accounts of being groomed for, suffering under and attempting to recover from alleged abuse. Amos Pictures and HBO Documentary in association with Channel Four (HBO)

“One Child Nation” -- Directors Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang powerfully explore the impact of China’s one child policy on the parents and siblings who lost loved ones, on those who rescued children or performed the abortions, and ultimately on a nation, its culture and its conscience. Next Generation in co-production with ITVS, WDR/ARTE, Motto Pictures and Pumpernickel Films in association with Chicago Media Project and Chicken & Egg Pictures (Prime Video)

“POV: América” -- A beautiful portrait from Erick Stoll and Chase Whiteside of grandsons taking care of their charming 93-year-old grandmother in Colima, Mexico. Lifelike Docs, American Documentary | POV (PBS)

“POV: Inventing Tomorrow” -- Laura Nix’s inspiring profile of six amazing teenage scientists from around the world preparing for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair by working on solutions to complex environmental issues. Fishbowl Films, Motto Pictures, 19340 Productions, Shark Island Institute, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, IQ190 Productions, American Documentary | POV (PBS)

“POV: Midnight Traveler” -- Filmed on phones by Hassan Fazili, this poignant autobiographical account of his refugee family’s journey from Afghanistan to Hungary is a beautiful testament to parenting through trauma. Old Chilly Pictures LLC, American Documentary | POV, Independent Television Service (PBS)

“POV: Roll Red Roll” -- Harrowing yet powerful retelling by Nancy Schwartzman of the 2012 rape of a teenage girl by members of a beloved high school football team in Steubenville, Ohio, and of many in the town’s refusal to believe. Sunset Park Pictures, Artemis Rising, Fork Films, Doc Society, Multitude Films, American Documentary | POV (PBS)

“POV: The Distant Barking of Dogs” -- This arrestingly beautiful film from Simon Lereng Wilmont follows a year in the life of a boy and his grandmother living on the frontlines of war in Eastern Ukraine. Final Cut for Real, Mouka Filmi, STORY, Bayerischer Rundfunk, ARTE, American Documentary | POV (PBS)

“POV: The Silence of Others” -- Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar’s film offers a stunning reflection on fascism, memory and forgetting by documenting the struggle of victims of Spain’s Gen. Franco to seek legal redress and be remembered by the state, society and world. Semilla Verde Productions, Lucernam Films, American Documentary | POV, Independent Television Service, Latino Public Broadcasting, El Deseo (PBS)

“Sea of Shadows” -- This action-packed documentary examines the illegal trade from Mexican cartels to Chinese traffickers of the rare totoaba fish in the Sea of Cortez, and of the impact on the endangered vaquita porpoise. Terra Mater Factual Studios in association with Appian Way, Malaika Pictures, The Wild Lens Collective for National Geographic Documentary Films (National Geographic)

“Surviving R. Kelly” -- Unflinching, brave and impactful six-part series based on interviews with women who survived alleged sexual abuse from R&B superstar R. Kelly. Bunim/Murray Productions and Kreativ Inc. for Lifetime (Lifetime)

“The Edge of Democracy” -- Telling the epic tragedy of what happened in Brazil, from Lula to Bolsonaro, this film from director Petra Costa commandingly and chillingly shows how precarious a democracy can be. A Busca Vida Filmes Production in association with Violet Films for Netflix (Netflix)

“True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality” -- A superb profile of the remarkable Bryan Stevenson and his work seeking justice for death row inmates amounts to a searing indictment of the U.S. criminal justice system and its history of racism. HBO Documentary Films and Kunhardt Films (HBO)

“Warrior Women” -- An intimate and soulful profile from Elizabeth Castle and Christina D. King of Madonna Thunder Hawk, an American Indian Movement leader, fighting for Native rights. Co-production of Castle King, LLC and ITVS in association with Vision Maker Media (WORLD Channel)

“Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics And Men” -- This four-part account by Sacha Jenkins of rap and hip-hop superstars Wu-Tang Clan skillfully plumbs the depths of their music, lives and commentary. SHOWTIME Documentary Films presents A Mass Appeal Production in association with Endeavor Content (SHOWTIME)

ENTERTAINMENT

“Chernobyl” -- This emotionally searing miniseries about the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and political aftermath is written, acted and composed to perfection. HBO Miniseries and SKY in association with Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, and Word Games (HBO)

“David Makes Man” -- This visually stunning coming-of-age drama by Tarell Alvin McCraney follows a gifted 14-year-old African American boy (superbly acted by Akili McDowell) growing up in the projects in Florida and haunted by the death of a friend. Page Fright and Outlier Productions in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

“Dickinson” -- While set in the appropriate time, this historical dramedy about famous poet Emily Dickinson is infused and energized by a fresh, contemporary sense and sensibility. Apple / wiip / Anonymous Content / Tuning Fork Productions / Sugar 23 Productions (Apple TV+)

“Fleabag” -- Phoebe Waller-Bridge writes and stars in the second season of the hilarious and caring show about a woman struggling with the death of a friend, and attraction to a hot priest. All3Media International Limited and Amazon Studios (Prime Video)

“Float” -- A figuratively and literally uplifting animated short about parenting a child who is different from their peers. Pixar Animation Studios (Disney+)

“Good Omens” -- This adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s novel about the unlikely friendship of an evil and a good angel and the march to the end of the world is gloriously fun and genre-bending. BBC Worldwide Limited and Amazon Studios (Prime Video)

“Our Boys” -- Gripping and heart-wrenching, the series tells the story of the 2014 “retaliation” kidnapping and murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir and the ensuing investigation. HBO in association with Keshet Media Group and MoviePlus Productions (HBO)

“Ramy” -- Ramy Youssef writes and stars in a touching, thoughtful and very funny sitcom focusing on a first-generation American Muslim and his family in New Jersey. Hulu, A24 Television (Hulu)

“Stranger Things” -- Season three continues the fun, nostalgic, horror-meets-sci-fi series about a group of adolescents fighting dark forces in their 1980s Indiana town. Monkey Massacre Productions & 21 Laps Entertainment (Netflix)

“Succession” -- Boasting one of the best ensembles on television, the second season of this satiric comic drama follows the devolution of the fictional Roy media magnate family, and their battles over who will succeed its imperial patriarch. HBO Entertainment in association with Project Zeus, Hyperobject Industries, and Gary Sanchez Productions (HBO)

“Unbelievable” -- The superb dramatization of intersecting, albeit vastly-differently-executed investigations into a serial rapist, features standout performances from Toni Collette, Merritt Weaver and Kaitlyn Dever. Timberman-Beverly Productions, Sage Lane Productions, Escapist Fare, Katie Couric Media, and CBS Television Studios for Netflix (Netflix)

“Watchmen” -- Brilliantly penned by Damon Lindelof, this high concept sci-fi superhero show refashions the famed DC Comics series to tell a story about racism, policing, fear and more. HBO in association with White Rabbit, Paramount, Warner Bros. Television and DC (HBO)

“When They See Us” -- Devastating and commanding, the powerful miniseries from Ava DuVernay about the Central Park Five case and the lives it ruined, offers riveting work from a strong ensemble cast. Participant Media, Tribeca Productions, Harpo Films, Array Filmworks for Netflix (Netflix)

NEWS  

“A Different Kind of Force: Policing Mental Illness” -- A poignant examination of how law enforcement officers tackle the challenge of policing the mentally ill that sagely approaches the complex topic from various standpoints. (NBC News)

“American Betrayal” -- Richard Engel reports on the U.S. decision to abandon their allies the Kurds, combining unflinching frontline coverage and thoughtful forensic analysis. NBC News, Engel Unit. (NBC/MSNBC)

“Capitol Hill Controversy” -- A dogged, revelatory and continuing investigation of highly toxic culture at the Tennessee state house. NewsChannel 5 Investigates (WTVF-TV)

“Coal’s Deadly Dust” -- Powerful, up-close investigation of the rise of black lung disease among coal miners and the lack of effective response. FRONTLINE, NPR (PBS)

“Flint’s Deadly Water” -- An impressively comprehensive report on Flint, Michigan, focusing on the less-reported presence of Legionnaires’ disease in the water. FRONTLINE with Five O’Clock Films (PBS/WGBH)

“Police. Arrest” -- A bold and revelatory report into the Hong Kong police force’s treatment of anti-extradition bill protesters. PCCW NowTV (Now News)

“Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Raced to Death—The Plight of the American Thoroughbred” -- Hard-hitting and important account of the high incidence of racehorse deaths and their poor treatment in the United States. Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO)

“The Hidden Workforce: Undocumented in America” -- The special report on undocumented labor across rural America humanizes those who live in the shadows yet contribute to their communities as neighbors and laborers. (CNN)

“The Invisibles” -- This Dallas-Fort Worth report explores the previously untold story of Texas-born children deported to Mexico who are unable to get paperwork allowing them to register for government services such as schooling due to Texan red tape. NBC5/KXAS-TV & Telemundo 39 (NBC5/KXAS-TV)

“Unwarranted” -- A moving investigation of Chicago police raiding the wrong houses that chillingly recounts the traumatization of many children amidst botched raids. (WBBM-TV)

PODCAST/RADIO

“70 Million” -- This standout series on criminal justice reform crosses the country to document the impact of local jails on people and communities. Lantigua Williams & Co.

“Dolly Parton’s America” -- Exploring how and why everyone loves Dolly Parton, the show’s host, Jad Abumrad, and producer, Shima Oliaee, offer superb pop cultural, political and artistic analysis that is as engaging as it is insightful. Osm Audio and WNYC Studios (WNYC)

“Finding Fred” -- Carvell Wallace seeks the soul, magic and ministry of Fred Rogers in a multipart podcast that asks a key, if under-asked, question for our day: How can we be good people? Co-produced by iHeartMedia and Fatherly in partnership with Transmitter Media (iHeartMedia)

“Gangster Capitalism: The College Admissions Scandal” -- The first season of the podcast mixes sterling and deep journalistic investigation with thoughtful framing analysis to explore 2019’s college admissions scandal involving celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs alike. C13Originals, a division of Cadence 13 (C13Originals)

“Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul” -- CeCe Winans hosts an engaging three-part documentary series celebrating and uncovering the influence of African American gospel music on early rock-and-roll and soul music. (WXPN)

“Have You Heard George’s Podcast?” -- George the Poet’s richly evocative, sharply analytical, gorgeously composed, and utterly genre-defying podcast recounts and explores the black experience in Britain and beyond. BBC Sounds/George the Poet Ltd. (BBC Sounds)

“Headlong: Running From COPS” -- Dan Taberski’s podcast explores the ethics, impact and problems of the long-running reality show “COPS,” offering as much fun as substance and analysis. Pineapple Street Studios, Topic Studios (Stitcher)

“In The Dark: The Path Home” -- In the second season of this story, Madeleine Baran and Samara Freemark once again set the benchmark for what truly superb true crime podcasts can and should be, digging into the troubling case of Curtis Flowers and uncovering a weak case bolstered by a pattern of discriminatory jury selection. American Public Media (APM Reports)

“Silencing Science” -- Timely and damning, this investigation into the Trump administration’s rejection and censorship of the science of climate change focuses on suppression of research by the National Park Service’s scientists. Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX (Public radio, Reveal)

“Stonewall OutLoud” -- StoryCorps marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising by collecting and sharing a wide-ranging selection of often beautifully told stories from LGBTQ elders. (NPR)

“The Catch and Kill Podcast with Ronan Farrow” -- Ronan Farrow immerses listeners in the story about bringing Harvey Weinstein to justice. Pineapple Street Studios (a division of Radio.com), Glass Cannon Inc. (Pineapple Street Studios)

“The Refuge” -- This five-part series examines the battle for the future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and opens up into a superb account of environmental activism, Alaskan Native rights, and the politics of oil and gas exploration. Auricle Productions, Montana Public Radio, Pulitzer Center (Montana Public Radio)

PUBLIC SERVICE

“Border Hustle” -- A troubling account of those on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border profiting off migrants, from coyotes to ICE labor camps, and revictimizing them. The Texas Tribune and TIME

“Detained” -- This project tells the story from 1978 to now of the U.S. government’s detention of asylum seekers, mixing archival footage, data analysis, interactivity and text to offer a strong example of multimedia journalism. The Marshall Project in partnership with The Guardian

“Long Island Divided” -- This investigation into discrimination in real estate and housing on Long Island, built upon tireless work over three years, deftly combines large data sets with humanizing case studies. Newsday

]]> <![CDATA[ Azteca, HITN-TV Launch Voter-Education Efforts ]]>

With Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump heading toward what could be their eventual nomination as presidential candidates, the nation’s roughly 27.3 million Hispanic voters could very well be the deciding factor in who succeeds President Obama.

That’s what led HITN-TV and Azteca to both launch separate educational initiatives designed to aid Hispanics in understanding how the complicated U.S. electoral system works.

HITN officially launched Tu Momento 2016 on April 26. The programming initiative is centered on voter research that suggests Hispanics under-index as voter participants. According to the network, it is estimated that fewer than 50% of eligible Hispanics will vote in 2016. 

HITN divided its Tu Momento 2016 programming into segments that cover the primaries and caucuses; the electoral process; delegates and superdelegates; and the voter registration process and Election Day. The first of the three installments aired April 25, with the second installment airing April 30. A third installment airs May 15.

Additionally, HITN has made vignettes based on the three episodes and is making them available to educational institutions and organizations that can benefit from their use. The short videos can be accessed from a special microsite created for the 2016 election, tumomento2016.org.

“The 2016 election is an opportunity for Hispanics to demonstrate their strength as a community by influencing the outcome of the presidential contest,” HITN president and CEO Mike Nieves said in a statement. “Spanish-language media has a responsibility to deliver content to its audience so more Hispanics can participate in this important election. HITN understands this responsibility and is committed to helping Hispanics better understand on how the electoral process works.”

Azteca also understands the importance of voter education among U.S. Hispanics.

On April 25, the Mexican media giant’s U.S. arm launched a voter education and awareness drive in conjunction with the media advocacy group Voto Latino. A microsite — http://www.aztecaamerica.com/votolatino — includes a wide variety of news stories dealing with such subjects as the importance of voting, and why the Latino vote is so decisive.

Facebook and Twitter feeds tied to @AztecaUS can also be found on the microsite.

The efforts by HITN and Azteca follow extensive efforts by Telemundo to hold voter-registration drives across the country as part of its #YODECIDO initiative, and Univision’s Ya es Hora … Liberta tu voz voter-registration drive. The latter effort resulted in the successful registration of some 19,000 Latino voters at more than 100 voter drives hosted by Univision affiliates and O&Os nationwide.

Univision in March joined forces with Democracy Works for the TurboVote Challenge, aimed at increasing voter turnout to 80% by the year 2020. It’s a part of its “Univision Contigo Vote for Your America campaign, launched by Univision in February with the intent of providing “unique, nonpartisan and culturally-relevant resources to Hispanic citizens with a goal of mobilizing the 27 million eligible Hispanic voters in the 2016 general election.” 

Since the launch of Univision Contigo Vote for Your America, 92 nonpartisan local community events have attracted nearly 41,000 attendees. Univision also has hosted 12 phone banks for calls on citizenship and voting answered by local community organizations.

]]> https://www.nexttv.com/news/azteca-hitn-tv-launch-voter-education-efforts-404615 k5yuYZMvkAKrM5vhfvXpzk Wed, 04 May 2016 13:00:00 +0000 false false false

With Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump heading toward what could be their eventual nomination as presidential candidates, the nation’s roughly 27.3 million Hispanic voters could very well be the deciding factor in who succeeds President Obama.

That’s what led HITN-TV and Azteca to both launch separate educational initiatives designed to aid Hispanics in understanding how the complicated U.S. electoral system works.

HITN officially launched Tu Momento 2016 on April 26. The programming initiative is centered on voter research that suggests Hispanics under-index as voter participants. According to the network, it is estimated that fewer than 50% of eligible Hispanics will vote in 2016. 

HITN divided its Tu Momento 2016 programming into segments that cover the primaries and caucuses; the electoral process; delegates and superdelegates; and the voter registration process and Election Day. The first of the three installments aired April 25, with the second installment airing April 30. A third installment airs May 15.

Additionally, HITN has made vignettes based on the three episodes and is making them available to educational institutions and organizations that can benefit from their use. The short videos can be accessed from a special microsite created for the 2016 election, tumomento2016.org.

“The 2016 election is an opportunity for Hispanics to demonstrate their strength as a community by influencing the outcome of the presidential contest,” HITN president and CEO Mike Nieves said in a statement. “Spanish-language media has a responsibility to deliver content to its audience so more Hispanics can participate in this important election. HITN understands this responsibility and is committed to helping Hispanics better understand on how the electoral process works.”

Azteca also understands the importance of voter education among U.S. Hispanics.

On April 25, the Mexican media giant’s U.S. arm launched a voter education and awareness drive in conjunction with the media advocacy group Voto Latino. A microsite — http://www.aztecaamerica.com/votolatino — includes a wide variety of news stories dealing with such subjects as the importance of voting, and why the Latino vote is so decisive.

Facebook and Twitter feeds tied to @AztecaUS can also be found on the microsite.

The efforts by HITN and Azteca follow extensive efforts by Telemundo to hold voter-registration drives across the country as part of its #YODECIDO initiative, and Univision’s Ya es Hora … Liberta tu voz voter-registration drive. The latter effort resulted in the successful registration of some 19,000 Latino voters at more than 100 voter drives hosted by Univision affiliates and O&Os nationwide.

Univision in March joined forces with Democracy Works for the TurboVote Challenge, aimed at increasing voter turnout to 80% by the year 2020. It’s a part of its “Univision Contigo Vote for Your America campaign, launched by Univision in February with the intent of providing “unique, nonpartisan and culturally-relevant resources to Hispanic citizens with a goal of mobilizing the 27 million eligible Hispanic voters in the 2016 general election.” 

Since the launch of Univision Contigo Vote for Your America, 92 nonpartisan local community events have attracted nearly 41,000 attendees. Univision also has hosted 12 phone banks for calls on citizenship and voting answered by local community organizations.

]]> <![CDATA[ #CableInTheCommunity ]]>

Check here for news and about the TV industry's public service initiatives and other #CableInTheCommunity-themed stories. You can also visit the Community blog to follow the conversation on Twitter and browse more #CableInTheCommunity content.

Doing Well By Doing Good

Multichannel News initiated its #CableInTheCommunity coverage to spotlight the TV industry’s myriad public-service initiatives. Often unsung and overlooked in the day-to-day flow of news, these efforts illustrate the industry’s commitment to supporting employee volunteerism, solving community problems and bringing attention to social issues.

The six innovative initiatives selected for the inaugural #CableInTheCommunity spotlight revolve around a mix of causes that reflect ongoing national conversations about kids’ health and education, weather and climate change, food — both where it comes from and who needs it — and corporate social responsibility. In scope and scale, they show how acting locally can drive far-flung change.  Read the full story here.

]]> https://www.nexttv.com/news/cable-inthecommunity-389218 jivhwVxPnKjtQpbx41K2VA Fri, 27 Mar 2015 15:45:00 +0000 false false false

Check here for news and about the TV industry's public service initiatives and other #CableInTheCommunity-themed stories. You can also visit the Community blog to follow the conversation on Twitter and browse more #CableInTheCommunity content.

Doing Well By Doing Good

Multichannel News initiated its #CableInTheCommunity coverage to spotlight the TV industry’s myriad public-service initiatives. Often unsung and overlooked in the day-to-day flow of news, these efforts illustrate the industry’s commitment to supporting employee volunteerism, solving community problems and bringing attention to social issues.

The six innovative initiatives selected for the inaugural #CableInTheCommunity spotlight revolve around a mix of causes that reflect ongoing national conversations about kids’ health and education, weather and climate change, food — both where it comes from and who needs it — and corporate social responsibility. In scope and scale, they show how acting locally can drive far-flung change.  Read the full story here.

]]> <![CDATA[ #CableInTheCommunity: Doing Well by Doing Good ]]>

RELATED: Read Q&As with the cause champions and more online-exclusive #CableInTheCommunity coverage in the new Community blog.

Multichannel News initiated its #CableInTheCommunity coverage to spotlight the TV industry’s myriad public-service initiatives. Often unsung and overlooked in the day-to-day flow of news, these efforts illustrate the industry’s commitment to supporting employee volunteerism, solving community problems and bringing attention to social issues.

The six innovative initiatives selected for the inaugural #CableInTheCommunity spotlight revolve around a mix of causes that reflect ongoing national conversations about kids’ health and education, weather and climate change, food — both where it comes from and who needs it — and corporate social responsibility. In scope and scale, they show how acting locally can drive far-flung change.

#CableInTheCommunity celebrates the causes and cause champions, and demonstrates the true spirit of doing well by doing good.

Rebuilding for a Homecoming

Company: Cablevision Systems

Initiative: “Rebuilding Together, Babylon, N.Y.,” an ad hoc employee volunteer effort organized by Optimum Community, the MSO’s public affairs and corporate social responsibility program, and Scripps Networks Interactive to put finishing touches on a Long Island home destroyed by Hurricane Sandy

Beneficiaries: The homeowners; nonprofit Rebuilding Together Long Island, which provides repairs at no cost

Cause Champion(s): Jennifer Ostrager, VP, public affairs; company champions for Optimum Community’s “signature” initiatives

Employee Participation: 14 volunteers for the Babylon rebuild

Outcome: The family is back in its home of 25 years.

More than two years after Hurricane Sandy cut a wide swath of destruction across the New York area, many houses have yet to be rebuilt and many families are still living in tents, trailers, apartments, with relatives or, in too many cases, are still homeless. So it got Cablevision’s attention when programming partner Scripps pointed to one in the MSO’s own backyard and proposed they partner to get the job done.

John and Kathy (who asked that their last name not be used) had lived in their Babylon home for 25 years when Sandy struck in October 2012. Two years and four apartments later, they were still displaced.

The day of volunteer work — restoring the deck, painting and putting on finishing touches — came together “like any good partnership,” Ostrager said: Scripps’ HGTV learned about John and Kathy via its relationship with Rebuilding Together and contacted Optimum Community. On Oct. 28, the eve of Sandy’s anniversary, community volunteers streamed into John and Kathy’s front yard, including 14 Cablevision employees “from all over our footprint and different types of jobs,” Ostrager said.

“A sales person came from the Bronx just because he felt it was really meaningful,” she said. “I’ve been with the company a long time and when I go to any of these, I always feel like, ‘Wow, this is really terrific.’ This event typified that. It was very moving.”

Change With Impact

Company: Discovery Communications

Initiative: Discovery Impact’s Creating Change, an annual 12-hour, pro bono “Creativethon,” during which company volunteers help nonprofits design logos, websites, marketing materials, communications strategies and more

Beneficiaries: 20-30 nonprofits annually

Cause Champion(s): Impact Ambassadors, team captains in each business unit who get the word out and recruit volunteers

Employee Participation: More than 125 employees annually

Outcome: At the 2014 “Creativethon” last September, Discovery volunteers completed projects for more than 20 nonprofits, donating nearly 2,200 hours in skills-based services, valued at more than $260,000.

Chief communications officer David Leavy likes to describe the Discovery Impact program as “not your father’s corporate social responsibility.”

“This isn’t buying a table at a charity dance,” he said. “You can’t have a relationship with your community through that.”

Instead, as he led a revamp of the program six years ago, he challenged his team to think about what the company does best. “Someone said, ‘We are a creative organization, so let’s donate creativity,’ ” Leavy recalled. “That was a flashbulb. And that was really grassroots.”

That’s when Discovery Impact launched “Creating Change,” now an annual event in which employees donate pro bono marketing, design and communications services to cash-strapped nonprofits. Each year since then, more than 100 employees have helped about 30 groups brainstorm and execute creative strategies.

Creating Change, one of seven Discovery Impact initiatives, has become so popular that it now has a volunteer waiting list, Leavy said, adding that often, employees continue relationships with nonprofits on their own.

He cited one volunteer who created a brand message for a comfort dog training organization, then went out two weeks later to clean kennels. “They didn’t tell me about it,” he said. “They weren’t trying to get credit with Leavy — they just did it on their own.”

Good to the Last Drop

Company: Suddenlink Communications

Initiative: “Do Your Part: Drop by Drop” water-conservation campaign, Midland, Texas; partners include Keep Midland Beautiful and Midland College

Beneficiaries: Midland residents

Cause Champion(s): Doreen Womack, market manager, and Monica Kincer, director of area operations Employee Participation: 90-100% of employees have been involved in educating the public and distributing home water-conservation kits

Outcome: Since 2010, Suddenlink has conducted 225 community presentations on water conservation, provided 10,700 free indoor and outdoor conservation kits to local residents, aired PSAs and created school programs, contributing to a 15 million gallon-per-day reduction in water usage to 20 million gallons per day from 2010 to 2014.

Midland, Texas, situated in West Texas’s Southern Plains, looked in 2011 like a community that had it made in the shade: Experiencing an oil boom, its unemployment rate was the lowest in the state, new housing permits were at a 10-year high and money was rolling in.

But Greater Midland, located in the semi-arid Permian Basin, was running out of water. Amid the third-worst drought in state history, its three local reservoirs were projected to go dry by December 2012.

Midland had been a town of well-manicured lawns; despite the warnings and city-imposed usage restrictions, getting residents to cut back was no easy task.

Enter Suddenlink: The St. Louis-based MSO passes 38,000 subscribers in the greater Midland- Odessa area, and its employees were grappling with the shortage, too. It launched the Drop by Drop campaign with Keep Midland Beautiful in 2010.

Five years later, Midland’s water-usage reduction is impressive. But with the city having grown 15% in the interim, the campaign continues, Womack said. Last year the team distributed more than 2,000 kits that include items like garden hose repair parts and a lawn-sprinkler gauge. “We have new people moving into town from other climates that need the water conservation message,” she said. “So the effort is ongoing.”

Ball Is in Its DNA

Company: SNY

Initiative: Play Ball, a local community outreach program targeting underserved kids via youth sports

Beneficiary: Leagues across greater New York apply to receive cash grants and equipment donations, a_ end “Dream Day” events, and participate in sports clinics and community events held with the New York Mets, New York Jets and Harlem Globetrotters

Cause Champion(s): Marie DeParis, SVP, marketing & business development; and Danny Perez, senior marketing manager

Employee Participation: 40-50 employees for each event

Outcome: Since launching in 2011, the program has provided more than $140,000 in grants and donations, reaching more than 70,000 kids across 200-plus communities.

For Bergenfield (N.J.) Little League, founded in 1950, Opening Day isn’t just the start of play — it’s the year’s biggest fundraiser. About 1,000 people come out to support the 275 players. Missing the April opener would mean a significant decrease in funds.

By the late winter of 2013, Opening Day prospects were looking dim. The league’s two fields, already in need of repairs, had been rendered unplayable by Hurricane Sandy and the subsequent snowy winter. That’s when then-president Juan Valdez got the call from SNY. A $5,000 grant, along with elbow grease from volunteers, ensured an on-schedule start.

“That grant gave us more baseball and a longer season,” Valdez said. It was used for repairs and a two-week mentoring workshop for players.

Leagues like Bergenfield’s are at the core of Play Ball, which last year expanded from baseball to include football and basketball. It has also grown from a cash-grant program to a multipronged one, Marie DeParis, SVP of marketing & business development, said. “We realized that with our resources … that we could follow our brand position into all New York sports and help even more kids.”

No Walk in the Park

Company: Time Warner Cable

Initiative: Day at Carowinds Park Event, Charlotte, N.C., one in a series of field trips the local TWC system sponsors for Project Scientist, a local group for girls interested in science and tech; part of TWC’s nationwide Connect a Million Minds campaign to engage kids in hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)

Beneficiaries: About 1,500 local community organizations involved with STEM education and their constituents across TWC’s footprint; past beneficiaries have included large organizations like the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and smaller ones like Project Scientist

Cause Champion(s): Tessie Topol, VP of corporate social responsibility, handles the overall initiative and its national partnerships; Milinda Martin, VP of community investment, works with local cause champions at the systems level

Employee Participation: About 25% of local system employees

Outcome: In 2014, the CAMM initiative reached 926,000 kids with hands-on STEM events; overall, the $100 million program has exceeded its initial five-year goal and continues to expand.

Imagine you’re a kid, and you’re standing in an amusement park construction zone underneath a behemoth 325-foot-tall roller coaster with cars traveling as fast as 95 miles per hour.

That’s the kind of activity the local champions of Time Warner Cable’s Connect a Million Minds initiative organize to engage kids in hands-on STEM projects.

In January, 15 TWC Charlotte volunteers took more than 50 girls from Project Scientist to Carowinds, home to the brand new Fury325, said to be the world’s tallest, fastest “giga coaster” — that’s one with a height or drop of 300 to 399 feet that completes a full circuit.

And that’s the kind of information the girls learned, straight from the engineers who have developed and built the new ride. It was no mere walk in the park.

“The girls got the VIP tour; they got to talk to the engineers and sit in the seats and get up close to the engineering behind the construction,” said Sandy Marshall, executive director of Project Scientist.

Their questions veered toward the career-oriented and practical: What kind of degree do you need for your job? Do you get into the park for free?

The event typifies the imaginative and varied ways TWC’s local systems have found to further the CAMM mission: “Create a spark for kids to follow that path into STEM education and careers,” said Milinda Martin, VP of community investment.

“We wanted to launch a national initiative that would be core to our business and what we do every day,” Tessie Topol, VP of corporate social responsibility, said of the initiative’s roots. “And without STEM, there’s no cable industry.”

Happy Hunting

Company: Sportsman Channel

Initiative: Hunt.Fish.Feed., a nationwide initiative driven by local events to feed the homeless, veterans, military families and others in need with food donated by hunters and fishers

Beneficiaries: Selected local non-profits and their constituents in the communities where Sportsman hosts meals; past beneficiaries include the Denver Rescue Mission, the Star of Hope Mission in Houston; and the Salvation Army in Las Vegas

Cause Champion(s): A three-person team including Ben Lines, VP, marketing; Lisa Swan, director, partnership marketing; and executive chef Scott Leysath, host of Dead Meat and The Sporting Chef

Employee Participation: The core team; local employee volunteers; volunteers from local MSO partners

Outcome: Roughly 25,000 meals have been served at 50 events nationwide since the initiative’s 2007 launch.

It draws a certain amount of attention when the local soup kitchen serves pork chile verde prepared by an executive chef from a wild hog slain and donated by a local hunter and ladled out by celebrity volunteers.

And that’s largely the point of Hunt.Fish.Feed. As important as the meals is the conversation they generate about homelessness, poverty and families in need. And for Sportsman, about food and food sources.

“It’s a natural fit for what we are trying to accomplish,” said Jim Liberatore, CEO of Sportsman Channel and Outdoor Channel. “The true mission is to feed people and give them a great, healthy meal. … This is a great way for us to do that and shed a positive light on the hunting community while we partner with clients and do a good thing for people.”

The food prepared for each event is donated by local hunters and fishers, from the venison for the chili served to Denver families in transition to the wild boar Sarah Palin (and many others) dished out to 1,000 Salvation Army clients in Las Vegas. That hits Sportsman’s core audience, one that can also use the good PR, Liberatore noted. “This [game and fish] is a natural, organic food source, and a natural progression into using the food — many times extra food — for the homeless.”

The events also give the network opportunities to partner with local systems, Lisa Swan, director of partnership marketing, said. Comcast, for example, partnered on several last year.

Swan said her experience at each of the events reinforces her motivation to expand the initiative this year. “Shelters and the people they serve are so thankful for the meal we provide,” she said, “and they find out that venison tastes pretty darn good.”

]]> https://www.nexttv.com/news/cableinthecommunity-doing-well-doing-good-389029 f34gDHGrNHNqZwFzqKCVCu Mon, 23 Mar 2015 12:00:00 +0000 false false false

RELATED: Read Q&As with the cause champions and more online-exclusive #CableInTheCommunity coverage in the new Community blog.

Multichannel News initiated its #CableInTheCommunity coverage to spotlight the TV industry’s myriad public-service initiatives. Often unsung and overlooked in the day-to-day flow of news, these efforts illustrate the industry’s commitment to supporting employee volunteerism, solving community problems and bringing attention to social issues.

The six innovative initiatives selected for the inaugural #CableInTheCommunity spotlight revolve around a mix of causes that reflect ongoing national conversations about kids’ health and education, weather and climate change, food — both where it comes from and who needs it — and corporate social responsibility. In scope and scale, they show how acting locally can drive far-flung change.

#CableInTheCommunity celebrates the causes and cause champions, and demonstrates the true spirit of doing well by doing good.

Rebuilding for a Homecoming

Company: Cablevision Systems

Initiative: “Rebuilding Together, Babylon, N.Y.,” an ad hoc employee volunteer effort organized by Optimum Community, the MSO’s public affairs and corporate social responsibility program, and Scripps Networks Interactive to put finishing touches on a Long Island home destroyed by Hurricane Sandy

Beneficiaries: The homeowners; nonprofit Rebuilding Together Long Island, which provides repairs at no cost

Cause Champion(s): Jennifer Ostrager, VP, public affairs; company champions for Optimum Community’s “signature” initiatives

Employee Participation: 14 volunteers for the Babylon rebuild

Outcome: The family is back in its home of 25 years.

More than two years after Hurricane Sandy cut a wide swath of destruction across the New York area, many houses have yet to be rebuilt and many families are still living in tents, trailers, apartments, with relatives or, in too many cases, are still homeless. So it got Cablevision’s attention when programming partner Scripps pointed to one in the MSO’s own backyard and proposed they partner to get the job done.

John and Kathy (who asked that their last name not be used) had lived in their Babylon home for 25 years when Sandy struck in October 2012. Two years and four apartments later, they were still displaced.

The day of volunteer work — restoring the deck, painting and putting on finishing touches — came together “like any good partnership,” Ostrager said: Scripps’ HGTV learned about John and Kathy via its relationship with Rebuilding Together and contacted Optimum Community. On Oct. 28, the eve of Sandy’s anniversary, community volunteers streamed into John and Kathy’s front yard, including 14 Cablevision employees “from all over our footprint and different types of jobs,” Ostrager said.

“A sales person came from the Bronx just because he felt it was really meaningful,” she said. “I’ve been with the company a long time and when I go to any of these, I always feel like, ‘Wow, this is really terrific.’ This event typified that. It was very moving.”

Change With Impact

Company: Discovery Communications

Initiative: Discovery Impact’s Creating Change, an annual 12-hour, pro bono “Creativethon,” during which company volunteers help nonprofits design logos, websites, marketing materials, communications strategies and more

Beneficiaries: 20-30 nonprofits annually

Cause Champion(s): Impact Ambassadors, team captains in each business unit who get the word out and recruit volunteers

Employee Participation: More than 125 employees annually

Outcome: At the 2014 “Creativethon” last September, Discovery volunteers completed projects for more than 20 nonprofits, donating nearly 2,200 hours in skills-based services, valued at more than $260,000.

Chief communications officer David Leavy likes to describe the Discovery Impact program as “not your father’s corporate social responsibility.”

“This isn’t buying a table at a charity dance,” he said. “You can’t have a relationship with your community through that.”

Instead, as he led a revamp of the program six years ago, he challenged his team to think about what the company does best. “Someone said, ‘We are a creative organization, so let’s donate creativity,’ ” Leavy recalled. “That was a flashbulb. And that was really grassroots.”

That’s when Discovery Impact launched “Creating Change,” now an annual event in which employees donate pro bono marketing, design and communications services to cash-strapped nonprofits. Each year since then, more than 100 employees have helped about 30 groups brainstorm and execute creative strategies.

Creating Change, one of seven Discovery Impact initiatives, has become so popular that it now has a volunteer waiting list, Leavy said, adding that often, employees continue relationships with nonprofits on their own.

He cited one volunteer who created a brand message for a comfort dog training organization, then went out two weeks later to clean kennels. “They didn’t tell me about it,” he said. “They weren’t trying to get credit with Leavy — they just did it on their own.”

Good to the Last Drop

Company: Suddenlink Communications

Initiative: “Do Your Part: Drop by Drop” water-conservation campaign, Midland, Texas; partners include Keep Midland Beautiful and Midland College

Beneficiaries: Midland residents

Cause Champion(s): Doreen Womack, market manager, and Monica Kincer, director of area operations Employee Participation: 90-100% of employees have been involved in educating the public and distributing home water-conservation kits

Outcome: Since 2010, Suddenlink has conducted 225 community presentations on water conservation, provided 10,700 free indoor and outdoor conservation kits to local residents, aired PSAs and created school programs, contributing to a 15 million gallon-per-day reduction in water usage to 20 million gallons per day from 2010 to 2014.

Midland, Texas, situated in West Texas’s Southern Plains, looked in 2011 like a community that had it made in the shade: Experiencing an oil boom, its unemployment rate was the lowest in the state, new housing permits were at a 10-year high and money was rolling in.

But Greater Midland, located in the semi-arid Permian Basin, was running out of water. Amid the third-worst drought in state history, its three local reservoirs were projected to go dry by December 2012.

Midland had been a town of well-manicured lawns; despite the warnings and city-imposed usage restrictions, getting residents to cut back was no easy task.

Enter Suddenlink: The St. Louis-based MSO passes 38,000 subscribers in the greater Midland- Odessa area, and its employees were grappling with the shortage, too. It launched the Drop by Drop campaign with Keep Midland Beautiful in 2010.

Five years later, Midland’s water-usage reduction is impressive. But with the city having grown 15% in the interim, the campaign continues, Womack said. Last year the team distributed more than 2,000 kits that include items like garden hose repair parts and a lawn-sprinkler gauge. “We have new people moving into town from other climates that need the water conservation message,” she said. “So the effort is ongoing.”

Ball Is in Its DNA

Company: SNY

Initiative: Play Ball, a local community outreach program targeting underserved kids via youth sports

Beneficiary: Leagues across greater New York apply to receive cash grants and equipment donations, a_ end “Dream Day” events, and participate in sports clinics and community events held with the New York Mets, New York Jets and Harlem Globetrotters

Cause Champion(s): Marie DeParis, SVP, marketing & business development; and Danny Perez, senior marketing manager

Employee Participation: 40-50 employees for each event

Outcome: Since launching in 2011, the program has provided more than $140,000 in grants and donations, reaching more than 70,000 kids across 200-plus communities.

For Bergenfield (N.J.) Little League, founded in 1950, Opening Day isn’t just the start of play — it’s the year’s biggest fundraiser. About 1,000 people come out to support the 275 players. Missing the April opener would mean a significant decrease in funds.

By the late winter of 2013, Opening Day prospects were looking dim. The league’s two fields, already in need of repairs, had been rendered unplayable by Hurricane Sandy and the subsequent snowy winter. That’s when then-president Juan Valdez got the call from SNY. A $5,000 grant, along with elbow grease from volunteers, ensured an on-schedule start.

“That grant gave us more baseball and a longer season,” Valdez said. It was used for repairs and a two-week mentoring workshop for players.

Leagues like Bergenfield’s are at the core of Play Ball, which last year expanded from baseball to include football and basketball. It has also grown from a cash-grant program to a multipronged one, Marie DeParis, SVP of marketing & business development, said. “We realized that with our resources … that we could follow our brand position into all New York sports and help even more kids.”

No Walk in the Park

Company: Time Warner Cable

Initiative: Day at Carowinds Park Event, Charlotte, N.C., one in a series of field trips the local TWC system sponsors for Project Scientist, a local group for girls interested in science and tech; part of TWC’s nationwide Connect a Million Minds campaign to engage kids in hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)

Beneficiaries: About 1,500 local community organizations involved with STEM education and their constituents across TWC’s footprint; past beneficiaries have included large organizations like the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and smaller ones like Project Scientist

Cause Champion(s): Tessie Topol, VP of corporate social responsibility, handles the overall initiative and its national partnerships; Milinda Martin, VP of community investment, works with local cause champions at the systems level

Employee Participation: About 25% of local system employees

Outcome: In 2014, the CAMM initiative reached 926,000 kids with hands-on STEM events; overall, the $100 million program has exceeded its initial five-year goal and continues to expand.

Imagine you’re a kid, and you’re standing in an amusement park construction zone underneath a behemoth 325-foot-tall roller coaster with cars traveling as fast as 95 miles per hour.

That’s the kind of activity the local champions of Time Warner Cable’s Connect a Million Minds initiative organize to engage kids in hands-on STEM projects.

In January, 15 TWC Charlotte volunteers took more than 50 girls from Project Scientist to Carowinds, home to the brand new Fury325, said to be the world’s tallest, fastest “giga coaster” — that’s one with a height or drop of 300 to 399 feet that completes a full circuit.

And that’s the kind of information the girls learned, straight from the engineers who have developed and built the new ride. It was no mere walk in the park.

“The girls got the VIP tour; they got to talk to the engineers and sit in the seats and get up close to the engineering behind the construction,” said Sandy Marshall, executive director of Project Scientist.

Their questions veered toward the career-oriented and practical: What kind of degree do you need for your job? Do you get into the park for free?

The event typifies the imaginative and varied ways TWC’s local systems have found to further the CAMM mission: “Create a spark for kids to follow that path into STEM education and careers,” said Milinda Martin, VP of community investment.

“We wanted to launch a national initiative that would be core to our business and what we do every day,” Tessie Topol, VP of corporate social responsibility, said of the initiative’s roots. “And without STEM, there’s no cable industry.”

Happy Hunting

Company: Sportsman Channel

Initiative: Hunt.Fish.Feed., a nationwide initiative driven by local events to feed the homeless, veterans, military families and others in need with food donated by hunters and fishers

Beneficiaries: Selected local non-profits and their constituents in the communities where Sportsman hosts meals; past beneficiaries include the Denver Rescue Mission, the Star of Hope Mission in Houston; and the Salvation Army in Las Vegas

Cause Champion(s): A three-person team including Ben Lines, VP, marketing; Lisa Swan, director, partnership marketing; and executive chef Scott Leysath, host of Dead Meat and The Sporting Chef

Employee Participation: The core team; local employee volunteers; volunteers from local MSO partners

Outcome: Roughly 25,000 meals have been served at 50 events nationwide since the initiative’s 2007 launch.

It draws a certain amount of attention when the local soup kitchen serves pork chile verde prepared by an executive chef from a wild hog slain and donated by a local hunter and ladled out by celebrity volunteers.

And that’s largely the point of Hunt.Fish.Feed. As important as the meals is the conversation they generate about homelessness, poverty and families in need. And for Sportsman, about food and food sources.

“It’s a natural fit for what we are trying to accomplish,” said Jim Liberatore, CEO of Sportsman Channel and Outdoor Channel. “The true mission is to feed people and give them a great, healthy meal. … This is a great way for us to do that and shed a positive light on the hunting community while we partner with clients and do a good thing for people.”

The food prepared for each event is donated by local hunters and fishers, from the venison for the chili served to Denver families in transition to the wild boar Sarah Palin (and many others) dished out to 1,000 Salvation Army clients in Las Vegas. That hits Sportsman’s core audience, one that can also use the good PR, Liberatore noted. “This [game and fish] is a natural, organic food source, and a natural progression into using the food — many times extra food — for the homeless.”

The events also give the network opportunities to partner with local systems, Lisa Swan, director of partnership marketing, said. Comcast, for example, partnered on several last year.

Swan said her experience at each of the events reinforces her motivation to expand the initiative this year. “Shelters and the people they serve are so thankful for the meal we provide,” she said, “and they find out that venison tastes pretty darn good.”

]]> <![CDATA[ MCN Call for Submissions: #CableInTheCommunity ]]>

The Multichannel News #CableInTheCommunity campaign to spotlight the TV industry’s public service efforts is underway, and the deadline for submissions for the March 23 feature has been extended to Tuesday, March 3.

Comprising the March 23 print feature, the launch of a new “Community” blog on our website and a campaign to make #CableInTheCommunity a trending topic on Twitter, this special coverage will revolve around stories of service and volunteerism, of companies and employees serving their local communities and championing corporate causes.

We want to highlight projects big and small that are making an impact on the causes our community of readers cares about — from a cable system’s outreach in its local town to a programmer’s national public awareness campaign to an association’s industry-oriented initiative to employee-spearheaded projects that found the support of employers.

ABOUT THE PRINT FEATURE

The #CableInTheCommunity spotlight — a staff-curated selection of our community's innovative public service efforts, not a ranking — runs in the March 23 issue of Multichannel News.  

Send us information about your initiatives: what’s the cause, who’s involved, how is it making a difference? You can include links and press releases, as well as photos. The submission deadline to be considered for the March 23 print feature is Tuesday, March 3; email us at mcnletters@nbmedia.com using the subject line #CableInTheCommunity.

ABOUT THE NEW ‘COMMUNITY’ BLOG

The March 23 spotlight also marks the beginning of more ongoing, online coverage of how the pay TV community is giving back. The new "Community" blog, which extends the weekly Community page in our print edition to our website, will provide a space on multichannel.com to tell your #CableInTheCommunity stories all year long. The blog will launch in tandem with the print feature.

ABOUT THE TWITTER CAMPAIGN

Multichannel News wants to make #CableInTheCommunity a trending topic among our readers, in our workplaces and across our industry. By highlighting our community’s innovative public service initiatives, we aim to inspire others.

Public service stories on multichannel.com will be tagged with the #CableInTheCommunity hashtag and tweeted from @MultiNews. To join in, add #CableInTheCommunity to Tweets about your public service efforts, and Tweet us at @MultiNews.

RELATED STORIES

MCN Launches #CableInTheCommunity Campaign

MCN Announces #CableInTheCommunity Campaign

]]> https://www.nexttv.com/news/mcn-call-submissions-cableinthecommunity-388270 6a1M2tZ5h9wU1qjMpuoduP Mon, 23 Feb 2015 20:00:00 +0000 false false false

The Multichannel News #CableInTheCommunity campaign to spotlight the TV industry’s public service efforts is underway, and the deadline for submissions for the March 23 feature has been extended to Tuesday, March 3.

Comprising the March 23 print feature, the launch of a new “Community” blog on our website and a campaign to make #CableInTheCommunity a trending topic on Twitter, this special coverage will revolve around stories of service and volunteerism, of companies and employees serving their local communities and championing corporate causes.

We want to highlight projects big and small that are making an impact on the causes our community of readers cares about — from a cable system’s outreach in its local town to a programmer’s national public awareness campaign to an association’s industry-oriented initiative to employee-spearheaded projects that found the support of employers.

ABOUT THE PRINT FEATURE

The #CableInTheCommunity spotlight — a staff-curated selection of our community's innovative public service efforts, not a ranking — runs in the March 23 issue of Multichannel News.  

Send us information about your initiatives: what’s the cause, who’s involved, how is it making a difference? You can include links and press releases, as well as photos. The submission deadline to be considered for the March 23 print feature is Tuesday, March 3; email us at mcnletters@nbmedia.com using the subject line #CableInTheCommunity.

ABOUT THE NEW ‘COMMUNITY’ BLOG

The March 23 spotlight also marks the beginning of more ongoing, online coverage of how the pay TV community is giving back. The new "Community" blog, which extends the weekly Community page in our print edition to our website, will provide a space on multichannel.com to tell your #CableInTheCommunity stories all year long. The blog will launch in tandem with the print feature.

ABOUT THE TWITTER CAMPAIGN

Multichannel News wants to make #CableInTheCommunity a trending topic among our readers, in our workplaces and across our industry. By highlighting our community’s innovative public service initiatives, we aim to inspire others.

Public service stories on multichannel.com will be tagged with the #CableInTheCommunity hashtag and tweeted from @MultiNews. To join in, add #CableInTheCommunity to Tweets about your public service efforts, and Tweet us at @MultiNews.

RELATED STORIES

MCN Launches #CableInTheCommunity Campaign

MCN Announces #CableInTheCommunity Campaign

]]> <![CDATA[ GoDish.com Sponsors College Scholarship Contest ]]> GoDish.com, a Dish Network retailer based in Houston, has launched a nationwide college scholarship contest offering a $1,000 award for the winning student to apply to the 2015-16 academic year.

To apply to the "Core Values" Scholarship Program, students must write an original, 300-500 word blog about one of GoDish.com's seven company values and why they relate to that particular principle: accountability, community, easy to do business with, integrity, effective communication, innovation or teamwork.

"Values are an essential part of any society, person, and business," Damon Diamantaras, GoDISH.com's CEO, said, noting that from a business perspective, they "not only help our company run efficiently, but also make us a valuable member of the community and society as a whole." The scholarship program is designed "to generate awareness in the student community about the growing interest in mixing those values with social media."

Qualified applicants are a citizen or legal resident of the United States and a senior in high school or home-school student with an anticipated summer 2015 graduation or GED completion. Applicants must have completed SAT or ACT testing, and must ultimately enroll full-time at an accredited college or university in the United States or its territories for the 2015-2016 academic year. The deadline is April 30; winners will be announced no later than May 30. Entries will be evaluated on overall insight, creativity, writing skill, and relevance. For more information, visit the GoDish.com website.

]]> https://www.nexttv.com/news/godishcom-sponsors-college-scholarship-contest-388274 9Rhxp6KypmsmUftkjsZUK6 Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:30:00 +0000 false false false

GoDish.com, a Dish Network retailer based in Houston, has launched a nationwide college scholarship contest offering a $1,000 award for the winning student to apply to the 2015-16 academic year.

To apply to the "Core Values" Scholarship Program, students must write an original, 300-500 word blog about one of GoDish.com's seven company values and why they relate to that particular principle: accountability, community, easy to do business with, integrity, effective communication, innovation or teamwork.

"Values are an essential part of any society, person, and business," Damon Diamantaras, GoDISH.com's CEO, said, noting that from a business perspective, they "not only help our company run efficiently, but also make us a valuable member of the community and society as a whole." The scholarship program is designed "to generate awareness in the student community about the growing interest in mixing those values with social media."

Qualified applicants are a citizen or legal resident of the United States and a senior in high school or home-school student with an anticipated summer 2015 graduation or GED completion. Applicants must have completed SAT or ACT testing, and must ultimately enroll full-time at an accredited college or university in the United States or its territories for the 2015-2016 academic year. The deadline is April 30; winners will be announced no later than May 30. Entries will be evaluated on overall insight, creativity, writing skill, and relevance. For more information, visit the GoDish.com website.

]]> <![CDATA[ Telemundo: Full-STEAM Ahead ]]>

Telemundo has partnered with Excelencia in Education and the Smithsonian Latino Center to support its Apprender es Triunfar (Learning Is Succeeding) initiative aimed at Latino students.

The year-long campaign, promoted via two websites (telemundoteinspira.com/aprender-es-triunfar in Spanish and telemundoteinspira.com/learning-is-succeeding in English), is designed to get Latino youths and their parents more involved in STEAM education, which includes Science, Technology, Engineering Arts and Mathematics.

Excelencia in Education will work with Telemundo to create co-branded content, such as a “Latinas in STEAM” white paper that will tie into Women’s History Month, in March, and a fact book that will include research and statistics on the current state of Latinos in education. The Smithsonian Latino Center will focus on reaching out to Latino youth and families via its “¡Descubra! Meet the Science Expert” series, which will showcase STEAM education and career paths. That program will extend through this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month, scheduled for Sept. 15-Oct. 15,

“We are dedicated to providing Hispanics with the best information about education in the science, technology, engineering, arts and math fields as we work towards increasing Hispanic representation in those career fields,” Raquel Egusquiza, NBCUniversal’s vice president of community affairs, Hispanic enterprises and content, said.  

Excelencia in Education and the Smithsonian Latino Center join existing partners the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), ¡Adelante! U.S. Education Leadership Fund and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). So far the program has distributed backpacks to students in key Hispanic markets, hosted an education town hall meeting and released a documentary film, Underwater Dreams, in Los Angeles and New York. 

In another move to support the campaign, Telemundo will begin airing monthly news segments on Noticiero Telemundo  profiling prominent Latinos who have succeeded in a STEAM field. Additionally, the network will create public service announcements, aimed at parents and featuring news anchor Jose Diaz-Balart and reporter Vanessa Hauc, to promote awareness of career opportunities in the various STEAM fields.

]]> https://www.nexttv.com/news/telemundo-full-steam-ahead-387065 iAziGm19HARGsMqirUDmR6 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 19:00:00 +0000 false false false

Telemundo has partnered with Excelencia in Education and the Smithsonian Latino Center to support its Apprender es Triunfar (Learning Is Succeeding) initiative aimed at Latino students.

The year-long campaign, promoted via two websites (telemundoteinspira.com/aprender-es-triunfar in Spanish and telemundoteinspira.com/learning-is-succeeding in English), is designed to get Latino youths and their parents more involved in STEAM education, which includes Science, Technology, Engineering Arts and Mathematics.

Excelencia in Education will work with Telemundo to create co-branded content, such as a “Latinas in STEAM” white paper that will tie into Women’s History Month, in March, and a fact book that will include research and statistics on the current state of Latinos in education. The Smithsonian Latino Center will focus on reaching out to Latino youth and families via its “¡Descubra! Meet the Science Expert” series, which will showcase STEAM education and career paths. That program will extend through this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month, scheduled for Sept. 15-Oct. 15,

“We are dedicated to providing Hispanics with the best information about education in the science, technology, engineering, arts and math fields as we work towards increasing Hispanic representation in those career fields,” Raquel Egusquiza, NBCUniversal’s vice president of community affairs, Hispanic enterprises and content, said.  

Excelencia in Education and the Smithsonian Latino Center join existing partners the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), ¡Adelante! U.S. Education Leadership Fund and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). So far the program has distributed backpacks to students in key Hispanic markets, hosted an education town hall meeting and released a documentary film, Underwater Dreams, in Los Angeles and New York. 

In another move to support the campaign, Telemundo will begin airing monthly news segments on Noticiero Telemundo  profiling prominent Latinos who have succeeded in a STEAM field. Additionally, the network will create public service announcements, aimed at parents and featuring news anchor Jose Diaz-Balart and reporter Vanessa Hauc, to promote awareness of career opportunities in the various STEAM fields.

]]>