Pioneering New-Media Series 'The Future of News' Premieres on American Public Television

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "The Future of News," a new 10-part television series produced by the Newseum in Washington, D.C., debuts this month on American Public Television. Featuring lively discussions and cutting-edge conversations with today's leading journalists and newsmakers, "The Future of News" brings together some of the brightest minds in new and old media.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080919/NEWSEUMLOGO)

Hosted by Frank Sesno, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at the George Washington University, the series highlights emerging forms of news presentations to emphasize the role of technological diversity in the modern media landscape. Funded by a generous grant from the Ford Foundation, "The Future of News" is recorded at the Newseum in front of a live studio audience. Each 30-minute episode features Newseum-produced video clips and reports from "Future of News" correspondent Sonya Gavankar, who uses a state-of-the-art touch-screen monitor to explore innovative Web sites and blogs.

In conjunction with the series premiere, the Newseum has launched a "Future of News" blog at www.newseumfutureofnews.com, where visitors are encouraged to participate in critical discussions and spirited debates on the state of today's news and the significance of tomorrow's technology.

"The mission of the Newseum is to educate the public about the importance of a free press in a free society," said Paul Sparrow, vice president of broadcasting at the Newseum. "The news media today is changing dramatically, and this series provides a user's guide to this brave new world of digital information and Web-based news content."

In the first episode of "The Future of News," journalist Ann Curry of NBC News and new media pioneer Charles Sennott of online international news agency GlobalPost discuss how new forms of social media and the Internet have changed the way international news is covered, produced and reported.

"If we want to understand the collapse of the global economy, if we want to understand terrorism, if we want to understand climate change, we need a global approach," said Sennott.

Panelists in upcoming episodes include Bob Woodward, The Washington Post; Jim VandeHei, Politico; Walt Mossberg, The Wall Street Journal; Tina Brown, Daily Beast; John King, CNN; and Steve Grove, YouTube.

Learn more about "The Future of News" at www.newseum.org/future-of-news.

About the Newseum

The Newseum — a 250,000-square-foot museum of news — offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits. Within its seven levels of galleries and theaters, the Newseum offers a unique environment that takes museum-goers behind the scenes to experience how and why news is made.

The Newseum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors (65 and older) and $12.95 for youth (7 to 18). Annual memberships also are available. For additional information, call 888/NEWSEUM (888/639-7386) or visit www.newseum.org.

SOURCE Newseum