PBS39 Provides Historic Election Coverage with New Platforms, Reporters and Set

PBS39 unveiled a new studio and new technology during the station’s first full night of election coverage in more than two decades.

Bethlehem, PA - November 7, 2018 - On Tuesday, November 6, PBS39 provided the Greater with 3.5 hours of commercial-free election night coverage. The broadcast included six live reporters, five in-studio experts from area colleges and universities, three live interviews with winning candidates and 18 community-focused stories from the field. In addition, the station reached the public in a brand new way with 92,514 real-time digital billboard impressions. In an election year with women at the forefront, PBS39 was the local news source of choice for women 25-49 in the Valley.

“I am so very proud of this team for creating one of a kind, truly impactful content for our television viewers, digital followers and even area commuters,” Tim Fallon, Chief Executive Officer of PBS39 said. “Bringing the very first public media election coverage to the Greater Lehigh Valley in 25 years is truly making our community a better place in which to live.”

PBS39’s coverage extended beyond the television screen. In partnership with Adams Outdoor Advertising, live news updates and results were visible on digital billboards throughout the Greater Lehigh Valley. The team at PBS39 was able to update the billboards in real-time using Twitter. Messages encouraged voters to perform their civic duty at the polls and later that night, election results were posted live.

“Election night was the first of many historic nights for PBS39,” Yoni Greenbaum, Chief Content Officer of PBS39 said. “As a public media outlet, our core mission is educating and making our content available to everyone, wherever they may be. Our experiment paid off and our coverage on a variety of platforms exceeded this goal.”

PBS39 will continue to work to create a community that is inspired, engaged and vibrant. Visit PBS39.org to learn about more upcoming initiatives and locally produced programming.

###

1

PBS39’s Grover Silcox to be Inducted into the Silver Circle Society Grover Silcox will receive this prestigious honor at the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards in September. Bethlehem, PA - June 25, 2019 - PBS39’s Grover Silcox has been named to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Mid-Atlantic Chapter's Silver Circle Society. This prestigious award will be presented on September 28, 2019 during the Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy® Awards in .

“We are so fortunate to have Grover’s talent and passion on our team,” Tim Fallon, Chief Executive Officer at PBS39 said. “His work also extends beyond the television screen. He is a tremendous ambassador for our station out in the community. He also takes the time to pass on his abundance of knowledge and mentor fellow colleagues.”

The Silver Circle is an honor society for members who have spent 25 years or more working in the television industry. It is the intent of the Society to recognize those people in a television station, cable channel or production house, who have been a reliable colleague, respected mentor, creative contributor, diligent advocate for the audience or an ambassador within the industry.

“It is truly humbling to be recognized in this way,” Silcox said. “I have been blessed to do what I love for decades and I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had on this journey.”

For approximately thirty years, Silcox has entertained viewers and listeners throughout the region. Whether it was in his Emmy®-award winning segment about scrapple, or his five-minute in-depth report on the boy who could solve a Rubik’s-cube puzzle with his toes, Silcox has always had the gift of whimsy.

Since joining the team at PBS39 in 2006, Silcox has continued to enhance his track record of producing excellent and entertaining feature reports. Currently, Silcox hosts Counter Culture on

2 PBS39. In this weekly half-hour (based on location in a local diner), Silcox welcomes artists, authors, comics, singers, historians and others to talk about their passions. During his tenure as the host of PBS39’s Let’s Go! Silcox produced feature reports on attractions and activities in and around eastern and western .

He has also used much of his time in public media to document local and world history. He has become an expert on the history of Bethlehem and produced several feature-length history programs including Philly Firsts, Bringing New Life to Old Steel, Wyomissing: An American Dream and World War 2: Pennsylvania Patriots. Silcox was the last reporter to interview “Wild Bill” Guarnere before the Band of Brothers soldier’s death in 2014. His work documenting the story of a Nuremberg Trials interpreter earned him an Emmy®-award nomination in 2016. His documentary Wyomissing: An American Dream was recognized with a national public media award from the National Educational Telecommunications Association.

“Grover has the natural ability to entertain,” Yoni Greenbaum, Chief Content Officer at PBS39 said. “This recognition is well-deserved. We are so pleased Grover has chosen to share his gifts with our team and viewers in our region and beyond.”

Prior to coming to PBS39, Silcox served as a feature reporter on FOX29’s Good Day Philadelphia and as an on-air morning radio personality on 103.9 WMGK and 93.3 WMMR in Philadelphia. For more than 20 years, he produced comedy shows for television networks, including: HBO, NBC, CBS, the Nashville Network and Comcast. The three-time Emmy® Award winner is a graduate of Temple University and currently lives in Montgomery County. In addition to his long-time work in media, he continues to perform as a stand-up comedian and the presenter of a one-man show featuring the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

###

3 Lehigh Valley Public Media™, Home of PBS39, Announces WLVR-FM News Radio This collaboration with Lehigh University will enhance programming offered through WLVR-FM, broadcasting locally on 91.3 FM.

Bethlehem, PA - October 7, 2019 - Lehigh Valley Public Media, home of PBS39, is proud to announce a new partnership with Lehigh University. Through this collaboration, Lehigh Valley Public Media will broadcast radio content on the HD-1 channel, while student-driven content will continue on Lehigh’s HD-2 radio channel. The official launch is scheduled for November 1, 2019, with a pre-launch testing phase planned for October.

“Lehigh Valley Public Media is proud to partner with a station and university that has such deep ties to our community,” Tim Fallon, Chief Executive Officer of Lehigh Valley Public Media said. “We are excited to bring our experience and talent, along with our dynamic communication platforms, to existing listeners, while also reaching out to a brand new audience.”

As part of this partnership, WLVR will convert to a multi-channel HD transmitter which enables information to be broadcast simultaneously over digital and analog signals. Found at 91.3 FM, the station will be programmed with locally produced news and information, and content from NPR, American Public Media (APM) and Public Radio Exchange (PRX). A second channel, transmitted through both HD Radio and online streaming, will remain the college radio station programmed entirely by students and community members under the of current WLVR Chief Operator and Station Manager Al Fritzinger Jr. (aka A.J. Fritz). This partnership will significantly enhance the Lehigh student experience by offering high-quality professional development opportunities, such as engaged scholarship, service-learning and paid internships.

“WLVR, The Brown and White and Lehigh’s Department of Journalism and Communication have enjoyed a successful collaboration off and on for decades, going back to the days when all of us shared space in the basement of the University Center,” Dr. Jack Lule, Chair of Lehigh’s Department of Journalism and Communication said. “The enhanced collaboration with Lehigh Valley Public Media will enable internships, training programs, site visits, guest speakers and more, offering huge educational benefits to students from across the university.”

Veteran radio executive, Christine Dempsey, will lead Lehigh Valley Public Media’s initiative as Senior Vice President of Radio. Dempsey, most recently from WABE-Atlanta, has more than three decades of experience in . Dempsey has worked for WHYY, Philadelphia; WDIY in Bethlehem; WNYC in New York City; and a variety of other public radio stations while she was an on-air fundraising consultant. Dempsey has been recognized with industry awards from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Academy of Television Arts and Science, as well as the Philadelphia Society of Professional Journalists and the Pennsylvania Associated Press. Most recently, she was awarded the prestigious Peabody and RFK Journalism awards for the podcast, Buried Truths. In addition, the podcast, Bottom of the Map, which she developed, was accepted as part of PRX’s Project Catapult.

4 “I am excited to create and build a new full-service news outlet in our community,” Dempsey said. “Bethlehem is home for me and I am proud to bring local journalism from our team of reporters to the Lehigh Valley and beyond.”

Lehigh Valley Public Media will be building a team of professionals dedicated to radio and the organization's existing community engagement efforts. The station’s existing team of journalists, the Reporter Corps®, will also be contributing content to the radio station’s on-air and digital properties.

###

5

PBS39 Commemorates One-Year of Nightly Newscast September 17 marks one-year since the debut of PBS39 News Tonight, powered by PBS39 Reporter Corps® journalists.

Bethlehem, PA - September 12, 2019 - PBS39 News Tonight, a nightly newscast serving the Greater Lehigh Valley, debuted on September 17, 2018. This 30-minute news program offers in- depth, solution-based journalism.

“I am proud of what our team has accomplished in our first year,” Tim Fallon, Chief Executive Officer of PBS39 said. “Every week I receive notes and calls from members of the community who have been profoundly moved and are grateful for a story we have covered.”

Launched in 2018, the PBS39 Reporter Corps® initiative marked one of the most significant journalistic hirings in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in decades. Journalists serve the ten counties that make up the Greater Lehigh Valley including, Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, Montgomery, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe in Pennsylvania, plus Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. PBS39 has aired more than 250 newscasts and reporters have produced more than a thousand stories and talked to hundreds of people who had never interacted with a journalist before.

“PBS39 News Tonight is not your traditional newscast,” Yoni Greenbaum, Chief Content Officer of PBS39 said. “We do not report on weather, traffic, crime or sports. We focus on the why and how these stories directly impact our community.”

According to Nielsen data, PBS39 News Tonight performed extremely well, often number one at 11 p.m. In addition to news stories, the nightly program features interviews with members of the community and weekly segments surrounding arts & culture and digital literacy. In the past year PBS39 broadcast live news coverage on election night and a live special from Washington D.C. during the swearing-in of the 116th Congress. In the first year, PBS39 Reporter

6 Corps journalists have already garnered four Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy® Award nominations.

“While we do not do this for the accolades, it is still affirming to be recognized by our peers,” Tim Fallon, Chief Executive Officer of PBS39 said. “The entire team at PBS39 has helped make this initiative a huge success. We will continue our commitment to local journalism and work to make our community a better place.”

PBS39 News Tonight airs weeknights at 6:30 and again at 11 p.m. on PBS39/WLVT. Catching up with PBS39 News Tonight, a weekly recap of the week’s top stories, airs Sundays at 4:30 p.m. Check your local listings to find the correct channel number for your cable or satellite provider. View the latest PBS39 Reporter Corps stories online and follow PBS39 News Tonight on Instagram for a look behind the scenes. If you have a story idea, please e-mail [email protected].

###

7

‘Es Tiempo’ Debuts Second Season on PBS39

PBS39’s Spanish language program will return on Saturday, February 2 at 5:30 p.m. (Ver la traducción en español abajo)

Bethlehem, PA - February 1, 2019 - PBS39 is proud to announce the second season of Es Tiempo with Genesis Ortega and Victor Martinez, beginning on Saturday, February 2, 2019. This program, done entirely in Spanish, is back with a fresh format.

“We are proud to build on the success of season one,” Tim Fallon, Chief Executive Officer of PBS39 said. “Es Tiempo fulfills a need for compelling and accessible programming that speaks to all members of our community.”

In the first season, Es Tiempo welcomed prominent activists, business owners, educators, entertainers and leaders in the Latino community from across the Lehigh Valley. The second season will continue this important dialogue surrounding education, culture, politics and economics. In addition, Es Tiempo will debut new lifestyle segments focused on cooking, fitness and more.

“It has been exciting to see this program develop and flourish,” Yoni Greenbaum, Chief Content Officer of PBS39 said. “The feedback from the community has been positive and we are excited to give our viewers even more of the content they want this season.”

Es Tiempo airs Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. on PBS39. Episodes re-air Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and Mondays at 6 p.m. Check your local listings to find PBS39/WLVT on your cable or satellite provider. Visit PBS39.org/EsTiempo to watch full episodes.

About the hosts Genesis Ortega serves as Membership and Community Engagement Ambassador for PBS39. She attended Allentown Central Catholic High School and studied International Management and French at , graduating in 2013. Ortega speaks fluent Spanish and French

8 and had the opportunity to study abroad in both Spain and France. She began her career working for United Healthcare’s Medicare and Retirement division as a bilingual Service Account Manager. She developed skills and knowledge helpful to her next role in U.S. Congressman Charlie Dent’s office. During her time working for the House of Representatives, she interacted with constituents and community leaders from across the 15th Congressional District, which included Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Lebanon, and Dauphin counties. Ortega joined the PBS39 family in May 2018, shortly after Congressman Dent announced his retirement. Ortega is excited to continue pursuing her passion for community outreach, especially as it pertains to the Hispanic community.

Victor Martinez (VJ MAR) is an award-winning journalist and radio personality. He began his broadcast career in local Spanish radio in Orlando, at the age of 13. Six years later, at the age of 19, Martinez became one of the youngest program directors in the United States and was later recognized by R&R magazine for his promising talent. While in radio, he expanded his broadcast career by becoming a reporter/anchor for WFMZ in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Later, he worked for NY1 News in New York City where he covered the United Nations, the September 11 attacks, the city blackout and the 2003 World Series, among other important events and breaking news stories. After three years in New York City, he stepped away from the camera to become the Programming Director for Clear Channel Radio, successfully launching VIVA 105.7FM in Atlanta, Mega 101 in Houston and Rumba 100.3 in Orlando. After a few years back in radio, Victor returned to television as a reporter at Fox 5/Georgia TV where he became an Emmy award-winning journalist. In 2007 Martinez returned to Florida as the Managing Editor and Anchor of News 13 En Español, where he won two of five Paoli Award nominations and the Coqui de Oro Award. Victor then returned to radio as the Program Director at Caliente 105.3FM in Jacksonville, Florida and then Program Director at El Zol 107.9 in Washington, D.C. where he was nominated for the “Medalla Cortez” Award for Program Director of the year and was honored as the Person of the Year after raising more than $300K for the Children’s Miracle Network.

###

9 ‘Es Tiempo’ Estrena su Segunda Temporada en PBS39

Este programa en español de PBS39 regresará el sábado 2 de febrero a las 5:30 p.m.

Bethlehem, PA - 1 de febrero de 2019 - PBS39 se enorgullece en anunciar la segunda temporada de Es Tiempo con Genesis Ortega y Víctor Martinez, comenzando el sábado 2 de febrero de 2019. Este programa, completamente en español, regresa con un nuevo formato.

"Estamos orgullosos de aprovechar el éxito de la primera temporada", dijo Tim Fallon, Director Ejecutivo de PBS39. "Es Tiempo satisface una necesidad de programación cautivadora y accesible que habla a todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad."

En la primera temporada, Es Tiempo dio la bienvenida a empresarios, activistas prominentes, educadores, artistas y líderes de la comunidad latina de todo el valle de Lehigh. La segunda temporada continuará este importante diálogo sobre educación, cultura, política y economía. Además, Es Tiempo estrenará nuevos segmentos de estilo de vida centrados en la cocina, el mantenimiento físico y más.

"Ha sido emocionante ver cómo este programa se desarrolla y florece", dijo Yoni Greenbaum, Director de Contenido de PBS39. "Los comentarios de la comunidad han sido positivos y nos complace ofrecerle a nuestros televidentes aún más contenido que desean para esta temporada."

Es Tiempo se transmite los sábados a las 5:30 p.m. en PBS39. Los episodios se repiten los domingos a las 10:30 a.m. y los lunes a las 6 p.m. Verifique sus listados locales para encontrar PBS39/WLVT en su proveedor de cable o satélite. Visita PBS39.org/EsTiempo para ver episodios completos.

¡Conócenos! Genesis Ortega es la Embajadora de Membresía y Comunidad de PBS39. Ella estudió en la Allentown Central Catholic High School y se graduó en el 2013 con un bachillerato de Moravian College en Negocios Internacionales y Francés. Genesis habla español y francés con fluidez y tuvo la oportunidad de estudiar en España y también en Francia. Ella comenzó su carrera trabajando para United Healthcare como Gerente de Cuenta de servicio bilingüe. Ella desarrolló habilidades y conocimientos útiles para su próximo rol en la oficina del congresista estadounidense Charlie Dent. Durante su tiempo trabajando para la Cámara de Representantes, interactuó con los líderes de la comunidad del 15º Distrito del Congreso, que incluía los condados de Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Lebanon y Dauphin. Genesis se unió a la familia de PBS39 en mayo de 2018, poco después de que el Congresista Dent anunciara su retiro. Genesis está entusiasmada de seguir persiguiendo su pasión por el alcance comunitario, especialmente con la comunidad hispana.

Víctor Martínez (VJ MAR) comenzó su carrera radial en la radio local española en Orlando, Florida, a la edad de 13 años. A la edad de 19 años, Martínez se convirtió en uno de los directores de programa más jóvenes de los Estados Unidos y fue reconocido por la revista R & R por su talento prometedor. Mientras estaba en la radio, amplió su carrera en la radiodifusión convirtiéndose en reportero / presentador de WFMZ en Allentown. Él también trabajó para NY1

10 News en la ciudad de Nueva York, donde cubrió las noticias sobre las Naciones Unidas, los ataques del 11 de septiembre y la Serie Mundial de 2003. Después de tres años, se apartó para convertirse en el Director de programación de Clear Channel Radio, y lanzó con éxito VIVA 105.7FM, Mega 101 y Rumba 100.3. Después de unos años, Víctor regresó como reportero de Fox 5 / Georgia TV, donde se convirtió en un periodista galardonado con el premio Emmy. En 2007, regresó a Florida como Editor Gerente y Anchor de News 13 En Español, donde ganó dos Premios Paoli y el Premio Coqui de Oro. Luego regresó a la radio como Director del Programa en Caliente 105.3FM y luego Director de Programa en El Zol 107.9 donde fue nominado para el Premio "Medalla Cortez" al Director del Programa del año y fue honrado como Persona del Año después de recaudar más de $ 300,000 para Children's Miracle Network.

###

11