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Sep 27, 2011

Rep. Yarmuth introduces bill to reauthorize Ready To Learn

Congressman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) has introduced the Ready To Compete Act, H.R. 3036, which would reauthorize public television’s longtime education program, Ready To Learn.“We are extremely grateful to Congressman Yarmuth for his unwavering support of public broadcasting’s educational mission and recognizing the important role local stations play in educating communities across the country,” said Patrick Butler, president of the Association of Public Television Stations, in a statement. RTL uses public television’s on-air and online educational content to build the math, science and reading skills of children ages 2 to 8, especially targeting those from low-income families and underserved communities. In addition, Yarmuth's bill, introduced Sept. 22, would expand RTL by including the creation of content and resources for children age 9 to 13, if adequate funding is available. And Ready To Compete would provide assistance to help adults get ready for work through its Ready To Earn program, supporting educational digital content and services focused on GED (high-school diploma equivalency) preparation, adult literacy and workforce training skills.

Two pubcasters honored as Powerful and Influential Latinos

Sandie Pedlow, executive director of Latino Public Broadcasting, and Joseph Tovares, CPB's senior v.p. for diversity and innovation, are on this year's list of Most Powerful and Influential Latinos from the Imagen Foundation. The nonprofit advocates for positive portrayals of Latinos in all forms of entertainment media. Honorees will be recognized at a gala at the Beverly Hills Hilton Tuesday night (Sept. 27).

At long last, public radio has its very own style maven

Jesse Thorn, host and creator of The Sound of Young America, has his hands in many creative projects but recently he's taken up . . . men's style blogging?

If it seems unlikely, think again, because Thorn is a man who knows how to dress well and how to do so on a budget.

In a magazine feature published today, Thorn takes readers of GQ shopping in underground L.A., stopping for pastrami in his favorite deli before visiting a Korean tailor, a Mexican shoemaker and three thrift stores. "What Thorn offers is a measure of practicality and instruction, and allows the average man, without stylist or sponsor, to develop a responsibility for his appearance," writes GQ's Shona Sanzgiri. "He doesn't consider himself an authority—more like an advocate."

After discovering a Brooks Brothers sweater in a Goodwill store, Thorn advises: "The secret is to find clothes that are tens, and not sevens. Keep your wardrobe edited so that it really works. Wearing two things that kind of work doesn't turn into something that really works."

The men's style web series Put This On is separate from Thorn's audio productions through Maximum Fun, which include Public Radio International's TSOYA, PRX's WTF, and the podcast Judge John Hodgman. To name just a few. There's so much more to discover.

"Teaching Channel Presents" to highlight innovative classroom methods

Teaching Channel Presents, a one-hour weekly magazine showcasing teachers and their methods nationwide, premieres Oct. 2 on public TV stations. It's produced by the Teaching Channel (Tch), a multiplatform showcase of innovative teaching techniques that launched in June, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

The premiere includes a visit to a multilingual classroom in Los Angeles, sixth-graders on a microscopic safari, a group of active third graders grappling with the concept of graphing, a new teacher working to improve his practice with an instructional coach, and a middle-school math teacher who writes hip-hop tunes to boost retention for his students.

WNET is distributing Teaching Channel Presents through the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA).

Six News and Documentary Emmys go to shows on PBS

PBS won six News and Documentary Emmy Awards at ceremonies Monday (Sept. 26) in New York City. P.O.V. claimed four statuettes, and Independent Lens and Frontline each won one. A full list of winners is here (PDF). For those keeping score, these awards join 14 Primetime Emmys and 12 Daytime Emmys awarded to programs on PBS, for a total of 32 Emmys this year.