Miles O'Brien, who left CNN late last year, will reemerge in the coming months on Public Broadcasting System stations from coast to coast. His first project: a documentary series tentatively titled Blueprint America: A Tale of Three Cities -- one of which is Denver. The docs promise to "look past the headlines about crumbling roads and bridges and explore what kind of infrastructure Americans need to meet the pressing challenges of the 21st Century." It's a chance for the rest of the nation to see what parts of Denver (as well as Portland, Oregon and New York City) are falling apart, and to find out if public officials have any idea how to put them back together again in an era when even economic-stimulus money probably won't go that far.
Click "Continue" to read the press release about the project issued by WNET, a New York PBS affiliate.
Miles O'Brien Returns to Broadcast JournalismAnchoring Blueprint America Documentary on Public Television
Presented by WNET.ORG, Film explores ideas for building a 21st Century American infrastructure
Acclaimed reporter and anchor Miles O'Brien will return to broadcasting this spring as the anchor and correspondent of a BLUEPRINT AMERICA documentary on public television, tentatively titled: Blueprint America: A Tale of Three Cities. The documentary, presented by WNET.ORG, will take viewers in and around three very different cities -- Portland, Denver, and New York -- to look past the headlines about crumbling roads and bridges and explore what kind of infrastructure Americans need to meet the pressing challenges of the 21st Century. O'Brien will set out to learn what must be done to keep the nation competitive in the global economy, while at the same time addressing the realities of climate change, diminishing natural resources and population growth.
With his engaging, award-winning brand of insight and analysis, O'Brien will bring substantive understanding of infrastructure issues to American audiences. He'll look at look at what kinds of innovative changes are already underway and ask whether the nation is prepared to do what it takes to re-design and re-invigorate America's economy, industry, and communities. O'Brien will also be blogging about his reporting from the field on the Blueprint America website (www.pbs.org/blueprintamerica).
"Miles brings over 25-years of distinguished journalism experience to Blueprint America," said Neal Shapiro, President and CEO of WNET.ORG. "Our goal with this initiative is to highlight how infrastructure impacts Americans in ways we don't realize - - from highways to water supplies to energy grids -- and to spark a national discussion about this crucial topic. I'm pleased to have a journalist with Miles' credentials anchoring this documentary."
Blueprint America, created and produced by WNET.ORG and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, is a groundbreaking series of reports and programs that premiered in the fall of 2008. Segments have aired on NOW on PBS, the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and Expose on Bill Moyers Journal, and on public radio. WNET.ORG has been ahead of the curve in recognizing that infrastructure is key to building a healthy economy.
About WNET.ORG:
New York public media company WNET.ORG is a pioneering provider of television and Web content. The parent of Thirteen/WNET, WLIW New York and Creative News Group, WNET.ORG brings together respected and innovative producers in arts and culture; news and public affairs; science, nature and history; and children's programming in the pursuit of a single, overarching goal--to create media experiences of lasting significance for New York, America and the world.
About Blueprint America:
Blueprint America is a year-long multi-platform media initiative that presents a unique portfolio of current affairs reports under the Blueprint America umbrella, including original documentaries, individual segments produced in partnership with PBS's most prestigious and most-watched news and public affairs and public radio outlets, and a comprehensive website at www.pbs.org/blueprintamerica. The project is being supported with a major grant from The Rockefeller Foundation.
About The Rockefeller Foundation:
The Rockefeller Foundation was established in 1913 by John D. Rockefeller Sr. With assets of more than $4 billion, the Foundation attempts to harness the creative forces of globalization by supporting breakthrough solutions to 21st century challenges. This helps ensure that the tools and technologies that have significantly improved the human condition in many locations over the past half-century are accessible to more people, more fully, in more places--and that poor and vulnerable people are equipped to seize them. Visit www.rockfound.org.
