Inside PBS Blog
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In Mississippi, Interacting with Depression
As part of Mental Health Month, Mississippi Public Broadcasting is hosting an innovative experiment in multimedia journalism and community service built around the national broadcast of Depression: Out of the Shadows. The production debuts on-air Wednesday, May 21.
The production mixes elements of television documentary, streaming web video, online chat, live studio audience participation, plus viewer call-in and e-mail. It's another example of how broadcasters, including PBS, are using new media to engage audiences more fully than a typical program can. In this case, it's an effort to educate the public more fully about this critical health issue.
This experiment consists of several parts:
At 7:00 p.m. CDT (central daylight time) the station airs Depression: Out of the Shadows, a documentary that explores the stories of people living with "the possibly deadly secret" of clinical depression, and discusses the causes and treatments.
At 8:30 p.m. CDT MPB will air "Depression: A Relatively Speaking Special," a live studio discussion with local experts on depression. They'll take questions from the audience and viewers who call or send e-mail.
Viewers can also watch the special live on the Web and participate in an online chat about this very serious issue.
If you're not in Mississippi, there are still many ways to engage with the program online. At the Out of the Shadows Web site, you'll find the following features:
- Video answers by experts to over 20 common questions about depression issues
- An interactive depression screening tool that can help identify the symptoms of depression
- Depression resources including printable fact sheets, useful Web sites and helpful organizations.
As these examples show, broadcasters are combining television and emerging media in new ways.
What do you think of this "convergence"? Do you watch TV near your computer, and are you likely to send in a question or a comment in hopes of seeing an answer in real time?
Or would you rather just sit back with your beverage of choice and relax in front of the tube?
Feel free to leave your comments below.
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The Mississippi Interacting
The Mississippi Interacting with Depression concept is exactly what I am hoping can be done at the local level....And yes, I have my computer as I am watching this broadcast...
I am eager to see critical issues that affect our world and communities and individuals (covered so well by PBS) brought to local audiences in ways that engage them in meaningful discussions. Then, beyond the discussion, it would be critical to provide resources and opportunities that create momentum for community building that can lead to collaborations. Simply, inspired learning/interaction that result in action.
PBS is unique in our communities and the public service component of what PBS offers to the community seems ready to be elevated -- What you are talking about here is such a great example of that. (By the way, we also need to engage the post-sesame street children differently than we currently do...they are already communicating differently than most of us who are still planning conventional lessons and programs for them....)
Hope this wasn't too much but I do so agree this is the right direction (in my humble but hopeful perspective!!)... Will watch with anticipation to see how this develops...