UW featured in two cable TV series
By Steven Goldsmith
News & Information
Northwest residents won’t have to come to the UW campus to see what’s going on there thanks to two weekly showcases just launched on cable television.
“From the Forum: the UW Evans School of Public Affairs” features a campus event or visiting speaker every week on TVW, Washington’s statewide public affairs cable channel. “NorthWest Extra,” on NorthWest Cable News, will draw upon the University’s expertise to shed light on a wide range of topics in the news.
Airing Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., “From the Forum” draws upon faculty and guest lecturers at the Evans School and throughout campus.
The March 20 inaugural program offered thoughts on reducing global poverty from Muhammad Yunus, founder of the world’s top microlending bank, in a discussion moderated by Evans School Dean Marc Lindenberg.
The public will benefit, Lindenberg said, from having a regular statewide time slot to find UW-sponsored events.
“The Evans School is delighted to be part of making these timely and important public policy presentations accessible to citizens throughout Washington state,” Lindenberg said.
“From the Forum” topics will range from Harvard’s Bruce Kennedy’s discussion of how social inequalities affect health (next Tuesday) to state Attorney General Christine Gregoire’s suggestions for creating a more civil school environment (April 10).
In addition to offering visiting speakers, the program will feature special events such as an April 17 Evans School forum on faith-based solutions.
TVW officials see teaming up with the Evans School as a way to tap into the University’s resources and expertise.
“Some of the best and most interesting presentations in the state take place on the UW campus, said Ginger Eagle, TVW’s vice president of programming.
TVW is available to 90 percent of cable households in Washington state. It can be found on Channel 23 on AT&T Broadband in Seattle and on Channel 49 on the campus’ Husky TV (the full list is at http://www.tvw.org).
“NorthWest Extra” will air at
7 p.m. on Fridays and will draw upon the University’s expertise to consider a range of topics in the news.
“The content will shift depending on current events,” said David Messerchmidt, public engagement manager for The Forum at the Evans School (formerly Northwest Forum).
February’s lead-off program teamed up economist Paul Sommers, senior research fellow at the Evans School, with former Labor Secretary Robert Reich to dissect the region’s economic future amid dot-com layoffs.
“Collaborating with the Evans School expands our ability to produce programming that focuses on public policy issues,” said Bill Kaczaraba, NorthWest Cable News’ executive news director.
NorthWest Cable News is available to 2.4 million households in six states, and is on Channel 2 for Seattle AT&T Broadband subscribers and Channel 49 on Husky TV. More information can be found at http://www.nwcn.com.