Regional Economic Development Press Release
June 8, 2001One of the most pressing problems Northeast Ohio faces is arrested economic development. The litany of woes is familiar, including the declining population in the urban core, falling median income, under-funding of education in general and technology education in particular, and under-development of the "new economy" enterprises.
A partnership between public broadcasters 90.3 WCPN®, WVIZ/PBS and The Plain Dealer will result in a multi-faceted and in-depth project centering on this important subject. Called "A Quiet Crisis," the project is designed to inform viewers, readers and listeners about how economic development directly affects their lives and has a real impact on their jobs, families, neighborhoods and general livelihood. "A Quiet Crisis" will also explore and reveal how individuals can influence productive regional economic development projects and will encourage broad community involvement and provide opportunities for direct, immediate participation.
Beginning with a series of newspaper articles in The Plain Dealer, the project also includes radio reports on 90.3 WCPN®, web content and an hour-long television program that will be simulcast on WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN®.
All components of the campaign will be based on a roundtable discussion happening prior to the newspaper series and radio and television broadcasts. The discussion, moderated by Joe Frolik, Associate Editor of The Plain Dealer will involve some of Northeast Ohio's most influential economic development experts including: Dennis Eckart, President and CEO, Greater Cleveland Growth Association; Edward W. (Ned) Hill, Senior Research Scholar in The Urban Center and Professor in Urban Studies and Public Administration at Cleveland State University's Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs; Steven A. Minter, President and Executive Director, The Cleveland Foundation; Richard A. Shatten, Ameritech Professor for the Practice of Regional Economics and Director, Center for Regional Economic Issues, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University; Sandra Pianalto, First Vice President and COO, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland; and Joe Roman, Executive Director, Cleveland Tomorrow.
The following components are scheduled for publication or broadcast by the partnering organizations:
90.3 WCPN®:
- On Friday, June 15, 90.3 WCPN® Reporter Janet Babin will present a story on the subject during morning drive time (6 a.m. - 9 a.m.)
- Also on Friday, June 15, Joe Frolik, Associate Editor of The Plain Dealer, will be interviewed during the "Morning News" broadcast (9-10 a.m.)
WVIZ/PBS:
- On Friday, June 15, the premiere of an edited, one-hour television version of the roundtable discussion will air on WVIZ/PBS at 8 p.m.
- On Friday, June 15, a special installment of the WVIZ/PBS weekly series, Feagler & Friends will air at 9 p.m., immediately following the hour-long broadcast. This program will continue discussion on the topic and reveal future campaign components. Included on this program will be 90.3's Janet Babin.
- On Sunday, June 17 at 4 p.m., the television program will be rebroadcast.
- On Tuesday, June 19, another rebroadcast of the television program will occur, this at 11 p.m.
The Plain Dealer:
- On Friday, June 15, a special advance story describing the topic and introducing the campaign will be published.
- This will be followed up on Sunday, June 17 with a series of articles and editorials in The Plain Dealer.
Web components:
- On Friday, June 15, an audio recording of the entire, non-edited roundtable discussion will be available by 8 p.m. on the wviz.org and wcpn.org Web sites.
- A transcript of the entire roundtable discussion will also be available via both public broadcasters' Web sites.
- An interactive poll will be activated via both the 90.3 WCPN® and WVIZ/PBS Web sites.
- Additional materials, promotion and polls will be activated on the Cleveland.com Web site.