For immediate release
May 11, 2009
CONTACT: Meg Fullwood
214-740-9377
mfullwood@kera.org
KERA’s MULTIMEDIA PROJECT LIVING WITH THE TRINITY
LAUNCHES WITH WEB SITE, RADIO SERIES
DALLAS/FORT WORTH - The Trinity River is a source of hope, conflict and a vital water resource for the people of North Texas. For more than 150 years, floods, drought and pollution have influenced local attitudes towards the river. Today, some civic leaders in Dallas and Fort Worth believe that redevelopment along the river will promote an economic renaissance. KERA’s Living with the Trinity multimedia project explores the history of North Texans’ relationship with the Trinity River with a new Web site at www.TrinityRiverTexas.org, a series of radio reports to air May 12 to 15 on KERA-FM, and a television documentary to air on KERA-TV in the fall of 2009.
At www.TrinityRiverTexas.org visitors can explore the geography, ecology and cultural history of the Trinity River through interactive maps, videos and photographs. They can also share personal memories and observations about the Trinity and current plans to redevelop it as part of a living archive on the Web site. The Web site is presented in sections. Explore offers a map-based history of Dallas’ attempts to manage the river’s tendency to flood and looks at the challenges of managing pollution in the river. Visualize shows visitors the Trinity River system as a whole and offers an interactive way to experience the hidden beauty of the vast network of creeks and forks that feed the river in North Texas. Voices features a collection of short interviews with people who offer their memories and observations about the river. Visitors are invited to share their own memories and opinions and contribute photographs and videos in the Share/Community section of the Web site. Additional story-based content as well as classroom orientated educational materials will be added to the Web site throughout the year.
KERA’s news team will present a series of radio reports May 12 to 15 during Morning Edition (5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) and All Things Considered (4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) on KERA-FM. Podcasts will be available online at www.kera.org and at www.TrinityRiverTexas.org. KERA’s Shelley Kofler will report on the source of our water and investigate past and future efforts to meet the growing need in North Texas. B.J. Austin will examine water consumption for business, residential and agricultural use. Bill Zeeble will report on the long-term drought and its impact on the communities of North Texas.
Living with the Trinity is made possible through a leadership grant from The Meadows Foundation with additional support provided by the Dixon Water Foundation.
The Production Team
The production team for Living with the Trinity includes Rob Tranchin, executive producer and project director, Chris Kelley, senior producer, April Kinser, lead Web site designer/developer and Alan Melson, Web site developer. Content producers include, Gila Espinoza and Mark Birnbaum. Dane Walters is video content editor. Sylvia Komatsu is executive in charge.
About KERA
KERA is a not-for-profit public broadcasting organization that serves the people of North Texas. The station broadcasts to the 5th largest market in the United States. KERA produces original multimedia content, carries the best in national and international public television and radio programs, and provides online resources at www.kera.org. The station’s extensive coverage of the arts can be found at www.artandseek.org. KERA also promotes children’s education through television programs and resources for families and teachers. KERA-TV broadcasts on channel 13. KERA-FM broadcasts on 90.1 in Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton, 88.3 in Wichita Falls, 100.1 in Tyler and 99.3 in Sherman.
