jh science media awards & symposium to boston...

Media  Contacts: Lisa  Samford  –  JHWFF         Mike  Raia  –  WGBH  Boston  307-­‐733-­‐7016           617-­‐300-­‐5333  lisa@jhfestival.org         michael_raia@wgbh.org      FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  

 WGBH,  Jackson  Hole  Wildlife  Film  Festival  Bring  Science  Media  Awards  &  Symposium  to  Boston  

 More  than  300  filmmakers  and  science  media  stakeholders  expected  to  attend  3-­‐day  symposium  

 JACKSON,  Wyo.  (February  10,  2014)  –  Jackson  Hole  Wildlife  Film  Festival  is  partnering  with  WGBH  Boston,  the  largest  content  producer  for  PBS  and  longtime  producer  of  the  acclaimed  science  documentary  series  Nova  to  bring  the  Jackson  Hole  Science  Media  Awards  and  Symposium  to  Boston,  the  hub  of  the  nation’s  scientific,  research  and  technological  community.      “The  Science  Media  Awards  are  unique  in  the  business.  There  are  other  festivals  and  gatherings  that  focus  on  science,  but  the  Jackson  Hole  Wildlife  Film  Festival’s  symposium  goes  a  step  further  by  bringing  scientists,  producers,  filmmakers  and  thought  leaders  together  to  talk  about  the  most  important  topics  in  science  and  the  innovative  trends  driving  discovery.  WGBH  is  proud  to  partner  with  the  Jackson  Hole  Wildlife  Film  Festival  to  facilitate  this  important  conversation  in  Boston,”  said  Jonathan  Abbott,  WGBH’s  president  and  CEO.    More  than  300  filmmakers  and  science  media  stakeholders  will  convene  over  three  days  in  September  at  networking  and  professional  development  events  at  a  number  of  venues  in  Boston  and  Cambridge.  Select  film  screenings,  filmmaker  discussions  and  high-­‐profile  keynotes  from  members  of  the  scientific  and  film  community  will  be  open  to  the  general  public  and  sessions  will  be  recorded  for  international  distribution  over  the  Web.    

“There  has  never  been  a  more  dynamic  time  in  scientific  discovery  and  innovation,”  said  Lisa  Samford,  executive  director  of  the  Jackson  Hole  Wildlife  Film  Festival.  “From  the  infinitesimal  to  the  infinite,  science  plays  a  profound  role  in  our  daily  lives.    More  than  ever,  we  recognize  the  importance  of  communicating  science  to  public  audiences  and  policymakers.  We  are  pleased  to  work  with  WGBH  to  enhance  the  important  discussions  we  support  through  the  Science  Media  Awards  and  Symposium.”    Biannually  since  1991,  the  Jackson  Hole  Wildlife  Film  Festival  has  hosted  the  most  prestigious  international  competition  for  natural  history  films  and  filmmakers.  During  the  last  Festival  alone,  more  than  900  entries  from  more  than  50  nations  competed  for  22  awards.  In  2012,  the  inaugural  Jackson  Hole  Science  Media  Awards  attracted  more  than  500  submissions.    “Boston  is  the  central  hub  of  science  and  innovation  and  home  to  many  of  the  world’s  most  venerated  scientific  thinkers  and  institutions,”  said  John  Bredar,  WGBH’s  vice  president  of  national  programming.  “It  is  a  perfect  place  to  gather  to  recognize  and  celebrate  excellence  in  science  media.”    WGBH,  headquartered  in  Boston,  is  the  single  largest  television  and  digital  producer  for  PBS.  Its  iconic  national  primetime  series  including  Nova,  Frontline,  American  Experience,  Masterpiece  and  Antiques  Roadshow,  as  well  as  celebrated  children’s  series  including  Curious  George  which  highlights  experimentation  and  the  scientific  method  for  preschools  and  elementary  students.    

WGBH  has  a  longstanding  commitment  to  serving  Massachusetts’  and  the  nation’s  educational  efforts.  It  serves  as  Massachusetts’  digital  media  partner  on  two  ambitious  federally-­‐supported  Race  to  the  Top  initiatives  aimed  at  reshaping  learning  for  the  21st  century.  In  addition,  WGBH  serves  as  the  STEM  (Science,  Technology,  Engineering  &  Math)  lead  for  PBS’s  LearningMedia,  a  national  broadband  resource  service  for  teachers  and  educators.  

The  Science  Media  Awards  and  Symposium  events  are  scheduled  for  September  17  through  19  and  will  feature  events,  workshops  and  screenings  at  WGBH’s  studios  in  Boston’s  Brighton  neighborhood,  among  other  locations  in  Cambridge,  Mass.  and  Boston.  For  more  information,  visit  www.jhfestival.org    About  JHWFF  Jackson  Hole  Wildlife  Film  Festival  convenes  a  biennial  five-­‐day  industry  conference  that  draws  650+  conservationists,  journalists,  filmmakers  and  broadcasters  from  around  the  world  to  hone  skills,  explore  emerging  media  technologies  and  market  opportunities,  network  and  celebrate  notable  achievements  within  the  industry.  In  alternating  years,  the  organization  hosts  a  similar  conference  targeted  toward  science  media  stakeholders.  Find  more  information  at  www.jhfestival.org    About  WGBH  WGBH  Boston  is  America’s  preeminent  public  broadcaster  and  the  largest  producer  of  PBS  content  for  TV  and  the  Web,  including  Masterpiece,  Antiques  Roadshow,  Frontline,  Nova,  American  Experience,  Arthur,  Curious  George,  and  more  than  a  dozen  other  prime-­‐time,  lifestyle,  and  children’s  series.  WGBH’s  television  channels  include  WGBH  2,  WGBH  44,  and  the  digital  channels  World  and  Create.  WGBH  TV  productions  focusing  on  the  region’s  diverse  community  include  Greater  Boston,  Basic  Black,  High  School  Quiz  Show,  and  Neighborhood  Kitchens.  WGBH  Radio  serves  listeners  across  New  England  with  89.7  WGBH,  Boston  Public  Radio;  99.5  WCRB,  Classical  New  England;  and  WCAI,  the  Cape  and  Islands  NPR®  Station.  WGBH  also  is  a  major  source  of  programs  for  public  radio  (among  them,  PRI’s  

The  World®),  a  leader  in  educational  multimedia  (including  PBS  LearningMedia™,  providing  the  nation’s  educators  with  free,  curriculum-­‐based  digital  content),  and  a  pioneer  in  technologies  and  services  that  make  media  accessible  to  deaf,  hard  of  hearing,  blind,  and  visually  impaired  audiences.  WGBH  has  been  recognized  with  hundreds  of  honors:  Emmys,  Peabodys,  duPont-­‐Columbia  Awards  and  Oscars.  Find  more  information  at  www.wgbh.org