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For Immediate Release

UNC-TV PROVIDES CORONAVIRUS SUPPORT TO STATE GOVERNMENT, CITIZENS

Live Emergency Briefings; Dedicated Page Offers Information, Resources, Updates

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, March 18, 2020—UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina’s top priority is the safety and health of all North Carolinians. As North Carolina’s statewide public television network, UNC-TV is uniquely positioned to provide the latest state and national emergency information, distribute emergency briefings and offer critical resources on air and online regarding the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

UNC-TV has just announced special COVID-19 virus-related updates to upcoming on-air programming:

  • Wednesday March 18, 7:30 PM—Focus On: Coronavirus, Part 2 NC Secretary of Health & Human Services, Dr. Mandy Cohen, sits down with NC SPIN’s Tom Campbell for an update on the state’s response to the virus and the latest health and safety guidelines.
  • Thursday, March 19, at 8 PM—PBS NewsHour Presents: Confronting Coronavirus Explore public and personal health, as well as the economic impact of COVID-19.
  • Thursday, March 19, at 9 PM—Spillover See how diseases are a rising threat around the world.
  • Tuesday, April 21, at 9 PM—FRONTLINE Follow the story of the COVID-19 virus, its impact and the response through the lens of two Washington governments—the state of Washington and the nation's capital.

In addition to serving as the backbone for the state’s emergency communications, including ensuring that English and Spanish briefings are available to all broadcasters, UNC-TV has launched a multiplatform campaign to provide trusted, reliable information from state and national health and emergency operations centers. And UNC-TV’s Children’s Media and Education Services and Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel, along with PBS KIDS, are providing reassuring guidance to families and robust home learning tools for parents, caregivers and educators. Highlights of this effort are outlined below.

  • For the latest information and guidance concerning the COVID-19 virus outbreak, including updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NC Department of Health and Human Services and Governor Roy Cooper, visit unctv.org/coronavirus.
  • UNC-TV is also actively sharing current conditions and updates at @publicmedianc on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
  • UNC-TV broadcast channels and its website deliver local and national emergency briefings, news coverage from PBS NewsHour and special reports on the virus. These include PBSNewsHour Presents: Confronting Coronavirus, this Thursday, March 19, at 8 PM, followed, at 9 PM, by Spillover, a look at the rise and spread of viruses in the world. [Note for Broadcast Media: For North Carolina emergency briefings and Q&As, the embed codes for broadcasters follow.
  • For English:

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  • For Spanish:

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  • UNC-TV’s PBS KIDS partners have curated videos and resources for talking to children about COVID-19 available at PBSKIDS.org.
  • PBS KIDS for Parents provides a hub for all things PBS KIDS with activities tailored by show and age level, articles on supporting children’s growth and much more.
  • PBS KIDS is now publishing a free, daily e-newsletter for parents and caregivers offering content, activities and tips for you to keep your child learning and entertained at home.
  • Parents and caregivers can also text CONNECT to 274448 for additional educational resources delivered straight to their phones from UNC-TV’s free Bright By Text service.
  • To assist with at-home education, an extensive library of free lesson plans and distance learning tools is available from PBS LearningMedia at unctv.pbslearningmedia.org. This resource supports K-12 distance learning and provides resources to help explain coronavirus and promote healthy habits (parents and caregivers can use it, as well as educators). PBS LearningMedia offers thousands of contextualized learning materials aligned to state and national standards. Additionally, integrations with REMIND and Google Classroom are available for educators to share the same linked content and resources with their classes and families via text and email.
  • A free virtual learning event from PBS for educators about incorporating distance learning with PBS LearningMedia takes place this Wednesday, March 18, at 7 PM,.

UNC-TV’s dedicated coronavirus webpage and its social platforms are continually updated as new information and resources become available.

UNC-TV is more committed than ever to serving the state as its most far-reaching source for delivering reliable information, offering a support system for North Carolinians navigating this difficult, unprecedented time.

About UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina
As the PBS affiliate serving the country’s third-largest public media market, UNC-TV educates, informs, entertains and inspires its statewide audience on-air, online and in-person. UNC-TV shares the best of PBS and locally produced content, reaching up to 16.8 million households, across four, unique over-the-air program services: UNC-TV PBS & More, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS Channel and the Explorer Channel.​

UNC-TV also delivers rich, digital-first content to more than 118,000 social media followers and 1.3 million website visitors annually. In-person, UNC-TV engages communities and inspires action. Its free resources and events spark curiosity from North Carolina’s youngest to oldest citizens, helping them reach their full potential. And UNC-TV serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state’s emergency services.

UNC-TV offers life-enhancing programs and services across North Carolina and beyond. Visit unctv.org and join the conversation at facebook.com/publicmediaNC, instagram.com/publicmediaNC and @publicmediaNC on Twitter.

—unctv.org—

Contact Rebekah Radisch, UNC-TV: rradisch@unctv.org or 919-549-7177