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WNET.ORG, NY's Public Television Station, Creates Citizen Media Partnership With 'Worldfocus' and GroundReport

Posted on: Thursday, 22 January 2009, 07:20 CST

With 'Talk To Us' Initiative, Viewers Share Video Submissions From Around The Globe

NEW YORK, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- WNET.ORG, the parent of public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21, today announced the creation of "Talk To Us," a citizen-media community around 'Worldfocus' where viewers can upload videos in response to questions and topics that are relevant to the program's international news coverage. 'Worldfocus' has partnered with GroundReport.com, a global citizen journalism platform on this initiative.

As media companies shutter foreign bureaus, the 'Worldfocus' "Talk To Us" initiative provides a resourceful outlet for foreign news coverage. Interested contributors can visit www.worldfocus.org/talktous, and upload their news reports, which may be used on-air as a user-submitted citizen report. The "Talk To Us" initiative will cultivate a global citizen journalism community that allows anyone to post news video reports and testimonials, providing unique global perspective to online and on-air viewers.

"The next generation of television programming is the innovative use of bringing web video to television," said Neal Shapiro, President and CEO of WNET.ORG. "Through our new 'Talk To Us' feature on 'Worldfocus' in partnership with GroundReport, viewers will gain local insight and access to foreign coverage and see what's really going on in the world in a way traditional news organizations are unable to report."

"As 'Worldfocus' adds more firsthand, global perspectives to its international coverage, we are excited that they chose to work with GroundReport," said Rachel Sterne, CEO of GroundReport.com. "We look forward to leveraging our citizen journalism expertise and network to build a 'Talk To Us' community around compelling citizen media."

About Worldfocus

Worldfocus delivers international news in a way that is uniquely relevant to American audiences. Moving beyond crisis reporting, the newscast -- both on-air and online -- explores the connections between issues unfolding abroad and developments in the United States. Worldfocus allows Americans to hear voices that aren't ordinarily heard in the American media, but which have critical importance to the present and future of our nation. Worldfocus is produced by Creative News Group for WNET.ORG and presented by WLIW New York and American Public Television to public television stations nationally. For further information go to www.worldfocus.org.

About WNET.ORG

New York public media company WNET.ORG is a pioneering provider of television and Web content. The parent of THIRTEEN, WLIW21 and Creative News Group, WNET.ORG creates media experiences of lasting significance for New York, America and the world in the areas of arts and culture; news and public affairs; science, nature and history; and children's programming. For more information, visit www.wnet.org.

About GroundReport

GroundReport.com is a global citizen journalism platform that allows anyone to post news reports, videos and photos and earn money. Every day Ground Report's network of 3,500 international contributors publish breaking news articles, videos and photos, which are vetted by a trusted corps of trained editors. Major 2008 coverage included scoops from the Beijing Olympics, U.S. Presidential elections and Mumbai terrorist attacks. Founded in 2006 by former UN reporter Rachel Sterne, GroundReport's mission is to democratize the media.

SOURCE WNET.ORG

Source: PR Newswire

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