Miami, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/28/2009 -- WPBT2 and Florida International University are working together in bringing HIV/ AIDS awareness to South Florida. In 2008 the Associate Dean at Florida International University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) Allan Richards and two journalism students Jillian Simms and Tiffany Parkes traveled to South Africa and discovered how one the hardest hit regions in the world was dealing with the HIV/ AIDS epidemic. Once back in South Florida, Richards produced a documentary titled, Lessons from South Africa. The documentary contrasts South Africa's and South Florida's method of dealing with HIV/ AIDS awareness, which Richards noted was sharply different. Richards approached FIU colleague Kate MacMillin to work on this project. MacMillin produced a web documentary The Stigma Stops with Me, which portrays the life of Damaries Cruz a woman infected with HIV.

In April 2009 Richards and MacMillin contacted Neal Hecker, Vice President of Program Services at WPBT2 with the documentary and an idea for a special program on Channel 2. "It seemed to me that what Allan and Kate had developed was something that needed greater exposure, it needed to be seen and discussed and not just broadcast on TV" said Hecker. Tell Somebody is a one hour documentary which combines Lessons from South Africa, The Stigma Stops, and a panel discussion on HIV/ AIDS. It will air on WPBT2 (Channel 2) on National Latino AIDS Awareness Day- October 15, 2009 at 10:00pm.

But WBPT2 and SJMC have also created an online website www.tellsomebodynow.com. The site contains important information on HIV/ AIDS such as: facts, resources, videos, articles, interviews and a sneak preview of the Tell Somebody documentary. Central to the site are personal reflections of some of the SJMC students involved in the project.

The Tell Somebody documentary and website serve as a way to bring HIV/ AIDS awareness from a global level to a more local and a personal level. It strives to not only educate, but to empower people to act now and engage with others around the issues raised.

About WPBT2
South Florida's premier public broadcaster, WPBT2, is a community-licensed, not-for-profit media enterprise serving communities from the Treasure Coast to the Florida Keys. WPBT2 provides high quality content from PBS, independent acquisitions and its own original productions. WPBT2's digital media platform, offers: 2HD, a 24-hour high definition channel; Digital 2.2, a mix of Science & Nature Channel, Culturas, The Florida Channel and Create; Digital 2.3, V-me, a 24-hour national Spanish-language network; and http://www.wpbt2.org, the WPBT2 website including, Impromp2 (a community blog), and uVu, a video sharing website. Based in Miami, WPBT2 is also home of the Emmy award-winning national PBS series, Nightly Business Report (http://pbs.org/nbr).

Contacts:

Cammy Richards, cammy_richards@wpbt.org, 305-424-4013
Natalia Villegas, natalia_villegas@wpbt.org, 305-424-4190

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Miami, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/31/2009 -- For many people, Everglades National Park is a dangerous place to go, filled with alligators, snakes, and mosquitoes. But is it really? WPBT2's latest production, Into the Wild, follows the Roberts family from Homestead during a weekend camping trip in the Park.. The half-hour episode premieres on WPBT2 on Thursday, September 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Before their adventure begins, family members give their honest opinions about the planned activities, their fears and concerns with the idea of spending a night in the Everglades. Their stay is filmed in a reality-TV format in order to give the audience a feeling of what the family experiences.

Hosted by Dayton Duncan, co-producer of The National Parks: America's Best Idea, Into the Wild documents the Roberts family as they take part in ranger led activities that include canoeing, off trail wet walks, wildlife watching, and biking.

Into the Wild clears up misconceptions and alleviates fears which the majority of the six million people adjacent to the Everglades have about entering and enjoying the Everglades. The goal is to show an up close and personal look at the beauty and grandeur of what has been called "The River of Grass' and to show local residents what's in their backyard.

Into the Wild is made possible through the support of the National Parks Foundation.

About WPBT2
South Florida's premier public media outlet, WPBT2 is much more than television. 2HD is WPBT2's community-licensed, not-for-profit broadcast channel, serving communities from the Treasure Coast to the Florida Keys. 2HD provides high quality original productions, which include Check Please! South Florida and Changing Seas along with programming from PBS and independent acquisitions, all offered in High Definition. WPBT2 also provides two 24-hour standard definition channels; 2.2, CREATE, a mix of Lifestyle, Science & Nature programming and the Florida Knowledge Network/Florida Channel; 2.3, V-me, is a 24-hour service providing high quality programming in Spanish; and channel2.org, the WPBT website including, uVu, WPBT2's video sharing website and Impromp2 the WPBT2 community blog. Based in Miami, WPBT2 is also home of the Emmy award-winning national PBS series, Nightly Business Report (http://pbs.org/nbr). For more info, visit http://www.wpbt2.org.

Contact:

Cammy Richards, 305-424-4013, cammy_richards@wpbt.org
Natalia Villegas, 305-424-4190, natalia_villegas@wpbt.org

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm