Higher Education & Economic Development Press Release
July 27, 2001One of the most pressing problems Northeast Ohio faces is arrested economic development. In June, The Plain Dealer and public broadcasters WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN® launched a high-visibility, multi-media campaign designed to inform viewers, readers and listeners about how economic development impacts their jobs, families, neighborhoods and general livelihood. The campaign, called "A Quiet Crisis," is designed to explore and reveal what Northeast Ohioans can do to influence productive regional economic development and encourages broad community involvement providing many opportunities for direct, immediate participation.
In June, "A Quiet Crisis" presented a series of newspaper articles, columns and editorials, radio reports, interactive web content and a one-hour television/radio special. All of these components drew from a unique roundtable discussion involving Northeast Ohio's most influential economic development experts. This initial component gave readers, viewers and listeners valuable background and a general understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of Northeast Ohio's economic development.
The next installment of "A Quiet Crisis," airing on WVIZ/PBS Friday, July 27 at 8 p.m., focuses on the role of higher education in our regional economic development. (Repeats Sunday, July 29 at 3 and 11 p.m.) Once again, a blue-ribbon panel of experts will participate in a lively roundtable discussion. Participants include:
- Roy Church, President, Lorain County Community College
- Sally Conway Kilbane, Ohio Representative [R] District 16
- William E. Kirwan, President, The Ohio State University
- Luis M. Proenza, President, The University of Akron
- Jeanette Grasselli Brown, Chair, Ohio Board of Regents
- James Wagner, Provost & Interim President, Case Western Reserve University.
- The discussion will be moderated by Joe Frolik, Associate Editor, The Plain Dealer.
A Quiet Crisis: Higher Education" will include these specific components:
- A special "advancer" story in The Plain Dealer on Friday, July 27th describing the topic, campaign and promoting future multi-media components.
- A radio report on 90.3 WCPN® with Bill Rice on Friday, July 27th during drive time (6-9am - will air twice)
- One hour call-in show on 90.3 WCPN® hosted Bill Rice and David C. Barnett on Friday, July 27th (9-10am)
- Premiere of a one-hour edited version of the aforementioned roundtable discussion on WVIZ/PBS.
- Special installment of WVIZ/PBS's weekly public affairs program "Feagler & Friends" which will advance the topic and promote future campaign components Friday, July 27th (9-9:30pm)
- Audio recording of the entire (non-edited) aforementioned roundtable discussion available on WCPN/WVIZ websites (by 8pm on Friday, July 27th)
- Transcript of the entire aforementioned roundtable discussion available on WCPN/WVIZ websites (by 8pm on Friday, July 27th)
- Interactive survey and Bulletin Board activated on WCPN/WVIZ websites (by 8pm on Friday, July 27th)
- A series of articles, columns and editorials will appear in The Plain Dealer on Sunday, July 29th which includes special coverage in the Forum section. The Plain Dealer will also print excerpts from the aforementioned roundtable discussion.
- The WVIZ/PBS hour-long special is rebroadcast twice on Sunday, July 29th (3-4pm and 11pm-midnight).
- Audio of the WVIZ/PBS special is broadcast on 90.3 WCPN® on Wednesday, August 1 at 8 p.m.