FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2009
CONTACT:
Meg Fullwood
214-740-9377
mfullwood@kera.org
KERA'S ECONOMY PROJECT CONTINUES WITH SPECIAL TELEVISION PROGRAMMING IN SEPTEMBER
DALLAS/FORT WORTH – KERA’s comprehensive focus on The Economy continues in September with two nights of special television programming that offers help and hope to North Texans struggling with foreclosure, job loss and other financial issues in the current economy.
Wednesday, September 9, at 7 p.m., Families Stand Together: Feeling Secure in Tough Times, hosted by Al Roker, Deborah Roberts and Sesame Street’s Elmo, provides strategies and tips for families with children ages 2 to 8 who are facing economic hardships. The hour-long program features documentary segments on the challenges for real-life and Muppet families, and advice on helping children adjust to their new circumstances.
Your Life, Your Money, airing at 8 p.m., offers money-management advice for young adults. Hosted by Donald Faison (Scrubs), it features the experiences of individuals facing such financial challenges as high credit-card debt. Also included are insights from hip-hop entrepreneur Russell Simmons, singer D. Woods, financial columnist Michelle Singletary (Washington Post), Beth Kobliner (Get a Financial Life) and financial reporter Ron Lieber (The New York Times).
Airing at 9 p.m. is The Economy: Facing the Mortgage Crisis, an hour-long KERA special production that examines the impact that unemployment and the recession are having on the lives of North Texans.
Hosted by KERA’s Sam Baker and Shelley Kofler, the program features studio discussions and taped segments that shed light on the complicated process of foreclosure and explain to those out of work for the first time how they can tap into unemployment assistance. The Economy: Facing the Mortgage Crisis also connects families and individuals with the resources available through “2-1-1 Texas,” a service of the Health and Human Service Commission’s Texas Information and Referral Network that offers free information to those in need.
Guests for the studio discussion include Dana Dillard, Senior Vice President for GMAC Mortgage and a member of the HOPENOW Alliance that works to prevent foreclosure; M. Joyce Brown, Housing Officer with the Dallas County Home Loan Counseling Center; Tom Pauken, Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission; Lisa Miller, Vice President of the CareerConnection in Dallas; and Kervyn Altaffer, Managing Attorney at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, who works with clients to help prevent foreclosure and mortgage scams.
The following Wednesday, September 15, at 8 p.m., Retirement Revolution, hosted by broadcast journalist Paula Zahn, explores the many challenges and opportunities faced by the 78 million Baby Boomers who are now heading into retirement. With everyday stories placed in the context of experts' perspectives on retirement and aging, Retirement Revolution seeks to alleviate anxieties, inspire confidence and demonstrate the pressing need for change.
In addition to the television programs, KERA has developed an extensive and comprehensive Web site—kera.org/economy—that provides up-to-date information and resources on financial and economy-related issues. Included are frequently asked questions about mortgages and ways to avoid foreclosure, tips for finding a job and navigating unemployment benefits, the latest news on economic matters, and a calendar of upcoming job fairs, free workshops and seminars. The Web site also profiles local organizations that are KERA’s Community Partners in The Economy project and features guest commentaries by professionals from area nonprofits and social services agencies.
The Economy Web site has already generated positive response and proven to be a valuable resource for those seeking help. “I was able to find information on unemployment and on foreclosures,” said Davin Kimble of Fort Worth. “I go to KERA’s Economy site first for information. It’s less complicated than the bureaucratic ‘official’ sites and is a great place to start.”
On the radio side, the KERA News team continues to provide weekly reports every Monday during the 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. hours of Morning Edition. Recent topics include ways to cut college textbook and back-to-school costs, prosecuting foreclosure rescue scams, the tax hike employers will pay to fund jobless benefits, living without health care, the eviction process and renters’ rights. These reports and many others are available on the kera.org/economy Web site.
The Economy project is KERA’s year-long, multimedia initiative that makes use of the public broadcaster’s media assets – KERA-TV, KERA-FM (90.1 in Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton, 99.3 in Sherman, 100.1 in Tyler and 88.3 in Wichita Falls) and the kera.org Web site – to provide vital, balanced information and reporting on current economic issues.
Facing the Mortgage Crisis is part of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Public Service Media Economic Response Initiative.
KERA’s Community Partners for The Economy project include ACORN Housing, BCL of Texas, Catholic Charities, CCCS of Greater Dallas, CCCS of North Central Texas, Central Dallas Ministries, ChildCareGroup, Children’s Medical Center, Community Council of Greater Dallas, Dallas After-School Network, Dallas Concilio, Enterprise Community Partners, Fannie Mae, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Freddie Mac, Goodwill Industries of Dallas, Head Start of Greater Dallas, Housing Crisis Center, HUD, Jordan Community Development Corp., Money Management International, North Texas Food Bank, North Texas Housing Coalition, Northeast Texas 2-1-1, Parkland Hospital, Salvation Army, Holy Trinity Center, Tarrant Area Food Bank, Tarrant County Housing Partnership, Texoma Area 2-1-1, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, United Way of Tarrant County, Urban League, Workforce Solutions and YWCA of Dallas.
For more information about “2-1-1 Texas” and the services available, visit 211texas.org or simply dial 2-1-1.
About KERA
KERA is a not-for-profit public media organization that serves the people of North Texas. The station broadcasts to the fourth-largest population area 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 kera.org. The station’s extensive coverage of the arts can be found at artandseek.org. KERA-TV broadcasts on Channel 13.1. KERA WORLD broadcasts on 13.2. 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. In fall of 2009, KERA’s new music station at 91.7 FM will join the airwaves.
