PRI: Public Radio International: National and World News, Talk, Arts, Entertainment and Music: PRI's 'The Tavis Smiley Show' presents 'My America 2008'

PRI's 'The Tavis Smiley Show' presents 'My America 2008'
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Clinton Forry on 26 February, 2008 10:52:00
 
PRI PRESS RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Sheryl Flowers, Smiley Radio Properties Inc., 323.290.2620,
sflowers@tavistalks.com
Dan Jensen, PRI, 612.330.9212, djensen@pri.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
PRI's 'The Tavis Smiley Show' presents 'My America 2008'
26-part series illuminates the effects of Election 2008 issues on everyday
Americans
LOS ANGELES and MINNEAPOLIS, February 28, 2008  Smiley Radio Properties Inc.
and Public Radio International (PRI) announce the development of a powerful new
series, "My America 2008" available nationwide May 2 in 26 one-hour episodes.
Created by the award-winning producer and host Tavis Smiley, "My America 2008"
profiles ordinary citizens and how their lives will be affected by the plans
and policies of those running for U.S. president. The series will air weekly
until the November elections, increasing the diversity of new voices and rich
perspectives in public media.
The individuals and families profiled in "My America 2008" will react to the
candidates' positions on a range of issues  the economy, health care,
immigration, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, education and more. Smiley will
also moderate responses from guest experts and online participants who
contribute to the series via the program Web site, myamerica2008.com. Available
now, the Web site acts as an ongoing resource for input that informs the series
and will guide the discussions.
PRI President and CEO Alisa Miller says, "'My America 2008' is an extraordinary
initiative. By linking the lives of Americans directly to the presidential
candidates' positions, it combines the best of public media with the ideals of
our democratic process. All of us at PRI applaud Tavis and his staff for this
remarkable project."
"I trust the inherent wisdom of the American people," says Smiley. "Ours is a
government of, by and for the people, and now, with the Internet, the media
must also be of, by and for the people. It's time for us in the media to become
'the listeners' and to create new ways for 'the people' to connect and talk
about things that really matter."
"My America 2008" will get to the heart of the most pressing issues facing
Americans today, from terrorism and national security to education, energy,
immigration and more. It will explore and humanize these subjects through
profiles of people who live the issue and in conversations with Americans who
dedicate their working lives to making a difference. The program Web site
invite listeners to add their voices and votes, share their experiences, help
select topics for additional programs and offer home-grown solutions for
consideration by the next administration. Each program will conclude with a
commentary by an 18- to 24-year-old American voting in his or her first
presidential election. By giving the final word to the next generation, "My
America 2008" will leave listeners with a powerful sense of the importance of
these issues to those who will inherit the country.
"My America 2008" is supported in part by AARP and SEIU, United Long-Term Care
Workers Union.
About Tavis Smiley
With his late-night PBS television talk show and his radio show, Tavis Smiley
is the first American ever to simultaneously host signature national talk shows
on both public television and public radio. He started his career as an aide to
the late Los Angeles mayor, Tom Bradley, and offers political commentary twice
weekly on the "Tom Joyner Morning Show." He has authored 11 books and has his
own imprint (Smiley Books) with Hay House.  "Newsweek" profiled him as one of
the "20 people changing how Americans get their news" and dubbed him one of the
nation's "captains of the airwaves." Smiley has received several honorary
doctorate degrees, including one from his alma mater, Indiana University.
About Public Radio International(R)
Founded in 1983, Public Radio International has distinguished itself by
producing, acquiring and distributing innovative content that enables U.S.
audiences to "hear a different voice," bringing new voices and global
perspectives to the public airwaves. Through partnerships with BBC World
Service and station-based and independent producers, the Minneapolis-based
network provides over 400 hours of programming each week, content that is
broadcast and streamed online by 827 PRI affiliates nationwide, whose radio
broadcasts reach over 29 million listeners each week. Podcasts of PRI programs
consistently rank in the top U.S. 100. PRI owns Public Interactive LLC, public
broadcasting's leading Web services company. PRI is also the managing partner
of the satellite radio company American Public Radio LLC, established with
Chicago Public Radio(R), WGBH Radio Boston and WNYC, New York Public Radio(R).
PRI programming is available via XM Public Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.
For more information on PRI and its programs and services, visit www.pri.org.
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