KQED, the public media organization that serves Northern California, is proud to partner with SFMOMA for the museum’s Countdown Celebration. KQED will be celebrating along with SFMOMA for four festive days kicking off the museum’s expansion and their launch into off-site exhibitions and programs. Museum admission is free to all, Thursday, May 30, through Sunday, June 2. Festivities include a celebratory kick-off party, a 24-hour live art variety show, all-night gallery access, Family Day and more.

KQED events include:

• Forum Broadcasts Live from SFMOMA on Tuesday, May 28, starting at 9am.
  KQED Public Radio’s popular morning talk show Forum with host Michael Krasny will broadcast live from SFMOMA with a preview of the festivities and the museum’s plans over the next three years. Guests include Neal Benezra, director of SFMOMA; Janet Bishop, curator of painting and sculpture, SFMOMA; Craig Dykers, principal architect for SFMOMA expansion designers Snøhetta; and The Kitchen Sisters (Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva). Register to attend at forumatsfmoma.eventbrite.com. Live audience members can enjoy the SFMOMA galleries for free following the program.

• The Kitchen Sisters present The Making Of… all day on Thursday, May 30, and Friday, May 31.
  The community collaboration by award-winning independent radio producers The Kitchen Sisters (Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva) and KQED will take over the SFMOMA public spaces for two full days. More than 15 artists and makers featured in the series will present live demonstrations of their creations and take part in discussions.

  The Making Of… is produced by the Kitchen Sisters, KQED, AIR and Zeega as part of Localore, a nationwide production of AIR and Zeega, with funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Wyncote Foundation, the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Watch the SFMOMA Future Countdown Live via the KQED Video Stream!
  Saturday, June 1, 6pm, to Sunday, June 2, 6pm
  Can’t make it to the Countdown Celebration? Watch the live video stream of the nonstop 24-hour live art marathon featuring 48 artists, filmmakers, musicians, performers and writers at kqed.org. The event will be hosted by Oakland arts collective Wonderment Consortium (Packard Jennings, Steuart Pittman and Scott Vermeire), comedian Marga Gomez, comedian George Chen and drag superstar Peaches Christ.

• A Special Live The Do List at SFMOMA on Sunday, June 2, at 9am
  KQED Public Radio’s popular arts roundup The Do List with Cy Musiker and the San Francisco Chronicle‘s David Wiegand will be part of the 24-hour live art variety show with a discussion of some of the bigger summer events.

About KQED
KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. Home to the most listened-to public radio station in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program, and as a leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas.

About the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Founded as the first West Coast museum devoted to modern and contemporary art, SFMOMA is currently undergoing a major expansion project  that will significantly enhance gallery, education and public spaces, enabling the museum to better showcase its expanded permanent collection and serve its growing audiences. During the construction of its new building from the summer of 2013 to early 2016, the museum will go beyond its walls and directly into the community with an extensive array of off-site programming, including collaborative and traveling exhibitions, site-specific and commissioned projects and new education initiatives throughout the city and region.

The silence is broken.

One in six boys is sexually molested by the age of 16. The statistic is staggering .

In the groundbreaking documentary Boyhood Shadows: I Swore I’d Never Tell, filmmakers Steve Rosen and Terri DeBono (Accidental Hero and Beyond Barbed Wire) explore the life-long emotional carnage of this epidemic. Brave and unflinching,  Boyhood Shadows shines a light on the strength of the human spirit and brings a platform to those who thought they were voiceless.

Filmed in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New Jersey, Boyhood Shadows chronicles the journey of five men whose lives were changed by childhood sexual assault. Seeking help through one of just a handful of support groups for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse (in fact, only forty or so groups exist worldwide), these survivors continued to suffer in secret while family and friends were kept in the dark and at a loss to understand the trauma they were going through. What they learn is there is no shame in recognizing and facing one’s trauma, as child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.

At the film’s center is Glenn, a man who came under the power of a sexual predator as a young boy. Past and present are woven into the revelation of Glenn’s story. Numbing his pain as a teen with alcohol and drugs, he held the secret and the shame from his family. His story is not much different from other men who have shared the same history. One in six boys is sexually molested by the age of 16. A difficult topic, but if we don’t talk about it, who will?

Filmmakers Rosen and DeBono create an intimate, personal look into the lives of the survivors. They are joined by spouses, family members and friends, healthcare and law enforcement professionals, consultants, authors, actors and  politicians. Created out of a need to support and help heal male survivors of childhood sexual abuse, Boyhood Shadows speaks out on the realities of childhood sexual abuse. Among the film’s awards are the Bronze Award at WorldFest Houston 2009, Silver Place at the 2009 AAECT Film Festival and a prestigious nomination for Best Documentary at the 2010 Swansea Bay Film Festival in Wales. Organizations such as the Lackland AFB Sexual Assault Prevention Outreach, the MaleSurvivor Convention and the Prison University Project have screened the film as a learning tool. Both powerful and empowering, Boyhood Shadows builds awareness around the devastating effects of childhood sexual abuse.

The program is presented by KQED and distributed by NETA for public television.

Praise for the Film:

“A gut-wrenching study of heartbreak and redemption.” - Marc Cabrera, The Monterey Herald

“… a deep and insightful film. If we don’t talk openly, we allow offenders to continue and we prevent boys from getting help they deserve…” - SSA Jim Clemente FBI (Retired) Writer/Tech Advisor Criminal Minds

“An important and difficult issue…” - State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg

“….an amazing film…. ” - California Senator Elaine Alquist

Key Credits Include:
Producer/Co-Director: Terri DeBono
Director/Editor: Steve Rosen
In association with Phoebe Snow Foundation
Composer/Musician: Laura Dare
Presenting Station: KQED, San Francisco
U.S. Distributor: NETA
Underwriting: Self-funded

Publicity & PR:
Shannon Page, shannon@scottsf.com
Terri DeBono, terri@macandava.com

Website & Social Media:

Website: http://www.boyhoodshadowsproject.org
Program Guide Article: Boyhood Shadows Article
Social Media Toolkit: Social Media Toolkit

About KQED Public Television:

KQED Public Television, one of the country’s most popular public television stations, brings the values of public media to homes around the Bay Area with EMMY Award–winning programming that inspires, informs and entertains. KQED produces local series like Check, Please! Bay Area, This Week in Northern California, Truly CA, San Francisco Opera and ImageMakers,as well as popular programs for national broadcast such as Essential Pépin, QUEST and Film School Shorts. KQED also distributes programming, including The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!, Roadtrip Nation and  Joanne Weir’s Cooking School, to public media stations across the country.

KQED Public Television channels are KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area, also available in HD), KQED Plus (Bay Area, also available in HD) and KQET (Monterey/Salinas).

KQED also offers digital channels available via XFINITY and over-the-air, each with distinct quality programming: KQED World, KQED Life, KQED Kids and KQED V-me (Spanish language).

About NETA:
The National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA, netaonline.org) is a professional association that serves public television and education by providing quality programming, educational resources, professional development, management support, and national representation. NETA distributes over 2,000 hours of programming each year to public television stations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

PBS and KQED, the public media institution that serves Northern California, announced today that a new series Genealogy Roadshow, which premieres nationally this fall, is seeking local participants to share their families’ stories. Final participants will be part of an episode taping in San Francisco on Sunday, July 21.  Part detective story, part emotional journey, Genealogy Roadshow will combine history and science to uncover fascinating stories of a diverse collection of Americans. The producers are looking for Bay Area residents who have (or believe they have) a historically significant story in their family. Chosen stories will be researched by a team of local experts, and will be linked to the larger community history, revealing the rich cultural tapestry of San Francisco and America.  Individuals with interesting stories are encouraged to submit them online through the KQED website at kqed.org/grshow.

After participants are chosen, genealogy, history and DNA experts will use family heirlooms, letters, pictures, historical documents and other clues to hunt down more information. These experts will enlist the help of local historians to add color and context to the investigations, ensuring every artifact and every name becomes a clue in solving the mystery.  San Francisco residents are invited and encouraged to submit their personal stories as Genealogy Roadshow will unearth family and community secrets, reveal notable relatives and discover unexpected stories that connect the past to the present. Many answers will be revealed on camera before a local audience, in a historic building relevant to the cities’ — and the participants’ — histories.

Genealogy Roadshow’s premiere season features participants from four American cities — San Francisco, Detroit, Nashville, and Austin— who want to explore unverified genealogical claims passed down through family histories that may (or may not) connect them to an event or an historical figure. These cities were chosen as American crossroads of culture, diversity, industry and history. The San Francisco episode, which will be filmed before a live audience, will air this fall (specific air dates will be announced later).

San Francisco is known as a Pacific port, a religious mission, a railroad hub, a mining mecca, an earthquake epicenter, the birthplace of world-famous counterculture movements and the home of the biggest technological innovations of all time, including denim jeans. The city has seen its population transformed over and over again due to its constantly shifting industries, leading to the significant diversity that exists there today.

“San Francisco is a great fit for Genealogy Roadshow. The city has always been a fantastically diverse melting pot attracting the most colorful personalities and people from all walks of life. It was a natural selection for us,” said executive producer Stuart Krasnow.  “We’re looking for a diverse mix of stories from locals who want to know more about their history.”

“I am delighted that San Francisco was chosen to be a part of Genealogy Roadshow,” said KQED Vice President for Television Michael Isip. “KQED is always looking for new and exciting ways to showcase and connect to the community we serve.  Genealogy Roadshow will uncover the amazing personal and historical stories which help make the Bay Area one of the most unique places in the world.  We encourage anyone with deep roots in the Bay Area to go to kqed.org and submit their one of a kind story.”

Genealogy Roadshow is produced by Krasnow Productions. President and owner Stuart Krasnow is a long-time television industry veteran, having worked for all of the country’s top broadcasters in news and entertainment, as well as at numerous cable networks as a creator and executive producer. It is represented in the U.S. by Pat Quinn of Quinn Media Management and packaged with PBS by APA.

Genealogy Roadshow has been a huge hit in Ireland, where national public broadcaster RTE commissioned this original format from producer Big Mountain Productions.

About Big Mountain Productions

Big Mountain originated the Genealogy Roadshow format which is in its second season in Ireland on RTE Television.  Run by husband-and-wife team Jane Kelly and Philip McGovern, who are former BBC/RTE executive producers, Big Mountain originates and produces television shows for national broadcasters, specializing in hybrid shows that combine great content and entertainment value including: The Tenements, Life in the Big House, Craftmaster, Living the Eviction and the music-mentoring show Jam.  For more information: bigmountainproductions.com

About Krasnow Productions

Krasnow Productions is named for its founder and president, Stuart Krasnow, a 30-year veteran television producer.  Under his banner, Krasnow has developed and produced series in almost every genre of unscripted television for broadcast and cable networks, including The Weakest Link, Average Joe, Dog Eat Dog and The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency.  Krasnow Productions also sold and produced Searching For…, one of the first original series to be produced for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network. Additionally Krasnow Productions has sold and produced original projects for NBC, A&E, TBS, GSN, MTV, HGTV, E!, and Fremantlemedia.

About PBS

PBS, with its over 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 120 million people through television and nearly 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12^th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices.  Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.

About KQED

KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. Home to the most listened-to public radio station in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program, and as a leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas.

MEDIA INFORMATION and CONTACTS:

John Michael Kennedy / Jennifer Marcus, Goodman Media International, PBSGR@goodmanmedia.com or 212-576-2700
Carrie Johnson / Michae Godwin, PBS; cjohnson@pbs.org or 703-739-5129/ mmgodwin@pbs.org or 703-739-8483

Documentaries recognized include California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown, A Brush With the Tenderloin, Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone and Stage Left: A Story of Theater in San Francisco.

KQED, the public media organization serving Northern California, is pleased to announce 17 nominations for the 2013 Northern California EMMY® Awards for its public television stations KQED and KQED Plus. The 42nd annual Northern California Area EMMY® Awards ceremony will take place at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Nominations include:

NEWS PROGRAMMING

Specialty Assignment Report

• My Father’s Dreams: Greg Chamitoff, NASA Astronaut, KQED Plus
  John Gregg, Producer/Writer; Steven G. Kern, Editor

NEWS AND PROGRAMMING SPECIALTY

Documentary

• California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown, KQED 9
  Sascha Rice, Director; Hilary Armstrong, Executive Producer; Julia Mintz, Hilary Armstrong, Sascha Rice, Producers
• Truly CA: Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone, KQED 9
  Chris Metzler, Co-Producer/Director

Arts/Entertainment — Feature/Segment

• In the Studio With Mike Shine, KQED 9
  Kristin Farr, Producer; Matthew Williams, Co-Producer
• Occupy Art, KQED 9
  Lori Halloran, Producer; Linda Peckham, Editor

Arts/Entertainment — Program/Special

• A Brush With the Tenderloin, KQED 9/Paige Bierma Productions
  Paige Bierma, Director/Director of Photography/Editor
• Stage Left: A Story of Theater in San Francisco, KQED 9
  Austin Forbord, Producer/Director

Informational/Instructional — Feature/Segment

• Exploring Corals of the Deep, KQED 9
  Sheraz Sadiq, Producer; Amy Miller, Series Producer;
  Paul Rogers, Managing Editor; Linda Peckham, Editor

Historic/Cultural — Program Feature/Segment

• Tribute to Maya Angelou, KQED 9
  Nicole Atkinson Roach, Producer; Belva Davis, Host/Reporter
• Behind Enemy Lines: Archie Maltbie, WWII Fighter Pilot, KQED Plus
  John Gregg, Producer;  Becca King Reed, Director;
  Steven G. Kern, Editor; Simon Gordon, Audio Technician

Historic/Cultural — Program/Special

• The Memory Be Green, KQED 9
  Louise Lo, Executive Producer; David Iverson, Producer/Writer;
  June Mesina Ouellette, Associate Producer; Peter J. Borg, Editor

Public/Current/Community Affairs — Program/Special

• The New Environmentalists, KQED 9/Mill Valley Film Group
  John Antonelli, Tom Dusenbery, Will Parrinello, Producer/Directors

Health/Science/Environment — Program/Special

• Heat and Harvest, KQED 9/Center for Investigative Reporting
  Joanne Elgart Jennings, Executive Producer; Gabriela V. Quiros, Producer/Segment Producer;
  Serene Fang, Producer/Videographer/Editor; Craig A. Miller, Host/Reporter;
  Mark Schapiro, Reporter; Linda Peckham, David Ritsher, Editors
• QUEST: Episode 601, KQED 9
  Christopher Bauer, Sheraz Sadiq, Producers; Amy Miller, Series Producer;
  Paul Rogers, Managing Editor; Linda Peckham, Editor

SPOT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Community/Public Service (PSA) — Single Spot or Campaign

• 2012 KQED Local Heroes Honoree Profiles, KQED 9/Jim Yager Media
  James N. Yager, Senior Producer

Promotion — Program — Campaign

• I Am KQED, KQED 9
  Bridget Louie, Producer/Director; Mike Elwell, Director Of Photography

CRAFT ACHIEVEMENT

Writer — Program

• Behind Enemy Lines: Archie Maltbie, WWII Fighter Pilot, KQED Plus
  John Gregg, Writer

The EMMY® Award is presented for outstanding achievement in television by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS). San Francisco/ Northern California is one of twenty chapters awarding regional EMMY® statuettes. The Northern California chapter is composed of media companies and individuals from Visalia to the Oregon border and includes Hawaii and Reno, NV. Entries were aired during the 2012 calendar year. 674 English and 115 Spanish entries were received in 60 categories.

About KQED Public Television:

KQED Public Television, one of the country’s most popular public television stations, brings the values of public media to homes around the Bay Area with EMMY® Award–winning programming that inspires, informs and entertains. KQED produces local series like Check, Please! Bay Area, This Week in Northern California, Truly CA, San Francisco Opera and ImageMakers, as well as popular programs for national broadcast such as Essential Pépin, QUEST and Film School Shorts. KQED also distributes programming, including The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!, Roadtrip Nation and  Joanne Weir’s Cooking School, to public media stations across the country.

KQED Public Television channels are KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area, also available in HD), KQED Plus (Bay Area, also available in HD) and KQET (Monterey/Salinas).

KQED also offers digital channels available via XFINITY and over-the-air, each with distinct quality programming: KQED World, KQED Life, KQED Kids and KQED V-me (Spanish language).

Suburban Junkies, which followed three young drug addicts in Orange County, CA, is honored as best audio slideshow.

KQED and the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR)’s ongoing reporting partnership was just recognized with two national 2012 Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Awards. Judges chose the winners, representing the best in professional journalism, from over 1,700 entries from around the U.S. in categories covering print, radio, television and online.

The two honored entries are:

• The half-hour television special Heat and Harvest, which shed light on the impact of climate change on California’s agriculture industry, won the best documentary award (large-market station: 1-50 market). Long acknowledged as “the nation’s salad bowl,” California’s farm belt is facing some thorny challenges from rising temperatures, encroaching pests and shrinking water supplies. This multi-media reporting project explores the dramatic impact of climate change on the state’s $30 billion-dollar agricultural industry. The honored documentary was part of the multi-platform series, which included two The California Report radio stories, a Forum program, multi-media blogs and print articles. Watch the full documentary, which aired on KQED Public Television and on stations around California, on the KQED Science website or the CIR website.
• Suburban Junkies, a collaboration between KQED Public Radio and CIR’s California Watch project, won for best digital media presentation: audio slideshow. Featuring the photography of Daniel A. Anderson, the piece followed three young addicts in Orange County, CA, who have moved from prescription drugs to heroin, and gave context around the issue with pieces including a grieving mother and a local emergency doctor. The series, which included radio and print stories, was the culmination of a six-month investigation and has spurred lawmakers in Sacramento to take action with the passing of a Good Samaritan law that provides immunity from prosecution for people who report a drug overdose. Watch the slideshow on the California Watch website.

Seven multi-platform specials have come out of KQED and CIR’s multimedia partnership with three more specials coming over the next year. The two news organizations most recently produced A Church Divided, exploring homosexuality and Christian doctrine; Prison Break, which looked into the impact of Governor Jerry Brown’s far-reaching efforts to overhaul California’s prison system; Republic of Cannabis, which explored California’s marijuana trade; and On Shaky Ground, an investigation into the seismic safety of public schools that prompted calls for change.

KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. Home to the most listened-to public radio station in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program, and as a leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas.

Founded in 1977, the Center for Investigative Reporting is the nation’s oldest nonprofit investigative news organization, producing unique, high-quality reporting that has impact and is relevant to people’s lives. The organization’s stories appear in hundreds of news outlets, including NPR News, PBS Frontline, PBS NewsHour, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Sacramento Bee, Newsweek/The Daily Beast, MinnPost and American Public Media’s Marketplace. CIR stories have received numerous journalism awards, including the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton, George Polk Award, Emmy Award, Investigative Reporters and Editors Award, and the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. Its reports have sparked state and federal hearings and legislation, United Nations resolutions, public-interest lawsuits and changes in corporate policies.  For more information, please visit cironline.org.

KQED Media Contact: Evren Odcikin, 415.553.8451 or evren@kqed.org
CIR Media Contact: Lisa Cohen, 310.395.2544 or lisa@lisacohen.org

The selected cross-platform stories were featured on The California Report,  KQED News and KQEDnews.org, and will be in consideration for national awards.

KQEDnews.org was selected as best news website.

KQED, the public media organization that serves Northern California, was honored by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) with six 2013 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, which recognize work of the highest quality produced by radio, television and online news organizations around the world. KQED stories were judged as part of region 2, which includes California, Guam, Hawaii and Nevada. The winners were selected from a record number of entries and the regional winners are automatically entered into the national Edward R. Murrow Awards competition.

The winning KQED stories were:

• Continuing Coverage: “2012 Election Coverage”
  KQED’s entry included the following stories:
  “In Inland Empire, Economic Distress May Drive Voters,” by Scott Shafer
  “Richmond’s Proposed Soda Tax Will Go to Voters,” by Mina Kim
  “In San Jose, Once a Class Project, Now a Major Political Battle,” by Peter Jon Shuler
  “Outside Money Pouring Into California’s Congressional Races,” by Tara Siler
  “New Rules Make Once Safe House Seat Competitive,” by Cy MusikerCoordinating Editor: Tyche Hendricks; Editors, news bloggers, online producers and social media engagement included Ingrid Becker, Julia McEvoy, Dan Brekke, Jon Brooks Lisa Aliferis, Lisa Pickoff-White, Matthew Green and Ian Hill.
• Feature Reporting: “Through Meditation, Veterans Relearn Compassion”
  Reporter: Amy Standen; Editors: Andrea Kissack and Paul Rogers
• Investigative Reporting: “Broken Shield: Exposing Abuses & California’s Developmental Center”
  Reporter: Michael Montgomery; Editor: Pat Flynn; Partners: Center for Investigative Reporting
• News Series: “Water and Power”
  Dan Brekke, Craig Miller, Molly Samuel, Lauren Sommer, Andrea Kissack, Lisa Pickoff-White, Don Clyde and Andy Warner
• Reporting Sports: “Oakland A’s Fans”
  Reporter: Nina Thorsen; Editors: Ingrid Becker and Dan Brekke
• Website: KQEDNews.org
  Gabriel Coan, Lisa Pickoff-White, Jon Brooks, Ian Hill, Laird Harrison, Katrina Schwartz and David Marks.

KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. Home to the most listened-to public radio station in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program, and as a leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas.

Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope transports viewers across the planet to such exotic destinations as Japan’s little-visited Ogasawara islands, located more than 600 miles from the mainland and comprised of people with American roots, as well as two programs from the mountain kingdom of Bhutan, a country where its most important product is its peoples’ “gross national happiness.” Closer to home Joseph samples the California-style pleasures on hand for travelers to Los Cabos, Mexico and enters into a brave new world of travel in Nicaragua, a country recovered from civil war and ready to thrill visitors with its natural wonders. The series also highlights Asian locales such as Hong Kong and Tokyo while returning to Europe to cast the spotlight on Switzerland’s Matterhorn and adventures along the border between Germany and Poland.

Joseph Rosendo and his team head into their seventh season with five Emmy nominations, one Emmy win and 20 Telly Awards. Yet, as wonderful as awards are, far more impressive is the ongoing recognition the travel series receives from its viewers. “I love, love, love the show!” e-mails one. “Your show presents an intimate view of magical places and how they touch your spirit in a personal way,” says another.

With 90 episodes distributed by American Public Television to public television stations, Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope persists to persevere in creating one of the most entertaining, informative and thoughtful programs on television. “I look forward to seeing more of your shows as you continue to open our minds and expand our hearts,” posts a viewer on Facebook. “It’s wonderful to know, that our endeavor makes a difference in our viewers’ lives,” says host, director and writer Joseph Rosendo, “Every day I am thankful and grateful for the gift of this opportunity!”

Among his many awards, Rosendo has been recognized numerous times by the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation’s Lowell Thomas Awards and has received the Medaille d’Or du Tourisme from the French Government, Taiwan’s Tourism Award and the Travel Industry Association of Canada’s Globe and Mail Travel Media Award for Excellence in Travel Journalism.  Joseph remains committed to presenting his viewers quality travel experiences that feature his culturally-sensitive and personal perspective.

Host/Writer/Director: Joseph Rosendo
Producer: Julie Rosendo
Presenting Station: KQED, San Francisco
U.S. Distributor: American Public Television
Underwriting: No Jet Lag, San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau
Local Underwriting: available with national non-compete

Publicity & PR Contact

Julie Rosendo, julie@travelscope.net
310-455-7164 (office), 310-482-1052 (cell)

Social Media & Website

Website: http://travelscope.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/travelscope
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JosephRosendo
Program Guide Article: Travelscope 700 Article (pdf)
Season 7 Social Media Toolkit coming soon.

Season 7 Episode Descriptions

#701 – The Many Faces of Los Cabos, Mexico
Los Cabos is actually two resorts:  Cabo San Lucas, at the tip of the Baja California peninsula, and San Jose del Cabo, 23 miles north along the coast. Joseph covers both and the sea that binds them – the Sea of Cortez – on his Los Cabos, Mexico adventure. Activities include whale watching and seaside dining, hiking through the desert to hidden waterfalls and swimming with dolphins. Besides taking part in the fun-and-sun experiences like fishing and snorkeling, he also heads out to the Baja Peninsula’s outback and meets ex-pat farmers and artists living off the grid. During this episode Joseph proves that there’s more to Los Cabos than just a place “Where the Land Ends and the Party Begins.”

#702 – Hong Kong – A City of Festivals
Hong Kong may be Asia’s World City, yet its people still cherish their tradition and the richness it brings their lives. In this new Hong Kong episode, Joseph returns for the annual Dragon Boat Festival. He discovers the festival is more than a race as it honors the integrity and devotion of poet, Qu Yuan, who sacrificed himself rather than live in a corrupt world. As part of the cultural celebration he makes traditional rice dumpling, learns the myths behind the dragon boat legend and design and speaks with participants in the local races on Lamma Island. On Cheung Chau, one of Hong Kong’s 263 islands, he greets the early morning fishing boats, witnesses the islander’s art of fish ball making, climbs through a UNESCO reserve and relaxes on the beach. During his Hong Kong stay, the 15^th anniversary of the British handover of Hong Kong to China is also celebrated in a spectacular, unforgettable explosion of pyrotechnics.

#703 – Nicaragua – Culturally Rich and Naturally Beautiful
Joseph visits Nicaragua and discovers the untouched beauty of the land and a population ready to embrace travelers. In spite of a history of trials and tribulation, today Nicaraguans are a people filled with good cheer and gifted with open hearts. Long overlooked by tourists, the country has preserved what is a treasure chest full of surprising attractions. While Nicaragua owes its cultural vitality to its Spanish roots, its natural gems are ageless. From volcanic landscape to teeming rivers and untrammeled rainforests, the program reveals a country that is a traveler’s dream. Grenada is a colonial gem, Masaya a city of artisans, the Rio San Juan an avenue to adventure and the 640,000 acre Rio Maiz National Park a world treasure. Joseph touches on Nicaragua’s troubled past, celebrates its free spirit and marvels at its unspoiled nature and abundant wildlife.

#704 – Berlin and Western Poland – Over the Borderline
In a show that begins in Berlin and ends in Poznan, where the Polish state began, Joseph travels in the German-Polish border region and is captivated by the beautiful structures, historic traditions and respected customs. He is also aware of what time and events have stolen. In Berlin the story unfolds as Joseph takes a Trabi car tour of the city and pauses at Checkpoint Charlie. At the East Side Gallery, where the Wall still stands, he stops to honor the Wall’s victims at the Wall Memorial. For a ride on the natural side he bikes to the nearby royal town of Potsdam, site of the famous conference, where in the Dutch Quarter he slows down to enjoy Gemütlichkeit, the good life. His journey across the borderline in Poland brings him to town after town, where the ever shifting Polish/German nationalities spotlight Polish national pride and epic perseverance. He enjoys the rural countryside in a mosaic of activities from river boating in Wroclaw, riding in a steam locomotive in Wolsztyn and celebrating ceramic making in Boleslawiec. As he tours through this resurrected and revitalized region, he is reminded of the resilience of human beings and their ability to, Phoenix-like, rise from their ashes again and again.

#705 – Zermatt, Switzerland – Under the Shadow of the Matterhorn
Joseph heads to Zermatt to capture Switzerland’s natural majesty at the foot of the country’s most iconic mountain – the Matterhorn. With the glorious monolith ever in view, he hikes, climbs, rides and skis along an alpine landscape that takes the breath away and captures the imagination. His travels allow him to join in the yearly Folk Festival which features a parade through car-free Zermatt with 50 different folklore groups, as well as performances by more than 1,200 dancers, yodelers and musicians. During his stay he discovers that the Matterhorn’s towering presence is only equaled by the heights Zermatters go to to make sure your visit is a memorable one.

#706 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Bonjour, Montréal
“Bonjour” means good day in French and it is always a good day in the French speaking Canadian province of Quebec, especially in the lively cosmopolitan city of Montréal. By taking to Montréal’s streets, neighborhoods, natural places and waterways, Joseph discovers that joie du vivre is not just a French phrase; it’s a way of life in Montréal. And summer is the time for celebrating. From music and dance to fireworks and circus acts, festivals abound! In addition, to the official celebrations every one of the scores of cultural neighborhoods throws a party! Extraordinary markets, majestic cathedrals, trendy cafes, the Latin quarter, a 70’s era drum circle, activities on the St. Lawrence and warm fun-loving people all add up to a joyful time in Montréal.

#707 – Tokyo, Japan – Celebrating the Past and Present
Like every other first time visitor,Tokyo’s idiosyncratic pop culture, flashy neon-lights, garish billboards and hoards of people threaten to overwhelm Joseph’s sensibilities, yet it doesn’t take long for this episode to find its cultural center. Ancient temples, revered practices, natural beauty and graceful personal exchanges take the lead as this episode unfolds. On his Tokyo journey Joseph learns that while the glitz and glamor of modern Tokyo excites the senses, the heart and soul of the Japanese is found in their ancient customs and honored traditions.

#708 – The Bonin/Ogasawara Islands – A Land Far, Far Away
On the Bonin or Ogasawara Islands Joseph is reminded that travel is a treasure hunt. Even though one is told where the riches are buried, the real gems have to be discovered on their own. On this voyage to Tokyo’s most distant possessions – more than 600 miles and 25 hours by ferry from the mainland – Joseph partakes of kayaking, snorkeling, trekking and whale watching. Yet, in spite of all the activities, he discovers that interactions with the islanders and what one learns by exploring their heritage are the most cherished souvenirs. His personal discoveries among the islanders, whose roots lie in an American past, open up a world still shrouded in mystery and little-known to the casual day tripper.

#709 – Bhutan – Part 1 – Gross National Happiness
Travel is a life-changing experience, though often these changes come when least expected. Joseph heads to the Kingdom of Bhutan, a devout Buddhist country, fully aware of the possibilities for enlightenment that Bhutan offers him and his viewers. His trip through the “Land of the Thunder Dragon” begins in Paro with a conversation with an esteemed Buddhist master and an invitation to watch a local thangka (spiritual art) artist at work. From there he travels to the Bhutan capital of Thimphu where he is confronted by the modern pressures that ancient Bhutan faces as it strives to preserve and promote its cultural heritage, pristine environment and the “Gross National Happiness” of its people. In dzongs and monasteries, in shops and schools, in valleys and on mountaintops, every experience becomes a journey of discovery. And in a country where the traveler is surrounded by prayer – prayer flags, prayer wheels, prayer walls, sacred memorials and historic monasteries – every encounter is a blessing.

#710 – Bhutan – Part 2 – Land of the Thunder Dragon
Joseph’s Bhutan adventure continues as he heads east over 14,000 foot mountain passes to the Phobjikha Valley to witness the graceful antics of the rare and endangered Black-Necked Crane. While the cranes are breathtaking in their elegance and beauty, his overnight stay in a local guest house and unexpected invitation to join villagers constructing their neighbors’ adobe home proves most heart-warming and inspirational. He travels to Bumthang, the spiritual heart of Central Bhutan, where he traverses a challenging road to the annual Ngang Lhankhang “Swan Monastery” festival. Music, dancing, singing, chanting, gambling, archery — the festival offers the “middle path” between spiritual and secular activities and Joseph joys in them all. After two weeks of journeying through the wildness and magnificence of the Bhutan Himalayas he comes to realize that it is the Bhutanese smiles, easy laughter, fearlessness and willingness to share their lives that is the defining character of the people.

#711 – A San Antonio Christmas
San Antonio is a festival town and Christmas is a most festive time of year. Joseph joins the locals and visitors to celebrate the season along San Antonio’s famous river walk surrounded by songs, decorations and plenty of holiday cheer. Yet San Antonio is more than the River Walk, and Christmas in San Antonio means more than twinkling lights. In San Antonio, faith is real and “Feliz Navidad” is heard more often than “Merry Christmas.” So, Joseph explores the city’s spiritual roots at festive events like Mission San Jose’s Mirachi Mass, as well as Christmas and Chanukah events held at the historic La Villita in the Arneson River Theater. The real meaning of Christmas is most evident when he gathers with San Antonio families in their homes to honor their heritage and practice their customs in traditional ceremonies such as the Tamalada – holiday tamale making – and in the city’s San Fernando Cathedral at the midnight Serenada for the Virgin of Guadalupe.

#712 – Taiwan Lantern Festival
Joseph, a winner of the 2013 Taiwan Tourism Festival Awards, deepens his understanding of Taiwan and its people by criss-crossing the island during the Taiwan Lantern Festival. A celebration of light, culture and tradition, the festival is a Chinese holiday more than 2,000 years old. Joseph discovers that while the Taiwan Lantern Festival has its electric side,  it also values the human touch. While the festival showcases the country’s modern, technological side, it also honors its historic customs and traditions. Joseph explores these cultural connections at the national display of lanterns in Hsinshu, in historic temples and at street-side puppet shows, by enjoying traditional foods and, in the mountain district of Pingshi, by joining in the poignant release of thousands of sky lanterns which carry the wishes and dreams of locals and visitors heavenward.

——————————————————————-

About KQED

KQED (kqed.org) has served Northern California for more than 50 years and is affiliated with NPR and PBS. KQED owns and operates public television stations KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area), KQED Plus (San Jose/Bay Area) and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); KQED Public Radio (88.5 FM San Francisco); kqed.org and KQEDnews.org; and KQED Education. KQED Public Television, one of the most-watched public television stations in the country, is the producer/presenter of national programs such as Sound Tracks; California Forever; and Essential Pépin. KQED Public Radio is the most-listened-to public radio station in the nation and the most popular in the Bay Area. Visit www.kqed.org for more information.

About APT

American Public Television (APT) has been a leading distributor of high-quality, top-rated programming to America’s public television stations since 1961. Since 2004, APT has distributed approximately half of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles. Among its 300 new program titles per year are prominent documentaries, news and current affairs programs, dramatic series, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies, including For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black Patriots, A Ripple of Hope, Rick Steves’ Europe, Newsline, Globe Trekker, Simply Ming, Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope, America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, Lidia’s Italy, P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home, Midsomer Murders, Moyers & Company, Doc Martin, Rosemary & Thyme, BBC World News, The Rat Pack: Live and Swingin’, Johnny Mathis: Wonderful, Wonderful! and John Denver: The Wildlife Concert. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. In 2006, APT launched and nationally distributed Create® – the TV channel featuring the best of public television’s lifestyle programming. APT is also a partner in the WORLD™ channel expansion project including its web presence at WORLDcompass.org. For more information about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org. For more information on Create, visit CreateTV.com.

New QUEST Television Special Premieres Wednesday, May 8, at 7:30pm on KQED 9.

KQED Contact: Sevda Eris, 415-553-2835, seris@kqed.org

San Francisco, CA – QUEST Northern California, KQED’s award-winning multimedia science series, investigates genetically engineered crops in a half-hour documentary special, Next Meal: Engineering Food, on Wednesday, May 8, at 7:30pm on KQED 9. Next Meal explores how genetically engineered crops are made, their pros and cons, and what the futureholds for research and regulations such as labeling in the wake of Proposition 37.

Proposition 37 would have required foods containing genetically engineered ingredients to be labeled in California. The measure narrowly lost at the ballot box last November, where it received 49 percent of the vote. But the initiative won in the Bay Area, where genetically engineered food remains a controversial issue, often reaching fever pitch. In this documentary, the KQED science team sought to carefully consider the promise of genetically engineered crops and the concerns surrounding them.

“This was a fascinating and difficult story to work on,” said Next Meal producer Gabriela Quirós. “There’s a lot of information and misinformation out there. For example, many people think that genetically engineered wheat is being grown in the United States, but that’s not the case. No genetically engineered wheat is being grown anywhere in the world. On the other hand, it was surprising to find out that nearly all the soybeans, corn, sugarbeets and cotton grown in the U.S. are engineered.”

The film takes the viewer on a journey to:

• visit the labs of two Northern California biologists who are engineering crops that could alleviate malnutrition in developing countries and withstand climate change
• learn the history of the first genetically engineered food to reach the market in 1994: a popular, yet short-lived tomato created in Davis
• meet a farmer in Los Banos who is reaping economic benefits after switching from conventional to genetically engineered alfalfa
• talk to a Marin County organic dairyman who has concerns that there may be health and environmental harm associated with genetically engineered crops, and who fears they could contaminate the organic hay he feeds his cows
• hear from California anti-genetically engineered food activists and from Monsanto’s CEO.

Next Meal will air on PBS stations throughout California starting in May. Currently, stations airing the documentary include:  KOCE (PBS SoCal – Los Angeles and Orange County) Sunday, May 12, at 6:30pm; KVIE2 (Sacramento) Saturday, May 25, at 11:30pm; and KVCR (Los Angeles) Tuesday, May 28, at 10pm.

In October, KQED will air QUEST Northern California’s half-hour special on Lake Tahoe, examining its storied history, recent gains in the improvement of water clarity and emerging threats to its fragile environment – from climate change to invasive species to forest fires. KQED will also air a six-part, half-hour QUEST national television series exploring the science of sustainability. The series will take an in-depth look at the ways in which science is striving to make energy generation, water consumption and food production more sustainable in the face of climate change.

About QUEST

Launched in February 2007, QUEST is KQED’s largest multimedia project to date. Since its inception, QUEST has reached more than 60 million viewers and listeners through its traditional television and radio broadcasts and growing Web audience. QUEST’s ultimate aim is to raise science literacy by inspiring audiences to discover and explore the latest science and environmental news, trends and issues.  In September of 2012, QUEST received a prestigious grant of $2.5 million from the National Science Foundation to focus storytelling around sustainability science, and to expand its multimedia science reporting model to five additional public broadcasting stations across the country.  As a result, QUEST now includes QUEST Northern California(KQED, San Francisco), QUEST Nebraska (NET, Nebraska), QUEST North Carolina (UNC-TV, North Carolina), QUEST Northwest (KCTS 9, Seattle), QUEST Ohio (WVIZ, WCPN, Ideastream, Cleveland) and QUEST Wisconsin (WPR, WPT, ECB, ICS, Wisconsin).

QUEST Northern California is also now part of KQED Science, with more reporting on science and environment news and events from the Bay Area and beyond.  Funding for KQED’s science education and reporting is provided by the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the Mary Van Voorhees Fund, the Follis Family Fund, the David B. Gold Foundation, the Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, the Vadasz Family Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, the Amgen Foundation and the George G. and Jeanette A. Stuart Charitable Trust, and the members of KQED.

About KQED

KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. Home to the most listened-to public radio station in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program, and as a leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas.

The season premieres Monday, April 15, at 11pm on KQED 9 with the Oscar winner God of Love.

KQED Public Television is proud to announce its national production Film School Shorts, a half-hour weekly series that showcases short student films from across the country. Each filmmaker has the potential to become the next star filmmaker and each short film will make you laugh, gasp and empathize, sometimes in the same breath. The featured films — quirky comedies, slice-of-life dramas and hard-hitting thrillers — have won awards (how does an Oscar sound?) and wowed audiences at some of the most acclaimed film festivals in the world: Cannes, Sundance, Toronto and South by Southwest. The series premieres Monday, April 15, at 11pm on KQED 9 and will air on public television stations around the country in the upcoming months (check local listings). Meet the filmmakers, learn more about the films and view certain shorts online at kqed.org/fss, and follow Film School Shorts on Facebook and Twitter.

Film School Shorts is part of IndieNOW. Turn to KQED 9 on Mondays starting at 10pm for the best in independent film, including POV, Independent Lens, Truly CA, and ImageMakers.

The premiere episode of Film School Shorts titled Okay, Cupid includes two brilliant short films and looks at that favorite topic of filmmakers: romance. Emily Carmichael’s The Hunter and the Swan Discuss Their Meeting explores courtship by inviting us to have dinner with two couples, a hipster couple from Brooklyn and a mythical hunter and his girlfriend, who shapeshifts into a swan. Needless to say, things don’t go too well. And Luke Matheny’s Academy Award–winning God of Love introduces us to Raymond Goodfellow, a lounge-singing darts champion whose hopeless attempts at wooing bandmate Kelly Moran are solved by a mysterious, magical box of love darts. . . Or so he thinks.

And that is just the beginning! Upcoming episodes of Film School Shorts features some of the best short films from major institutions like NYU, Columbia University, UCLA, USC, American Film Institute and the University of Texas. Look for Grainger David’s acclaimed dark parable The Chair, Kate Marks’ whimsical Pearl Was Here, and Angela Torres Camarena’s timely and dangerous Northeast Front.

Production Team:
Series Producer: Lisa Landi
Associate Producer: Mike Kahn
Editor: Peter Borg
Design: Zaldy Serrano, Christina Zee White
Audio: John Andrieni
Interactive Producer: Marie K Lee
On Air Promotion: Bridget Louie
Publicity: Evren Odcikin
Legal: Abby Staeble, William Lowery
Director of TV Production: Sandy Schonning
Executive Producer: Scott Dwyer
Original Music, written and produced by Trifonic

Film School Shorts is a national KQED production and is distributed nationally by the National Educational Telecommunications Association. This series has been made possible by a grant from Maurice Kanbar, celebrating the vitality and power of the moving image, and by the members of KQED.

About KQED Public Television
KQED Public Television, one of the country’s most popular public television stations, brings the values of public media to homes around the Bay Area with Emmy Award–winning programming that inspires, informs and entertains. KQED Public Television produces local series like Check, Please! Bay Area, This Week in Northern California, Truly CA, San Francisco Opera and ImageMakers as well as popular programs for national broadcast such as Essential Pépin, QUEST and Film School Shorts. KQED Public Television also distributes programming to public media stations across the country including The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!, Roadtrip Nation and  Joanne Weir’s Cooking School. kqed.org/tv

About NETA
The National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) is a professional association that serves public television and education by providing quality programming, educational resources, professional development, management support, and national representation. NETA distributes over 2,000 hours of programming each year to public television stations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. netaonline.org

Bay Area foodies — ready to discover a whole new season of the best local eateries? KQED Public Television’s Check, Please! Bay Area’s eighth season launches with the program’s 100^th episode on Thursday, April 11, at 7:30pm on KQED 9. With each episode of the James Beard and Emmy Award–winning program, three local diners are cast as restaurant critics and share their favorite spots — whether it be an artisan beer pub, a new vegetarian destination or the place for ladies-who-lunch. Host Leslie Sbrocco (thirstygirl, Good Morning America) leads the conversation adding a sprinkling of humor and fun, but the question always remains: Will the three guests agree about their favorites?

For video, restaurant information and more, please visit kqed.org/checkplease and follow Check Please! Bay Area on Facebook and Twitter for more insider information, behind-the-scene photos and amazing giveaways.

“Wow — 100 episodes! It’s hard to believe that we have reached this incredible moment,” said Sbrocco, who is an award-winning wine expert. “This season builds on last year. You can expect fun and guest fireworks, more wine tips and eateries that you’ve never heard of but that deserve the attention.”

Each episode travels around the Bay to visit hidden restaurant gems on the recommendation of the three guests. The food and the personalities featured this season are as diverse as the Bay Area itself. The premiere episode on April 11 features three San Francisco treasures: a Cambodian family restaurant with traditional menu, a spot known for its California cuisine with a hint of Asian influence and a high-end Union Square seafood eatery set in an historic building.

In every episode, each guest chooses their favorite place to eat and the other two guests visit anonymously — the restaurants are not notified that Check, Please! “reviewers” are dining there. After trying each other’s recommendations, they join host and moderator Leslie Sbrocco to discuss, dispute and celebrate their dining experiences with lively commentary. The series is produced by Tina Salter.

KQED thanks sponsors Wine Luxury, Integrated Resources Group, CARS and Subaru.

About KQED Public Television
KQED Public Television, one of the country’s most popular public television stations, brings the values of public media to homes around the Bay Area with Emmy Award–winning programming that inspires, informs and entertains. KQED Public Television produces local series like Check, Please! Bay Area, This Week in Northern California, Truly CA, San Francisco Opera and ImageMakers as well as popular programs for national broadcast such as Essential Pépin, QUEST and Film School Shorts. KQED Public Television also distributes programming to public media stations across the country including The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!, Roadtrip Nation and Joanne Weir’s Cooking School. kqed.org/tv

KQED Public Television channels are KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area, also available in HD), KQED Plus (Bay Area, also available in HD) and KQET (Monterey/Salinas).

KQED also offers digital channels available via XFINITY and over-the-air, each with distinct quality programming: KQED World, KQED Life, KQED Kids and KQED V-me (Spanish language).