PBS has made it official: there will be a new half-hour weekend edition of the “PBS NewsHour” coming later this year.
“PBS NewsHour Weekend” will debut September 7, and will be anchored by Hari Sreenivasan (pictured left), a correspondent for the weekday edition of the program. Sreenivasan writes about what he hopes to accomplish at the new program here.
Unlike the weekday edition of “NewsHour,” which originates from Washington DC, the weekend edition will originate from New York City, at the studios of WNET at Lincoln Center.
“I am delighted about the expansion of the ‘NewsHour’ to the weekend,” said Jim Lehrer, executive editor, and founding former news anchor for ‘PBS NewsHour’ in a statement. “I welcome this latest expansion of our brand of trusted and balanced journalism. Plus, it is equally wonderful to rekindle our relationship with WNET, where Robert MacNeil and I started nearly 40 years ago.”
The expansion in New York City comes as the “NewsHour” was forced to lay off staff in its Denver and San Francisco offices, as well as some production roles in Washington DC.
More, after the jump.
PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND TO PREMIERE THIS FALL
Hari Sreenivasan to Anchor Weekend Newscast From the Tisch WNET Studios in New York
ARLINGTON, VA; JUNE 17, 2013 – PBS today announced it will launch PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND, an addition to its influential and trusted lineup of news and public affairs shows and an extension of one of America’s most iconic news broadcasts. The half-hour program premieres Saturday, September 7, 2013, on PBS stations (check locallistings). PBS NEWSHOUR correspondent Hari Sreenivasan will anchor PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND every Saturday and Sunday from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center.
Like the weekday edition of THE PBS NEWSHOUR, PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND will feature a summary of the day’s national and international news, using renowned experts to offer analysis. Each weekend broadcast will contain original, in-depth field reporting on topics including education, healthcare, the economy, energy, science and technology, religion, finance and the arts. Local PBS stations will be offered an opportunity at the end of the broadcast to insert two minutes of local news. As appropriate, the PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND team will work with local stations toproduce stories of national interest for the broadcast.
While staying true to the traditions of PBS NEWSHOUR, PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND will employ a team of multimedia producers who will efficiently utilize the latest broadcast technology. Social media will be fully integrated into PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND, allowing for a dynamic conversation with viewers.
The addition of this New York-based team will contribute to NEWSHOUR’s weekday on-air reporting, with Hari Sreenivasan regularly providing reports for the weekday PBS NEWSHOUR newscast. Online, the New York team will publish and update the PBS NEWSHOUR’s mobile, social media and digital platforms, extending coverage to seven days a week. With this expanded schedule, the PBS NEWSHOUR site will feature even more news, expert commentary and enterprise reporting on topics including politics, science, the arts, health and international news.
The NEWSHOUR initiative will be helmed by Linda Winslow, who has served as the executive producer of THE PBS NEWSHOUR since 2005. The veteran news executive and key member of the NEWSHOUR management team will provide editorial oversight to both on-air productions and their related digital platforms.
“I am delighted about the expansion of the NEWSHOUR to the weekend,” said Jim Lehrer, executive editor, and founding former news anchor for PBS NEWSHOUR. “I welcome this latest expansion of our brand of trusted and balanced journalism. Plus, it is equally wonderful to rekindle our relationshipwith WNET, where Robert MacNeil and I started nearly 40 years ago.”
“PBS NEWSHOUR has a reputation for context, in-depth reporting and analysis that gives viewers the facts and lets them make up their own minds,” said Beth Hoppe, PBS Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming. “PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND will bring the NEWSHOUR’s commitment to in-depth, thoughtful news coverage to weekend viewers, while also bolstering NEWSHOUR’s newsgathering abilities with a presence in New York City.”“We are so fortunate to be a part of the next chapter of the NEWSHOUR, bringingthis trusted brand to audiences on air and online on the weekends,” says WNET President and CEO Neal Shapiro. “We are assembling an experienced and talented news team that will be ready to deliver a program that builds on the NEWSHOUR’s well-earned reputation with a unique blend of innovation and experimentation to deliver the highest quality news experience.”
Hari Sreenivasan has been with PBS NEWSHOUR since 2009, currently serving as both a correspondent and as director of digital partnerships. Mr. Sreenivasan makes regular news updates throughout the day on the NEWSHOUR’s website, in addition to appearing nightly on the program. Prior to PBS NEWSHOUR, he worked for CBS News, reporting regularly on the “CBS Evening News,” “The Early Show” and “CBS Sunday Morning.” Before that, he served as an anchor and correspondent for ABC News, working extensively on the network’s 24-hour digital service “ABC News Now.” Mr. Sreenivasan also reported for “World News Tonight,” “Nightline” and anchored the overnight program “World News Now”.
“I’m honored to be a part of this latest evolution of the NEWSHOUR and hope to bring the same intelligence and depth of our programming to weekend audiences however they choose to watch and engage with us, on-air and online,” said Sreenivasan.
Marc Rosenwasser will serve as executive producer of PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND. Mr. Rosenwasser has produced network television news for more than 25 years, most recently serving as executive producer of “Need to Know.” Prior to that, he was a senior producer for “CBS Evening News.” During a 16-year tenure at NBC News, Mr. Rosenwasser served as executive editor of “Dateline,” executive producer of “Tom Brokaw Reports” from 2001 to 2006 and senior broadcast producer of “Dateline” from 1994 to 2001. He spent seven years as a writer and producer at ABC News andmore than seven years at The Associated Press, where he was a correspondent in Moscow for more than two years. Mr. Rosenwasser is a recipient of 23 Emmy Awards, three duPont-Columbia Awards, a Peabody Award and a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND is made possible with support from PBS, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Lewis B. Cullman and Louise Hirschfeld Cullman, Mutual of America, Judy and Josh Weston, Citi Foundation, In Memory of Miriam and Ira D. Wallach, Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family, Rosalind P. Walter, Betty and John Levin, the Vital Projects Fund, and Charlotte and David Ackert.
About PBSPBS, with its over 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 120 million people through television and over 29 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.
About MacNeil-Lehrer Productions
MacNeil/Lehrer Productions (MLP) has been synonymous with depth, fairness, and innovation in broadcast journalism since Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer teamed up to launch The MacNeil/Lehrer Report in 1975. MLP currently produces the PBS NewsHour, one of the most trusted institutions in news, as well asaward-winning documentaries and non-fiction television programming for public, commercial and cable television. PBS NewsHour, co-produced with WETA Washington, D.C. and in association with WNET in New York, is seen on over 300 public television stations by over one million nightly viewers and is available on the program’s website, on the NewsHour’s YouTube channel, via podcast, and via public radio in select markets. Today, MLP also produces educational resources for students and teachers,civic forums across the United States and e-books. MLP also produces coverage of United States elections, the State of the Union address, national politicalconventions, and other major events for PBS. For more information, visit www.macneil-lehrer.com.
About WNET/Thirteen
In 2013, WNET is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of THIRTEEN, New York’s flagship public media provider. As the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET brings quality arts, education and public affairs programming to over 5 million viewers each week. WNET produces and presents such acclaimed PBS series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose 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, Oh Noah! 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 NYC-ARTS, Reel 13, NJ Today and MetroFocus, the multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York region. WNET is also a leader in connecting with viewers on emerging platforms, including the THIRTEEN Explore iPad App where users can stream PBS content for free.