FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Calle Andrus, Communications Specialist
216.916.6434 | calle.andrus@ideastream.org
APT Nationally Distributes ideastream’s Original Television Production, “The 2020 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards,” Hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (February 3, 2021) — In celebration of Black History Month this February, many public television stations across the country, including the major markets of Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Philadelphia, are planning to air “The 2020 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards,” an original one-hour special produced in Northeast Ohio by ideastream and presented by the Cleveland Foundation. The program was released February 1 for national distribution by American Public Television (APT) and is being broadcast and livestreamed locally on WVIZ/PBS on February 18 at 10 p.m. It is also available to stream on-demand online with the PBS Video app. “The 2020 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards” originally premiered on WVIZ/PBS on October 1, 2020.
Hosted by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., popular public television personality, Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards jury chair, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, literary scholar, journalist, cultural critic and institution builder, “The 2020 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards” features visits to the hometowns of the four 2020 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards honorees — historian Eric Foner, poet Ilya Kaminsky, scholar Charles King and novelist Namwali Serpell. The film also covers the inspiring history of the awards established in 1935 by Cleveland poet and philanthropist Edith Anisfield Wolf. In addition, the program serves to amplify diverse voices and foster dialogue about inclusivity that transcends the digital divide. During the current movement for racial equality, the necessity and relevance of these writings are as great as ever.
Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. said, “This year’s honorees remind us of nothing less than our shared humanity — a reminder sorely needed in these challenging times.”
"We are grateful that the 85-year-old chain of celebrating Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recipients will remain unbroken," said Karen R. Long, manager of the awards. "Thanks to our longtime partners at ideastream, we are able to showcase the four new honorees for viewers everywhere, alongside the inimitable Henry Louis Gates, Jr. And this television special will sit on the right side of the digital divide — accessible to the greatest number of people."
Mark Rosenberger, chief content officer at ideastream, said, “It's truly an honor to partner with the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards to share this program with an expanded audience. The awards and the conversations around them are more relevant than ever."
In addition, ideastream is using its broadcast and digital platforms to continue to honor Black history and celebrate Black Northeast Ohioans. On February 12 at 12 p.m. on Facebook Live, ideastream’s monthly virtual live music series, “ Applause Performances,” features two Northeast Ohio soul musicians, Singer Kyle Kidd of the acclaimed Cleveland band Mourning [A] BLKstar and multi-instrumentalist Marcus Alan Ward. On February 12 at 8:30 p.m. on WVIZ/PBS, Cleveland artist Wadsworth Jarrell discusses his new book about the AFRICOBRA movement, which he cofounded, on ideastream’s award-winning television show, “ Applause.”
All month long, Black History Month programs are being featured on WVIZ/PBS, the PBS Video app and the member-exclusive streaming service ideastream Passport. “ The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song,” an intimate four-hour series from Henry Louis Gates, Jr. exploring the 400-year-old story of the Black church in America airs February 16 and 17 at 9 p.m. ideastream’s radio stations 90.3 WCPN and WCLV 104.9 are featuring special programs about racial equity, Black history and Black achievements throughout February as well. More stories and the complete broadcast schedules are available on ideastream.org.
ideastream president and CEO Kevin E. Martin said, “Showcasing achievements of people of color is core to ideastream’s mission of illuminating the world around us. We’re committed to using our multimedia platforms to share diverse voices and local stories all year long.” Martin continued, “We’re especially proud to feature this special programing in celebration and recognition of Black History Month.”
About APT
American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations. Founded in 1961, APT distributes 250 new program titles per year and more than one-third of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. APT’s diverse catalog includes prominent documentaries, performance, dramas, how-to programs, classic movies, children’s series and news and current affairs programs. Doc Martin, Midsomer Murders, America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, AfroPoP, Rick Steves’ Europe, Pacific Heartbeat, Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Television, Front and Center, Lidia’s Kitchen, Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen, Simply Ming, The Best of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, James Patterson’s Kid Stew and NHK Newsline are a sampling of APT’s programs, considered some of the most popular on public television. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service and distributes Create ®TV — featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming — and WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel. To find out more about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.
About the Cleveland Foundation
Established in 1914, the Cleveland Foundation is the world's first community foundation and one of the largest today, with assets of $2.6 billion and 2019 grants of more than $114 million. Through the generosity of donors, the foundation improves the lives of residents of Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties by building community endowment, addressing needs through grantmaking and providing leadership on vital issues. The foundation’s program areas include arts and culture, economic and workforce development, education, environment, leadership development, neighborhoods, and youth development and social services. For more information, visit www.ClevelandFoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About ideastream
ideastream serves the people of Northeast Ohio as a trusted and dynamic multimedia source for illuminating the world around us. Publicly supported and locally owned, ideastream is indispensable and highly valued for its unique ability to strengthen our community. ideastream is the consolidation of WVIZ/PBS, with five channels of public television service (WVIZ/PBS-HD, WVIZ/PBS OHIO, WVIZ/PBS WORLD, WVIZ/PBS CREATE and WVIZ/PBS KIDS); 90.3 WCPN, Northeast Ohio’s NPR news and public affairs radio station; WCLV 104.9, Northeast Ohio’s classical music radio station; ideastream Education, with educational resources, services and the award-winning children’s series NewsDepth; and management of The Ohio Channel and the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau on behalf of all Ohio’s public broadcasting stations. For more information about ideastream’s rich legacy of innovation and credible content, visit ideastream.org.
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