The five-time Emmy® award nominated news magazine to begin its fifth season on Tuesday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Bethlehem, Pa. — September 28, 2017 — Taking a close look at the stories that shape our community, PBS39’s weekly news magazine, FOCUS, will begin its fifth season on Tuesday, October 10. Airing every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., the FOCUS team covers the people, places, and issues that matter to our community. FOCUS combines field production with studio interviews exploring subjects from arts and education, to health and community development.
Hosted by executive producer Laura McHugh, and featuring Brittany Garzillo and Grover Silcox, over the years FOCUS has delved into issues such as children’s health, nutrition, domestic abuse, and addiction. The show recently received five 2017 Emmy® award nominations for Personalized Medicine: The Future of Cancer Treatment, Teaching the Science of Polling, Revitalizing Easton: Simon SIlk Mill, Please Touch Photography, and Mikayla’s Voice. Previous episodes can be found on the PBS39 website.
“With more than 100 episodes to date, the key to FOCUS‘ success has been localizing news stories in a way that appeals to our viewers,” said Tim Fallon, CEO of PBS39. “Our team works hard to find stories that pique the interest of community residents, promoting civic engagement through our communication platforms and resources.”
This fall, the PBS39 FOCUS team will feature stories on the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley 100th Anniversary, Allentown Art Museum, ArtsQuest, 7th Street Allentown Revitalization, and MacArthur Road’s 75th Anniversary.
“As our community experiences the development and growth of the area, FOCUS will continue to be resident’s source for in-depth, local coverage,” said McHugh, executive producer and host. “We launch our fifth season with the goal of thoughtfully bringing the Lehigh Valley to life through our features.”
In addition to the upcoming civic stories, Season Five of FOCUS will offer two comprehensive Special Reports. The first explores homelessness in our area, and the second examines local stories of the Vietnam War. The reports will complement Close to Home documentaries airing on the channel in October and November. FOCUS is committed to continuing a dedication to local businesses, organizations, and important topics, bringing comprehensive reporting to viewers.
PBS39 thanks their FOCUS and Full STEAM Ahead! sponsors for their support – PPL Corporation, Premier Sponsor of PBS39 50th Anniversary Events, Univest, Air Products, and Sylvia Perkin Charitable Trust.
About PBS39
PBS39 is a community-owned public television station licensed to Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, Pa., serving eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey. PBS39 is owned and operated by the Lehigh Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation. PBS39 acts as the catalyst to promote civic engagement, and to fulfill the regional needs of the Greater Lehigh Valley through its dynamic communication platforms and resources. For more information, visit wlvt.org.
Information Provided By:
DaWayne Cleckley
VP, Marketing
PBS39
