KQED News and Events Featured Releases, News & Events

KQED Welcomes Michael Lupetin as Vice President, Marketing and Brand

Michael Lupetin Headshot
Photo by Wendy Goodfriend.

Celebrated marketing professional will take on new position to lead Marketing, Communications, Creative Services, and Membership.

KQED, the public media organization that serves Northern California, announced the appointment of Michael Lupetin as the organization’s vice president, marketing and brand. Lupetin joins KQED with two decades of experience in marketing for current affairs, media, education, arts and entertainment, with a special focus on online initiatives, social and digital media.

“I’m thrilled to join the stellar team at KQED and bring my expertise in digital media and online marketing to the nation’s most innovative public media provider,” said Lupetin, who was most recently the Vice President, Group Program Director for Moxie Interactive, where he served a wide range of clients including BBC America, Cartoon Network, CNN, Turner Broadcasting and 20th Century Fox. Prior to Moxie, Lupetin worked on the development of Apple’s iTunes; the strategic marketing plan for Blue from American Express; and the rebranding of Showtime Networks. “KQED has been the undisputed national leader for public media in online and digital marketing and I am excited to join the organization as we continue to serve the needs of Northern California and beyond.”

“The ways in which our audience accesses and interacts with KQED has completely changed over the last decade and we’re excited to take advantage of these opportunities and utilize digital technology to serve the public in new and more meaningful ways,” said KQED Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Donald Derheim. “We’re looking forward to integrating Michael’s experience to continue to expand our reach into an ever-changing market.”

With this newly created position, Lupetin will also take charge of KQED’s highly successful and award-winning Communications, Creative Services, and Membership departments. Lupetin started his tenure at KQED on Monday, January 23, 2012.

ABOUT KQED
KQED (kqed.org) has served Northern California for more than 50 years and is affiliated with NPR and PBS. KQED owns and operates public television stations KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area), KQED Plus (San Jose/Bay Area) and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); KQED Public Radio (88.5 FM San Francisco and 89.3 FM Sacramento); the interactive platforms kqed.org and KQEDnews.org; and KQED Education. KQED Public Television is the producer of local and national series such as QUEST; Check, Please! Bay Area; This Week in Northern California; Truly CA; and Essential Pépin. KQED’s digital television stations include KQED 9, KQED Plus, KQED Life, KQED World, KQED Kids and KQED V-me, and are available 24/7 on Comcast. KQED Public Radio, home of Forum and The California Report, is one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service delivering more than eighteen local weekday newscasts and news features. KQED Interactive provides KQED’s cross-platform news service, KQEDnews.org, as well as several popular local blogs, video and audio podcasts, and a live radio stream at kqed.org. KQED Education brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents and the general public through workshops, community screenings and multimedia resources.

KQED News and Events Featured Releases, News & Events

KQED Celebrates Black History Month in February

More than 70 African American-related Television and Radio Programs to Air

Four local heroes to be honored in awards ceremony February 7; Ceremony broadcast February 25

KQED proudly celebrates African American culture and heritage during Black History Month this February. The month-long commemoration includes special programming and an event honoring four local heroes for their outstanding accomplishments and exemplary service within their communities.

For more than a decade, KQED and Union Bank have partnered each February to celebrate Black History Month by honoring community leaders with Local Hero Awards. The four new honorees were chosen based on their outstanding contributions to their local communities and the Bay Area community at large. The 2012 Black History Month honorees are: Frank O. Brown M.D. (The Hillcare Foundation for Health); Edna James (OMI Community Action Organization); Don Johnson (Los Paseos Lobsters); and Harlan L. Kelly Jr. (San Francisco Public Utilities Commission).

The special evening of recognition will be filmed and broadcast Saturday, February 25, at 6pm on KQED 9. The broadcast will be repeated multiple times over the course of the following week: on Sunday, February 26, at 11am on KQED Life, at 4pm on KQED Plus and at 7pm on KQED 9; Monday, February 27, at 1am on KQED 9 and 4pm on KQED Plus; and on Wednesday, February 29, at 9pm on KQED Life.

“Union Bank is honored to again partner with KQED to formally recognize the achievements of these local heroes in our community,” said Pierre Habis, senior executive vice president and head of Community Banking at Union Bank. “These individuals have made enormous contributions to their communities, and they exemplify our core values of diversity and community involvement. We are pleased to be a part of this celebration that highlights the honorees’ dedication and the tremendous efforts they make every day.”

“KQED is thrilled to join our long-term partner Union Bank as we celebrate the 2012 local heroes,” said John L. Boland, president of KQED. “These inspiring individuals exemplify a tireless commitment to the local African American community and to the Bay Area community at large. We are also pleased to introduce them to our viewers through the video profiles airing on KQED throughout Black History Month, as we also celebrate with programming that focuses on African American themes and culture.”

Also in celebration of Black History Month, KQED will offer more 70 programs that focus on African American themes and culture. Some of the month’s highlights include:

KQED Public Radio
88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento, 88.3 FM in Santa Rosa, 88.1 FM in Martinez
Also available on Comcast digital cable channel 960 and live online at kqed.org

  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — Assassination & Legacy
    Thursday, February 2, at 8pm
    This final program in a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) series about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. covers the reaction to his death and some thoughts about his legacy. It begins with a CBC news special from April 4, 1968.
  • Rubin Carter’s Hurricane
    Saturday, February 18, at 1pm
    Rubin “Hurricane” Carter is an African American former boxer who was wrongly convicted of a triple homicide – then exonerated after 19 years in prison in a ruling affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. The judge who freed him (interviewed for this program) cited racial bias in the prosecution. In this story, based on Carter’s new memoir, Eye of the Hurricane, we hear how he transcended the “inner prison” of hatred, self-hatred and playing “the victim.”

KQED Public Television
All presentations are on KQED 9.

  • Slavery By Another Name
    Monday, February 13, at 10pm
    Slavery By Another Name     reveals the interlocking forces that enabled “neoslavery” to persist from 1865 to 1945.
  • The Interrupters (Frontline)
    Tuesday, February 14, at 10pm
    Part of KQED’s acclaimed Frontline series, this program features a group of former gang members trying to “interrupt” shootings and protect their communities from the violence they once committed.
  • Everyday Sunshine (Truly CA: Our State, Our Stories)
    Sunday, February 19, at 5:30pm
    Laurence Fishburne narrates this entertaining documentary about the black punk band, Fishbone, comprised of fiercely individual artists who seek to reclaim their musical legacy while debunking the myths of young black men from urban America.
  • Sam Cooke: Crossing Over (American Masters)
    Sunday, February 19, at 7pm
    From KQED’s award-winning American Masters series, Cooke’s blend of gospel and pop altered the course of popular music and race relations in America.
  • Memphis (Great Performances)
    Thursday, February 24, at 9pm
    Winner of the 2010 Tony Award for Best New Musical, Memphis turns the radio dial back to the 1950s to tell the story of a white DJ whose love for music transcends race lines and airwaves.

Program listings and descriptions for February can be found in the KQED Black History Month Resource Guide, online at www.kqed.org/heritage.

ABOUT THE 2012 LOCAL HEROES:

Frank O. Brown, M.D.Frank. O. Brown, M.D.
Dr. Brown established the HillCare Foundation in 1992. The Foundation was an active contributor to the California Healthy Start Program whose mission was to reduce the perinatal mortality of African American women in Alameda County by 50 percent in five years. Many of these protocols are still used today throughout the State.

Dr. Brown has also served as Medical Director of the Healthy Start Asha House Project; Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Providence Hospital; Medical and Laboratory Director at the BayCare Women’s Health Services; and Obstetrics and Gynecology Physician and Consultant at the East Oakland Health Center.

Dr. Brown currently serves as the Executive and Medical Director of ReGynesis Health Services, an organization that provides full-scope obstetrics and gynecological services, birth control, pregnancy prevention, health education and case management, with a particular focus on indigent minority clients, teen pregnancy, and jail and prison re-entry women.

Edna James

Edna James
Edna James is the President of the Commission on Aging and Adult Services and is a staunch advocate for senior and disabled services. James has been an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for more than 50 years and joined the San Francisco Chapter in 1961.

In addition to her active sorority involvement, James served as President and later Far West Regional Director of Jack & Jill of America, San Francisco Chapter; President of the Bench and Bar Spouses of Northern California; Member, San Francisco African American Outreach Committee, American Diabetes Association; President, Ocean View-Merced Heights-Ingleside Community Action Organization; Chair, San Francisco African-American Senior and Disabled Partnership; Board Member Southeast Health Center of San Francisco; Co-Chair Health Committee, San Francisco African American Community Health Equity Council; Chair-Health Policy, Bay Area Black Nurses Association.

James was raised in Houston, Texas and received her Bachelor Science Nursing from Dillard University. She continued her education in San Francisco and earned a Master of Science Degree in Community Health Nursing from the University of California San Francisco, School of Nursing. Believing in the concept of lifelong learning, five years ago James continued her postgraduate studies and earned a Master’s Degree in Gerontology in 2006 at San Francisco State University.

Don JohnsonDon Johnson
Don Johnson was the first African American tennis coach at Pratt Institute in New York. As Pratt’s Tennis Head Coach, Johnson successfully ran the National Junior Tennis League program on the Pratt campus providing free t-shirts, equipment, lunches and summer employment for teenage youth as recreation leaders. The individuals in this program not only had the chance to learn the game of tennis, but he taught them how to be leaders. Johnson was the first African American to win the Metropolitan Tennis Coaches Conference tournament in New York City.

Johnson moved to San Jose in the 1970s and set up a program for 500 Hispanic and Black low- income youth on the east side of San Jose in partnership with the City of San Jose. He went on to start his own programs in South San Jose: Los Paseos Lobsters Junior Tennis, Backesto Backhanders Junior Tennis and Bramhall Strings Junior Tennis. offering tennis lessons to low income families at a nominal fee. To keep his dream and program alive, he also offered free equipment, tennis clothing, t-shirts and tickets to tennis events provided by local country clubs, the City of San Jose, the USTA and other corporate sponsors and private individuals. His students are nationally ranked players and have gone on to achieve tennis scholarships at four-year universities.

Harlan L. Kelly Jr.Harlan L. Kelly Jr.
Harlan L. Kelly Jr. is the Assistant General Manager, Infrastructure of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), and the driving force behind an innovative youth program he co-founded, Project Pull, sponsored by the City and County of San Francisco through the SFPUC and the Department of Public Works (DPW).

Now in its 17th year, Project Pull provides full-time summer job opportunities to highly motivated, promising high school students from the diverse communities of San Francisco. The students are paired with San Francisco City employee mentors from various departments, with particular emphasis on exposing the students to potential careers in engineering, architecture, the sciences, business, law and public service.

Kelly has served for 28 years as a civil engineer. In his present capacity at the SFPUC, he oversees the implementation of capital programs for water, sewer and power, including the $4.6 billion rebuild of the Hetch Hetchy Water System. He was formerly the City Engineer of San Francisco. He has also held functional and project management positions at DPW, including Acting General Manager and Deputy Director of Engineering. He is a licensed professional engineer as well as a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. He resides in San Francisco with his wife Naomi and their two young sons.

About UnionBanCal Corporation & Union Bank, N.A.
Headquartered in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation is a financial holding company with assets of $89.7 billion on December 31, 2011. Its primary subsidiary, Union Bank, N.A., is a full-service commercial bank providing an array of financial services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies and major corporations. The bank operated 414 branches in California, Washington, Oregon, Texas and New York, as well as two international offices, on December 31, 2011. UnionBanCal Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. Union Bank is a proud member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG, NYSE:MTU), one of the world’s largest financial organizations. Visit www.unionbank.com for more information.

ABOUT KQED:
KQED (kqed.org) has served Northern California for more than 50 years and is affiliated with NPR and PBS. KQED owns and operates public television stations KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area), KQED Plus (San Jose/Bay Area) and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); KQED Public Radio (88.5 FM San Francisco and 89.3 FM Sacramento); the interactive platforms kqed.org and KQEDnews.org; and KQED Education. KQED Public Television is the producer of local and national series such as QUEST; Check, Please! Bay Area; This Week in Northern California; Truly CA; and Essential Pépin. KQED’s digital television stations include KQED 9, KQED Plus, KQED Life, KQED World, KQED Kids and KQED V-me, and are available 24/7 on Comcast. KQED Public Radio, home of Forum and The California Report, is one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service delivering more than eighteen local weekday newscasts and news features. KQED Interactive provides KQED’s cross-platform news service, KQEDnews.org, as well as several popular local blogs, video and audio podcasts, and a live radio stream at kqed.org. KQED Education brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents and the general public through workshops, community screenings and multimedia resources.

Check, Please! Bay Area, Public Television, Public Television

Check, Please! Bay Area seeks guest reviewer applications

Local diners will review Bay Area restaurants for the upcoming seventh season. 

January 9, 2012, San Francisco, CA— Calling all diners! Check, Please! Bay Area, KQED’s Emmy Award-winning restaurant review series, is looking for new guests to discuss their favorite local restaurants. Winner of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Media Award for Best Local Television Food Show, Check, Please! Bay Area airs Thursdays at 7:30pm on KQED Public Television 9. Potential reviewers who would like to tell the Bay Area about their favorite local eatery—anything from a four-star destination to your local café or street food from a traveling truck—are encouraged to complete the online application at kqed.org/checkplease.

Please note that in order to appear on the show, guests must be at least 21 years old, and be willing to travel to and participate in a taping at KQED studios in San Francisco. Those chosen to be a guest on Check, Please! Bay Area must also be able to get to the KQED studio at their own expense and to travel to any restaurant location within a 50-mile radius of San Francisco. The shows will air as part of the seventh season of Check, Please! Bay Area, beginning in Spring2012.

Award-winning author Leslie Sbrocco is the host of Check, Please! Bay Area with Tina Salter as the series producer.

Check, Please! Bay Area turns local diners into food critics while Bay Area residents discover the latest in food trends, from the simplest café to the luxurious four-star destination. Find a new restaurant or rediscover an old favorite on Check, Please! Bay Area, Thursdays at 7:30pm on KQED 9. Check out www.kqed.org/checkplease to stream or download video, find recipes, restaurant info, and more.

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Contact:

Scott Walton

415.553.2145/swalton@kqed.org

 

Public Television, Public Television

George Moscone’s Assasination Serves as Impetus for New Play and Documentary

The Memory Be Green, a poetic collage of fiction and memory, premieres January 17

The assassination of George Moscone is the impetus for a new play and a new documentary.

“The memory be green, and that it us befitted
To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe”
William Shakespeare, Hamlet

San Francisco, December 28, 2011—When Jon Moscone was fourteen years old, his father, San Francisco mayor George Moscone, was assassinated. Now, more than 30 years after the tragic incident, Jon has confronted his buried feelings about the tragedy and the crime that shocked America. Jon, artistic director for The California Shakespeare Theater in Orinda, used the best means he knew to come to terms with his personal tragedy by telling his story through theater. Working with his close friend Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, the story of both father and son are examined in Ghost Light, a new play, that re-imagines history, memory, fathers and sons. Ghost Light, written by Taccone and directed by Moscone, will play at Berkeley Repertory Theatre beginning January 6, 2012.

KQED’s original documentary, The Memory Be Green, combines reflections about the late Mayor and the times in which he lived with a look at the artistic process involved in creating a new work for the stage. The 30-minute documentary offers perspective on history and the role of art in bringing insight to both.

Documentary producer Dave Iverson, who also hosts the Friday edition of Forum on KQED Public Radio, first became aware of the new theater project when Jon was his radio guest. “It was the 30th anniversary of his father’s death and Jon mentioned that he and Tony were working on a play and I just thought it had the makings of a fascinating documentary.”

“For years I never thought I had the permission to investigate the loss of my dad as both father and political figure through my art,” Moscone remarked in a recent release. “Through this deep collaboration with Tony (Taccone), I have brought my history firmly into my work, and used my work to meditate on my story, all of which has articulated a new identity for me as a theatre maker. I hope (the play) resonates with people who miss George and with people who didn’t even know him, but seek a way to remember those whom they have lost in their own lives.”

Tony Taccone, who’s known Jon for 20 years, was intrigued with the chance to explore a more personal aspect of a well documented tragedy. “The play ends up being about learning how to grieve and the place of that in one’s life,” Taccone says. “I think grief is something we carry actively and always.”

The title for the documentary, The Memory be Green, comes from a line in Hamlet. In the fictionalized story of the play, the main character is directing a production of Hamlet.“ The play is about the unresolved parts of our past,” Iverson adds, “and what happens if you don’t confront those issues. So in that sense, memory is always green and ready to spring.”

The Memory Be Green will premiere on KQED 9 on Tuesday, January 17, at 7:30pm. It will repeat on KQED Life and other KQED channels and will also be available online at kqed.org. The documentary, a co-production of KQED and Dave Iverson, is funded in part by San Francisco Foundation.

About KQED
KQED (kqed.org) has served Northern California for more than 50 years and is affiliated with NPR and PBS. KQED owns and operates public television stations KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area), KQED Plus (San Jose/Bay Area), and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); KQED Public Radio (88.5 FM San Francisco and 89.3 FM Sacramento); the interactive platforms kqed.org and KQEDnews.org; and KQED Education. KQED Public Television, one of the nation’s most-watched public television stations, is the producer of local and national series such as QUEST; Check, Please! Bay Area; This Week in Northern California; Truly CA; and Essential Pépin. KQED’s digital television channels include 9HD, KQED Life, KQED World, KQED Kids, and KQED V-me, and are available 24/7 on Comcast. KQED Public Radio, home of Forum with Michael Krasny and The California Report, is one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service delivering more than eighteen local newscasts each weekday. KQED Interactive provides KQED’s cross-platform news service, KQEDnews.org, and offers several popular local blogs, video and audio podcasts, and a live radio stream at kqed.org. KQED Education brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents and the general public through workshops, community screenings and multimedia resources.

About Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Berkeley Repertory Theatre has grown from a storefront stage to a national leader in innovative theatre. Known for its core values of imagination and excellence, as well as its educated and adventurous audience, the nonprofit has provided a welcoming home for emerging and established artists since 1968. With two stages, a school, and a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, Berkeley Rep is proud to premiere exhilarating new plays. In the last six years, the company has helped send six shows to Broadway. Seven more landed off Broadway, one moved to London, two turned into films, and others have toured the nation. Come see tomorrow’s plays today at Berkeley Rep.

Contact: Scott Walton 415.553.2145/swalton@kqed.org

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KQED Presents, KQED Public Television Featured Releases, Public Television, Public Television

Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence Debuts

Teacher and Chef Joanne Weir
Debuts New Public Television Series

« I don’t know that there are many other things I could have done with my life. »

26-Episode Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence debuts nationally on January 7

KQED Presents Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence, Taking Students and Viewers into the Popular Chef’s Own Kitchen

Joanne Weir, world-renowned chef and television personality, delivers a brand new series designed to give home cooks the most important ingredient in the kitchen – confidence. Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence premieres on [insert local listing information].

This new series lets Joanne Weir’s love of teaching cooking take center stage. In her warm and comfortable kitchen, she works with eager students like Joan Boada, a Principal Dancer with the San Francisco Ballet, Ron Martin, a Fire Chief, and Geoff Rubendall, a Civil Engineer, to figure out what is holding them back from making truly good meals. Through 26 engaging and inspiring episodes, Joanne helps her students make a simple mind shift. Flexibility, versatile ingredients, basic techniques, and, most importantly, confidence, are the keys to success in the kitchen. This comes through clearly with mouth-watering preparations of Glazed Pork chops with Orange and Cardamom, Oven Fried Potato Chips, and Fig and Blueberry Salad with Crème Fraiche.

Joanne believes passionately that the question “What’s for dinner?” shouldn’t inspire anxiety. With her encouraging guidance and frequent opportunities for questions, Joanne’s students become visibly more relaxed in the kitchen. Within each show are Joanne’s reflections and remarks along with student “confessionals”. These personal comments provide viewers with an insider’s perspective on the cooking experience.

Beyond teaching the recipes, Joanne pushes students to expand their palates and learn about the cultural significance of different foods, drawing on Joanne’s vast experience traveling and cooking around the world. Influences from recent trips shine through with dishes like Warm Moroccan Chicken and Sweet Potato Salad, Bagna Cauda and Lemon Sorbet and Vanilla Ice Cream with Limoncello.

Joanne is as passionate about wine as she is food and has traveled to various wine regions around the globe to learn more. This is clear on the show with her fun and non-intimidating wine pairings and wine knowledge.

Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence is presented by KQED Presents and produced by Joanne Weir and Paul Swensen. It is distributed to public television nationwide by American Public Television (APT) beginning January 7, 2012. The 26 programs are underwritten by Grana Padano; Prosciutto di Parma and Prosciutto di San Danielle; the European Union and Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry; The US Highbush Blueberry Council; Village Harvest; Anolon Nouvelle Copper; CulinApp; and Valley Fig Growers.

Press Updates
5/13/12 – “Joanne Weir from a family of chefs” (SF Gate article about Joanne’s background; includes recipes)
5/2/12 – “United by tequila: Duo team up to create Sausalito’s new Mexican restaurant Copita” (Marinscope article about Joanne’s new restaurant, Copita)
4/25/12 – Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence has now also been selected to air nationally on Create® TV beginning June 3, 2012!

Joanne Weir Biography
Have you ever dreamed of taking private cooking lessons with someone who could instill a confidence in your cooking skills you never thought possible? Join award-winning cooking teacher and author Joanne Weir as she returns to public television for a new series of cooking lessons with real-world students working side-by-side with her in the kitchen. Shot in Weir’s home kitchen in San Francisco, Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence (http://www.joanneweir.com) invites viewers to share friendly, funny interludes with a passionate teacher and willing apprentices in a 26-part series of cooking fundamentals.

A television and cooking school circuit favorite, it is no surprise Joanne Weir was awarded the first Julia Child Cooking Teacher Award of Excellence by the International Association for Culinary Professionals. Inspired by Julia Child years before Weir would appear in her first public television series, Weir Cooking in the Wine Country, Weir’s first book, From Tapas to Meze (Crown, 1994,) was selected as one of Julia Child’s 12 personal favorites out of 1000 cookbooks published that year.
With 6 public television cooking series (Weir Cooking in the Wine Country, Weir Cooking in the City, Joanne Weir’s Cooking Class, Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence) and 20 cookbooks to her credit, Joanne Weir is a James Beard Award-winning cookbook author, cooking teacher, chef with a year-round teaching schedule that takes her all over the globe. She has a cooking background that spans four family generations, and five years as a professional chef at the legendary Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, California. She received her Master Chef Diploma in France after studying with Madeleine Kamman. Her ultimate calling has been teaching, and she travels and teaches cooking classes throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, South America, England, Morocco, France, Italy, and Spain. Weir’s passion for food and love of teaching keep her classes booked season after season.

In addition to her busy teaching schedule, Weir has a full plate of projects launching in fall 2011 through 2012, including the launch of Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence, the official series companion iPhone and iPad application, available on iTunes, and offered over-the-air in each episode of the new series, beginning in January 2012.

Weir has been named an Editor-at-Large for Fine Cooking Magazine (The Taunton Press), and will be the face of the magazine and contribute on a regular basis.
Joanne Weir Wines will debut in the fall of 2011, with a direct to consumer offering of limited bottlings hand-selected by Weir of California varietals available for purchase through Weir’s email newsletters and website. Exclusive recipes from Joanne Weir’s kitchen will be included with each shipment.

Chef Weir is partnering with Larry Mindel, accomplished Bay Area restaurateur, to launch a new Mexican-inspired restaurant, Copita, in Sausalito, CA, and slated to open March 2012.
Joanne lives in San Francisco where she teaches cooking in her studio kitchen.
Find out more information about Joanne at www.joanneweir.com.

About KQED

KQED (kqed.org) has served Northern California for more than 50 years and is affiliated with NPR and PBS. KQED owns and operates public television stations KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area), KQED Plus (San Jose/Bay Area), and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); KQED Public Radio (88.5FM San Francisco and 89.3FM Sacramento); the interactive platforms kqed.org and KQEDnews.org; and KQED Education. KQED Public Television, one of the nation’s most-watched public television stations, is the producer of local and national series such as QUEST; Check, Please! Bay Area; This Week in Northern California; Truly CA; and Essential Pépin. KQED’s digital television channels include 9HD, KQED Life, KQED World, KQED Kids, and KQED V-me, and are available 24/7 on Comcast. KQED Public Radio, home of Forum with Michael Krasny and The California Report, is one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service delivering more than eighteen local newscasts daily. KQED Interactive provides KQED’s cross-platform news service, KQEDnews.org, as well as offers several popular local blogs, video and audio podcasts, and a live radio stream at kqed.org. KQED Education brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents, and the general public through workshops, community screenings, and multimedia resources.

About American Public Television

American Public Television (APT) has been a leading distributor of high-quality, top-rated programming to America’s public television stations since 1961. Since 2004, APT has distributed approximately half of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles. Among its 300 new program titles per year are prominent documentaries, news and public affairs programs, dramatic series, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies, including For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black Patriots, A Ripple of Hope, Rick Steves’ Europe, Newsline, Globe Trekker, John McLaughlin’s One on One, Inside Washington, Simply Ming, Travelscope, America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, Lidia’s Italy, P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home, Murdoch Mysteries, Doc Martin, Rosemary & Thyme, BBC World News, The Rat Pack: Live and Swingin’, Johnny Mathis: Wonderful, Wonderful! and John Denver: The Wildlife Concert. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. In 2006, APT launched and nationally distributed Create® – the TV channel featuring the best of public television’s lifestyle programming. APT is also a partner in the WORLD™ channel expansion project including its web presence at WORLDcompass.org. For more information about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org. For more information on Create, visit CreateTV.com.

Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence Episode Descriptions

Episode 101
Spain on My Mind
Description: Joanne shares with us her emotional connection to Spain. She begins by preparing Salmorejo, a cold tomato and bread soup she first discovered in Southern Spain, and then works with her student Joan to overcome his fear of cooking lamb by preparing a hearty lamb, white bean, and chorizo stew with a spicy infused olive oil drizzled over the top.
Recipes: Salmorejo and Spanish Lamb Stew
Student: Joan Boada, Principal Dancer, San Francisco Ballet

Episode 102
Pizza with Pizazz
Description: Joanne welcomes her student Geoff to class with a quick and easy salmon and pickled onion pizza. Then together they explore the idea of contrasts of flavor, texture, and color, making lemon turkey cutlets and an arugula and orange salad.
Recipes: Lavash Pizza with Herb Salad, Arugula and Orange Salad, and Lemon Turkey Cutlets
Student: Geoff Rubendall, Civil Engineer

Episode 103
Simply Elegant
Description: Joanne greets her student Sarina with a bruschetta salad and it is quickly apparent Sarina is the perfect student for dishes that are simple enough for a weeknight, yet elegant enough for Saturday night. They recreate the vinaigrette from the salad, discover how easy it is to cook clams, and finish with a warm blueberry maple compote melting over vanilla ice cream.
Recipes: Bruschetta Salad with Prosciutto di San Daniele and Greens, Clams with Chorizo and Orange, and Vanilla Ice Cream with Blueberry Maple Syrup Compote
Student: Sarina Crivello, Apple Specialist

Episode 104
Flavor Fiesta
Description: It’s a party when Joanne and her student Cheryl get together. Joanne adds a sweet crisp twist to classic guacamole, shows how to improve a store bought stock to elevate tortilla soup, and then the party really begins with muddled cherry margaritas
Recipes: Sweet Pea Guacamole, Tortilla Soup with Pork Meatballs, Tortillas and Cheddar, and Fresh Cherry Margaritas
Student: Cheryl Kovelchik, Entertainment Marketing

Episode 105
Swimming Upstream
Description: Most people, including Joanne absolutely adore salmon. She begins by nestling salmon rillete in endive, and then, with her student Jerry, bakes salmon in the ultimate symbol of love, a paper heart.
Recipes: Smoked Salmon Rillete/Endive, Salmon and Spring Vegetables Baked in Paper, and Lemon Tarragon Rice
Student: Jerry Feldman, International Business Development

Episode 106
Italian Love Affair
Description: Inspired by dishes made in her classes in Italy, Joanne introduces her student Reggie to bagna cauda, rigatoni with chicken in a tomato cream sauce, and a vegetable ribbon salad.
Recipes: Bagna Cauda, Rigatoni with Chicken, Tomatoes and Cream, and Vegetable Ribbon Salad
Student: Reggie Wooden, Student

Episode 107
Never Too Young
Description: Joanne welcomes her youngest student Stella to class and they nestle in to create a menu of some of Joanne’s favorite chilly weather dishes; roasted game hens with prosciutto and mushrooms and quinoa pilaf with dried blueberries and apricots.
Recipes: Sweet and Hot Pepper Relish Crostini, Roasted Game Hens with Prosciutto di Parma and Mushrooms, and Quinoa Pilaf with Dried Blueberries and Apricots
Student: Stella Ginsberg, Student and Blogger

Episode 108
Guilty Pleasures
Description: Joanne confesses to her student Kyle that her favorite food is potato chips, but gives him a healthier oven “fried” version. They are so good, it’s hard to save a few to go with their bruschetta blue cheese burgers and blueberry, nectarine sangria.
Recipes: Oven Fried Potato Chips with Marjoram Salt, Bruschetta Burger with Caramelized Onions and Blue Cheese and Rosé Sangria with Blueberry and Nectarines
Student: Kyle Khasigian, Financial Associate

Episode 109
Dinner Dance or Swept Off My Feet
Description: Joanne starts her class with a challenge, presenting her French student Pascal three variations on the classic French sauce aioli. Then they are both swept off their feet by Joanne’s twist on the classic combination of chicken and salad.
Recipes: Aioli and Variations, “Oven-Fried” Chicken Legs, and Butter Lettuce and Avocado with Lime Vinaigrette
Student: Pascal Molat, Principal Dancer, San Francisco Ballet

Episode 110
Ticket to Provence
Description: Joanne and her student Sasha are transported to Provence using herbs, citrus, and garlic. Joanne begins with a bright fresh citrus salad and then working together they create a very classic country, yet refined, dish of braised cod with leeks and potato.
Recipes: Citrus Salad with Mint and Red Onions, Cod Braised with Leeks, Potatoes and Thyme, and Roasted Garlic Slab
Student: Sasha Bernstein, Restaurant Consultant

Episode 111
Eat Your Vegetables
Description: Joanne eases the anxiety that can sometimes set in when a vegetarian is coming to dinner. Working with her fitness specialist student Randy she prepares a satisfying bulgur and feta salad and fried potato and spiced red pepper frittata that would satisfy vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.
Recipes: Bulgur, Feta and Oven-Dried Tomato Salad & Fried Potato and Spiced Red Pepper Frittata
Student: Randy Bramblett, Fitness Specialist

Episode 112
Magical Morocco
Description: Joanne shows us just how easily and quickly a deliciously spiced lentil soup can be made when you have the right spices in the pantry. She continues to spice it up with her student John, building a warm Moroccan chicken and sweet potato salad, cooling it off with a cardamom and ginger cocktail she has aptly named the Marrakech 75.
Recipes: Spiced Lentil Soup, Warm Moroccan Chicken and Sweet Potato Salad, and a Marrakech 75 Cocktail
Student: John Cu, Trial Attorney

Episode 113
Asia Express
Description: Joanne embraces teaching traditional recipes and then showing new ways to use them. She and her student Reggie make mayonnaise and create an Asian inspired meal of tuna burgers with wasabi mayonnaise and Thai cabbage and grapefruit slaw, leaving Reggie wondering if he will ever buy mayonnaise again.
Recipes: Grilled Yellowtail Tuna Burgers with Wasabi Mayonnaise and Thai Cabbage and Grapefruit Slaw
Student: Reggie Wooden, Student

Episode 114
Italian Marketplace
Description: Inspired by the roasted chickens in the markets of Italy Joanne teaches her student Joan her version of crispy chicken and potatoes with a side of hot pepper and white balsamic broccolini, topped off with a cherry Zinfandel zabaglione.
Recipes: Broccolini with Hot Pepper and White Balsamic, Crispy Chicken and Potatoes with Mustard, Rosemary and Capers, and Fresh Cherries with Late Harvest Zinfandel Zabaglione
Student: Joan Boada, Principal Dancer, San Francisco Ballet

Episode 115
Gingerly
Description: Joanne introduces her student Ron to the versatility of the often overlooked gingerroot greeting him with poached shrimp with a mango dipping sauce made with freshly grated ginger. Together it is then mussels steamed with mustard greens, lemon grass, and ginger with grilled bread with ginger aioli.
Recipes: Shrimp with Mango Dipping Sauce, Mussels Steamed With Mustard Greens, Lemon Grass and Ginger, and Grilled Bread with Ginger Aioli
Student: Ron Martin, Fire Chief

Episode 116
You Say Tomato
Description: When it is tomato season it is sometimes difficult to keep up with the bounty. Joanne prepares a chilled tomato and Greek yogurt soup, and then teaches her student Jack the versatility of roasted cherry tomatoes, showcasing them in a lamb sirloin salad.
Recipes: Chilled Tomato and Greek Yogurt Soup, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, and Lamb Sirloin Salad with Feta and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Student: Jack Cohen, Website Merchandising

Episode 117
Go Nuts!
Description: Joanne goes “nuts” and makes for us her five-spice, ginger, and cayenne packed Asian Toasted Nuts. Then she encourages her student Geoff to do the same making stir-fried chicken, pine-nut lettuce wraps and cardamom-scented rice with toasted almonds.
Recipes: Asian Toasted Nuts, Stir-Fried Chicken and Mushroom Lettuce Wraps, and Cardamom-Scented Rice with Toasted Almonds
Student: Geoff Rubendall, Civil Engineer

Episode 118
Fast Forward to Dinner
Description: With her student Bonnie, Joanne makes us quicker versions of the comfort foods she grew up with in New England, oven-roasted sausages, and a sauerkraut that is so fast she couldn’t resist calling it lazy-girl sauerkraut.
Recipes: Oven-Roasted Sausages with Riesling, Apples and Pears and Lazy-Girl Sauerkraut
Student: Bonnie Lin, Conference Interpreter

Episode 119
Passport to Sardinia
Description: The island of Sardinia is one of Joanne’s favorite places. She created a menu to take her student Di there, fregola with clams and tomatoes and a yellow and green bean salad with cherry tomatoes and basil.
Recipes: Roasted Olives with Orange, Bay and Fennel, Fregola, Clams and Tomatoes, and Yellow and Green Bean Salad with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil
Student: Di Harris, Retired Nanny

Episode 120
Journey to Italy
Description: Joanne shares her memories of Italy with her student Barbra recreating some of the dishes form her travels. Starting with a simple salad of fig and prosciutto, then slowly adding just enough red wine to farro for a farro risotto, and finally ending the meal with a dessert of strawberry, port, and black pepper.
Recipes: Fig And Blueberry Salad With Crème Fraiche, Mint and Prosciutto di Parma, Farro Risotto with Red Wine and Grana Padano, Strawberry with Port and Black Pepper, and an Aperol Champagne Cocktail
Student: Barbra Bright, Kitchen Designer

Episode 121
Rustic Yet Refined
Description: Joanne makes us a classic Italian frico and then with her student Stephanie demonstrates how rustic and refined can work well together in the same meal, making a spiced lentil and herb salad and halibut wrapped in prosciutto.
Recipes: Frico with Bacon and Potatoes, Prosciutto di San Daniele-Wrapped Halibut Fillet, and Spiced Lentils and Herb Salad
Student: Stephanie Gerbracht, Wine Sales

Episode 122
I’m Inspired
Description: Joanne is often asked where her inspirations come from and begins by composing an inspired salad with roasted beets, and then gives her student Charlie some pointers for making honey glazed pork chops and a roasted squash puree.
Recipes: Bibb Lettuce Salad with Roasted Beet, Grapefruit and Pecans, Honey Glazed Pork Chops with Orange and Cardamom, and a Roasted Squash and Ginger Puree
Student: Charlie Baldwin, City Gardener

Episode 123
Kicking up the Classics OR Kick it up a notch
Description: Joanne and her student Lauren give comfort food a kick preparing a 30 minute lamb and black bean chili and hiding a red pepper jelly surprise inside corn muffins.
Recipes: Thirty-Minute Lamb and Black Bean Chili and Spicy Red Pepper Jelly-Filled Corn Muffins
Student: Lauren Eastman, Public Relations Executive

Episode 124
Market to Table
Description: Joanne’s day begins at the farmer’s market and she shows us a fresh sugar snap pea soup. Then she works with her student Kyle to perfect his pasta techniques making a fresh fettuccine with asparagus, prosciutto, and lemon crème fraiche.
Recipes: Sugar Snap Pea Soup with Mint and Meyer Lemon Oil and Fresh Fettuccine with Asparagus Ribbons and Lemon Crème Fraiche
Student: Kyle Khasigian, Financial Associate

Episode 125
Food Memories
Description: Joanne remembers her trips to Italy and with her student Di shows us a classic pizza strata and a dessert inspired by limoncello.
Recipes: Green Salad with Garlic croutons and Balsamic Red Wine Dressing, Pizza Strata, and Lemon Sorbet and Vanilla Ice Cream with Limoncello
Student: Di Harris, Retired Nanny

Episode 126
Summer’s Bounty
Description: Summer is definitely the time Joanne gets excited about fruits and vegetables, greeting her student Leah with a little gem salad perfectly dressed with a buttermilk blue cheese dressing. They make a spicy spaghetti together and then cool things down with a blueberry frozen yogurt.
Recipes: Little Gems with Almonds and Buttermilk Blue Dressing, Spicy Spaghetti with Sautéed Fennel and Mussels, and Blueberry Frozen Yogurt
Student: Leah Ballantyne, Teacher

KQED Public Television Featured Releases, Public Television, Public Television

Revolutionaries, a New Series Featuring Tech’s Greatest Innovators

Revolutionaries includes in-depth interviews with Mark Zuckerberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Paul Allen and other tech luminaries

San Francisco, December 19, 2011—Revolutionaries, a new 13-part television series produced by the Computer History Museum in association with KQED Public Television, will premiere on Monday, January 16, at 7:00pm on KQED Plus (channel 54, cable 10). Repeats of the series will air on KQED World. Full schedule information is shown below and can also be found at kqed.org/tv.

In this series, some of the most distinguished thought leaders in the computing field share their views on technology and how it shapes our modern world. A wide array of thinkers are featured including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Dreamworks Animation Jeffrey Katzenberg, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and others (full list below.) From the computer named Watson that outsmarted the Jeopardy champ, to a discussion about how computer viruses are the next frontier of warfare, to the challenge and promise of artificial intelligence, the series offers an intimate view of the thinking behind some of our modern world’s greatest achievements. Revolutionaries complements the launch of the Computer History Museum’s permanent exhibition: Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing.

“KQED is delighted to partner with the Computer History Museum to bring their fascinating speakers to a broad audience through the Revolutionaries series,” said John Boland, KQED president. “KQED is Silicon Valley’s public media organization, so it makes great sense to leverage our television, radio, online and mobile media services in collaboration with another great local institution to make these stimulating conversations with the Valley’s movers and shakers available to everyone.”

“We’re delighted to join KQED as a partner in this important effort,” said John C. Hollar, President and CEO of the Computer History Museum. “These ‘revolutionaries’ represent some of the greatest breakthroughs, lessons learned and inspirational stories ever—not just in technology, but in human achievement. We’re happy to be able to bring them to KQED’s audience.”

Major funding for Revolutionaries is provided by Intel.

Revolutionaries Schedule
Monday, January 16
“The Facebook Effect”
Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and author David Kirkpatrick in conversation with NPR’s Guy Raz

Monday, January 23
“Reality is Broken: Why Games Make us Better and How They Can Change the World”
Author Dr. Jane McGonigal in conversation with NPR’s Laura Sydell

Monday, January 30
“Steve Jobs: The Authorized Biography”
Author Walter Isaacson in conversation with Computer History Museum CEO John Hollar.

Monday, February 6
“An IBM Centennial “
Samuel J. Palmisano, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of IBM speaks about the importance and meaning of IBM’s centennial as a corporation, immediately followed by a conversation with Computer History Museum CEO John Hollar.

Monday, February 13
“The Technology of Animation”
Dreamworks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and Chief Technology Officer Ed Leonard in conversation with retired Vice President and Chief of Technology for Hewlett Packard’s Personal Systems Group, Philip McKinney.

Monday, February 20
“A Computer Called Watson”
IBM’s David Ferrucci, IBM Fellow and Principal Investigator of the Watson/Jeopardy! Project, in conversation with Richard Waters of The Financial Times.

Monday, February 27
“Idea Man”
Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, in conversation with journalist Jose Antonio Vargas.

Monday, April 2
“The Man Who Invented the Computer, John Vincent Atanasoff”
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley in conversation with Computer History Museum CEO John Hollar.

Monday, April 9
“In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives”
Author Steven Levy in conversation with Laura Sydell of NPR.

Monday, April 16
“Sir Maurice Wilkes, The Man and His Machine”
Dr. David Hartley of the University of Cambridge remembers the inventor of the EDSAC, his life and achievements, with John Hollar, CEO of the Computer History Museum.

Monday, April 23
“Worm: The First Digital World War”
Author Mark Bowden and T.J. Campana, Senior Program Manager of Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit in conversation with John Markoff of The New York Times.

Monday, April 30
“The Start-up Game”
Author and venture capital pioneer Bill Draper in conversation with KQED’s Dave Iverson.

Monday, May 7
“The Challenge and Promise of Artificial Intelligence”
A Bay Area Science Festival Wonder Dialog featuring Google’s Research Director Peter Norvig and Microsoft Research’s Distinguished Engineer Eric Horvitz in conversation with KQED’s Tim Olson.

All programs premiere on Monday at 7pm on KQED Plus (over-the-air channel 54/cable 10) and repeat the following Saturday at 5pm and Sunday at 7pm on KQED World (over-the-air 9.3/Comcast 190.)

About The Computer History Museum
The Computer History Museum (CHM) in Mountain View, California is a nonprofit organization with a four-decade history as the world’s leading institution exploring the history of computing and its ongoing impact on society. The Museum is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of computer history and is home to the largest international collection of computing artifacts in the world, encompassing computer hardware, software, documentation, ephemera, photographs and moving images. CHM brings computer history to life through an acclaimed speaker series, dynamic website, docent-led tours as well as physical and online exhibits. Current exhibits include “Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine No. 2,” “Mastering the Game: A History of Computer Chess,” and “An Analog Life: Remembering Jim Williams.” The Museum’s signature exhibit on the history of computing, “Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing,” opened in January 2011. For more information and updates, call 650-810-1059, visit www.computerhistory.org, check us out on Facebook, and follow @computerhistory on Twitter.

About KQED
KQED (kqed.org) has served Northern California for more than 50 years and is affiliated with NPR and PBS. KQED owns and operates public television stations KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area), KQED Plus (San Jose/Bay Area), and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); KQED Public Radio (88.5FM San Francisco and 89.3FM Sacramento); the interactive platforms kqed.org and KQEDnews.org; and KQED Education. KQED Public Television, one of the nation’s most-watched public television stations, is the producer of local and national series such as QUEST; Check, Please! Bay Area; This Week in Northern California; Truly CA; and Essential Pépin. KQED’s digital television channels include 9HD, KQED Life, KQED World, KQED Kids, and KQED V-me, and are available 24/7 on Comcast. KQED Public Radio, home of Forum with Michael Krasny and The California Report, is one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service delivering more than eighteen local newscasts each weekday. KQED Interactive provides KQED’s cross-platform news service, KQEDnews.org, and offers several popular local blogs, video and audio podcasts, and a live radio stream at kqed.org. KQED Education brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents and the general public through workshops, community screenings and multimedia resources.

Contact: Scott Walton 415.553.2145/swalton@kqed.org

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Education, Interactive, KQED Education Featured Releases, News & Events, Public Radio, Public Television

KQED to Address Oakland’s Dropout Issue

KQED to Address Oakland’s Dropout Issue with Content, Education, Resources, and Community Engagement

San Francisco, November 21, 2011—Ask a high school student if they plan to graduate and the vast majority – 92% – say they expect to earn a high school diploma. But in cities across America the reality is very different. Oakland has the lowest graduation rate of the ten largest cities in California– only 30.4%.  Students have the will to graduate but do not always have the support or resources. Participating in a new national initiative, American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen, KQED will help local communities across the Bay Area find solutions to address the dropout crisis. The initiative builds on public media’s long-standing commitment to education by convening conversations and strengthening partnerships between public radio and television stations and local schools, businesses, and community organizations to help students stay on the path to a high school diploma.

KQED is one of 20 stations nationwide participating in a public media initiative funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to help local communities across the country address the dropout crisis. CPB selected KQED because of the station’s ongoing commitment to education in the community and their particular emphasis on STEM learning tools. Partnering with America’s Promise Alliance, American Graduate will leverage ongoing commitments of Oakland educational and community institutions to improve student engagement and community awareness by stressing the relationship between STEM learning, workforce development, and college and career readiness.

KQED will create local and state-wide multi-platform news and public affairs content and broadcast national content currently being created to raise awareness of the dropout crisis and its impact on communities. KQED has already produced several reports for The California Report and MindShift, and has built a web presence for the initiative in which all pieces can be viewed on demand, www.kqed.org/americangraduate. In addition, KQED will convene community stakeholders to raise awareness of, and bring understanding to, the issue by focusing on innovative solutions.

An American Graduate Teacher Town Hall for teachers and other education professionals in the Bay Area is planned for March 13, 2012 at Laney Community College. The teacher town hall will elevate teachers’ voices and address issues and recommendations unique to this region and is one of 12 American Graduate Teacher Town Halls being conducted in communities across the country with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. KQED Education will implement professional development trainings for educators with a focus on STEM learning and youth engagement.

KQED will also work directly with students most affected by the crisis. The Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) and KQED will work with community partners to provide youth media training and content creation experiences that include interactive learning experiences and media production training for at-risk youth, focusing on peer-to-peer storytelling.

Education has always been a part of KQED’s mission. KQED Education has a long history of creating dynamic curriculum-based materials that bring the power of media into the classroom.  KQED Education’s lesson plans are free and downloadable from kqed.org and are used by more than 200,000 Bay Area residents each year.

“The Bay Area is home to some of the world’s leading science and technology companies, but many of our students and young people are not getting the skills they need to fill the needs of the current workforce,” stated Tim Olson, vice president digital media and education. “The  American Graduate initiative at KQED will help raise awareness of this issue throughout the Bay Area, in turn building a stronger and more-engaged workforce for our future.”

Dr. Nyeisha Dewitt, Program Officer forAmerica’s Promise Alliance added “Often times, our young people are treated like blight in our community–like objects that we should just get rid of like trash or cover up like graffiti on the side of an abandoned building.  The term ‘youth are our future’ is just rhetoric nowadays.  The American Graduate initiative is a courageous step toward creating a space to move beyond rhetoric toward authentic dialogue and engagement, which will lead to the discovery of real solutions for young people specifically and the Oakland community as a whole.”

About KQED

KQED (kqed.org) has served Northern California for more than 50 years and is affiliated with NPR and PBS. KQED owns and operates public television stations KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area), KQED Plus (San Jose/Bay Area), and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); KQED Public Radio (88.5 FM San Francisco and 89.3 FM Sacramento); the interactive platforms kqed.org and KQEDnews.org; and KQED Education. KQED Public Television, one of the nation’s most-watched public television outlets, is the producer of local and national series such as QUEST; Check, Please! Bay Area; This Week in Northern California; Truly CA; and Essential Pépin.  KQED’s digital television channels include 9HD, KQED Life, KQED World, KQED Kids, and KQED V-me, and are available 24/7 on Comcast.  KQED Public Radio, home of Forum with Michael Krasny and The California Report, is one of the most-listened-to public radio outlets in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service delivering more than eighteen local newscasts each weekday.  KQED Interactive provides KQED’s cross-platform news service, KQEDnews.org; and offers several popular local blogs, video and audio podcasts, and a live radio stream at kqed.org. KQED Education brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents, and the general public through workshops, community screenings, and multimedia resources.

About American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen

American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen, http://www.americangraduate.org/ is a public media initiative funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, http://www.cpb.org/ (CPB) to help local communities across the country address the dropout crisis. CPB, in partnership withAmerica’s Promise Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is working with public media stations in 20 Hub Markets where the dropout crisis is most acute to raise awareness of the issue and coordinate action with community partners – all with the goal of helping students stay on course to graduate from high school.

About America’s Promise Alliance

Founded in 2008, Oakland’s Promise Alliance is and Oakland-based program that is dedicated to bringing agencies organizations, businesses and resources into alignment with the goals of the OaklandUnifiedSchool Districtand the Mayor’s office. Our strategic approach to building relationships within the community and beyond allows our collaborative partners to enjoy access to networks and resources that are unmatched by any other alliance in Oakland.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

Contact:

Scott Walton – 415.553.2145/swalton@kqed.org

 

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KQED Public Television Featured Releases, Public Television

The Art of Doing it Yourself to Premiere Nationally on PBS

KQED’s Original Mini-Doc to be Seen Nationally on PBS

The Art of Doing it Yourself to be part of the PBS Arts Festival,

Airing December 16 or Anytime Online at KQED.org

 San Francisco, November 29, 2011­—San Franciscohas one of the most eclectic arts scenes of any city in America. Recognizing the wide diversity of artistic achievement in the Bay Area, PBS will provide a national showcase for KQED’s original mini-doc, The Art of Doing it Yourself. Airing as part of the PBS Arts Festival, The Art of Doing it Yourself will be included in the Festival’s San Francisco night, December 16, 2011, and will follow the evening’s principal attraction, San Francisco Ballet’s production of The Little Mermaid. Airtimes on KQED 9 are as follows: The Little Mermaid at 9pm, followed by the 13-minute documentary at approximately 11:09pm. The mini-doc will also be available online at kqed.org.

 The Art of Doing It Yourself showcasesSan Francisco’s arts community at its best. The story centers on “Chicken” John Rinaldi, the artist/proprietor of a struggling artist’s warehouse/performance space located inSan Francisco. Chez Poulet is in danger of being shuttered due to a lack of funds. An array of visual, performance, and circus artists call the space home and Chicken John creates an only-in-San-Francisco benefit event to save the space

 The mini-doc allows the viewer to take a peek inside the warehouse and reveals the wide variety and styles of arts residing within but also, what it means to be an artist and the eternal push and pull between art and commerce. The space is designed for artists to have the freedom to make art because they feel like it, not because they need to commodify it and not because it needs to put dinner on the table or pay the rent.  And yet, the reality lies with an unpaid mortgage and the hope that a benefit will allow Chez Poulet a little longer lease on life.

 Chicken John, a self-proclaimed ‘showman’ becomes, for the artists who collaborate with him and donate their time and talents to save Chez Poulet, a champion. One for the ridiculous and the bizarre, and a champion for the belief that one person can do anything.

  “It is impossible to showcase all of Bay Area arts in 13 minutes,” stated Executive ProducerLouise Lo.  “Instead, we decided to highlight a less-covered but thriving part of the arts community—do-it-yourself artists who take matters in their own hands and create art to express themselves rather than focus on ‘making it’ within the arts establishment.”

 Featured in the mini-doc are:

“Chicken” John Rinaldi – Showman, Proprietor; Ani Thompkins  – Gap employee by day, visual artist by night; Miriam Telles – Avant Circus Cabaret Aerialist ; Charles Gadeken – Visual Artist, Founder of The Box Shop  collective in Hunter’s Point

 Screeners available upon request

 About PBS ARTS: As part of its commitment to increase every American’s access to – and participation in – the arts, PBS kicks off the multi-platform PBS Arts Fall Festival October 14th.  Anchored by broadcasts every Friday night into December and a range of related online content, the Fall Festival features artists and performances from nine communities across the country with celebrity hosts from each locale.  Comprising full-length performances, behind-the-scenes interviews, and artist and performer profiles, the PBS Arts Fall Festival is complemented by locally produced mini-documentaries that highlight related topics and cultural aspects of the country’s top arts cities.  

 About KQED: KQED (kqed.org) has served Northern California for more than 50 years and is affiliated with NPR and PBS. KQED owns and operates public television stations KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area), KQED Plus (San Jose/Bay Area), and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); KQED Public Radio (88.5FM San Francisco and 89.3FM Sacramento); the interactive platforms kqed.org and KQEDnews.org; and KQED Education. KQED Public Television, one of the nation’s most-watched public television stations, is the producer of local and national series such as QUEST; Check, Please! Bay Area; This Week in Northern California; Truly CA; and Essential Pépin.  KQED’s digital television channels include 9HD, KQED Life, KQED World, KQED Kids, and KQED V-me, and are available 24/7 on Comcast.  KQED Public Radio, home of Forum with Michael Krasny and The California Report, is one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service delivering more than eighteen local newscasts daily.  KQED Interactive provides KQED’s cross-platform news service, KQEDnews.org, as well as offers several popular local blogs, video and audio podcasts, and a live radio stream at kqed.org. KQED Education brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents, and the general public through workshops, community screenings, and multimedia resources.

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News & Events

KQED Social Media Celebrity Take-Over: Gold Medal Edition

Olympic stars Yamaguchi and Boitano take-over KQED's social media

Kristi Yamaguchi and Brian Boitano to Take Over KQED’s Social Media for One Day, December 15, 2011.

San Francisco, December 12, 2011—Olympic Gold medalists (and Bay Area residents) Kristi Yamaguchi and Brian Boitano will spend the day as KQED’s Facebook and Twitter ambassadors on December 15, 2011.  Yamaguchi also serves as the host for the San Francisco Ballet’s The Little Mermaid, airing on December 16 at 9pm.  Yamaguchi and Boitano will be writing all of the Facebook (KQED) and Twitter (@KQED) posts for KQED’s main accounts. Using their own words and personal photos, expect some rivalry as the two friends trade quips and stories about their days, their careers, and what they love about KQED. 

“This is going to be a fun day for KQED fans,” says Yoon Lee, Director of Digital Media Fundraising for KQED. “Kristi and Brian are absolutely delightful and we’re looking forward to experiencing KQED through their eyes. I’m secretly hoping this will spur a frenzy of celebrity interest in taking over our social media.”

 With 13,734 “likes” on Facebook and 12,060 followers on Twitter, KQED’s social media presence continues to grow.  In addition, KQED also offers separate Facebook and Twitter accounts for specific programs (www.kqed.org/socialmedia), for a combined 130,000 followers of the various properties. KQED’s Facebook and Twitter offer fans an instant way to connect with the station, learn what feature programs are coming up, ask questions, and win special giveaways and exclusive invitations.

 KQED is widely-acknowledged as one of the most-forward thinking public media organizations embracing social media and new technology. This year, KQED launched the history-making Pledge-Free Stream, and most recently, the new iPhone app that allows for live-streaming and on-the-go access to member benefits. KQED’s relationships with some ofSilicon Valley’s best-known companies, including Apple, Google, Facebook, Twitter, TuneIn, and more have helped foster innovation and experimentation at the station.  KQED content can be found on sites like Flipboard, Pulse, SoundCloud, and other emerging sites.

 Brian Boitano  and Kristi Yamaguchi

@BrianBoitano; @KristiYamaguchi

Facebook.com/BrianBoitano; Facebook.com/KristiYamaguchi

BrianBoitano.com; KristiYamaguchi.com

 About KQED

KQED (kqed.org) has served Northern California for more than 50 years and is affiliated with NPR and PBS. KQED owns and operates public television stations KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area), KQED Plus (San Jose/Bay Area), and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); KQED Public Radio (88.5FM San Francisco and 89.3FM Sacramento); the interactive platforms kqed.org and KQEDnews.org; and KQED Education. KQED Public Television, one of the nation’s most-watched public television stations, is the producer of local and national series such as QUEST; Check, Please! Bay Area; This Week in Northern California; Truly CA; and Essential Pépin.  KQED’s digital television channels include 9HD, KQED Life, KQED World, KQED Kids, and KQED V-me, and are available 24/7 on Comcast.  KQED Public Radio, home of Forum with Michael Krasny and The California Report, is one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service delivering more than eighteen local newscasts daily.  KQED Interactive provides KQED’s cross-platform news service, KQEDnews.org, as well as offers several popular local blogs, video and audio podcasts, and a live radio stream at kqed.org. KQED Education brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents, and the general public through workshops, community screenings, and multimedia resources.

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 Contact: Scott Walton – swalton@kqed.org – 415.553.2145

Public Television, Public Television

KQED’s Original Mini-Doc to be Seen Nationally on PBS

The Art of Doing it Yourself to be part of the PBS Arts Festival,

Airing December 16

 San Francisco has one of the most eclectic arts scenes of any city in America. Recognizing the wide diversity of artistic achievement in the Bay Area, PBS will provide a national showcase for KQED’s original mini-doc, The Art of Doing it Yourself. Airing as part of the PBS Arts Festival, The Art of Doing it Yourself will be included in the Festival’s San Francisco night, December 16, 2011, and will follow the evening’s principal attraction, San Francisco Ballet’s production of The Little Mermaid. Airtimes on KQED 9 are as follows: The Little Mermaid at 9pm, followed by the 13-minute documentary at approximately 11:09pm. The mini-doc will also be available online at kqed.org.

 The Art of Doing It Yourself showcases San Francisco’s arts community at its best. The story centers on “Chicken” John Rinaldi, the artist/proprietor of a struggling artist’s warehouse/performance space located inSan Francisco. Chez Poulet is in danger of being shuttered due to a lack of funds. An array of visual, performance, and circus artists call the space home and Chicken John creates an only-in-San-Francisco benefit event to save the space.

 The mini-doc allows the viewer to take a peek inside the warehouse and reveals the wide variety and styles of arts residing within but also, what it means to be an artist and the eternal push and pull between art and commerce. The space is designed for artists to have the freedom to make art because they feel like it, not because they need to commodify it and not because it needs to put dinner on the table or pay the rent.  And yet, the reality lies with an unpaid mortgage and the hope that a benefit will allow Chez Poulet a little longer lease on life.

 Chicken John, a self-proclaimed ‘showman’ becomes, for the artists who collaborate with him and donate their time and talents to save Chez Poulet, a champion. One for the ridiculous and the bizarre, and a champion for the belief that one person can do anything.

 “It is impossible to showcase all of Bay Area arts in 13 minutes,” stated Executive ProducerLouise Lo.  “Instead, we decided to highlight a less-covered but thriving part of the arts community—do-it-yourself artists who take matters in their own hands and create art to express themselves rather than focus on ‘making it’ within the arts establishment.”

 Featured in the mini-doc are:

“Chicken” John Rinaldi – Showman, Proprietor; Ani Thompkins  – Gap employee by day, visual artist by night; Miriam Telles – Avant Circus Cabaret Aerialist ; Charles Gadeken – Visual Artist, Founder of The Box Shop  collective in Hunter’s Point

 Screeners available upon request

 About PBS ARTS

As part of its commitment to increase every American’s access to – and participation in – the arts, PBS kicks off the multi-platform PBS Arts Fall Festival October 14th.  Anchored by broadcasts every Friday night into December and a range of related online content, the Fall Festival features artists and performances from nine communities across the country with celebrity hosts from each locale.  Comprising full-length performances, behind-the-scenes interviews, and artist and performer profiles, the PBS Arts Fall Festival is complemented by locally produced mini-documentaries that highlight related topics and cultural aspects of the country’s top arts cities.  

 About KQED

KQED (kqed.org) has served Northern California for more than 50 years and is affiliated with NPR and PBS. KQED owns and operates public television stations KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area), KQED Plus (San Jose/Bay Area), and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); KQED Public Radio (88.5FM San Francisco and 89.3FM Sacramento); the interactive platforms kqed.org and KQEDnews.org; and KQED Education. KQED Public Television, one of the nation’s most-watched public television stations, is the producer of local and national series such as QUEST; Check, Please! Bay Area; This Week in Northern California; Truly CA; and Essential Pépin.  KQED’s digital television channels include 9HD, KQED Life, KQED World, KQED Kids, and KQED V-me, and are available 24/7 on Comcast.  KQED Public Radio, home of Forum with Michael Krasny and The California Report, is one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service delivering more than eighteen local newscasts daily.  KQED Interactive provides KQED’s cross-platform news service, KQEDnews.org, as well as offers several popular local blogs, video and audio podcasts, and a live radio stream at kqed.org. KQED Education brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents, and the general public through workshops, community screenings, and multimedia resources.

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Contact: Scott Walton 415.553.2145/swalton@kqed.org

Press Info for KQED