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PBS CONVENES 'THINK TANK' TO HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF CHILDREN'S PUBLIC
SERVICE MEDIA
- PBS KIDS Next Generation Media Advisory Board
Includes More Than 40 Leaders
in Education, Child Development,
Child Care, Entertainment and Media, Technology,
Research and Community
Engagement -
ARLINGTON, VA, April 25, 2006 - The PBS KIDS Next Generation
Media Advisory Board was announced today by Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice
President, PBS KIDS Next Generation Media. Created to help define the role
public service media will play in the changing digital children's media
landscape, the Board will provide strategic counsel regarding content creation,
distribution, business development, education and community impact. Composed of
experts from top organizations in the country that share a commitment to
children's success and development, the full list of board members is attached.
The first Board meeting will be held at PBS headquarters on April 26.
"PBS' goal is to build on our 35-year legacy of excellence in children's
educational content and create the digitally dynamic children's public service
media of the 21st century. This esteemed group shares our commitment and passion
for helping all children achieve their potential," said Rotenberg. "Their
participation and feedback will be invaluable in allowing PBS, along with our
member stations, to meet the needs of the next generation of children, parents,
caregivers and teachers, ensuring that all children have an equal start for
success in school and in life."
Based on advance surveying of the Board,
the agenda will include an analysis of media and technology's impact on
children's education and socialization; an understanding of the current
pressures on parents and caregivers; how to fill the gaps in early education
curriculum, foster a love of learning and build community values; and ways to
increase family interaction and play ("down") time. The Board will also be asked
for input on new initiatives in development as well as the viability of current
national and local services - from PBS KIDS to PBS Parents and PBS
TeacherSource.
"Education needs a new paradigm focusing on authentic
learning, use of technology and developing children's multiple intelligences
through the power of visual learning and multimedia," said Milton Chen,
Executive Director, George Lucas Educational Foundation.
"The digital
divide must not be allowed to grow. All children deserve access to the same
caliber of information," added Diane Foote, Executive Director, Association for
Library Services to Children. "Public television and public libraries share a
similar, critically important mandate: to provide access to high-quality
information, entertainment, and technology to all children."
"The media
needs to use its influence to help kids develop good values and useful skills,"
says Sally Lee, Editor-in-Chief, Parents magazine. "Media can be a good ally for
parents, and it can help kids see themselves as part of a diverse global
community."
PBS KIDS Next Generation Media initiative, the previously
announced broad-based five-year initiative, provides a framework for addressing
the changing digital children's media landscape and the public service role for
PBS and its member stations. PBS is increasing its investment in children's
educational programming for multiple media platforms as well as plans to launch
an innovative preschool destination on-air and online that incorporates proven
teaching techniques to help parents and children benefit from the time they
spend with PBS. PBS also just announced a new 24/7 early elementary school
digital broadcast service, PBS KIDS GO! Channel, scheduled to launch in October
2006 and delivered to the community through local PBS stations, which will meet
the educational and developmental needs of this underserved audience.
About PBS
PBS KIDS is committed to providing the
highest-quality non-commercial content and learning environment for children
across the country. Providing age-appropriate, diverse programming for kids, PBS
KIDS programs consistently earn more prestigious awards than any other broadcast
or cable network. Only PBS KIDS has earned the unanimous endorsement of parents,
children, industry leaders and teachers. With additional PBS resources to
complement its programming, including PBS KIDS online pbskids.org, PBS KIDS GO! pbskidsgo.org, PBS Parents pbsparents.org, PBS TeacherSource
pbsteachersource.org, PBS Ready To
Learn services and literacy events across the country, PBS KIDS is providing the
tools necessary for positive child development.
PBS is a private,
nonprofit media enterprise that serves the nation's 348 public noncommercial
television stations, reaching nearly 90 million people each week through on-air
and online content. Bringing diverse viewpoints to television and the Internet,
PBS provides high-quality documentary and dramatic entertainment, and
consistently dominates the most prestigious award competitions. PBS is the
leading provider of educational materials for K-12 teachers, and offers a broad
array of other educational services. More information about PBS is available at
pbs.org,one of the leading dot-org Web sites
on the Internet.
###
Contacts:
Jill Corderman, 703-739-5788, jcorderman@pbs.org
Alan Winnikoff,
212-679-2982, alan@sayleswinnikoff.com
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