Superstation News Superstation News TBS Superstation's public affairs department, producers of the newsmagazine series interact.america, teamed up with Zoo Atlanta, Apple Corps, Turner Learning, and CNN NEWSROOM to create an educational video that explores the marine life of the Baja, CA peninsula. Migration patterns of gray whales, hammerheads sharks, and sea lions will be explored. Lisa Anne Gaston, Vice President, Community Affairs, Turner Entertainment Network, believes that these partnerships will greatly expand the creativity and educational value of the video. The video will be widely distributed throughout the Atlanta area via each partner. interact.america will dedicate two of its 6:25 a.m. Saturday morning segments to the video. Producer Michael Watchulonis will also explore the growth of eco-tourism in Baja. Turner Learning, Inc. is creating a web site about the marine life explored in the video. Viewers will be able to enter into a question and answer session with researchers at Turner Learning via the site. The video also will receive national airtime when CNN NEWSROOM airs a special presentation using Baja footage during its 4:30 a.m. program on CNN. Zoo Atlanta will use the video with members of the zoological staff for teaching Georgia students through the Georgia Statewide Academic and Medical System, an interactive two way audio and video teaching service available to over 150 schools in Georgia. Apple Corps will distribute copies of the interact.america shows to Atlanta schools.
interact.america has been awarded in the past for its educational programming. The Public Affairs Award was captured by interact.america at the 16th Media Access Awards. Producer Myrna Moore teamed up with interact.america and they were awarded for the public affairs story titled Disabled by Violence. Bill Burke, President of TBS Superstation, explains that although the Superstation serves viewers nationwide, it remains loyal to its home market in Atlanta. The award recognizes these efforts to serve the Atlanta community.
Also awarded was TBS Superstation's and the 1998 Goodwill Games' SuperChallenge, named as a finalist for the 1998 Beacon Awards. These awards, sponsored by the Cable Television Public Affairs Association (CTPAA), recognize excellence in public affairs throughout the cable industry. The SuperChallenge is jointly sponsored by TBS and the Goodwill Games and is a fund-matching program designed to generate one-million hours of volunteer time and $1 million for Boys & Girls Club of America. TBS's on-air department created five :60 and :30 announcements. They will promote volunteerism at local Boys & Girls Clubs, and they will run in heavy rotation on the network.