"New Adventures for Older Workers" is the Focus of a New Immersive and Interactive Web Page

 

Since the beginning of the year, PBS NewsHour Business & Economics Correspondent Paul Solman has been taking a close look at the growing numbers of Americans working well past retirement.  In a series of original broadcast and web reports, Solman has explored not only the reasons why so many are putting off retirement, but the unique challenges they face, and the expected impact on our overall economy as 32 million Americans reach retirement age over the next 20 years.

Now, PBS NewsHour, in partnership with design firm Ocupop, has launched a new interactive and immersive Web page NEW ADVENTURES FOR OLDER WORKERS  which features Solman’s videos along with Web-only videos, graphics, quizzes, data and analysis. 

“We spent months digging into reams of data, interviewing experts and listening to stories of people living this ‘adventure’ themselves,” explained Elizabeth Shell, writer and data producer. “Our goal was to create a page that not only highlighted the trends we discovered and the depths of the problems many families face, but to create a space where viewers can share their experiences and have their voice be heard.  The result is one of the most in-depth and original explorations into the changing habits of America’s older workers.”

PBS NewsHour partnered with Ocupop to design and develop an immersive experience that uses the latest Web technologies and works on every device. HTML5, Popcorn.js and other data visualization tools allow visitors to join in the story as they scroll through the site. Live graphics respond to viewers’ responses and video plays as new stories are told.

As viewers explore the data, they are prompted to share their thoughts and answers to questions, such as:  How long do you plan to work?  Have you saved enough for retirement?  What type of community do you live in?

Be sure to watch The Rundown, PBS NewsHour’s blog of News & Insight, for these upcoming Web-only Older Worker videos and  join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #WorkAdventures.

Thursday June 13 – A profile of 63-year-old retired government worker Charles Smith who works in a produce department for $10 an hour to support his family.

Friday June 14 – The story of 61-year-old Joel Peters who can’t work his grueling job as a paramedic forever but has almost nothing saved for retirement.

Monday June 17 – A profile of David Thompson, a NASCAR fan who left retirement so he could share his love and knowledge of it at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Previous features include:

From Lecture Hall to Graveyard 72 year-old political science professor Ronal Stockton likes to impart a sense of history on his students by leading them on long hikes through the cemeteries of metro Detroit.  He says he’ll only retire when he can no longer inspire students.

America’s New Old Workforce: When Your Body Tells You It’s Time to Retire  We meet 69-year-old bike shop owner Mike Kemp whose health may force him to retire before he’d planned.

Will You Work Forever?  68-year-old Babs Tatalia explains how she got into teaching after the financial crash wiped out her retirement. 

Examples of Paul Solman’s Broadcast reports include:

Vita Needle  The average age of Vita Needle’s workers is 74 years old, and that’s no accident. The manufacturing company has intentionally hired seniors — a decision that has increased profits and benefited older workers who often have a harder time finding a job. Paul Solman reports on their unique model for doing business.

Aging Academics  In academia, many professors remain working and teaching long past traditional retirement age, leaving younger potential professors shut out from highly coveted full-time, tenured positions.  Paul Solman reports on how institutions are negotiating with aging faculty.

Rise in Older Entrepreneurs  Paul Solman talks with entrepreneurs who decided to pursue their own business dreams later in life.

Long-Term Unemployed Despite a rosier jobs picture for most Americans, Paul Solman explores why older worker face joblessness and considerable financial strain.

New Adventures for Older Workers is supported by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic, not-for-profit grant making institution based in New York City. Established in 1934 by Alfred Pritchard Sloan Jr., then-President and Chief Executive Officer of the General Motors Corporation, the Foundation makes grants in support of original research and education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and economic performance. www.sloan.org

PBS NewsHour is seen by over five million weekly viewers and is also available online, via public radio in select markets and via podcast. The program is produced in association with WETA Washington, D.C., and WNET in New York. Major funding for the PBS NewsHour is provided by BNSF Railway, BP & AT&T with additional support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public television viewers.