WTVI Charlotte - News

WTVI to air special programs of upcoming Charlotte concert performers, with opportunities for choice seating and meet and greets with the artists

2012-01-20T03:18:00.000-08:00

CHARLOTTE, NC (January 20, 2012) – Overthe next week WTVI will be airing some very special performance programs withthe opportunity for viewers to obtain choice seating and special meet andgreets with the artists.

“We invite our viewers to experience atelevision preview of some of the best performers around, singers who willperform live in Charlotte over the next few months and who support publictelevision,” says Elsie Garner, WTVI’s president and CEO. “Our station’srelationships with these groups allow us to offer special concert ticket pricesand meet and greets with the artists.”

The schedule includes:

Human Nature Sings Motown with Special Guest Smokey Robinson, airing on WTVI:

Saturday, Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 28 at 11 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 29 at 10:30 p.m.

This program features the superlativetalents of Australia's number one selling vocal group, the four members ofHuman Nature, presented by Smokey Robinson. Backed by a nine piece band with afull stage production which evokes the Motown period, the group tells thestories of Motown songs and performs them wearing the classic wardrobes characterizingthe legendary Motown acts. Human Nature will perform at the Belk Theater onApril 22, 2012.

Rain 2: A Tribute to the Beatles, airing on WTVI:

Saturday, Jan. 21 at 8 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 28 at 6 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 29 at 2:30 p.m.

WTVI presents a retrospective musicalexperience for the whole family with Rain 2: A Tribute to the Beatles. This isa unique concert experience featuring Beatles cover band, Rain. Rain not onlyperforms Beatles tunes, they present a multi-media, multi-dimensional Beatlesexperience. Combining historical footage with unique camera work and incrediblecostumes, Rain follows the Beatles’ career from their earliest beginnings tothe psychedelic days of the late 1960s. Rain will perform at the Belk Theateron April 16, 2012.

Celtic Thunder: Heritage,airing on WTVI:

Sunday, Jan. 22 at 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 28 at 4:30 p.m.

HERITAGE is the all-new Celtic Thunder showthat focuses entirely on their Celtic and Irish roots. The group features traditionalstandards such as "Whiskey in the Jar," "Black is theColor," "Skye Boat Song" and "Red, Red Rose" as wellas a few beautiful love songs such as, "The Dutchman","Noreen" and "Just a Song at Twilight." Celtic Thunder willbe in Charlotte in the fall/winter of 2012, however viewers can pledge now fora special meet and greet with two of the group’s members at WTVI studios onWednesday, March 7, 2012, at 6:15 p.m.

Celtic Woman: Believe,airing on WTVI:

Sunday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 28 at 9 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 29 at 4 p.m.

Internationally renowned for alluringstage productions and songs of heartwarming inspiration, BELIEVE is destined toreveal for Celtic Woman what will be a new chapter of musical enchantment to beenjoyed by the entire family. Celtic Woman performs at Ovens Auditorium onFebruary 21, 2012.

Great Performances: Jackie Evancho: Come Dream with Me, airing on WTVI:

Sunday, Jan. 22 at 9 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 28 at 12 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Recorded on the grounds of thespectacular John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida, thisspecial marks the solo concert debut of the 10-year-old girl with theextraordinary soprano voice. Jackie Evancho will perform on June 6, 2012 at TimeWarner Arena.

Visit www.wtvi.orgfor details.

About WTVI, Charlotte’s PBS station

WTVI is an essential community resourcethat connects people in the heart of the Carolinas. A public television station,WTVI offers a diverse mix of quality programs and services designed to inform,educate, entertain and promote citizenship. From award-winning children’sprogramming to groundbreaking documentaries and original music performances, WTVIoffers quality content viewers can trust. WTVI reaches more than 380,000households in its 13-county area in both North and South Carolina: Mecklenburg,Gaston, Lincoln, Rowan, Iredell, Stanly, Union, Anson, Catawba, Cabarrus,Cleveland in North Carolina and York and Lancaster in South Carolina. Getcloser to home - www.wtvi.org

Contact:

WTVI

Rick Fitts

rfitts@wtvi.org

Jeff Vawter

704.371.8839

jvawter@wtvi.org

###

WTVI’s new 282 television show puts a unique spin on social media and public affairs with CLT Blog partnership

2012-01-17T02:19:00.000-08:00

CHARLOTTE, NC (January 17, 2012) – WTVI’s282 television show, debuting January 30, 2012, is an interactive currentevents show with a twist: social media discussions on current events willdetermine the topics and feed each show’s content. The show will stream live onthe internet each Monday at noon, and will air on television at 6:30 p.m. andagain at 11 p.m. the same day.

282 is a new kind of local show thatwill be as interesting to watch and participate with online as it is to see on television.The weekly panel will feature local media makers - bloggers, journalists,filmmakers, social media personalities – all discussing the most significantlocal events of the week. Politics, entertainment, education, sports and otherhot topics are all up for discussion.

The concept was the brainchild of ElsieGarner, WTVI’s president and CEO. “I have been intrigued with the idea of startingwith social media and making a TV show out of it instead of the traditional TVshow informing social media efforts,” says Garner. “Our partnership with CLT Blogprovides the perfect technology and audience for this modern approach recognizingnew ways people interact, obtain news and discuss events important to them.”

Carlton Hargro, the host, is the formereditor of Creative Loafing, with years of editorial experience in Charlotte andAtlanta. WTVI’s Rick Fitts is the executive in charge of production, and JereThomas is the director.

282 is one of many local productionsfrom WTVI. The station currently produces Carolina Business Review, Healthwise,For Your Home, United Way and You, and The Charlotte Small Business Spotlight. WTVIalso airs the Mecklenburg County Commission meetings, as well as pre-electiondebates and Everyday Edisons. WTVI has worked with and used the talents of manylocal independent producers to present local documentaries to the community,such as Charlotte's Own Bearden at 100, Rural Mecklenburg: A Vanishing Way ofLife, Carolina Calling, Our Vanishing Americana, The Blue Ridge Parkway: A Longand Winding Road, Sojourn of the Strings and City of Canvas: The Story of CampGreene.

About WTVI, Charlotte’s PBS station

About CLT Blog

CLT Blog is Charlotte’s largest online-only news outlet and social content network, with one ofthe largest followings on Facebook and Twitter of any media organization in theCarolinas. Our mix of citizen and professional contributers cover the QueenCity: its music, art, nightlife, sports, politics, economy, past, and future.As a locally born-and-bred collective, we focus on Charlotte’s most pressingissues and inspiring stories, and through the use of rich media like livestreaming video, engage the next generation of Charlotteans. www.cltblog.com

Contact:

Rick Fitts

rfitts@wtvi.org

Jeff Vawter

704.371.8839

jvawter@wtvi.org

Give charitable time and money where it counts the most – lessons from an expert

2011-12-21T04:31:00.000-08:00

Whether you’re deciding where to focus year-end giving ormaking New Year’s Resolutions to be more involved with the community, it helpsto have advice from someone with experience.

Beverly Dorn-Steele is WTVI’s director of educationalservices and community engagement. “Ms.Beverly” has been the host of WTVI’s Kids Club and the face of WTVI,Charlotte’s PBS television station, for more than 30 years.

Beverly has impacted the lives of citizens in the 13-countyCharlotte-Mecklenburg metro area by promoting community outreach programs thatbring individuals, civic and youth organizations, business leaders, educatorsand health experts together to identify common problems, share resources and promotecommunity-wide solutions.

In 2010, she retired after 30 years with WTVI, but she hasstayed on part-time, because she says, “There are still far too many things todo for this community.” Receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine plaque fromGovernor Beverly Purdue, an award granted to an employee that has contributedmore than 30 years of service to the state of North Carolina, was a true honor,but it was certainly not a stopping point for Beverly.

There are many worthy organizations doing wonderful things,but Beverly advises people to consider several principles when choosingvolunteer activities or monetary donations.

Knowyour community

Beverly recommends taking thetime to understand the most important needs for your city and your ownneighborhood. For example, in June 2010, United Way of Central Carolinas (UWCC)commissioned the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute to conduct a comprehensivecommunity needs assessment for its five-county service area. The primarypurpose of the study was to pinpoint the community’s greatest needs andidentify gaps in the current array of human services.

Basedon an analysis of data and feedback from numerous local service organizationsand experts from the community, the Institute identified the most significantneeds and service gaps in the UWCC region. From these findings, it developed aset of recommendations on actions UWCC could take to tackle these issues.

The mostsignificant needs identified in the region can be grouped into three broadcategories – Education, Housing andPoverty, Health and Mental Health. WTVI is creating programming, partnerships and public serviceannouncements to increase awareness and offer information and resources inthese areas.

For example,the first program that fits into the new plan, American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen: A Carolina Business Review Special,airs December 23, 2011, at 9 p.m. Special guests including Governor BeverlyPurdue and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief Rodney Monroe taped the program inOctober at WTVI. Panelists look at the graduation rate in Charlotte-MecklenburgSchools, new initiatives and the impact on the local community.

Giftsof time are just as important as gifts of money

Many organizations provide tutoring for disadvantagedchildren, help for the elderly and assistance for the handicapped, among otherneeds. Just a few hours of volunteer time will make a difference for you andfor people you work with. Volunteering also helps you get a feel for the agencyto help you decide if you want to donate money to it in the future.

There are many websites to help you research and make wisedecisions. For example, the Charlotte Observer’s Annual Giving Guide (www.charlotteoberver.com/giving)and MinistryWatch.comprovide details on an organization’s history and give reviews. You should alsocheck with your employer to see if the company matches donations or offers timeoff for volunteer hours.

Investmentsin children’s education will make dramatic differences for the future

Almost40% of kids 3-5 don’t attend preschool or kindergarten. Children who startschool behind often stay behind. Young people who never see the inside of apre-K classroom are more likely to be in special education classes, more likelyto drop out of high school and more likely to get into crime.

Dueto Beverly’s efforts, WTVI provides extensive community outreach for children.WTVI's Raising Readers Literacy program serves over 18,600 children located at550 sites throughout WTVI's 13-county viewing area. Through the Raising Readersinitiative, WTVI provides free workshops for educators and child careproviders, children's books, curriculum materials and resources for parents.The workshops are designed to train adults to teach children the basic literacyskills that will help them enter school ready to learn. Sites include HeadStart, after school programs, child development centers, home day cares andbi-lingual preschools.

TheLeon Levine Foundation and the Wells Fargo Foundation have both awarded WTVI $25,000grants to support children’s programming. The grant acknowledges WTVI’sdedication to helping local citizens improve their lives, providing teacherswith free educational resources and serving area children as the most positiveand trusted use of television.

Beverly recommends volunteering in programs that read to children or tutorthem. Ms. Beverly and Seemore Goodstuff, WTVI’s mascot, often visit schools toread stories to the children and discuss the creative costumes the children wearto become their favorite storybook characters. They have also done projects toprovide "Cyberchase" math tutoring to children at local recreationcenters.

Rememberthe veterans

With many veterans returning home and others injured oraging, there are many opportunities to say “thank you for your service” byproviding aid. For example, WTVI recently participated in a veteran job fair aspart of community activities for the “Women, War & Peace” televisiondocumentary premiere.

Equipour teachers

Look for waysto help teachers obtain continuing education and to help schools get neededsupplies like books and computers. The PBS Teacher Source ProfessionalDevelopment Workshops sponsored by WTVI have trained 3,475 teachers and educators in the 13-countyviewing area.

Learnfrom our senior citizens

Many nursing homes allow volunteers to participate inactivity times with the residents. You can be a blessing by simply listening tochildhood stories, singing or playing cards.

Helpadults overcome educational hurdles

Beverly has facilitated partnerships with community andeducational organizations, including the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ ParentUniversity, to help area residents who lack a high school diploma or GEDreceive their GED through the use of GED on Television and the GED Workbooks.As of 2009, Beverly has helped 88 people receive their GED.

WTVI provides the GED Connection program for adults toobtain their GEDs by watching television programming and completing chapters ina companion workbook. GED Connection airs weekdays at 5:30 a.m. WTVI also providesWorkplace Essential Skills for adults who are looking for a new job or want toimprove their skills. The program teaches the viewer how to develop careergoals and make plans to attain them and airs weekdays at 5:00 a.m.

Lookfor the gaps and make the links

Several years ago, during a costume party for WTVI’s Kid’sClub, Beverly noticed neighborhood children peering through the fence at all ofthe festivities, unable to afford membership in the club.

During her career at WTVI, she had seen tensions mount between the mostlylow-income neighborhood residents and the station. A fence between theneighborhood and the station was necessitated by minor acts of aggression suchas tires of staff members being slashed. Still, Beverly vowed to put herdiverse public television experience to work on the problem. She pursued andobtained a Front Porch grant from the Community Building Initiative (CBI) in2005. She held the station’s first open house and conducted tours in thesummer, when children were out of school. Local residents signed up for the GEDprogram. Beverly purchased videos and workbooks from KET and held quarterlysessions to give residents an opportunity to ask questions. But, she wanted tobring in the children, so she combined the GED program with WTVI’s PBS Ready toLearn initiative and created the WTVI Family Literacy Alliance. As oneactivity, for example, parents and children alternate reading a book. Startedin November 2005, the Family Literacy Alliance has grown to include 57families. Today, there are no more flat tires in the parking lot and no morechildren wishing they were part of the fun.

The arts are part of overallintelligence

In late 2010,the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg began development of power2give.org, a groundbreaking new websitedesigned to address changing trends in philanthropic giving. The final productis a unique website that allows anyone to easily give a gift to theorganizations and projects they are most passionate about.

WTVI is dedicated to helping people improvetheir lives, providing teachers with free educational resources, engagingviewers in civil conversations about issues and serving children as the mostpositive and trusted use of television. Ms. Beverly challenges all citizens to getinvolved and to truly “GetCloser to Home.” www.wtvi.org

WTVI commits to more than 3,000 hours of programming and outreach addressing United Way community priorities

2011-11-30T03:56:00.001-08:00

UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute provides research to guideprograms

WTVI’spresident and CEO, Elsie Garner, was so impressedwith research commissioned by the United Way of Central Carolinas (UWCC), that she has alignedWTVI’s already extensive community outreach program with the UWCC’s CommunityNeeds Assessment 2011. She has committed to maximizeWTVI’s strengths in public awareness and coalition-building to support UWCC’scommunity priorities with a minimum of 3,300 broadcast hours, 40 workshopevents, 1,200 public service announcements and 12 new partnerships.

"We're excited that WTVI isdesigning programming that addresses the needs found in our recent five-countyCommunity Needs Assessment," says Jane McIntyre, executive director ofUnited Way of Central Carolinas. "The Needs Assessment, which wasdeveloped in partnership with the Urban Institute at UNC Charlotte, clearlyoutlines some of the highest priorities in our region including education,housing and poverty, and health and mental health. WTVI is creating programmingand public service announcements to increase awareness and offer informationand resources in these areas. WTVI is a tremendous resource for our community.”

In June, 2010, UWCC commissioned the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute(the Institute) to conduct a comprehensive community needs assessment for itsfive-county service area. The primary purpose of the study was to pinpoint thecommunity’s greatest needs and identify gaps in the current array of humanservices.

Based on an analysisof data and feedback from numerous local service organizations and experts fromthe community, the Institute identified the most significant needs and servicegaps in the UWCC region. From these findings, it developed a set ofrecommendations on actions UWCC could take to tackle these issues.

“The research team at UNC Charlotte’sUrban Institute is excited and pleased to hear that WTVI has adopted therecently completed United Way Needs Assessment for its outreach projects thisyear,” says Bill McCoy, of the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute Research Team. “Theneeds identified in the report are universal and chronic. Progress in meeting these needs can onlyoccur if the community comes together and responds to help lessen the needs ofthese less fortunate. WTVI is to be applauded for accepting the role ofcommunity leader in bringing people together to address these needs.”

The most significant needs identifiedin the region can be grouped into three broad categories – Education, Housingand Poverty, Health and Mental Health. After reviewing the research, Garnerasked Jeanine Budreau of the United Way to attend WTVI’s board retreat onSeptember 22, 2011, and present the community needs. WTVI board member PattyPerkins also moderated a panel of community leaders to discuss the kind ofcommunity they wanted to live in.

Supported by grant funding anddonations from viewers, WTVI has always provided speakers, activities, andcurriculums to support teachers in the classroom; partnered with local businesses tomeet community needs; hostedcommunity sneak preview events for popular programs; and supported professional development ofadult learners. WTVI has been recognized as one of the top fiveReady to Learn (RTL) stations by the U.S. Department of Education, providing aunique educational safe haven for kids on TV and online.

The first program that fits into thenew plan is American Graduate: Let’s Makeit Happen: A Carolina Business Review Special that aired November 6, 2011,and will air again on December 23. Special guests including Governor Beverly Purdue andCharlotte-Mecklenburg police chief Rodney Monroe taped the program on October11 at WTVI. Panelists look at the graduation rate in Charlotte-MecklenburgSchools, new initiatives and the impact on the local community.

“WTVI is delighted to continue ourcommunity service mission by aligning our outreach with research from UNCC tomake sure the most important community issues are addressed first,” saysGarner. “I look forward to seeing the difference we can make on education,housing and poverty, and health.”

WTVI provides production crew for For Your Home, a show giving a national voice to Autism Speaks

2011-11-15T18:44:00.000-08:00

CHARLOTTE, NC (November 15, 2011) – For the second year in a row, WTVI is providing the production crew and is the presenting station for the nationally-distributed television show For Your Home. The show airs Thursdays on WTVI at 6:30 p.m. In addition, the series airs on Sundays and Wednesdays on Create at 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. The show is syndicated in more than 85 percent of the U.S. market.

For Your Home provides expert advice on improving and enjoying the home, garden and family life. Every show provides tips and doable project ideas from design expert, Vicki Payne, and every season is committed to supporting a charity.

"It is with great pride that we work on a locally produced show and then to be able to supply it to the nation, right here from Charlotte, using our own crew,” says Rick Fitts, WTVI’s executive producer. “This show truly makes a positive impact on the community and builds partnerships that are sustainable beyond the shows airings.”

Fitts edits the show. Randy Fulp, WTVI’s director of photography, co-directs the show with Payne and manages the production crew from WTVI that works in conjunction with Vicki Payne’s company, Cutters Productions.

Over the years, the show has built and decorated homes for the Susan G. Komen organization; given a creative hand at Victory Junction, a camp for children with critical illnesses and helped single mom’s provide a better atmosphere for their kids. This year, For Your Home has partnered with Autism Speaks, North American’s largest autism science and advocacy organization to help support those impacted by autism and educate the public on the issues facing these families. Through the course of six, 30-minute episodes, For Your Home will tackle home improvement issues in the homes of families coping with this complex neurobiological disorder. The autism-related shows are taping now and will air in 2012.

“With the help of the Charlotte chapter of Autism Speaks, the show has gathered a team of consultants, doctors and parents that have helped guide producers through this season’s projects. Two of the top issues facing families coping with an autistic child are security and making ends meet when it comes to paying for much needed ABA therapy vs. home improvements,” says Payne.

Local families were selected to participate based on their home improvement issues and the specific needs of their child. Some homes require improvements to their outdoor spaces, kitchens, bathroom and home-based learning centers. FYH viewers will have the opportunity to meet six different families and be inspired by their strength and dedication to overcome tremendous challenges they face every day.

For Your Home is one of many local productions from WTVI. The station currently produces Carolina Business Review, Healthwise, United Way and You and The Charlotte Small Business Spotlight. It also airs the Mecklenburg County Commission meetings as well as pre-election debates and Everyday Edisons. WTVI has worked with and used the talents of many local independent producers to present local documentaries to the community, such as Charlotte's Own Bearden at 100, Rural Mecklenburg: A Vanishing Way of Life, Carolina Calling, Our Vanishing America, The Blue Ridge Parkway: A Long and Winding Road, Sojourn of the Strings and City of Canvas: The Story of Camp Greene.

About WTVI, Charlotte’s PBS station
WTVI is an essential community resource that connects people in the heart of the Carolinas. A public television station, WTVI offers a diverse mix of quality programs and services designed to inform, educate, entertain and promote citizenship. From award-winning children’s programming to groundbreaking documentaries and original music performances, WTVI offers quality content viewers can trust. WTVI reaches more than 380,000 households in its 13-county area in both North and South Carolina: Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Rowan, Iredell, Stanly, Union, Anson, Catawba, Cabarrus, Cleveland in North Carolina and York and Lancaster in South Carolina. www.wtvi.org

Contact:

WTVI
Jeff Vawter
704.371.8839
jvawter@wtvi.org

WTVI Unveils New Brand Identity

2011-11-02T19:39:00.000-07:00

Marketing partner, RED F, assists in effort to rebrand public television station.

[CHARLOTTE, NC] – November 3, 2011- Starting this week, WTVI will begin to unveil a new logo and tagline, developed by local marketing partner RED F. The rebrand has been in process over the past three months, in an effort to update the face of WTVI and generate greater community awareness and support.

WTVI asked RED F to assist in developing this fresher look in order to attract a younger audience and communicate its vision of taking the viewer beyond television.

“It had been years since we had a logo change. We wanted to signal something brighter and less static,” said Elsie Garner, President and CEO of WTVI. “This logo has a strong visual impact and evokes a mood of energy and celebration.” The new tagline, “Get closer to home”, is intended to evoke feelings of security and coziness, whether that means getting together with your children to watch Sesame Street or with friends to watch NOVA.

“Public television is where the ‘good stuff’ is shown and a lot of people watch at home,” said Garner. “Also, to me, it signals a certain Charlotte philosophy of valuing and celebrating our homes and our local institutions, such as WTVI. After all, WTVI is the only locally-licensed, locally-programmed, and locally-owned public television station!”

"We were very pleased to be able to work with WTVI, one of our community’s great resources, with this rebrand,” said Sara Garces, CEO of RED F. “We believe very much in giving back to the community in which we live and work.”

Viewers will begin to see the new logo and tagline on on-air programming and the new WTVI website, http://www.wtvi.org/, this week. The logo will be officially unveiled on November 9 during the premiere of the WWI Camp Greene documentary at the Mint Museum.

“Everyone here is very excited to unveil our new look,” said Garner. “We know this will make a huge difference for us in making an impact on the community and generating awareness and support of our programming.”

About WTVI
WTVI is an essential community resource that connects people in the heart of the Carolinas. A public television station, WTVI offers a diverse mix of quality programs and services designed to inform, educate and entertain. From award-winning children’s programming to groundbreaking documentaries and original music performance, WTVI offers quality content viewers can trust. WTVI reaches more than 380,000 households in its 13-county area in both North and South Carolina: Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Rowan, Iredell, Stanly, Union, Anson, Catawba, Cabarrus, Cleveland in NC and York and Lancaster in SC. For more information, visit http://www.wtvi.org/.

About RED F
RED F is a full-service advertising agency and marketing technology company committed to solving the toughest marketing challenges for the world’s best companies. RED F offers expertise in the areas of multicultural, mobile and real-time marketing to fuel an even great consumer connection and improved ROI. RED F has been named on the Inc. 500/5000 list of the fastest growing companies five times, and was named one of The Principal® 10 Best Companies in 2011. Founded in 1999, the agency is MWBE certified, is based in Charlotte, NC. For more information, visit http://www.redf.com/.

Contact:
Elsie Garner
egarner@wtvi.org
###

Charlotte’s WWI history comes to life with Veterans Day special, City of Canvas: The Story of Camp Greene

2011-10-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

WTVI and Mint Museum of Art host premiere event on November 9

CHARLOTTE, NC (October 31, 2011) – On Veterans Day, November 11, 2011, at 9 p.m., WTVI will bring Charlotte's World War I training camp to life when it airs the locally-produced television documentary, City of Canvas: The Story of Camp Greene.

Completed after more than 20 years of research, this documentary tells the story of an important but somewhat overlooked chapter in Charlotte’s history, drawing parallels to the recent efforts to land the 2012 Democratic National Convention. During World War I, Charlotte was selected as the site of one of 32 training camps to prepare troops for war in France. Camp Greene was built in 90 days on 2,400 acres near uptown Charlotte. The camp later expanded to nearly 6,000 acres. More than 100,000 soldiers from across the country received training at Camp Greene in 1917 and 1918.

The project was written and produced by Jack Dillard, working closely with the WTVI production staff. A team of advisors for the project included Dr. Dan Morrill, professor of history at UNC Charlotte and consulting director of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission; and Joyce Reimann, manager, and Jane Johnson, librarian, with the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

“I first became aware of Camp Greene in 1983 when I wrote a brief history of Home Federal Savings and Loan for its 100th anniversary. As I looked into it, I was surprised that the story wasn’t better known. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I had taken on the cause of getting the word out,” says Dillard.

Former Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory, whose grandfather served at Camp Greene, opens the film from the Dairy Queen on Wilkinson Boulevard. A highway marker stands near the intersection of Remount Road and Wilkinson Blvd. in western Charlotte to honor the service of the troops at Camp Greene. Just beyond the marker on Monument Drive stands the Dowd House. For a time, it served as the camp’s administrative headquarters. The Dowd House is the only remaining structure of the camp.

The public is invited to a free screening at the Mint Museum of Art on Wednesday, November 9, 2011. The reception starts at 6 p.m., and the screening begins at 6:45 p.m. To set the historical tone, the event will be complete with a WWI re-enactor, Camp Greene artifacts and a local boy scout to play the Call to Colors. R.S.V.P. to 704.372.2442WTVI will air City of Canvas: The Story of Camp Greene numerous times after the initial broadcast on November 11. The entire PBS system will have access to the program across the country. DVD copies are available to any school or educational enterprise. The project is supported in part by the Dowd Foundation and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. WTVI completed project funding by raising donations from the public on the Arts & Science Council’s website, power2give.org.

About WTVI, Charlotte’s PBS station
WTVI is an essential community resource that connects people in the heart of the Carolinas. A public television station, WTVI offers a diverse mix of quality programs and services designed to inform, educate and entertain. From award-winning children’s programming to groundbreaking documentaries and original music performances, WTVI offers quality content viewers can trust. WTVI reaches more than 380,000 households in its 13-county area in both North and South Carolina: Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Rowan, Iredell, Stanly, Union, Anson, Catawba, Cabarrus, Cleveland in North Carolina and York and Lancaster in South Carolina. http://www.wtvi.org/

Contact:

Jack Dillard
704-301-4317
Jack.dillard@alert-the-media.net

WTVI
Jeff Vawter
704.371.8839
jvawter@wtvi.org

PBS ARTS FALL FESTIVAL KICKS OFF OCTOBER 15

2011-10-11T22:52:00.000-07:00

CHARLOTTE, NC (October 12, 2011) – Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic nautical romp “H.M.S. Pinafore,” a production of Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theater and Twin Cities Public Television (tpt), opens the nine-part PBS Arts Fall Festival on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. ET on WTVI. “Pinafore” kicks off an exciting line-up of performances that will be broadcast on Saturday nights on WTVI into mid-December, including the broadcast debut of Cameron Crowe’s documentary music film “Pearl Jam Twenty,” dance performance films from Bill T. Jones, Miami City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, rock and Americana music programs from Cleveland and North Carolina, and a major new opera from LA Opera.

“From the Blue Ridge to San Francisco and from the Great Lakes to Miami, every community across this country possesses its own mosaic of artistic expression, and only PBS stations bring the rich diversity of these stories to the national stage,” says Paula Kerger, PBS President and CEO. “PBS invites everyone — regardless of geographic or economic situation — to take a front-row seat and enjoy a backstage pass to the world of music, theater, dance, art and cultural history.”

Adds Elsie Garner, WTVI’s president and CEO, “With these arts presentations, the 13-county WTVI audience can sit back, relax and enjoy performances by renowned artists in first-rate presentations — without high prices, crowds or parking hassles.”

The broadcast programs, which originate from cities around the country, will be introduced by well-known hosts connected to the regions and themes of the programs. Short films (“mini-documentaries”) produced by local PBS member stations that highlight each city’s unique arts and cultural scenes will accompany the national broadcasts.

The PBS Arts Fall Festival broadcast schedule, with show and mini-documentary descriptions and celebrity host information, is listed below.

PBS Arts from Minnesota: THE GUTHRIE THEATER PRESENTS H.M.S. PINAFORE

THE SHOW: Delight in this spectacular new production of the beloved Gilbert and Sullivan classic from the Guthrie Theater, directed by the theater’s artistic director, Joe Dowling. Infused with fresh musical arrangements of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s memorable melodies — ranging from big band swing to classic pop — H.M.S. Pinafore is pure joy and sensational entertainment for everyone. The evening’s presentation is produced by PBS member station Twin Cities Public Television (tpt).

AIR DATE: Saturday, October 15, 2011, 8:00 p.m. ET

HOST BIO: Rainn Wilson hosts the Fall Festival’s opening broadcast. A veteran of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Wilson is best known for his starring role on “The Office.” Wilson performed in Guthrie productions of Philadelphia, Here I Come! in 1996, as well as The Venetian Twins and The Importance of Being Earnest in 1998.

SHORT FILM: “Arts Scene Minnesota” – Home to tens of thousands of artists and 1,700 arts organizations, Minnesota’s artistic landscape has always attracted people who make their livings in the arts. The inculcation of the arts into everyday life here fostered a movement that made Minnesota the only state whose citizens voted to write arts funding into the state constitution. This extraordinary show of support for the arts underscores Minnesotans’ commitment to establish an arts and cultural legacy for future generations. The film from Twin Cities Public Television explores how the state’s diverse arts community began decades ago with visionaries who invested in and guided arts institutions to become successful businesses and world-class organizations. Produced by tpt.

PBS Arts from Seattle: AMERICAN MASTERS “Pearl Jam Twenty”

THE SHOW: In honor of Pearl Jam’s 20th anniversary, award-winning director and music journalist Cameron Crowe creates a definitive portrait of the seminal band carved from more than 1,200 hours of rarely and never-before-seen footage, plus 24 hours of recently shot concert and interview footage. “Pearl Jam Twenty” chronicles the years leading up to the band’s formation, the chaos that ensued soon after their rise to mega-stardom, their step back from center stage and the creation of a work culture that would sustain them. Part concert film, part insider hang, part testimonial to the power of music and uncompromising artists, the film celebrates the freedom that allowed Pearl Jam a way to make music without losing sight of what mattered most to them — their fans and the music fans that they themselves had always been. “Pearl Jam Twenty” features interviews with original band members Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready and Eddie Vedder, drummer Matt Cameron, and friend and Soundgarden singer/guitarist Chris Cornell, as well as archival performance and interview footage of Mother Love Bone, Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog, Kurt Cobain and Neil Young. AMERICAN MASTERS is a production of Thirteen for WNET. The evening’s presentation airs in collaboration with PBS member station KCTS.

AIR DATE: Saturday, October 29, 2011, 8:00 p.m. ET

HOST BIO: Oscar-winning film director Taylor Hackford, who has a particular passion for music, hosts this broadcast. In addition to Ray, a biopic about Ray Charles, and a documentary about Chuck Berry, many of his acclaimed films, such as An Officer and a Gentleman, Against All Odds and White Nights, included galvanizing soundtrack songs that became popular hits. Hackford is the current president of the Directors Guild of America.

SHORT FILM: “Something in the Water” – Pearl Jam. Nirvana. Soundgarden. Alice in Chains. In the 1990s, Seattle crashed the music party on a wave called grunge. What's it like to make music in the Emerald City 20 years after Pearl Jam’s seminal album, Ten? PBS member station KCTS 9 looks at the camaraderie and creativity that make Seattle a wellspring for groundbreaking musical talent. See and hear the local scene through the DJs, independent label reps and musicians (The Head and the Heart, Macklemore, Grand Hallway) who are taking the city in new directions, and find out why, despite the lure of Seattle's legendary past success, it’s more important to make it here than to make it big. Produced by KCTS.

PBS Arts from the Blue Ridge Mountains: GIVE ME THE BANJO

THE SHOW: Narrated by actor/comedian/banjoist Steve Martin, “Give Me the Banjo” explores the roots of American music — the minstrel show, ragtime and early jazz, blues, old-time, folk, bluegrass and country. It is a story of America’s quintessential musical instrument from its African slavery roots to the 21st century, featuring performances and commentary from contemporary folk musicians such as Pete Seeger, Earl Scruggs, Taj Mahal, Béla Fleck and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, as well as from leading music historians, instrument builders and collectors. The show is produced and directed by Marc Fields with Michael Kantor as executive producer. Tony Trischka is co-producer and music director. The evening’s presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station UNC-TV (North Carolina).

AIR DATE: Saturday, November 5, 2011, 8:00 p.m. ET

HOST BIO: The show is hosted by Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and country music royalty Rosanne Cash, whose music spans many genres, from country and folk to blues, rock and pop. Daughter of the late legend Johnny Cash, she has sung with banjo legend Earl Scruggs, who is featured prominently in the broadcast. In addition to introducing the show, Cash will talk with country music star Rodney Crowell about the influence of banjo music on their individual styles.

SHORT FILM: “Hand Made” – Out of both necessity and ingenuity, the handcrafting of tools and household items helped sustain the people and the culture of the remote Blue Ridge Mountains for centuries. Today these crafts continue in both their most traditional forms and in bold interpretations that veer toward contemporary art. This film from PBS member station UNC-TV explores the work of four Blue Ridge Mountain artists — wood carver Davy Arch, metal worker Bill Brown, potter Mark Peters and basket maker Billie Ruth Sudduth — capturing the traditions of their crafts while tapping into the creative forces that inspire more abstract expressionism. Produced by UNC-TV.

PBS Arts from Chicago: AMERICAN MASTERS “Bill T. Jones: A Good Man”

THE SHOW: Follow award-winning director/choreographer Bill T. Jones’s intense creative journey as he leads his company in the creation of Fondly Do We Hope ... Fervently Do We Pray, an original dance-theater piece in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s bicentennial. “Bill T. Jones: A Good Man” is a co-production of A Good Man Film LLC, Kartemquin Films, Independent Television Service (ITVS), Thirteen’s AMERICAN MASTERS for WNET, and Media Process Group, with the cooperation of the Ravinia Festival. The evening’s presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station WTTW.

AIR DATE: Saturday, November 12, 2011, 8:00 p.m. ET

HOST BIO: This show is hosted by award-winning theater and television actor Anna Deavere Smith. Smith’s theater work explores American character and its multifaceted national identity. She has won numerous honors and awards — among them two Obies, two Tony nominations and a MacArthur fellowship. In theater, she is known for looking at controversial events from multiple points of view. She is author of the acclaimed plays Twilight: Los Angeles 1992, Fires in the Mirror and House Arrest. Her most recent, Let Me Down Easy, tells the human side of the American health care story. Smith is well known for playing Gloria Akalitus on Showtime’s hit series “Nurse Jackie” and Nancy McNally on NBC’s “The West Wing.”

SHORT FILM: “Jeanne Gang: The Sky’s The Limit” – Chicago is an artistic powerhouse — with world-class theater, symphony, opera and contemporary music — and the birthplace of sketch comedy. But the setting for this art is an achievement in itself. The world’s first skyscrapers were built here, and many noteworthy buildings were designed by a who’s-who list of great architects: Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Renzo Piano and Frank Gehry, to name a few. This short film from PBS member station WTTW highlights a new architect on the scene, MacArthur “Genius Award” winner Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects, highlighting her work style and current projects and her early triumphs, including the award-winning Aqua skyscraper. Framed by the city’s extraordinary architectural legacy, the film shows how Gang and her firm represent Chicago’s future. Produced by WTTW.

PBS Arts from Miami: GREAT PERFORMANCES “Miami City Ballet Dances Balanchine and Tharp”

THE SHOW: Witness the grace and beauty of one of America’s finest dance companies, Edward Villella’s Miami City Ballet, in a trio of signature works by George Balanchine and Twyla Tharp. Watch the company’s critically acclaimed performances of Balanchine’s “Square Dance” and “Western Symphony” and Tharp’s “The Golden Section.” Part of GREAT PERFORMANCES’ “Dance in America,” GREAT PERFORMANCES “Miami City Ballet Dances Balanchine and Tharp” is a production of Thirteen for WNET New York Public Media. The evening’s presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station WPBT.

AIR DATE: Saturday, November 19, 2011, 8:00 p.m. ET
HOST BIO: Academy Award-nominated and internationally acclaimed actor Andy Garcia, who garnered a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role in The Godfather: Part III, hosts this broadcast. Garcia has been seen in many notable theatrical and television films, including the hit remake of Ocean’s Eleven and For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story, an HBO film that he produced, and which received Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominations. Garcia has strong connections to Miami: His family was exiled from his native Cuba to South Florida when he was five, he studied acting at Florida International University and he maintains a home in the city.

SHORT FILM: “Miami’s Island Arts” – Contemporary Haitian and Cuban artists are creating new venues in their Miami neighborhoods, connecting community members to their traditions and cultural roots while drawing diverse audiences from other neighborhoods and beyond. This program, produced by PBS member station WPBT2, centers on Afro-Caribbean art, with Roberto Ramos’ Cuba Ocho Gallery along the burgeoning Calle Ocho Arts District, and the newly built Little Haiti Cultural Center — home to renowned artist Edouard Duval Carrié and the African dance ensemble Delou, both of whom use art as a tool to build communities. Produced by WPBT.

PBS Arts from Cleveland: WOMEN WHO ROCK

THE SHOW: From Bessie Smith to Janis Joplin to Lady Gaga, this performance documentary vibrates with energy as it traces the indelible mark that amazing women musicians have made on America’s soundtrack. Inspired by the “Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power” exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, “Women Who Rock” reveals new insights into what it means to be female in the male-dominated world of rock and roll, while exploring how those dynamics between the sexes have changed with time. The film is produced by Susan Wittenberg and Carol Stein with assistance from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The evening’s presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station WVIZ/PBS ideastream®.

AIR DATE: Saturday, November 19, 2011, 9:30 p.m. ET
HOST BIO: With nearly 30 years as a music icon and worldwide record sales of 30 million, host Cyndi Lauper is certainly an expert on “Women Who Rock.” Lauper, who appears in the film, won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist for her first album, She’s So Unusual, which spawned five top-ten singles. She’s been nominated for more than 40 Grammy, Emmy, American Music, American Video and MTV awards. In June 2010, she released her 11th studio album, the Grammy nominated Memphis Blues, which sat atop the Billboard Blues Chart for 14 consecutive weeks. Lauper will release the DVD From Memphis with Love on October 25 and her long-awaited autobiography in 2012, along with a new reality show. Lauper is completing work on writing the music for the Broadway show Kinky Boots, and continues her philanthropic work through her foundation, the True Colors Fund.
SHORT FILM: “Artistic Choice” – Most people recognize the power of art to enlighten and inspire individuals and even entire communities. But most of us don’t have a clue how to pay for it. In the early 20th century, renowned institutions like the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Orchestra would “take Mrs. Rockefeller to lunch” — a metaphor for convincing wealthy patrons to write a check. These days, the wealthy patrons are long gone. This short film from PBS member station WVIZ/PBS ideastream ® shows how Clevelanders not only moved to recognize the powerful resource of their cultural traditions, but also discovered an innovative way to keep them alive. Produced by WVIZ/PBS ideastream ®.
PBS Arts from Los Angeles: GREAT PERFORMANCES “Il Postino From LA Opera” with Plácido Domingo

THE SHOW: Bask in the beautiful voice of world-renowned tenor Plácido Domingo with the LA Opera in this romantic new opera, by composer Daniel Catán, based on the Oscar-winning Italian film. GREAT PERFORMANCES is a production of Thirteen for WNET New York Public Media. The evening’s presentation is in cooperation with PBS SoCal (Southern California).

AIR DATE: Saturday, November 26, 2011, 8:00 p.m. ET

HOST BIO: Music legend Linda Ronstadt hosts this evening’s broadcast. Her success in so many styles of music, from country, rock, standards, Mexican folk, operetta and more — added to her love for Spanish language, poetry and music — make Ronstadt arguably the most versatile vocalist of the modern era and the ideal choice for this broadcast. One of the most awarded female musicians (10 Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award and numerous gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums), Ronstadt was nominated for a Tony and a Golden Globe for her role in the Broadway production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. She also received the ALMA award (created by the National Council of La Raza to honor Latino artists who promote a positive image of their community), presented to her by Domingo, making this a felicitous pairing of host and star.

SHORT FILM: Due to this broadcast’s length, there will not be a corresponding film.

PBS Arts from New York: GREAT PERFORMANCES “Andrea Bocelli Live in Central Park”

THE SHOW: The broadcast premiere of internationally acclaimed tenor Andrea Bocelli’s free concert in Central Park features his best-known and best-loved songs, with an array of surprise guests from throughout the music world. Bocelli will be accompanied by the New York Philharmonic, under the direction of music director Alan Gilbert, and the Westminster Symphonic Choir, conducted by Joe Miller. “Andrea Bocelli Live in Central Park” is a production of, and is presented in collaboration with, Thirteen for WNET New York Public Media.

AIR DATE: Friday, December 2, 2011, 9:00 p.m. ET

HOST BIO: Paula Zahn, a celebrated presence in network news for 30 years, during which time she has interviewed numerous dignitaries and newsmakers, hosts the Bocelli broadcast. Zahn is currently host of Investigation Discovery’s “On the Case with Paula Zahn” and co-host of THIRTEEN’s weekly arts magazine “SundayArts.” Zahn anchored CNN’s primetime evening program “Paula Zahn Now,” co-hosted “CBS This Morning,” anchored the “CBS Evening News Saturday Edition” and was news anchor at ABC’s “Good Morning America.” She is an accomplished cello player and has performed extensively on international stages from Seoul to St. Petersburg, making her Carnegie Hall debut in 1992.

PBS Arts from San Francisco: GREAT PERFORMANCES “The Little Mermaid From San Francisco Ballet”

THE SHOW: Hans Christian Andersen’s haunting tale of love is seen anew in San Francisco Ballet’s production of John Neumeier’s inventive ballet. The original score is by young Russian-American composer Lera Auerbach. Part of GREAT PERFORMANCES’ “Dance in America” series, “The Little Mermaid From San Francisco Ballet” is a production of Thirteen for WNET New York Public Media. The evening’s presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station KQED.

AIR DATE: Saturday, December 31, 2011, 8:00 p.m. ET

HOST BIO: Olympic Gold medalist and Bay Area resident Kristi Yamaguchi is one of the most popular and successful athletes of our time. Along with her many awards and accomplishments, Yamaguchi is a member of the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and the US Olympic Hall of Fame. In 1996, she founded the Always Dream Foundation, dedicated to supporting children’s charities. In 2008 Yamaguchi became a “Dancing With the Stars” Champion and has since become a New York Times best-selling author with her children’s book Dream Big, Little Pig.

SHORT FILM: Title TBD – San Francisco traditionally has attracted misfits, oddballs and eccentrics — in other words, the perfect place for artists! Whether they’re bred here or have journeyed here in search of their “true selves,” artists find that the frontier edge of the Bay Area nurtures creativity and innovation and frees them to give full expression to unique voices and visions. Rather than conform to an arts establishment, artists here create against the grain and off the beaten track. PBS member station KQED’s mini-documentary explores the renegade characteristic of Bay Area arts, revealing artists who are quirky, rebellious and visionary. Produced by KQED.

PBSArts.org will host weekly curated exhibits that take consumers beyond the television experience and into the creative process itself. Participants will be able to explore themes around each Fall Festival program, watch video clips and share their own stories.

To ensure that the arts remain vital to the classroom experience, PBS will help strengthen teachers’ ability to integrate several of the PBS Arts Fall Festival programs into their curricula and help engage students with rich artistic content. Materials relating to “Give Me the Banjo,” “Bill T. Jones: A Good Man,” “Women Who Rock” and “The Little Mermaid” will be available for the 2011-2012 school year to coincide with the on-air programming.

“Every year, PBS fans join us for journeys into the world of high art, modern cinema or grassroots rock,” said John F. Wilson, SVP and Chief TV Programming Executive. “Last year, PBS offered more than 500 hours of arts and culture programming, which were watched by more than 94 million people. Like a season ticket pass, the PBS Arts Fall Festival will build on this work with local stories captured from around the country and a range of arts unique in the current media landscape.”

Series Executive Producer of the PBS Arts Fall Festival is Glenn Dubose. Series Producer is Fawn Ring. Funding for the launch of PBS Arts has been provided by Anne Ray Charitable Trust, public television viewers and PBS.

About PBS
PBS, with its nearly 360 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches 124 million people through television and 20 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.

About WTVI, Charlotte’s PBS station
WTVI is an essential community resource that connects people in the heart of the Carolinas. A public television station, WTVI offers a diverse mix of quality programs and services designed to inform, educate and entertain. From award-winning children’s programming to groundbreaking documentaries and original music performances, WTVI offers quality content viewers can trust. WTVI reaches more than 380,000 households in its 13-county area in both North and South Carolina: Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Rowan, Iredell, Stanly, Union, Anson, Catawba, Cabarrus, Cleveland in North Carolina and York and Lancaster in South Carolina. www.wtvi.org

More information about the Arts Fall Festival and the fall season schedule is available on WTVI’s website at www.wtvi.org.

CONTACT:
WTVI
Jeff Vawter
704.371.8839
jvawter@wtvi.org

For full episode descriptions, images, videos and additional up-to-date information on these and other PBS programs, visit PBS PressRoom at pbs.org/pressroom.

Women, War & Peace, a new 5-part series, uncovers the untold stories of women’s strategic role in global conflict and peacemaking

2011-10-06T02:40:00.000-07:00

WTVI to host two community outreach events for veterans

CHARLOTTE, NC (October 6, 2011) – What if you looked at war as though women mattered? What if you looked at peace as though women mattered? These two questions are at the heart of a five-hour series, Women, War & Peace, a comprehensive global media initiative on the changing roles of women in war and peace. Actors Matt Damon, Geena Davis, Tilda Swinton, and Alfre Woodard narrate.

Filmed in conflict zones in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Colombia, and Liberia, Women, War & Peace - airing Fridays, October 14, 21, 28 and November 4 and 11 at 10 pm. ET on WTVI -couldn’t be timelier. As the recent developments in Afghanistan make headlines around the world, Women, War & Peace places women at the center of an urgent dialogue about conflict and security.

Women, War & Peace challenges the conventional wisdom that war and peace are men’s domain. The series reveals how the post-Cold War proliferation of small arms has changed the landscape of war, with women becoming primary targets and suffering unprecedented casualties, yet simultaneously emerging as necessary partners in brokering lasting peace and as leaders in forging new international laws governing conflict. The series is a co-production of THIRTEEN and Fork Films.

“As a female veteran of peace and wartime service in the Army, I am excited that this new five-part PBS miniseries has been compiled to shed light on the important roles women have played during peace and conflict. It is of critical importance to our citizens. Thank you for this partnership,” says Twila Adams, board member, Southeastern Paralyzed Veterans of America, and owner of Holistic NailCare Services.

As part of WTVI’s community outreach, the station will host two, free sneak preview screenings:
• Monday, October 10, 2011, at 6 p.m., at Beacon Manor Independent Living Center, 3501 Independence Blvd., Charlotte. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) members, disabled veterans, American Legion members, National Association of Black Veterans (NABVETS) members, and women’s auxiliary groups are invited as well as the general public.

• Tuesday, October 11, 2011, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Operation Stand Down (hosted by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans), a resource fair for veterans, at the Grady Cole Center, 310 North King Dr., Charlotte. This event is open to veterans.

“I’m excited that these community outreach screenings and dialogue will engage diverse women from the Charlotte community who have served in the military. These upcoming events will help increase awareness of the issues facing women serving in war zones,” says Reverend Yvonne McJetters, NABVETS, Women’s Auxiliary Group, executive director of Hope, Hands & Heart Ministries.

Attendees at both screenings will see clips from all five episodes in the series:

• I Came to Testify is the moving story of how a group of 16 women who had been imprisoned and raped by Serb-led forces in the Bosnian town of Foca broke history’s great silence – and stepped forward to take the witness stand in an international court of law. Their remarkable courage resulted in a triumphant verdict that led to new international laws about sexual violence in war. Narrated by Matt Damon. Produced and Written by Pamela Hogan. Airs October 14, at 10 p.m. Hear Matt Damon at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/women-war-and-peace/features/why-should-men-care/

• Pray the Devil Back to Hell is the astonishing story of the Liberian women who took on the warlords and regime of dictator Charles Taylor in the midst of a brutal civil war, and won a once unimaginable peace for their shattered country in 2003. Directed by Gini Reticker. Produced by Abigail E. Disney. Co-produced by Johanna Hamilton. Airs October 21, at 10 p.m.

• Peace Unveiled follows three women in Afghanistan who are risking their lives to make sure that women’s rights don’t get traded away in U.S. peace talks with the Taliban. Narrated by Tilda Swinton. Directed by Gini Reticker. Produced by Claudia Rizzi. Written by Abigail E. Disney. Airs October 28, at 10 p.m.

• The War We Are Living travels to Cauca, a mountainous region in Colombia’s Pacific southwest, where two extraordinary Afro-Colombian women are braving a violent struggle over their gold-rich lands. They are standing up for a generation of Colombians who have been terrorized and forcibly displaced as a deliberate strategy of war. Narrated by Alfre Woodard. Produced by Oriana Zill de Granados. Written by Pamela Hogan and Oriana Zill de Granados. Airs November 4, at 10 p.m.

• War Redefined, the capstone of Women, War & Peace, challenges the conventional wisdom that war and peace are men’s domain through incisive interviews with leading thinkers, Secretaries of State and seasoned survivors of war and peace-making. Interviewees include Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee; Bosnian war crimes investigator Fadila Memisevic; and globalization expert Moisés Naím. Narrated by Geena Davis. Produced and Written by Peter Bull. Co-produced by Nina Chaudry. Airs November 11, at 10 p.m.

“I’m delighted that, through national partnerships, WTVI can provide such a timely perspective on culture and issues of war and peace that affect us all,” says Elsie Garner, WTVI’s president and CEO. “Both women and men will be educated and inspired by the stories in this series.”

Women, War & Peace airs Fridays at 10 p.m., beginning October 14, 2011.

Learn more about women’s changing roles in today’s wars at womenwarandpeace.org

About WTVI, Charlotte’s PBS station
WTVI is an essential community resource that connects people in the heart of the Carolinas. A public television station, WTVI offers a diverse mix of quality programs and services designed to inform, educate and entertain. From award-winning children’s programming to groundbreaking documentaries and original music performances, WTVI offers quality content viewers can trust. WTVI reaches more than 380,000 households in its 13-county area in both North and South Carolina: Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Rowan, Iredell, Stanly, Union, Anson, Catawba, Cabarrus, Cleveland in North Carolina and York and Lancaster in South Carolina. www.wtvi.org

Contact:

WTVI
Jeff Vawter
704.371.8839
jvawter@wtvi.org

"Rural Mecklenburg: A Vanishing Way of Life" airs October 2, 2011, at 8 p.m.

2011-09-28T03:33:00.000-07:00

"Rural Mecklenburg: A Vanishing Way of Life" illustrates the way of life that characterized most of Mecklenburg County from its earliest beginnings in the 1760's until the mid-1900s. Several rural historic sites are included, such as the Robinson Rock House Ruin, the Hezekiah Alexander House, the Grier-Rea House and Hopewell.

The program is by producers Dan Morrill and L.G. Walker. View video: http://vimeo.com/24751379

WTVI to air School Board, City Council and Mayoral debates

2011-09-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

The League of Women Voters of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (LWV) and WTVI are producing televised debates and interviews for candidates running in the November 2011 election. The media is invited to attend the tapings at WTVI Studios, located at 3242 Commonwealth Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205.

The debate and interview taping schedule is as follows:

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education: October 10 (from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.), October 11 (from 9:30-10:30 a.m.) and October 13, 2011 (at 8:30 a.m.). We will be taping individual interviews with the candidates every 30 minutes. Questions will come from the LWV, Kids Voting and CMS civics classes.

Charlotte City Council At-Large: October 20, 2011 (from 11:30-12:45). We will be taping a debate with nine candidates.

Charlotte City Council Districts: October 20, 2011 (from 10-11 a.m.). We will be taping a 15-minute debate for each district.

City of Charlotte Mayor: October 21, 2011 (from 9-10 a.m.). We will be taping a debate between Anthony Foxx (D) and Scott Stone (R).

The debates will air on WTVI on Sunday, October 30, 2011, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Mayoral: 1-2 p.m.
• City Council At-Large: 2-3 p.m.
• City Council Districts: 3-4 p.m.
• School Board: 4-6 p.m.

Recordings will also be available on CLTBlog's website, http://cltvotes.us.

“The community needs this election information to distinguish between candidates for important local offices,” says Elsie Garner, WTVI’s President and CEO. “We are pleased to provide these resources in simple, unbiased formats, and as always, we enjoy welcoming candidates to our studio to share their views.”

About WTVI, Charlotte’s PBS station
WTVI is an essential community resource that connects people in the heart of the Carolinas. A public television station, WTVI offers a diverse mix of quality programs and services designed to inform, educate and entertain. From award-winning children’s programming to groundbreaking documentaries and original music performances, WTVI offers quality content viewers can trust. WTVI reaches more than 380,000 households in its 13-county area in both North and South Carolina: Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Rowan, Iredell, Stanly, Union, Anson, Catawba, Cabarrus, Cleveland in North Carolina and York and Lancaster in South Carolina. www.wtvi.org

WTVI premieres in-depth look at the life of John Belk

2011-09-12T20:18:00.000-07:00

John Belk: A Portrait in Principle

John Belk is among the most influential people in Charlotte as well as the history of the New South, but his story has never been told for television. The region’s premier business host, Chris William, and his team have produced this in-depth look at John Belk’s life as told by those who knew him best. Airs September 14, 2011, at 9 p.m.

WTVI’s HealthWise show provides free healthcare information for sixteenth year

2011-09-07T01:59:00.000-07:00

Charlotte, NC (September 7, 2011) – On Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 6 p.m., Joey Popp kicks off the sixteenth season of HealthWise, a live, call in medical television program educating viewers on the latest prevention and treatment methods.

“In an economic environment where a lot of people have lost their jobs and healthcare insurance, we are able to offer free healthcare information. We hope the show’s educational contribution to our community will ultimately help the bigger mission of lowering healthcare costs,” says executive producer, Suzanne Mielke. “HealthWise’s free health information can assist in preventing unnecessary trips to doctors as well as help people address their small health concerns now, before they escalate into much larger health issues.”

Mielke started HealthWise 16 years ago by walking door-to-door to meet local physicians and rally support to forge the vision of the television show.
“I remember, I was told by many people that this program wouldn’t happen, but the naysayers underestimated the ability of our community of wonderful physicians. The physicians made this program happen, and I want to thank each and every one who has ever sponsored or participated on a HealthWise program. It is my hope that our area doctors will once again step up to the plate to participate and push for fundraising support for this show,” says Mielke.

The HealthWise fall program line up starts with “The Ravages of Diabetes & High Blood Pressure on the Eye and its Vessels,” with guests from Charlotte Eye Ear Nose and Throat. Other topics this season include shoulder pain solutions, new technology to lose weight, three new minimally invasive spine surgery techniques and cardio-oncology.

View the complete HealthWise show schedule at: www.wtvi.org/healthwisepd.cfm

Physicians interested in participating in the community outreach offered through the HealthWise program should contact Suzanne Mielke, at smielke@wtvi.org.

WTVI’s fall season features local producers with lessons on Charlotte history and national education and entertainment for all ages

2011-08-23T04:30:00.000-07:00

CHARLOTTE, NC (August 23, 2011) – WTVI is an important portal for viewers to learn more about the people and places in and around Charlotte as well as the entire globe.

“WTVI’s fall lineup is the richest, most adventurous content we have ever shared,” says Elsie Garner, CEO. “Our local and national partnerships are bringing provocative lessons from history, the arts, and present day battlefields.”

This fall, WTVI is proud to partner with talented local producers to premiere the following programs:

WTVI premieres new local documentaries:

• Charlotte’s Own Bearden at 100. Romare Howard Bearden was born on September 2, 1911, in Charlotte. Recognized as one of the most creative and original visual artists of the twentieth century, Bearden experimented with many different mediums and artistic styles, but is best known for his richly textured collages, two of which appeared on the covers of Fortune and Time magazines. His life and art are marked by exceptional talent, encompassing a broad range of intellectual and scholarly interests, including music, performing arts, history, literature and world art. WTVI will host a preview at the Mint Museum Uptown on September 2, 2011. The program airs September 7, 2011, at 8 p.m. Steve Crump, longtime WTVI collaborator, is the local producer. The Jerald Melburg Gallery is the title sponsor.

• John Belk: A Portrait in Principle. John Belk is among the two or three most influential people in Charlotte’s recent history, but his definitive story has never been told for television. The region’s premier business host, Chris William, and his team have produced this in-depth look at John Belk’s life. Airs September 14, 2011, at 9 p.m.

• Rural Mecklenburg: A Vanishing Way of Life. This documentary illustrates the way of life that characterized most of Mecklenburg County from its earliest beginnings in the 1760's until the mid-1900s. The program premieres October 5 at 10 p.m. Rural Mecklenburg is by producers Dan Morrill and L.G. Walker.

• City of Canvas: The Story of Camp Greene. Completed after years of research, this show reminds us of important but somewhat overlooked chapter in Charlotte’s history. Camp Greene was a World War I training camp in Charlotte from 1917 to 1919. Produced by Jack Dillard and a team of advisors on the project that includes Dr. Dan Morrill, professor of history at UNC Charlotte and Consulting Director of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission; Joyce Reimann, Manager, and Jane Johnson, Librarian, Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Airs on Veterans Day, November 11, 2011 at 9 p.m.

• Overdraft. From Davidson producer Scott Galloway, this documentary presents a broad explanation of America’s federal debt and the choices Americans will have to make to fix it. This film describes the connections, opportunities, and consequences of debt at the federal, state, and local levels of government. Airs in January 2012.

WTVI will also take viewers into new worlds by featuring these nationally-produced programs and hosting local events around the premieres:

• Women, War & Peace is a bold new five-part PBS television series challenging the conventional wisdom that war and peace are men’s domain. The series reveals how the post-Cold War proliferation of small arms has changed the landscape of war, with women becoming primary targets and suffering unprecedented casualties. Yet they are simultaneously emerging as necessary partners in brokering lasting peace and as leaders in forging new international laws governing conflict. Featuring narrators Matt Damon, Tilda Swinton, Geena Davis and Alfre Woodard, Women, War & Peace is the most comprehensive global media initiative ever mounted on the roles of women in war and peace. The series is a co-production of THIRTEEN and Fork Films.

The five episodes in the series:

I Came to Testify is the moving story of how a group of 16 women who had been imprisoned and raped by Serb-led forces in the Bosnian town of Foca broke history’s great silence – and stepped forward to take the witness stand in an international court of law. Their remarkable courage resulted in a triumphant verdict that led to new international laws about sexual violence in war. Narrated by Matt Damon. Produced and Written by Pamela Hogan.

Pray the Devil Back to Hell is the astonishing story of the Liberian women who took on the warlords and regime of dictator Charles Taylor in the midst of a brutal civil war, and won a once unimaginable peace for their shattered country in 2003. Directed by Gini Reticker. Produced by Abigail E. Disney. Co-produced by Johanna Hamilton.

When the U.S. troop surge was announced in late 2009, women in Afghanistan knew that the ground was being laid for peace talks with the Taliban. Peace Unveiled follows three women in Afghanistan who are risking their lives to make sure that women’s rights don’t get traded away in the deal. Narrated by Tilda Swinton. Directed by Gini Reticker. Produced by Claudia Rizzi. Written by Abigail E. Disney.

The War We Are Living travels to Cauca, a mountainous region in Colombia’s Pacific southwest, where two extraordinary Afro-Colombian women are braving a violent struggle over their gold-rich lands. They are standing up for a generation of Colombians who have been terrorized and forcibly displaced as a deliberate strategy of war. Narrated by Alfre Woodard. Produced by Oriana Zill de Granados. Written by Pamela Hogan and Oriana Zill de Granados.

War Redefined, the capstone of Women, War & Peace, challenges the conventional wisdom that war and peace are men’s domain through incisive interviews with leading thinkers, Secretaries of State and seasoned survivors of war and peace-making. Interviewees include Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee; Bosnian war crimes investigator Fadila Memisevic; and globalization expert Moisés Naím. Narrated by Geena Davis. Produced and Written by Peter Bull. Co-produced by Nina Chaudry.

Women, War & Peace airs Fridays at 10 p.m., beginning October 14, 2011. WTVI’s Beverly Dorn-Steele will host a community panel discussion to complement this series.

• Prohibition: Discover the true story of America’s “Great Experiment.” Go beyond the oft-told tales of gangsters, rum-runners, flappers and speakeasies to experience the rise, rule and fall of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s documentary. Airs on WTVI October 3, 4 and 5 at 8 p.m.

• The PBS Arts Festival: As part of its commitment to increasing access and participation in the arts, PBS is hosting a multi-platform arts festival this fall, beginning October 15 and airing Saturday nights through November 25 and in mid-December on WTVI, with content featuring artists and performances from nine different communities around the country and celebrity hosts from each locale. In addition, WTVI will include short video segments highlighting the arts in the local community, immersive online exhibits extending the broadcast specials, and innovative classroom tools to help fill gaps in arts education.

The initial programs to be featured in the festival are (in alphabetical order):

PBS Arts from Chicago: AMERICAN MASTERS “Bill T. Jones: A Good Man” – Follow award-winning director/choreographer Bill T. Jones’s intense creative journey as he leads his company in the creation of Fondly Do We Hope... Fervently Do We Pray, an original dance-theater piece in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s bicentennial. “Bill T. Jones: A Good Man” is a co-production of A Good Man Film LLC, Kartemquin Films, Independent Television Service (ITVS), THIRTEEN’s American Masters for WNET, and Media Process Group, with the cooperation of the Ravinia Festival. The evening’s presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station WTTW.

PBS Arts from Seattle: AMERICAN MASTERS “Pearl Jam Twenty” – In honor of Pearl Jam’s 20th anniversary, award-winning director and music journalist Cameron Crowe creates a definitive portrait of the seminal band carved from over 1,200 hours of rarely and never-before-seen footage, plus 24 hours of recently shot concert and interview footage. “Pearl Jam Twenty” chronicles the years leading up to the band’s formation, the chaos that ensued soon after their rise to mega-stardom, their step back from center stage and the creation of a work culture that would sustain them. Part concert film, part insider hang, part testimonial to the power of music and uncompromising artists, the film celebrates the freedom that allowed Pearl Jam a way to make music without losing sight of what mattered most to them — their fans and the music fans that they themselves had always been. AMERICAN MASTERS is a production of Thirteen for WNET. The evening’s presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station KCTS.

PBS Arts from Minnesota: GILBERT AND SULLIVAN’S HMS PINAFORE – Delight in this spectacular new production of the beloved Gilbert and Sullivan classic from the Guthrie Theater, directed by the theater’s artistic director, Joe Dowling. Infused with fresh musical arrangements of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s memorable melodies — ranging from big band swing to classic pop — HMS Pinafore is pure joy and sensational entertainment for everyone. The evening’s presentation is produced by PBS member station Twin Cities Public Television (tpt).

PBS Arts from the Blue Ridge Mountains: GIVE ME THE BANJO (w.t.) – Narrated by actor/comedian Steve Martin, a banjoist himself, the film explores the roots of American music — the minstrel show, ragtime and early jazz, blues, old-time, folk, bluegrass and country. It is a story of America’s quintessential musical instrument from its African slavery roots to the 21st century, featuring performances and commentary from contemporary folk musicians such as Pete Seeger, Earl Scruggs, Taj Mahal, Béla Fleck and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, as well as from leading music historians, instrument builders and collectors. “Give Me the Banjo” is produced and directed by Marc Fields with Michael Kantor as executive producer. Tony Trischka is co-producer and music director. The evening’s presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station UNC-TV (North Carolina).

PBS Arts from Los Angeles: GREAT PERFORMANCES “Il Postino from LA Opera” – Bask in the beautiful voice of world-renowned tenor Plácido Domingo with the LA Opera in this romantic new opera by composer Daniel Catán based on the Oscar-winning Italian film. GREAT PERFORMANCES is a production of Thirteen for WNET New York Public Media. The evening’s presentation is in cooperation with PBS SoCal (Southern California).

PBS Arts from San Francisco: GREAT PERFORMANCES “The Little Mermaid from San Francisco Ballet” – Experience Hans Christian Andersen’s haunting tale of love with San Francisco Ballet’s production of John Neumeier’s inventive ballet. The original score is by young Russian-American composer Lera Auerbach. Part of GREAT PERFORMANCES’ “Dance in America,” GREAT PERFORMANCES “The Little Mermaid from San Francisco Ballet” is a production of Thirteen for WNET New York Public Media. The evening’s presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station KQED.

PBS ARTS from Miami: GREAT PERFORMANCES “Miami City Ballet Dances Balanchine & Tharp” – Witness the grace and beauty of one of America’s finest dance companies, Edward Villella’s Miami City Ballet, in a trio of signature works by George Balanchine and Twyla Tharp. Watch the company’s critically acclaimed performances of Balanchine’s “Square Dance” and “Western Symphony” and Tharp’s “The Golden Section.” Part of GREAT PERFORMANCES’ “Dance in America,” GREAT PERFORMANCES “Miami City Ballet Dances Balanchine & Tharp” is a production of Thirteen for WNET New York Public Media. The evening’s presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station WPBT.

PBS Arts from New York: GREAT PERFORMANCES “Andrea Bocelli Live in Central Park” – The broadcast premiere of internationally acclaimed tenor Andrea Bocelli’s free concert in Central Park features his best-known and best-loved songs with an array of surprise guests from throughout the music world. Bocelli will be accompanied by the New York Philharmonic, under the direction of music director Alan Gilbert and the Westminster Symphonic Choir, conducted by Joe Miller.
GREAT PERFORMANCES “Andrea Bocelli Live in Central Park” is a production of, and is presented in collaboration with, Thirteen for WNET New York Public Media.

PBS Arts from Cleveland: WOMEN WHO ROCK – From Bessie Smith to Janis Joplin to Lady Gaga, this performance documentary vibrates with energy as it traces the indelible mark that amazing women musicians have made on America’s soundtrack. Inspired by the “Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power” exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, “Women Who Rock” reveals new insights into what it means to be female in the male-dominated world of rock and roll, while exploring how those dynamics between the sexes have changed with time. The film is produced by Susan Wittenberg and Carol Stein with assistance from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The evening’s presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station WVIZ/PBS ideastream®.

About WTVI, Charlotte’s PBS station
WTVI is an essential community resource that connects people in the heart of the Carolinas. A public television station, WTVI offers a diverse mix of quality programs and services designed to inform, educate and entertain. From award-winning children’s programming to groundbreaking documentaries and original music performances, WTVI offers quality content viewers can trust. WTVI reaches more than 380,000 households in its 13-county area in both North and South Carolina: Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Rowan, Iredell, Stanly, Union, Anson, Catawba, Cabarrus, Cleveland in North Carolina and York and Lancaster in South Carolina. www.wtvi.org

Contact:

WTVI
Jeff Vawter
704.371.8839
jvawter@wtvi.org

DINOSAUR TRAIN heads to the “Big City” on WTVI with one-hour movie premiere

2011-08-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

The Schiele Museum will host sneak preview as part of "Reptile Day" exhibit

Everyone’s favorite dinosaurs are making their way to the city for “Dinosaur Big City,” a one-hour movie from PBS KIDS series DINOSAUR TRAIN airing on August 22 at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., on WTVI. Families can join Buddy and his Pteranodon family on a pre-historic adventure as they gather all their theropod friends to travel to the big Theropod Club Convention being held in Laramidia, the “Dinosaur Big City!”

The premiere of Dinosaur Big City marks the start of season two of DINOSAUR TRAIN. From the world-renowned Jim Henson Company, the hit DINOSAUR TRAIN series is seen in over 13 million households every month. The series encourages scientific thinking and other skills as it teaches children about natural science, natural history and paleontology. DINOSAUR TRAIN’s second season will focus on exploring the outdoors and natural phenomena, and will feature “Big Dinosaur Week” and a special based on the fan favorite “Dinosaurs A to Z” song. DINOSAUR TRAIN airs on WTVI weekdays at 9:30 a.m.

“We are extremely proud of the success of DINOSAUR TRAIN and are delighted that young fans around the world continue to embrace the series,” states Lisa Henson, CEO, The Jim Henson Company. “With each episode, we strive to deliver the highest quality of entertainment and education, and we have a tremendous team of creative talent to ensure that we meet the expectations of children and their parents.”

“WTVI broadcasts 65 hours of PBS KIDS programming per week, including DINOSAUR TRAIN” says Elsie Garner, CEO at WTVI. “We are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of children through curriculum-based entertainment with positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being.”

Local screening, Sunday, August 21
Join WTVI’s Ms. Beverly at the The Schiele Museum of Natural History, in Gastonia, NC, Sunday, August 21, at 3 p.m. for a sneak preview screening and free DINOSAUR TRAIN items. The screening is part of the Reptile Day exhibit, open from 1-5 p.m. For museum members, admission is $3. For non-members, admission is $10 for adults and $9 for children ages 4-18. 1500 East Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC http://www.schielemuseum.org/

Dinosaur Big City Movie Synopsis
Buddy and his Pteranodon family embark on a journey on the Dinosaur Train, gathering all their theropod friends together to travel to a really big Theropod Club Convention, which is being held in Laramidia, the “Dinosaur Big City.” Among the travelers is King Cryolophosaurus, a singing theropod who is more than a little nervous about giving a concert in front of his biggest audience ever in the Big City. Once the Dinosaur Train arrives in Laramidia, Buddy and the Pteranodon family explore the crowded “dinosaur metropolis.” At the Theropod Convention, the kids reunite with Annie Tyrannosaurus and her parents Delores and Boris, and they all meet the multi-horned mayor, Mayor Kosmoceratops. In the end, Buddy and Tiny help King Cryolophosaurus overcome his stage fright, and he wows a large dinosaur audience when he sings his new song, “Whole Lotta Theropods” at the Convention.

WTVI receives American Graduate Community Engagement Grant to address the high school dropout crisis

2011-07-28T02:56:00.000-07:00

The high school dropout rate is one of the biggest crises facing the United States today. According to a national Diplomas County 2010 report, in Education Week, three out of every ten students in America’s public schools fail to finish high school – an average of more than 7,200 students drop out each day.

WTVI was recently awarded an American Graduate Community Engagement Grant in the amount of $20,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The grant is designed to help PBS stations work with their local communities and diverse audiences to address the high school dropout crisis. Goals for the initiative include:

Helping communities better understand the dropout crisis, its impact on local communities and the country as a whole

Partnering with other organizations to address issues of vital importance to the nation and to local communities

Working with adults (parents, mentors and volunteers) who can support and influence at-risk youth

Promoting and providing pathways to existing community resources.

For details or more information, contact Bev Dorn-Steele, WTVI Community Engagement Director, (704) 371-8840 or bds@wtvi.

Local teacher wins PBS Teachers Innovation Award

2011-07-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

One of our local teachers has done something very special. PBS, America’s largest classroom, has announced the winners of the national PBS Teachers Innovation Awards. Sponsored by The Henry Ford and SMART Technologies, the awards honor teachers from across the country who inspire young minds and display innovative use of public media to improve learning.

Patricia Yu, from the Cannon School, in Concord, is that special teacher. On July 19, 2011, Beverly Dorn-Steele and Elsie Garner, from WTVI, presented the second place award to Patricia for her entry from the 9th grade Chinese class she teaches at the Cannon School.

Patricia’s students worked very hard on their Chinese weather reports. The weather report video project challenged students to report the weather in Chinese, write a script, read maps and improve public speaking skills. View the video.

WTVI encourages all teachers to take advantage of the standards-based instructional resources on the PBS Teachers website at www.pbs.org/teachers and all of WTVI’s local outreach programs from tutoring to live events to reading programs. Visit www.wtvi.org today.

WTVI welcomes new board members for fiscal year 2012

2011-07-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

At WTVI’s annual meeting on June 30, 2011, CEO Elsie Garner started the new fiscal year by welcoming new board members and announcing new board officers who will preside over WTVI’s mission to provide education, culture and citizenship.

New board members are: Dee Dixon, Amy Dawson, Jonathan Pullin and Donald Tate. New officers elected were: Liz Downing, chair; Lal Vishin, vice chair; Lou Fuller, treasurer; Patty Perkins, secretary; and Bennie Darden, member at large. Board members re-appointed were Larry Seitlin, Marilyn Richards, Tim Flanagan, Hilda Gurdian, Bill Taggart, Bari Gorelick, Tom Bickford and Elsie Garner. The board passed a unanimous resolution thanking outgoing members Fran Farrer and Hattie Leeper.

“I am excited about the new year and our board,” said Garner. “We have new, local productions to promote and community outreach strategies to truly make Charlotte and surrounding areas better places to live, go to school and enjoy family entertainment.”

WTVI’s board, drawn from diverse roles across the community, holds the FCC license, sets policy and raises funds for the organization. This year the board will focus on local productions, community outreach and new fundraising approaches to ensure the station does not experience another budget shortfall.

WTVI is an important portal for local producers to propel documentaries into the national market. Upcoming locally-produced programs include “100 Years of Folk,” a documentary on John Belk, local segments for the PBS Arts Festival, and "Overdraft" from Davidson producer Scott Galloway, a look at how the national debt affects people on a grass-roots level.

The WTVI board meeting schedule is posted at http://www.wtvi.org/about_board.cfm. All meetings are open to the public.

WTVI and PBS KIDS offer resources to help kids bridge the summer learning gap

2011-06-28T06:17:00.000-07:00

This summer, WTVI and PBS KIDS are making it easy to help kids bridge the summer learning gap by offering fun and educational content and tools to families for free on-air and via PBSPARENTS.org/read. Research shows that children who don’t maintain reading skills over the summer are likely to start the upcoming school year at a disadvantage. To combat this summer slump, WTVI will run ten weeks of PBS KIDS special on-air programming and PBS KIDS will offer a variety of online resources and partnership activities.

“PBS KIDS’ content can play an important role in helping kids fight the summer learning slump through engaging and educational resources that can go anywhere with kids,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, Children’s Media, PBS. “We want to inspire families to explore and enjoy educational activities together this summer, all to help boost kids’ reading skills.”

On-air Summer Reading Theme Weeks
WTVI is supporting literacy with ten weeks of themed PBS KIDS programming. Each week WTVI will feature reading-related episodes from a different PBS KIDS series. Episodic images and episode descriptions are available on PBS PressRoom. The line-up includes:

• MARTHA SPEAKS – “Martha Summer Fun Week” – starting June 27
• THE ELECTRIC COMPANY – “What’s the Story? Week” – starting July 4
• WORDGIRL – “WordGirl’s Ludicrously Literate Library Week” – starting July 11
• WILD KRATTS – “Wet Kratts Week” – starting July 18
• THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! – “Cool Cat Week” – starting July 25

Online and Mobile Resources for Families
PBS KIDS and PBS Parents have developed a myriad of online resources to keep kids learning all summer long. A re-launched PBSKIDS.org/read site includes interactive games that kids can play to build literacy skills, including PBS KIDS Island, an amusement park-themed game experience for preschoolers, and the Great Word Quest, an online scavenger hunt-style activity for kids ages 6 to 9. PBS Parents has an array of content available for parents, including downloadable printables featuring PBS KIDS characters, as well as tips and activity ideas for families to do together. Parents can also download free episodes of select PBS KIDS series via PBSParents.org – each week a new episode will be available, starting now and running through August. Families can also visit PBSKIDS.org/mobile and download a variety of PBS KIDS educational apps, including the new free PBS KIDS Video for iPad App, which features over 1,000 videos from PBS KIDS series.

Partnership Activities
The iVillage PBS KIDS Summer Reading Community Challenge runs from June 6 to July 15 and features free literacy-building resources for parents and children designed by the experts at PBS Parents and PBS KIDS. As Challenge Coach, Angela Santomero, Creator, Executive Producer and Head Writer of SUPER WHY! and host of The Parent Show on PBS Parents, will provide daily reading activity assignments, answer parent questions and offer advice throughout the online event. Guest coaches such as cast members, characters, authors and series creators from PBS KIDS will also provide activities and ideas each week. iVillage, an online community for women, and PBS KIDS will also host reading parties with parent bloggers and within the iVillage community, reaching over 1,500 kids across the country.

Leon Levine Foundation grants $25,000 to WTVI for children’s programming

2011-06-21T03:49:00.000-07:00

The Leon Levine Foundation has awarded WTVI, Charlotte’s PBS television station, a grant of $25,000 to support children’s programming. The grant acknowledges WTVI’s dedication to helping local citizens improve their lives, providing teachers with free educational resources and serving area children as the most positive and trusted use of television.

WTVI broadcasts 65 hours of PBS KIDS programming per week. PBS KIDS, the PBS brand for children’s programming, is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of children through curriculum-based entertainment with positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being. Children ages three to six develop reading skills by watching shows such as Curious George, Sesame Street, Arthur, Word Girl, Martha Speaks, Super Why!, Between the Lions and WordWorld.

The Leon Levine Foundation seeks to improve and advance the human condition in four major areas: Education, Healthcare, Jewish Religion and Human Services. As part of the mission, it exists to support individuals and institutions pursuing academic excellence and providing access for disadvantaged and deserving individuals.

“We understand the tremendous benefit to children through the PBS KIDS programming,” says Leon Levine, Founder and Chairman of The Leon Levine Foundation. “We are proud to partner with WTVI to ensure access to this programming regardless of family income.”

As an example of the programming impact, children who watch Super Why! score 46 percent higher on standardized tests than those that do not watch the show, according to research conducted by Linebarger, D.L., Wainwright, D.K. and McMenamin, K, in "Summative Evaluation of Super Why!" from Annenberg School for Communication, at the University of Pennsylvania, in 2009. In addition, other studies show pre-schoolers from low-income communities who participate in PBS KIDS' curriculum outscore their peers who do not participate on all tested measures of early literacy.

“It is so encouraging that the Leon Levine Foundation, a major community benefactor, recognizes the importance of starting children out right in their lives with appropriate programming delivered through a popular medium,” says Elsie Garner, CEO at WTVI. “This grant will help WTVI continue to provide the non-commercialized programming that our children need and deserve. Because public television is accessible in every home regardless of income, no government agency, no social service and no physical classroom has WTVI’s reach.”

WTVI also provides extensive community outreach for children. WTVI's Raising Readers Literacy program serves over 18,600 children located at 550 sites throughout WTVI's 13-county viewing area. Through the Raising Readers initiative, WTVI provides free workshops for educators and child care providers, children's books, curriculum materials and resources for parents. The workshops are designed to train adults to teach children the basic literacy skills that will help them enter school ready to learn. Sites include Head Start, after school programs, child development centers, home day cares and bi-lingual preschools.

The American public has named PBS and its member stations the most trusted institution among nationally-known organizations for seven consecutive years. Local research shows 85% of Mecklenburg residents think it is important for Charlotte to have its own public station.

Don’t cut the teacher with the largest classroom in Mecklenburg County

2011-06-03T07:23:00.000-07:00

By William L. Fuller, WTVI Chairman of the Board, and HR Planning and Performance Director, Duke Energy

It is a privilege to volunteer my time as board chair of WTVI, the only public television station with programming and outreach events developed in Charlotte to meet local community needs.

WTVI is dedicated to helping people improve their lives, providing teachers with free educational resources, engaging viewers in civil conversations about issues and serving children as the most positive and trusted use of television.

WTVI depends on financial support from viewers and local government. In 1981, Mecklenburg County contracted to provide funding for its public television station. For 30 years, funding remained in place. However, for the current fiscal year (FY11), the commissioners removed all operating funding for WTVI. Again, in the proposed budget for FY12, WTVI receives no funding. The county deems our station not an “essential community service.”

If the county continues to cut funding, we will all be the poorer, losing shows that help teach our children to read, documentaries that open new worlds, a focus on local history, non-commercialized news programs that keep us informed on world events, and free music, theater, dance and art. For many, WTVI is the only opportunity to see a Broadway show, visit a national park or have a front row seat at a popular music concert.

WTVI is the local franchise of PBS, America’s largest classroom, available to all children including those who can’t attend preschool. Almost 40% of kids 3-5 don’t attend preschool or kindergarten. Children who start school behind often stay behind. Young people who never see the inside of a pre-K classroom are more likely to be in special education classes, more likely to drop out of high school and more likely to get into crime. Because public television is accessible in every home regardless of income, no government agency, no social service and no physical classroom has WTVI’s reach.

WTVI has been recognized as one of the top five Ready to Learn (RTL) stations by the U.S. Department of Education, providing a unique educational safe haven for kids on TV and online. Ratings show that programs like Curious George, Super Why, and Sid the Science Kid are the most watched shows in the children's TV industry.

We could go on about WTVI’s focus on local history, science and citizenship, an education for children and adults alike. Did you know the ONLY reason the Freedom Riders came to Charlotte and held a community event on May 9, 2011, was because of WTVI’s nationally-known community outreach focus?

The American public has named PBS and its member stations the most trusted institution among nationally-known organizations for seven consecutive years. Local research shows 85% of Mecklenburg residents think it is important for Charlotte to have its own public station; 86% say the County should support WTVI financially.

And so we ask elected officials who represent us: “What part of ‘essential community service’ do you not understand?”

Open letter to Mecklenburg County Commissioners on WTVI funding

2011-06-03T04:01:00.000-07:00

In reading the May 31, 2011, article in the Charlotte Observer about the potential of WTVI being completing cut out of any funding from Mecklenburg County, I was surprised. Given the tremendous amount of budget cut-backs you’re facing, I can understand the necessity of “cutting back” but not “cutting out.”

With the emphasis on the importance of education we’re facing in Charlotte-Mecklenburg it seems imperative to me that we keep WTVI’s programming available to viewers in our county because the station offers interesting, impactful and topical programs targeted to young children, middle-school children, high school students, and adults … with virtually no cost to viewers.

Many of the families who turn to WTVI for educational programming depend on the type of programming offered and cannot afford other resources to obtain it. Senior citizens who cannot get out of their houses, handicapped individuals of all ages who have difficulty getting transportation, young children who spend time in front of a TV set every day because they’re at home with babysitters, working men and women who can’t afford to attend the opera, or ballet, or political forums, or science conventions, or even movie theaters … all are dependent on WTVI for quality educational programming.

Speaking for myself, I do not use our parks nor do I use our social services, yet I completely understand the importance of those entities for others who depend on them. The same reasoning should be considered in determining the importance of maintaining operations at WTVI.

I humbly ask that you consider including WTVI in your budget to this excellent, educational station on-air for the thousands of Mecklenburg County citizens who consider it essential. As I do.

Many thanks for your consideration of my plea and I send you my gratitude for the time and effort you each put into making Charlotte-Mecklenburg a great place to live and work.

Marilynn Bowler

Join WTVI for Charlotte's Day of Forgiveness - June 10, 2011

2011-06-02T04:19:00.000-07:00

June 10, 2011, marks the first anniversary of Charlotte's Forgiveness Garden dedication in Freedom Park. On Friday, June 10, 2011, join WTVI and the Charlotte community at the Garden of Forgiveness, located across from Mahlon Adams Pavilion in Freedom Park.

At noon, Charlotte will hold a five-minute silent observation for community forgiveness. On this commemorative day, wherever you are, honor and reflect upon your path toward forgiveness.

A red bench will sit for years to come, symbolizing love, forgiveness and compassion. We hope the spirit and symbolism of the Forgiveness Garden will endure in your hearts and contribute to our healing.

For more information, contact Beverly Dorn-Steele at bds@wtvi.org or 704-371-8840.

"My School Rocks!" wins PBS Development Inspiration Award

2011-05-31T22:11:00.000-07:00

On May 18, 2011, WTVI accepted a 2010 PBS Development Inspiration Award for the first year of the "My School Rocks!" competition. Andrew Jackson, Independence, Lake Norman, North Mecklenburg, Rock Hill and West Charlotte high schools competed in the first annual WTVI and MSR Magazine competition for the right to claim their choir as the "Most Rocking School in the Carolinas." Congratulations to WTVI producer Jere Thomas for heading this successful project that recognized Lake Norman as the winning school choral program with a $5000 prize and raised $18,000 for WTVI. Inspiration Award winners were recognized at the PBS Annual Meeting in Orlando.
View YouTube clips from the 2011 competition.

National Memorial Day Concert airs live on Sunday, May 29, 2011

2011-05-24T03:58:00.000-07:00

The nation's premier event is broadcast live on the eve of Memorial Day from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C The television event features a mix of dramatic readings, documentary footage and live musical performances, along with an all-star line-up of dignitaries, actors and musical artists. Airs Sunday, May 29, 2011, at 8 p.m.

The multi award-winning event will be co-hosted for the sixth year by Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise (CSI:NEW YORK) and Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna J(CRIMINAL MINDS), two acclaimed actors who have dedicated themselves to veteran's causes and supporting our troops in active service.

Joining Sinise and Mantegna for the 22nd annual broadcast will be: distinguished American leader Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.); American Idol winner Kris Allen; Academy and Emmy Award-winning actress Dianne Wiest; King of the Blues B.B. King; classical superstar Hayley Westenra; and America's beloved tenor Daniel Rodriguez, the New York city policeman who united the country after the September 11 terrorist attacks. They will perform with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly (additional talent to be announced).

Freedom Riders stop in Charlotte

2011-05-18T04:33:00.000-07:00

Forty College Students took a 2011 Student Ride, a journey retracing the historic civil rights bus rides that changed America. Accompanied by original Freedom Riders, the students participated in the bus ride from May 6-16, 2011 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the original rides.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for college students committed to learning from history and applying these lessons today, the ride was also a catalyst for a national conversation about the role of civic engagement today.

Kicking off in Washington, DC, the ride rolled through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi, stopping along the way at historically significant locations, namely Charlotte, NC.

On May 9, 2011, WTVI, Levine Museum of the New South, The National Humanities Center, First United Presbyterian Church, Johnson C. Smith University, and UNC-Charlotte offered a sneak preview of the film "The Freedom Riders." The film airs on WTVI on May 18, 2011, at 9 p.m.

WTVI adds executive producer Rick Fitts to develop new programs

2011-05-04T04:29:00.000-07:00

CHARLOTTE, NC (May 4, 2011) – WTVI, Charlotte’s PBS television station, has added local producer/director/editor, Rick Fitts, as executive producer. Fitts is a 14-time Telly Award winner and owner of Fitts Production Associates.

A longtime collaborator with North Carolina Dance Theatre (NCDT), Fitts began working with NCDT in 1988 as producer, multi-media director and scenic designer for John-Pierre Bonnefoux’s “Seeing Through.” In 2010, Fitts and NCDT’s Sasha Janes won a Telly Award for the documentary “Glass Houses” that shows the behind-the-scenes work on creating a new ballet. Fitts is also a former partner and vice president of production services at Tribble Creative Group.

“I look forward to developing new programs for broadcast that meet WTVI viewers’ expectations of quality content they can trust,” says Fitts. “We have some creative projects in the works that the community will be excited to see.”

Corporate production credits for Fitts Production Associates include special widescreen programmed event entertainment, film projects and corporate award shows in the United States, Australia, China, Germany, France and South Korea.

Fitts also works with a wide range of non-profits and has a 15-year history producing media for the YMCA of Greater Charlotte as well as Johnson C. Smith University, Leadership Charlotte, The Governors’ NC Conference for Women, Girl Scouts of America and Pride Magazine. Fitts is an active volunteer in the community, and he is working with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte's Prayer Breakfast committee, producing the live event on May 5, 2011, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame's Crown Ballroom.

“Rick brings more innovation and experience to our WTVI team, and his community connections will help build new relationships and continue relationships with long-time collaborative partners like the Arts & Sciences Council, Foundation for the Carolinas, the League of Women Voters and the United Way,” says Elsie Garner, CEO at WTVI.

This Week At WTVI

2010-02-19T12:34:00.000-08:00

Ed Driggs Elected To National Board

WTVI Board Member Ed Driggs was elected to the national board for the Association for Public Television Stations (APTS).

APTS is a nonprofit membership organization established in 1980 to support the continued growth and development of a strong and financially sound noncommercial television service for the American public. APTS provides advocacy for public television interests at the national level, as well as consistent leadership and information in marshaling support for its members: the nation's public television stations. APTS' affiliated organization, APTS Action, Inc., provides legislative advocacy and seeks grassroots and congressional support.

Driggs, a retired stock analyst and banker, has served on the WTVI Board since 2006, serving as Chairman of the Board for two years during this time. In his new role with APTS Driggs will be responsible for representing the viewpoint of local stations to the national organization and vice versa.

"The Association for Public Television Stations is one of the nation's most prestigious national boards," said WTVI President & CEO Elsie Garner. "We are delighted that Ed was elected and we know he will do a good job."

Maya and Miguel Selected For National Ad Campaign

Maya

PBS' dynamic twin duo Maya and Miguel will encourage kids to "Take the Maya and Miguel Challenge" as a way to get more physically active and eat healthy during an upcoming PSA campaign. Maya and Miguel were selected by the Ad Council, on behalf of the US Department of Health and Human Services, to be a part of a national PSA campaign. The public service campaign was highlighted in last week's announcement about First Lady Michelle Obama's brand new Let's Move initiatiave, which is designed to address childhood obesity. The new PSAs will air on WTVI beginning in March.

Maya and Miguel airs daily at 3 p.m. on WTVI.

Writer’s Contest Targets Kids in Grades K-3

Contest designed to enhance children’s reading skills

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WTVI is hosting the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, a national competition designed to promote the advancement of children's reading skills through hands-on, active learning.

The effort encourages children in grades K-3 in Charlotte and communities across the country, to celebrate the power of creating stories and illustrations by submitting their own original stories and illustrations. Applications and details are available by logging on to http://wtvi.org/readingcontest.cfm.

For more information, contact Beverly Dorn-Steele, WTVI's Director of Community Engagement at bds@wtvi.org.

Dance to win $1000 and support public television

2010-01-21T19:58:00.000-08:00

WTVI will host our first 10-hour dance marathon Saturday, March 6, 2010, in our studio. We will broadcast the dancers live from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can participate! So, come, burn up the floor, and learn some new steps, too.

Some of Charlotte’s finest dance studios and schools are already signed up, but you don’t have to be with an organized dance group. All happy feet are welcome. Just get a partner and sign up. Then, start signing up your sponsors - relatives, friends, and businesses. A sponsor’s pledge is the amount pledged per hour for the total length of time you dance.

Registration is free. More information, rules, and registration.

It’s all to raise money for your community television station - WTVI. Plus, there’s a $1000 prize for the couple that brings in the most pledge money. Second and third place prizes will also be awarded. Enjoy free food and beverages throughout the Dance-a-thon.

WTVI and Bank of America provide financial education to women in need

2010-01-18T12:10:00.000-08:00

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) initiated a national financial education campaign in 2001 by launching Money Smart, a comprehensive financial education curriculum designed to help individuals outside the financial mainstream build financial knowledge, develop financial confidence, and use banking services effectively. Far exceeded its original commitment to reach one million consumers, the FDIC is working diligently to form alliances with other major entities, including financial institutions, national non-profit organizations, community- and consumer-based groups, and federal, state and local agencies to promote financial education.

WTVI and Bank of America are two such organizations making classes possible in our region. The first ten-week class was at Charlotte's Salvation Army Center of Hope.

"WTVI is excited to play a part in helping people learn how to save money, buy homes, and meet other financial goals," says Beverly Dorn-Steele, WTVI's Director of Community Engagement.

PBSKIDS.ORG Launches New Video Player

2009-12-08T18:14:00.000-08:00

PBSKIDS.org has launched the newly expanded PBS KIDS video player giving free, online access to hundreds of streaming, full-length episodes and video clips from some of the most popular PBS KIDS programs shown on WTVI and other PBS stations -- at PBSKIDS.org/video . Funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the player will premiere two exclusive music videos from DINOSAUR TRAIN, the new hit series from The Jim Henson Company that celebrates the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains while encouraging basic scientific thinking and skills.

The PBS KIDS video player initially showcases content from 14 different series including, CURIOUS GEORGE, SUPER WHY, DINOSAUR TRAIN, SID THE SCIENCE KID, SESAME STREET, ARTHUR, MARTHA SPEAKS, CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG, DRAGON TALES, BETWEEN THE LIONS, MAMA MIRABELLE’S HOME MOVIES, MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD, WORD WORLD and LOMAX, THE HOUND OF MUSIC.

“As the #1 educational media brand and most trusted by parents, PBS KIDS is now providing greater access for families to its world-renowned library of educational preschool content,” said Lesli Rotenberg, SVP, Children’s Media, PBS. “PBS children’s media invites children to explore new worlds and broaden their horizons, no matter where they are, and leverages new technology and platforms to create learning opportunities anywhere, anytime.” PBSKIDS.org is one of the most popular online destinations for children as they begin to explore technology, and is often parents’ first stop when their children are ready to experience the Web.

PBS KIDS conducted extensive research to understand how to guide preschoolers’ learning journeys in the most engaging way. The player helps parents and caregivers navigate video by subjects and curriculum to optimize their children’s experience. Features for parents include: educational summary of the goals of each show, links to relevant PBS Parents Web sites (PBSPARENTS.org ), a Share-this-Clip feature, and the ability to browse clips by educational/themed-based topics. A rotating, consistently-updated set of featured clips changes based on new shows and episodes. Seasonal and thematic clip channels based on children’s interests will also be featured. For example, Winter Holidays will be the theme in December. Beginning in January, features will change every week. Themes will include: Family, Eating Right, Team Work, Friends, Sports, Reading, Outdoors, Pets, Exercise, Exploring, and Vacation.

Available on both Macs and PCs, the PBS KIDS video player offers closed captioning on selected clips and episodes.

WTVI receives eight Emmy nominations

2009-11-24T20:33:00.000-08:00

The Nashville/Midsouth Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) announced the nominations for the 24th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy® Awards at a reception November 20 at BMI headquarters on Music Row.The Midsouth Emmy Awards will be handed out January 30, 2010 in Nashville at The Schmerhorn Symphony Center. Darrell Waltrip will host the event.

WTVI received eight nominations:

Documentary- Cultural

Hometown Stories: The Greek Americans of Charlotte, Linda Midgett Otzenberger

Footprints of a King, Steve Crump

Documentary- Topical

Sudan: Suffering and Survival, Steve Crump

Promotional Spot- Programs

Analog Shut Off, Brent Kennedy, Jere S. Thomas, Onur Tukel

Promotional Campaign- Programs

The Big Read, Onur Tukel

Lighting

Crossroads Charlotte, Randy Fulp, Brett Ray (Emulsion Arts and WTVI)

Music Composer/Arranger

Hometown Stories: The Greek-Americans of Charlotte, Fred Story Concentrix Music

Writer- Programs

Footprints of a King, Steve Crump

WTVI also participated in the production of:

Interactivity

Crossroads Charlotte: Fortress, Robin Grey, Joanne Hock, Kay Thompson, Tracy Russ, Karen Collins, Emulsion Arts

View all Midsouth Emmy nominations.

WTVI invites members to film premiere of "Our Vanishing Americana"

2009-11-19T03:39:00.000-08:00

WTVI members and their friends and families are invited to the free premiere of the new film Our Vanishing Americana.

Our Vanishing Americana is a new documentary that tells the stories of people who work diligently to preserve Main Street America. Using North Carolina small towns as a backdrop, the program reconnects you to the shopkeepers, barbers, grocers, patrons and neighbors at the heart of hometowns we all remember.

View clips from the film.

The story is based on the book Our Vanishing Americana by Mike Lassiter and Lee Grant. Lassiter spent six years traveling the state to preserve images of small towns. Last year, Lassiter returned to several locations with a film crew that included Emmy-winning producer Scott Galloway (A Man Named Pearl) and Emmy-winning WTVI photographer Randy Fulp.

The result is a warm, funny, nostalgic story of vanishing connections between our friends, our ancestors, and our sense of home. With general stores and hardware shops, corner drug stores with soda fountains, mom’n’pop grocery stores, hot dog stands, filling stations, barber shops, and single screen theaters... You'll be reminded of a way of life vanishing from our landscape.

Places featured include:

Dees Drug Store, Burgaw

Davis General Store, Croft

Dick’s Hot Dog Stand, Wilson

Todd’s Country Store, Buffalo Cove

Burgaw Antique Place, Burgaw

Snappy Lunch, Mt. Airy

Graham Barber Shop, Graham

D.E. Turner Hardware, Mooresville

Conrad & Hinkle Food Market, Lexington

Pioneer Theater, Manteo

Sutton’s Drug Store, Chapel Hill

Admission is free for friends and family of WTVI members.
When: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, 5-6 p.m.
Where: The historic Gem Theatre
111 West 1st Street
Kannapolis, NC 28081 (directions)

Reception to follow at the nearby Forty Six restaurant, on the North Carolina Research Campus.

WTVI congratulates Sesame Street on its 40th birthday

2009-11-09T09:16:00.000-08:00

SESAME STREET, the world’s largest informal children’s educator, celebrates its 40th birthday on PBS KIDS on November 10, 2009, the exact day the series debuted on television four decades ago, with everything you love about SESAME STREET and more: new block format, new show open, new nature curriculum and our new First Lady Michelle Obama! While maintaining an emphasis on the importance of literacy and numeracy, the new season kicks-off “My World is Green & Growing,” a two-year science initiative designed to increase positive attitudes towards nature, deepen children’s knowledge about the natural world and encourage behavior that shows respect and care for the environment. First Lady Michelle Obama appears in the first episode of SESAME STREET’s 40th season and teaches “the street’s” residents about the many benefits of planting a garden and healthy eating as part of SESAME STREET’s ongoing “Healthy Habits for Life” initiative.
Sesame Street airs weekdays at 10 a.m. on WTVI Charlotte.

"John Fogerty - LIVE BY REQUEST" to air on WTVI

2009-11-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

Rock legend John Fogerty will star on the Emmy Award-winning live music series, LIVE BY REQUEST and will be joined by Mark Goodman who will host this special PBS presentation. Fogerty will perform music requested by the show’s viewers and the live show will be broadcast from a soundstage in Los Angeles. LIVE BY REQUEST will air live Saturday, November 7, 2009, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET on PBS as a special fundraising program for PBS member stations like WTVI.

Fans can follow the build up to the live broadcast on all the major social networking sites, and join in by submitting requests and sharing Fogerty anecdotes by logging on to: twitter.com/live_by_request, facebook.com/livebyrequest and youtube.com/livebyrequest. John Fogerty has answered questions previously submitted by fans on the Inside PBS Blog with his responses posted at http://www.pbs.org/engage/blog/ask-john-fogerty. Live video requests during the broadcast only can be made via video chat. For complete information on how to make song requests for LIVE BY REQUEST and additional information please visit http://www.pbs.org/livebyrequest/.

WTVI Helps Citizens Make Election Choices for Mayor, City Council, and Board of Education

2009-10-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

WTVI’s studio and production crew are playing a large part in educating Mecklenburg County citizens about candidates for Mayor of Charlotte, Charlotte City Council, and the Board of Education.

By establishing partnerships with the League of Women Voters, the Council on Aging, and the Mecklenburg Citizens for Education, WTVI has produced and is airing these programs:

WSOC-TV, WTVI, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg League of Women Voters present Vote 2009: Charlotte's Run for Mayor on Tuesday, October 27. The program, hosted by WSOC-TV anchors Erica Bryant and Blair Miller, will provide 25-minute interviews with mayoral candidates Anthony Foxx and John Lassiter. WSOC-TV, WAXN-TV 64 and wsoctv.com will simulcast the one-hour special on October 27, from 7-8 p.m. WTVI will air the program from 8-9 p.m., right after the The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.
WTVI welcomed more than 50 citizens to its studio on October 22 for the Council on Aging Candidates' Forum with mayoral and Charlotte City Council candidates. Attendees asked questions on local aging issues and ensuring independence, dignity, and quality of life for older adults. This program will air on WTVI’s Public Square beginning October 27.
WTVI hosted and filmed the League of Women Voters' Discussion Series for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education election in conjunction with the Mecklenburg Citizens for Education. See one-on-one interviews with the candidates and learn more about their priorities and plans online at: www.wtvi.org/lwvsb.cfm
WTVI hosted and filmed the League of Women Voters’ Candidate Debates for Charlotte City Council At-Large, District 6, and District 7. View the debates online at www.wtvi.org/lwvcc.cfm

“The community needs this election information to distinguish between candidates for important local offices,” says Elsie Garner, WTVI’s President and CEO. “We are pleased to provide these resources in simple, unbiased formats, and as always, we enjoy welcoming candidates to our studio to share their views.”

In addition to the air times listed above, the interviews and debates air 24 hours a day on Public Square beginning October 31, 2009 and running until Election Day, November 3.

Visit www.wtvi.org/ for details on the programs.

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer will re-launch with a new look

2009-10-27T03:12:00.000-07:00

On December 7, 2009 The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer will re-launch with a new look, a new correspondent and a new program title: PBS NewsHour.

Jim Lehrer, recently shared his thoughts about the upcoming changes in a short question and answer session.

How does the new PBS NewsHour fit into what you and Robert MacNeil originally envisioned?
The goal of “MacNeil Lehrer journalism” has always been to give our audience the news beyond the headlines – more in-depth reporting, thought-provoking analysis, engaging newsmaker interviews and more international news.

We plan to continue that mission, only expand it. Originally, the program was created to supplement the evening network news programs. Now, each week night we will be a key on air and online destination for a deeper dive into the most important news of the day presented in a thoughtful and objective way. Our goal is to be THE source for the best journalism available anywhere, anytime – on line, on air, morning, noon or night.

So, why change? And why change now?
The explosive growth of cable news, the internet and a 24-hour news cycle has led to huge changes in the media industry. Newspapers are going out of business, blogs and talks shows proliferate. Serious news is on the decline. Our change is a coordinated response from The NewsHour and PBS to lead the way in providing Americans with the serious news and information they need. We have both an opportunity and an obligation to respond.

The new program title reflects our expanded mission -- to be the hub of public affairs programming on PBS. In addition to our own reporting, the PBS NewsHour will showcase the best reporting in public television both online and on air.

What will viewers see that’s different?
Our correspondents will be more prominent. Each night one of them will co-anchor the program with me. They will also report more, especially from the field.

Plus, we will introduce a new member of the team who will deliver the daily news headlines on the PBS NewsHour broadcast AND provide online news updates throughout the day. This correspondent is just one example of our attempt to create a seamless connection between the web site and the broadcast.

By taking greater advantage of the Online NewsHour web site, we will be more responsive and more versatile. You know, we’re fortunate to have a really talented team of journalists. They have a wealth of knowledge and skills. Our expanded operation means viewers will be able to see more of what they have to offer.

What are your thoughts on new media and technology?
The NewsHour has been available via podcast and on Facebook and Twitter for some time now. But in the end, technology is just a tool to deliver stories. I don’t care if you get your news on TV or on a pink iPod, it’s the information and the story that matters and it’s important that information comes from a source you can trust.

How does The PBS NewsHour fit into the current media environment?
Ironically, by adamantly adhering to our principles, we’ve become more distinct. Now more than ever, The PBS NewsHour is needed as a trusted, independent source of news and civil discourse.

What do you hope to offer new PBS NewsHour viewers? Web site visitors?
In addition to the work of our own talented team of journalists, The PBS NewsHour will feature reporting from PBS’ many award winning public affairs programs like Frontline and NOVA, as well as reporters from local PBS stations around the country. The PBS NewsHour is also collaborating with other trusted media partners: NPR, Climate Central, Global Post, and Time Magazine just to name a few.

The Online NewsHour will have many new features. I mentioned the video news summary. We’re also going to offer viewers more insight into our editorial thinking. Our daily news blog will include discussion of how we plan to cover the top stories that night on the broadcast. And when our correspondents are out in the field, they’ll post video dispatches online, again, to constantly update viewers on the stories they are following, as they happen.

What are you doing outside of The PBS NewsHour?
I love to write, it’s what got me into the news business. But my writing is not limited to news. I also enjoy fiction and make it a habit to write every morning. My 20th novel is due to be published this coming April.

WTVI helps you evaluate mayoral candidates

2009-10-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

WSOC-TV, WTVI, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg League of Women Voters present Vote 2009: Charlotte's Run for Mayor on October 27. The program, hosted by WSOC-TV anchors Erica Bryant and Blair Miller, will provide 25-minute interviews with mayoral candidates Anthony Foxx and John Lassiter. WSOC-TV, WAXN-TV 64 and wsoctv.com will simulcast the one-hour special on Tuesday, October 27, from 7-8 p.m. WTVI will air the program from 8-9 p.m., right after the The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

"For Your Home" benefits cancer research

2009-10-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

WTVI is providing the production crew and camera crew for Vicki Payne's "For Your Home" show, to air beginning December 9. The show follows the construction of a house in Fort Mill. Visitors can tour the home from October 17 to Nov. 1, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday. All proceeds from ticket sales and the sale of goods inside the house benefit breast cancer research via the Susan G. Komen Foundation. (Details)

WTVI visits Myers Park Traditional Elementary School to promote reading

2009-09-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

On Friday, September 25, Beverly Dorn-Steele "Ms. Beverly," WTVI's Director of Community Engagement, visited Myers Park Traditional Elementary School, in Charlotte. Ms. Beverly and Seemore Goodstuff, WTVI's purple elephant mascot, read stories to the children and discussed the creative costumes the children wore to become their favorite storybook characters. WTVI provides more than 50 hours per week of award-winning children's programs that are safe, non-violent, educational and entertaining. For more information on WTVI's reading curriculums for teachers or the WTVI Kids Club for children, contact Ms. Beverly at bds@wtvi.org.

WTVI’s Campaign for Love & Forgiveness Begins Fourth and Final Year

2009-09-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

WTVI will hold the kick-off event for the final year of the Campaign for Love & Forgiveness on September 30, from 6-8 p.m. in the Sykes Auditorium at Queens University. A project of the Fetzer Institute in Kalamazoo, MI, the campaign is a community engagement initiative that helps people discover the transformative power that love and forgiveness can bring.

Through facilitated conversations in six cities, and a robust Web site (http://www.loveandforgive.org/) that offers a thorough curriculum, the campaign has touched thousands of people since its launch in 2006. At least 70 percent of participants have reported that as a result of their participation, they would be more likely to forgive themselves for mistakes and offer forgiveness to others.

Six public television stations receive funding from the Fetzer Institute to develop partnerships with local organizations and host events unique to the communities they serve. In addition to WTVI Charlotte, the stations are KEET Eureka, CA; KPBS San Diego, CA; Maryland Public Television; WGVU Grand Rapids, MI; and WXXI Rochester, NY.

The symbol of WTVI’s local campaign is the Red Bench of Love. WTVI has partnered with local organizations including Mothers of Murdered Offspring (MOM-O). In 2006, as part of the campaign, the MOM-O held a memorial service at Charlotte’s Frazier Park in honor of Jin Joo Byrne, a female missionary slain at a Charlotte apartment complex in 2002. Isabella and Martin Byrne sat on the Red Bench and shared a moment of understanding and forgiveness for the man convicted of killing their daughter. They then traveled to the prison in Raleigh to forgive him in person.

“I’ve seen walls come down and burdens lifted through this project, which is open to anyone,” says Beverly Dorn-Steele, WTVI’s Director of Community Engagement. “I’m eager to see the impact in the Charlotte area this year.”

As a special treat at the kickoff event, all participants may view the “Freedom in Creation” Exhibit at the Max L. Jackson Gallery on the Queens University Campus. The exhibit displays art and peace-building efforts for child victims of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda.

Registration is available at: www.wtvi.org/CampaignforLoveandForgiveness_000.cfm

WTVI's "National Parks" preview draws more than 200 to the Mint Museum

2009-09-21T17:24:00.000-07:00

More than 200 people from around the region attended WTVI’s free, special preview screening of Ken Burns’s new documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, Thursday, September 17 at the Mint Museum of Art.

Filmed over the course of more than six years in some of nature’s most spectacular locales — from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska, the narrative traces the birth of the national park idea in the mid-1800s and follows its evolution for nearly 150 years. Burns uses archival photographs, first-person accounts of historical characters, personal memories and analysis from more than 40 interviews, combined with stunning cinematography.

To kick off the evening, WTVI announced four winners of its national parks personal story and photo contest, including Hickory Grove Baptist Christian School chemistry teacher Larry McAfee. McAfee participated in the National Park Service’s Teacher to Ranger to Teacher Program in Badlands National Park this past summer. The winners received gift baskets including the The National Parks: America’s Best Idea companion book by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns.

“We look forward to sharing this amazing educational and cultural masterpiece with the people in our region,” says Beverly Dorn-Steele, WTVI’s Director of Community Engagement.

WTVI will air the six-part, 12-hour series over six nights, from Monday, September 28 to Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 8 p.m. each evening. Printed and online educational materials created around the film are available to support formal and informal classroom settings with lesson plans and hands-on learning activities.

Visit www.wtvi.org for details on the program.

WTVI’s HealthWise show provides free healthcare information for fourteenth year

2009-09-16T13:44:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, September 13, at 6 p.m., host and broadcast veteran Joey Popp kicked off the fourteenth season of HealthWise, a live, medical television program educating viewers on the latest prevention and treatment methods.

“In an economic environment where people are losing jobs and health insurance, we’re proud to be able to offer health education to anyone who wants to watch the show,” says Popp. “I make sure all medical terms are defined and that the program is presented in layman’s terms for the general public.”

Appealing to all ages, topics this fall include heart attacks, diabetic retinopathy, childbirth anesthesia, cosmetic dentistry, Alzheimer’s disease, headaches, cataracts, and depression.
HealthWise viewers can phone in and ask questions of local physician guests live on the air. As a new feature this year, viewers can also submit questions via WTVI's Facebook fan page. Podcasts are available for viewing the next day.

“HealthWise has been one of WTVI’s most popular Community Outreach programs since it began in 1996,” says Elsie Garner, WTVI’s President and CEO. “As a community service, HealthWise is funded entirely by educational grants, and we hope to see continued support for this show”.

View the complete HealthWise topic and speaker schedule at www.wtvi.org/healthwisepd.cfm.

Submit topic or funding ideas to Suzanne Mielke, executive producer, at smielke@wtvi.org.

"In Our Words" gives community resources for children coping with loss

2009-09-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

In Our Words is a 30-minute television special that illuminates the stories behind the faces of local children who share how they coped with losing a mother to breast cancer, family job loss, military deployment of a parent, death of a friend, and domestic abuse. In Our Words was produced by the Junior League of Charlotte, Naka Productions, and WTVI. It airs on WTVI September 9 at 9 p.m.

WTVI hosts League of Women Voters' debate series for primary elections

2009-09-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

On Monday, August 31, WTVI hosted debates for: City of Charlotte Mayor (Republican); Charlotte City Council At-Large (Democratic); Charlotte City Council At-Large (Republican); Charlotte City Council District 5; Charlotte City Council District 2. View the debates online at http://www.wtvi.org/lwv.cfm

Ms. Beverly provides Cyberchase math tutoring

2009-08-23T17:02:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, August 20, WTVI's "Ms. Beverly" celebrated a successful seven-week project to provide "Cyberchase" math tutoring to children at the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club on Belmont Ave. in Charlotte, near NoDa. Beverly acquired grant funding as part of the Cyberchase TV show's commitment to teaching math skills. As a national sponsor of the show, Ernst & Young allowed its accounting staff, and math experts, to volunteer time for the tutoring sessions.

"Raggs" pre-school production at WTVI draws mayor

2009-08-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

Mayor McCrory visited WTVI's studio on Thursday, Aug. 13, and interviewed with "Dumpster the Cat," from the hit pre-school television show "Raggs."

WTVI welcomes Ken Conrad and his familiar voice

2009-08-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

WTVI, Charlotte’s PBS television station, has added broadcast veteran Ken Conrad to its creative staff part-time. Conrad will apply his baritone voice and seasoned interviewing skills to hosting pledge shows, supplying voiceovers, and assisting with program planning, editing, and promotion. The current P.A. voice of the Charlotte Knights, Conrad energizes baseball crowds at Knights Stadium every week. For the last ten years, Conrad was the morning and afternoon host on Concord’s WEGO-AM (1410), simulcast on WAVO AM (1150) in Rock Hill. He has worked in broadcasting since the early 1970s, including high-profile slots on 106.1 WNMX-FM and Lite 102.9 WLYT-FM.