Need to Know Launches Help Wanted, a Special Series Devoted to America's Job Crisis, Beginning Friday, October 7th on PBS

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Sep 20, 2011, 03:27 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Need to Know, the 30-minute PBS weekly news magazine, announced today that it will be airing a series of special broadcasts devoted exclusively to America's job crisis.

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The series, known as "Help Wanted," will begin on Friday, October 7, the day the next national unemployment figures are released. The series will continue on the first Friday of every month through election day 2012 to coincide with the jobs report.

"Every survey indicates that Americans care far more about the economy, and most specifically jobs, than any other issue," said the show's new executive producer, Marc Rosenwasser. "We intend to explore the issue by telling stories from around the nation – stories that illustrate important trends. We'll also will be sharing innovative programs that have helped create jobs."

Need to Know will also feature a jobs-related piece this Friday, September 23rd. The show will visit one Michigan town that is trying to reinvent itself as a green community after the biggest employer in town moved its operations to Mexico.

Need to Know airs nationally on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS.

Executive Producer is Marc Rosenwasser. For WNET: Executive-in-charge is Stephen Segaller.

Major funding for Need to Know was provided by Bernard and Irene Schwartz, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation, The NASDAQ OMX Educational Foundation, James and Merryl Tisch, Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family, Josh and Judy Weston, The Winston Foundation, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS. Corporate funding is provided by Mutual of America.

About WNET New York Public Media

WNET is America's flagship public media outlet, bringing quality arts, education and public affairs programming to over 5 million viewers each week. The parent company of public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET produces such acclaimed PBS series as Great Performances, American Masters, Nature, Need to Know, Charlie Rose, Tavis Smiley and a range of documentaries, children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online. Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Noah Comprende and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home. WNET highlights the tri-state's unique culture and diverse communities through SundayArts, Reel 13, NJ Today and the new online newsmagazine MetroFocus.