Stephen Puschel, producer of Worldfocus.org

Note: Worldfocus, the new nightly, international news broadcast, launches Monday, October 6.

I started working on Worldfocus.org in May 2008, back when the working title was “Your World Now.” Fast-forward several months, many ideas, and a few name changes (not mine), and we have a balanced, informative and engaging news site that we’re really proud of.

More than anything else, I’m thrilled about the breadth of journalism that Worldfocus.org offers–from polished, diligent reporting, to off-the-cuff, on-the-ground observations. This combination is close to my heart because I think that two major factors determine the effectiveness of a news source: the trustworthiness of the content, and the content’s ability to represent diverse perspectives. The International Herald Tribune is a trustworthy news source that largely focuses on the “macro”–policy, diplomacy and conflict. Similarly, I know international bloggers who provide the “micro”–how large-scale trends affect individuals.

So what will make Worldfocus.org different? We’ll feature a vetted expert explaining Venezuelan foreign policy alongside a merchant in Caracas talking about how oil diplomacy affects him. By doing this, Worldfocus.org will offer not only a unique understanding and a human perspective to international news, but will report the news in a way that explains to American viewers how global events impact their lives.

Neal Shapiro, Stephen Segaller and Jac Venza are among those current and former Thirteen/WNET executives mentioned in the New York Sun in coverage of Carnegie Hall Opening Night 2008 celebration, which was recorded for air on Great Performances. Playbill also notes telecast, as do nearly 100 dailies nationwide, including Newsday, am New York, Washington Post, Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, and Denver Post.

Newsday previewed “the big draws on channels 13 and 21” for the fall season, mentioning: American Masters: You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story, Worldfocus, Brava Italia: The Proud Tradition, Leading with Kindness, Betrayed, Great Performances: Carnegie Hall Opening Night, Healthy Minds, In the Footsteps of Marco Polo, David Foster and Friends, and Dance in America. “For the most part, it’s all quiet on the public TV front this fall. There are no huge multipart productions, or (necessarily) can’t-miss draws that’ll make viewers forget about commercial TV. Instead, there’s a bounty of one-offs – many dance- and music-related – that’ll remind said viewers that this remains a vital – and vibrant – alternative.”

USA Today calls American Masters: You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story, “A special no film fan will want to miss.” The Los Angeles Times says it’s “an endless toast rather than a purely journalistic examination.” The New York Times says that an “air of elegy is palpable,” but also that, “in the excitement it generates for movie watching, it’s a triumph.” “Nobody on TV does biography like PBS’ American Masters,” says the Baltimore Sun, “and that goes for the life history of institutions as well as individuals.” “Delicious” says Hollywood Reporter. The Rocky Mountain News calls it “fascinating”and “intriguing.” Christian Science Monitor writes “Hollywood is full of stories, but the history of one of its fabled studios is as absorbing as any film it turns out.” and Catholic News Service raves “The series is extremely well-paced, and gets down to basics within minutes. This is one of the milestones of the always worthy American Masters series.”

Where We Stand: America’s Schools in the 21st Century becomes the jumping-off point for a column about the future of American education, published in the Evansville Courier & Press.

Newsday previewed the premiere of Going Green Long Island (soon watchable online), with TV critic Verne Gay calling the doc “a sprawling look at a sprawling challenge before Long Islanders – how to reduce your carbon fuel consumption, while saving money and the Island for future generations.”

Franny’s Feet, a Decode Entertainment production in association with Thirteen/WNET, has a new sponsor in the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, notes Cynopsis Kids.

“In an era when publicity potential dictates many programming decisions elsewhere, public television remains wary of celebrity, despite its own well-chronicled lack of money to promote its programs,” writes New York Times in its review of Spain . . . On the Road Again. “Channels 13 and 21 already experienced that phenomenon this summer when the Police donated the final concert of their reunion tour as a fund-raiser. The stations raised $3.1 million before expenses (up from the $2.35 million first reported),” notes the article.

“Coming up is PBS-TV’s six-hour series Make ‘Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America. Produced by Michael Kantor, it’s partly hosted by Billy Crystal, who just filmed his opening and closing episodes intercut with another fairly funny guy of a few guffaws ago – Groucho Marx,” says the New York Post.

By Cass Warner Sperling, Filmmaker, The Brothers Warner, an American Masters presentation from Thirteen/WNET New York

What do memories hold, and why my fascination with THE BROTHERS WARNER? To the world, Harry Warner was the head of an important motion picture studio but to me he was “Grandpa”—the benevolent patriarch of our family.

When I was young, at the end of the windy road, and after what seemed like hours of sisterly squabbles and some carsickness, there was the serenity of grandpa Harry’s California ranch waiting for us. Pepper trees lined the longest driveway leading up the hill to where ol’ Prince, the St. Bernard, greeted us with his massive clumsy, furry body and wet kisses.

I had a favorite ritual, which I always made sure I had time to do. After successfully stuffing myself with the usual brunch goodies of lox and bagels, potato pancakes with apple sauce, pickled herring in sour cream and onions, fresh fruit salad, and, of course, the desserts—poppyseed cake, assorted breakfast rolls, beautifully molded jello, and frosted lemon cake, and getting sufficiently bored with the adult conversation, I’d excuse myself and go and mount my favorite deer.

She rested on her haunches, legs tucked under her starring out at the racetrack, barn and gentleman farm below. So what if she was made of metal? That only meant that she would always be in the same place waiting for me. Once I had taken in the panorama and opened all my senses to the familiar smells of sage, damp straw from the morning dew, and dust, I’d manifest the same gaze that my friend the deer had. I truly felt immortal, definitely privileged, and without borders or boundaries.

By the time I had indulged in this form of personal dessert, my food had digested so that I could get permission to swim. The pool overlooked the expanse of the land below, as it bordered on the edge of a knoll that the ranch house sat on. By the time I climbed out, the skin on my hands were especially white and shriveled. I’d pretend to be an old lady monster and try and scare my little brother.

The mention of going to the stables with Grandpa to go riding assisted greatly in getting us out of the pool. Grandpa’s pride came shining through as he walked us down the hill pointing things out as he went, and giving us a tour of the sleek race horses in their immaculate stalls.

I’ll never forget how honored I felt when Grandpa told me he had named a colt after me, and that she was bred to be a prize race horse. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. Putting his arm around me as we both admired her, he told me that he KNEW she was going to be a winner. That moment is as vivid as if it happened yesterday, and is a constant reminder of his belief in me.

His love and reverence for nature and his land became mystical as he proudly showed us what he was growing in his vegetable gardens, how beautiful his prize laying hens were, how the seasons caused the fruit trees to be different during the year, and the comings and goings of the birth and death of his animals. Sharing this mind-set of his was part of the legacy he wanted us to remember. His certain, quiet dignity and knowing that the ranch represented so many life lessons that he could demonstrate was an obvious important pleasure for him, and something I get to carry forward.

It’s memories like this that inspired my dedication to telling my family’s story. The Brothers Warner, an AMERICAN MASTERS presentation, airs Thursday, September 25th. Check local listings at pbs.org/americanmasters.

See clips from The Brothers Warner online.

Inside Thirteen Blogger: Neal Shapiro, President

What a night!

For 25 years, when I worked for ABC News and NBC News and attended the annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards, I watched with envy as PBS took home the lion’s share.

Last night at the 2008 News & Documentary Emmys, I watched with pride as PBS went home with 10 awards, more than any other network, and more than twice as many as the closest competition… including an Emmy for our own program, The Mysterious Human Heart, in the Outstanding Science, Technology and Nature Programming category.

There were Lifetime Achievement Emmy Awards for Bob Schieffer, the late Tim Russert and Ken Burns. Ken’s history with PBS began in 1982 with a film about The Brooklyn Bridge (which was nominated for an Academy Award) and his body of work includes some of the best documentary films ever made: The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz and most recently The War.

Here is a list of the PBS 2008 News & Documentary Emmy Awards:

OUTSTANDING COVERAGE OF A BREAKING NEWS STORY IN A NEWS MAGAZINE

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
Political Turmoil : Margaret Warner in Pakistan (Watch Online)
Executive Producer
Linda Winslow
Senior Producer
Michael Mosettig
Producer
Simon Marks
Senior Correspondent
Margaret Warner
Reporter
Dan Sagalyn

OUTSTANDING CONTINUING COVERAGE OF A NEWS STORY – LONG FORM

P.O.V.
Made in L.A.
Executive Producers
Sally Jo Fifer, Simon Kilmurry, Cara Mertes
Producer/Director
Almudena Carracedo
Producer
Robert Bahar

OUTSTANDING INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMMING – LONG FORM

America at a Crossroads
Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience
Series Executive Producers
Jeff Bieber, Dalton Delan
Series Producer
Leo Eaton
Program Executive Producers
Tom Yellin, Sally Jo Fifer (for ITVS)
Program Director/Producer
Richard Robbins

OUTSTANDING ARTS & CULTURE PROGRAMMING

FRONTLINE
The Undertaking (Watch Online)
Producers
Karen O’Connor, Miri Navasky
Executive Producers
Michael Sullivan, David Fanning

OUTSTANDING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND NATURE PROGRAMMING

The Mysterious Human Heart (Watch Online)
Executive Producer/Producer/Director
David Grubin
Executive Producer, Thirteen/WNET New York
Jared Lipworth
Executive Producers, WETA
Dalton Delan, Jeff Bieber
Producers
Tania Castellanos, Thomas Jennings, David Murdock
Co-Producer
Mica McCarthy

BEST REPORT IN A NEWS MAGAZINE

Bill Moyers Journal
Buying the War (Watch Online)
Executive Producers
Judy Doctoroff O’Neill, Felice Firestone
Senior Producers
Bill Petrick, Sally Roy
Executive Editors
Bill Moyers, Judith Davidson Moyers
Producer
Kathleen Hughes

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Independent Lens
Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life
Producer/Director
Robert Levi
Producers
Joshua Blum, George Seminara
Executive Producer
Sally Jo Fifer

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN A CRAFT: RESEARCH

American Experience
The Living Weapon (Watch Online)
Researchers
Rich Remsberg, John Rubin

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN A CRAFT: MUSIC AND SOUND

America at a Crossroads
Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience
Sound Editor
Glen Frazier
Re-recording Mixer
Terrance Dwyer
Foley Artist
Monique Reymond
Sound Effects Editors
Sam Londé, Matthew Slivinski
Dialog Editors
David Ball, Vince Tennant

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN A CRAFT: LIGHTING DIRECTION AND SCENIC DESIGN

NOVA
Forgotten Genius (Watch Online)
Lighting Director and Scenic Designers
Gary Henoch, Katha Seidman

Inside Thirteen Blogger: Dan Allen, Friends of Thirteen Intern

Attendees watch on as a converter box is
connected to a television using “rabbit ears”

On September 17th, I traveled uptown with Dorothy Pacella, Executive Director, Friends of Thirteen, to represent Channel Thirteen at “Harlem Connects,” an educational conference to prepare Harlem’s seniors for the digital television transition in 2009. Studies show that seniors are most likely to be left behind on February 17th, 2009, when all analog TV signals cease. The Harlem Consumer Education Council, under the leadership of dedicated community activists Dennis Lane and Florence Rice, hosted the event at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. building on 125th Street.

As the day progressed, my eyes were opened to an array of issues surrounding the “big switch.” Barriers of age, language and cost are frequently overlooked obstacles when it comes to the digital transition. Even with a $40 coupon, a digital converter box is a still a serious financial concern for someone living on a fixed income.

Below: sample coupon; for real coupon, go to
https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx

Even if your household subscribes to cable, I urge you to spread the word and educate your parents, relatives, friends, co-workers or neighbors; someone you know who is not ready for February 17th. With 148 days to go, it’s important to be as proactive as Harlem’s seniors who have already held two forums about the digital transition. It’s a daunting task, but Friends of Thirteen is doing our best to make sure that no one misses out. Learn more about the digital transition here: https://www.dtv2009.gov/

Thirteen blogger: Ed Hersh, Senior Consultant, Blueprint America

Okay, now, admit it: when you hear the word “infrastructure”, it doesn’t exactly make you sit bolt upright. But maybe it should, because those rusting bridges, overcrowded airports, endless traffic jams, suburban overdevelopment, choked tanker terminals, leaky water systems, overtaxed power grids, and lack of public transportation are all part of our infrastructure, and they are in desperate need of attention. In an era of climate change and $5/gallon gasoline, they’re nothing less than a wake-up call about our nation’s ability to face the social, economic and environmental challenges of the future.

I’m proud to be part of a terrific team that’s launching an unprecedented new initiative, Blueprint America — developed and produced here at Thirteen/WNET, with major funding by the Rockefeller Foundation — that in the months ahead will present a whole range of compelling programming about the problems we face and some visions for the future that we guarantee will never let you take our infrastructure for granted again. You’ll also learn – as we did in our research – that in our nation’s past, there was almost always a national plan for how our country should grow, and where. And never have we needed that foresight more than today.

We’ve put together a first-class production team to put all this together, and we’re thrilled that we’re partnering with some of PBS’ most prestigious and most-watched news and public affairs programs, as well as public radio.

Starting the week of September 22nd, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer will present a five-part series on how infrastructure issues affect every region of country, reported by Senior Correspondent Ray Suarez.

On October 10th, NOW on PBS will present a major segment reported by David Brancaccio on how rising gas prices, long commutes, and a lack of transit options are having an enormous impact on working families.

Worldfocus, the new internationally-focused nightly newscast, is firmly committed to a series of segments on how our global competitors treat infrastructure. Likely airdates shortly after October 6th launch.

And that’s just the beginning. We’re producing some innovative prime-time documentaries that will air next spring and summer. We’re putting together some fascinating pieces for air on public radio. And we’ve launched an incredibly rich new website at www.pbs.org/blueprintamerica. We’ll be posting video and audio exclusives, behind-the-scenes video and interviews, and informative links to resources and background reports. We hope it will serve as a focal point for debate, an aggregator of print and video content, and a “virtual meetinghouse” for you to share your stories, video, and information about your cities and towns. There will even be a way for you to share your video of the biggest infrastructure headache you face every day, whether it’s bad commutes, bad traffic, dangerous bridges, or overdevelopment.

NOW do I have your attention? Welcome to Blueprint America. We invite you to join us on what we hope will be an exciting journey over the next year.

AP notes the Creative Arts Emmy Awards won by American Masters and Great Performances.

“No tenor has had quite the impact on the opera world, and the world at large, and this program reminds us why,” extols the Baltimore Sun on Great Performances’ Pavarotti: A Life in Seven Arias.

An article about Where We Stand: America’s Schools in the 21st Century by Thirteen/WNET Education VP Ron Thorpe runs in EdWeek. The program is reviewed in the Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly, and The Week, which calls it “Show of the Week.” The New York Times and Tribune Media Service/Zap2it reviewed the special. Gannett News Service designated it the “Must See of the Week.”

Shakespeare on the Hudson on WNET and the re-broadcast on WLIW are mentioned by the Wall Street Journal’s theater critic, who writes, “If you’ve never seen my favorite outdoor summer Shakespeare festival in action, these excellent programs (which deserve to be shown nationwide) will give you a taste of what you’ve been missing.” “It has charm, it has humor, and it has dashes of poignancy,” says the Daily News.

“The tale of one of the biggest Hollywood studios started with a dog,” the Washington Post quotes Susan Lacy as saying, in a look at You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story. “The American Masters presentation serves as a springboard for an aggressive slate of new PBS programs in the next few months.” TV Guide and the Denver Post take note as well.

Though the series has been airing on PBS for eight years, apparently dead people still have lots of secrets that need to be uncovered. Thirteen/WNET dug up five new stories of long forgotten mysteries for the Secrets of the Dead series,” writes Real Screen.

“WNET/Thirteen, the PBS station seen in the New York City metropolitan area, will broadcast a live-to-tape performance of the Culture Project’s recent production of George Packer’s Off-Broadway drama Betrayed Oct. 23 at 9 PM ET” writes Playbill.

Long Island Press features WLIW21’s new local production Going Green Long Island, noting, “The hour-long documentary may not change your life, but will likely change your mind about what exactly going green entails—and that is the goal.”