UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina Premieres Hickory-Focused Content
Statewide Public Media Network’s All-In Hickory Efforts Showcased Starting Monday, May 14
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, Thursday, May 10, 2018 – This month, UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina (PMNC), North Carolina’s Statewide public media network, showcases its PMNC CARES Hickory-area content starting with SciTech Now North Carolina, Monday, May 14, at 9:30 PM, on PMNC’s North Carolina Channel.
PMNC CARES, Connecting Audiences with Resources through Education and Service, seeks to know what works, what needs work, what matters and how to serve all North Carolinians better than ever. As part of its initiative, UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina staff spent the week of March 18 to 24 immersed in Hickory and Catawba County to meet citizens, listen to their concerns and share some of the unique qualities of their communities. Although no surprise to Catawba Valley residents, PMNC’s teams found an energetic environment full of inspiring stories fueled by the past experiences and present resilience of the area’s rich tapestry of families. These stories speak to a resurgent spirit where growth in arts, education and business is nurtured and celebrated. Reflecting its commitment to listening and learning, PMNC is now sharing some of the community’s important issues and areas of interest on air and online.
OVERVIEW OF PMNC CARES HICKORY STATEWIDE NETWORK COVERAGE:
In the new SciTech Now North Carolina episode, Gravity Games, premiering Monday, May 14, at 9:30 PM, on the North Carolina Channel, host Frank Graff takes viewers to Lenoir for one of the NC Science Festival’s signature events. See how dozens of teams from schools around North Carolina use gravity, along with a variety of forces, from friction to air resistance, in hopes of winning this unique racing competition. (Additional airtimes include: North Carolina Channel—Tuesday, May 15, at 2:30 AM, 10:30 AM and 12: 30 PM; Wednesday, May 16, at 3:30 PM; Friday, May 18, at 4:30 PM, and on UNC-TV PBS & More Channel—Wednesday, May 16, at 7:30 PM; Thursday, May 17, at 1:30 AM; Sunday, May 20, at 10:30 AM.)
PMNC CARES, Connecting Audiences with Resources through Education and Service, seeks to know what works, what needs work, what matters and how to serve all North Carolinians better than ever. As part of its initiative, UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina staff spent the week of March 18 to 24 immersed in Hickory and Catawba County to meet citizens, listen to their concerns and share some of the unique qualities of their communities. Although no surprise to Catawba Valley residents, PMNC’s teams found an energetic environment full of inspiring stories fueled by the past experiences and present resilience of the area’s rich tapestry of families. These stories speak to a resurgent spirit where growth in arts, education and business is nurtured and celebrated. Reflecting its commitment to listening and learning, PMNC is now sharing some of the community’s important issues and areas of interest on air and online.
OVERVIEW OF PMNC CARES HICKORY STATEWIDE NETWORK COVERAGE:
In the new SciTech Now North Carolina episode, Gravity Games, premiering Monday, May 14, at 9:30 PM, on the North Carolina Channel, host Frank Graff takes viewers to Lenoir for one of the NC Science Festival’s signature events. See how dozens of teams from schools around North Carolina use gravity, along with a variety of forces, from friction to air resistance, in hopes of winning this unique racing competition. (Additional airtimes include: North Carolina Channel—Tuesday, May 15, at 2:30 AM, 10:30 AM and 12: 30 PM; Wednesday, May 16, at 3:30 PM; Friday, May 18, at 4:30 PM, and on UNC-TV PBS & More Channel—Wednesday, May 16, at 7:30 PM; Thursday, May 17, at 1:30 AM; Sunday, May 20, at 10:30 AM.)
SciTech Now North Carolina also recently examined the use of fitness tracking devices on herons and egrets in a partnership between Environmental Club students at Maiden High School with help from adults from Lenoir-Rhyne University, which is providing a unique insight into the lives of the great birds. See the story, Fitbits for Herons, at video.unctv.org/video/3011562643.
On an all-new edition of North Carolina Weekend, the popular weekly roundup of weekend activities in our state, host Deborah Holt Noel introduces a statewide audience to some of the special places and events in Hickory and Catawba in a special feature premiering Thursday, May 17, at 9 PM, on the UNC-TV PBS & More Channel. Highlights include visits to:
- Catawba Valley Pottery Festival
- Hickory Hops Festival
- Hickory Museum of Art
- Catawba Science Center
- The SALT Block
- Sweet Tea B&B
- Hickory Furniture Mart
- Hollar Mill
- Western Piedmont Symphony
- Two historic homes (Historical Association Catawba Valley)
- And six area restaurants
UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina streamed the Catawba County Early Childhood Education Summit live on March 19. This important summit featured the convening of more than 170 educators, business and community leaders to learn more about the importance of early childhood education. The on-air broadcast premiere of the Catawba County Early Childhood Summit is Saturday, May 19, at 1 PM, on the North Carolina Channel. Additionally, presentations from the summit are available online at ncchannel.org/category/nc-education.
Producer Heather Burgiss introduces an amazing Hickory-born young man on Davian Robinson: Fearless, premiering on My Home, NC—Shorts, Saturday, May 26, at 8:50 PM, on the UNC-TV PBS & More Channel. Although he wasn’t expected to live through his first night, Davian Robinson is now breaking barriers as the first visually impaired dance major at UNC-Charlotte, a world-class Paralympic cyclist and sky diver.
Other stories collected over the week in Catawba County still to come on PMNC’s network include a SciTech Now North Carolina feature that goes behind the scenes at the Manufacturing Solutions Center in Conover, part of Catawba Valley Community College, with a mission to improve quality and efficiency in producing new products, as well as creating and retaining jobs in our state. Airtimes on the statewide network include:- UNC-TV: Sunday, May 13, 6:53 PM and Monday, May 14, at 3:53 AM
- Explorer Channel: Sunday, May 13, at 9:47 AM; Monday, May 14, at 6:54 PM; and Tuesday, May 15, at 2:54 AM
And, in an upcoming MUSE Digital Short, producer Katy Loebrich offers an exhilarating feature celebrating the 40th anniversary concert of the Hickory Choral Society. Airtimes on the statewide network are as follows:
- UNC-TV: Sunday, May 13, at 7:55 PM and Tuesday, May 15, at 4:56 AM
- North Carolina Channel: Sunday, May 13, at 6:55 AM, 2:57 PM, and 11:57 PM
- Explorer Channel: Sunday, May 13, at 1:56 PM and 4:57 PM; Monday, May 14, at 4:54 PM; and Tuesday, May 15 at 4:55 AM
In addition, Anita Brown-Graham, professor of Public Law and Government at the UNC School of Government and host of the ncIMPACT series, will lead a roundtable discussion about Hickory’s changing economy and workforce development responses with Hickory Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Robbie Adell, Catawba County Commissioner Kitty Barnes, Catawba Valley Community College President Dr. Garrett Hinshaw and Western Piedmont Workforce Development Board Director Wendy Johnson.
PMNC is also producing special programming, to premiere this fall, which will highlight the region’s arts renaissance, economic resurgence and educational innovation. Narrated by longtime residents, multi-generational families, legacy entrepreneurs, community leaders and native artists, this content will show how traditional industry roots, strong educational institutions and a vibrant arts community provide a sturdy foundation for attracting some of the brightest to live, work and play.
Visit unctv.org/cares for more information about PMNC CARES and to experience results from our all-in efforts in Hickory and Catawba County.
ABOUT PMNC CARES
PMNC CARES—Public Media North Carolina Connecting Audiences with Resources through Education and Service—is a yearlong listening tour initiative to take PMNC to communities across North Carolina. Over 2018, PMNC is traveling across the state meeting citizens from all walks of life and telling stories that matter in seven communities—Winston-Salem, Hickory, Goldsboro, Wilmington, Asheville, Charlotte and the Triangle area of Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh. Learn more about visits and activities both past and present at unctv.org/cares.
ABOUT UNC-TV PUBLIC MEDIA NORTH CAROLINA
UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina (PMNC) provides people of all ages with enriching media through a distinctive array of programs and services. This statewide public media network is comprised of four over-the-air channels—UNC-TV PBS & More Channel, North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS Channel and Explorer Channel—as well as online content delivery and in-person engagement.
Storytelling is what drives Public Media North Carolina. By listening to, learning from and telling the stories of North Carolinians working tirelessly to improve their communities, PMNC fulfills its promise and meets its responsibility as stewards of public media. On-air, online and in-person, PMNC connects its audience, communities and partners with each other, the world and endless possibilities by providing content and services that educate, engage and inspire.
Public Media North Carolina’s 12 stations comprise North Carolina’s only statewide television network, made possible through a unique partnership of public investment and private support. PMNC is committed to producing, broadcasting and sharing content for and about North Carolina. Additionally, PMNC provides emergency services support for the state and free educational services and resources for teachers. Visit unctv.org and join the conversation by connecting with us at facebook.com/publicmediaNC, instagram.com/publicmediaNC and @publicmediaNC on Twitter.
Contact: Rebekah Radisch, 919-549-7177 or rradisch@unctv.org
