FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UNC-TV & NC Department of Public Safety Partner To
Provide Emergency News Conferences in Spanish
Research Triangle Park, NC, 3/11/2020 — UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina andNorth Carolina Emergency Management, a division of the NC Department of Public Safety, are partnering to provide live Spanish interpretation of emergency news conferences from the State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh.
“It’s important that we make emergency information accessible to as many people as possible,” said Mike Sprayberry, director of North Carolina Emergency Management. “By adding Spanish interpreters, we can reach our state’s largest population of non-English speakers in their native language.”
“While UNC-TV serves all of North Carolina with entertaining and enlightening programs, it also serves as a key partner in a robust emergency communications system for our first responders as well as our viewers,” said UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina Chief Technology Officer Fred Engel. “We are committed to developing new, innovative ways to enhance this distinct and vital aspect of our service to the state.”
UNC-TV is providing the technology necessary for the Spanish language audio and closed captions, while the Department of Public Safety is contracting with skilled interpreters to provide live interpretation of remarks by Governor Roy Cooper and other state officials. Interpreters are certified by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts to work in the state’s courtrooms and are capable of providing quality, simultaneous Spanish interpretation of the live remarks.
Viewers watching UNC-TV can select English or Spanish audio and English or Spanish closed captions on their televisions. An internet feed of the Spanish audio and captions will also be offered to radio and television broadcasters and digital media outlets to share with their audiences.
UNC-TV also provides live web streaming of emergency news conferences. These live streams appear on the UNC-TV and the Department of Public Safety websites. A Spanish language web stream has been added to both websites. Code is available for digital media providers to embed the web streams into their own content.
For many years, North Carolina has provided American Sign Language interpreters at its emergency news conferences so that the deaf and hard-of-hearing community can receive important information. The state also works with news media to ensure that the ASL interpreters appear on the screen and can be seen by deaf viewers.
About UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina
On air, online and in person, UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina connects North Carolinians to each other, the world and endless possibilities. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the statewide network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels—UNC-TV PBS & More, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS and the Explorer Channel. UNC-TV also provides emergency services support for the state and free educational services and resources for teachers. Visit unctv.org and join the conversation at facebook.com/publicmediaNC, instagram.com/publicmediaNC and @publicmediaNC on Twitter.
About North Carolina Department of Public Safety
The mission of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety is to safeguard and preserve lives and property through prevention, protection and preparation, with integrity and honor. More than 38,000 DPS employees and civilian solders serve the state in the divisions of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice, Emergency Management, N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, N.C. National Guard, State Highway Patrol, Alcohol Law Enforcement and State Capitol Police. Follow NCDPS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @NCPublicSafety.
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CONTACT
Rebekah Radisch, UNC-TV: rradisch@unctv.org 919-549-7177
Keith Acree, NC Emergency Management: keith.acree@ncdps.gov 919-825-2517
