Stroud disengages in Madison

Maria Alvarez Stroud, public TV’s outreach advocate for most of this millennium, is moving to a new position at the University of Wisconsin-Extension. She’s been executive director of the CPB-backed National Center for Media Engagement in Madison since its founding as the National Center for Outreach in 2000. Stroud’s new job is special assistant to the school’s provost and vice chancellor, working on broadband delivery of public media projects. Charles Meyer is serving as interim e.d.

Now on PBS heading to MIPCOM

Now on PBS, a WNET production, will be presented at the prestigious MIPCOM International Film and Program Market for Television, Video, Cable and Satellite in October in Cannes, France. It's one of the world's biggest entertainment trade events. "This series has been on the air for seven years in the U.S., but this will be the first time that it has ever been introduced to the international market," said Marielle Zuccarelli, senior veep of international sales for distributor GRB Entertainment. It's good news for the show, which earlier this year told its staff to take eight weeks of unpaid leave to offset a $1 million budget shortfall (Current, March 30).

Farewell, Reading Rainbow

Nice tributes out there to Reading Rainbow as sun sets today on the 26-year pubcasting fave (as Current reported earlier this month). Here's one from NPR's Morning Edition, in case you missed it. Veronica Harley, a blogger for AOL, takes a sentimental look back; more than a dozen folks left comments on what the show meant to them--including this one: "I am highly upset! I'm 17 yrs old & I still watch Reading Rainbow as soon as I come home faithfully!" But the program won’t die completely, reports Business First in Buffalo. Reading Rainbow will remain available in the educational video market for use by teachers.