While the entire world has come to an abrupt halt, with residents and businesses hunkered down and off routine, the intrepid minds and creative staff at Rhode Island PBS have not skipped a determined beat in preparing for the November 11 launch at 7 p.m. of a new broadcast newsmagazine, Rhode Island PBS Weekly.
When the COVID-19 lockdowns began back in March, the team followed the story - masked and socially distanced - including how the lockdown affected businesses, and how COVID affected children. And, as racial justice protests began locally, the Rhode Island PBS Weekly team documented the issues and stories around systemic racism.
The first of its kind for the station, the newsmagazine brings together an award-winning team of producers and reporters whose mission is to pursue the truth through full, fair, and contextual reporting, to explore the issues and tell the whole story. Committed to reflective, investigative journalism and narrative storytelling, the team takes the time to provide context beyond the headlines and 30-second sound bites.
“These are stories that matter to our community,” said David W. Piccerelli, president of WSBE Rhode Island PBS. “Our unwavering mission is to provide meaningful, powerful, and relevant local content. I am so proud to watch this group of professionals bring their diverse expertise into creating this broadcast. And to achieve all this under pandemic conditions and studio shut down is a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of every member of the team,” Mr. Piccerelli said.
The Rhode Island PBS Weekly team is led by executive producer Barbara Dury, an award-winning journalist who worked as a producer and writer with CBS News 60 Minutes for more than 25 years, and where she produced more than 100 news documentaries. Her work internationally included designing and implementing expert training for more than 200 journalists and journalism students, as well as establishing programs in Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Thailand. She recently produced news documentaries in the digital space in partnership with Retro Report and The New York Times.
The broadcast’s senior producer is Bartley Price, an award-winning producer who covered breaking national and international news for more than 20 years. Bartley worked at ABC News producing, shooting, and editing for Good Morning America, Nightline, This Week, 20/20, and other ABC news platforms. Reporting in hot spots such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia, Bartley’s work earned the native New Zealander multiple Emmy Awards and an Overseas Press Club Award.
The on-camera team includes news veteran Bill Rappleye, whose 18-year career in Providence included coverage of State House proceedings as well as his 16-year role as host of 10 News Conference.
Michelle San Miguel joined Rhode Island PBS in April after four years at NBC10. A solid journalist who has also worked as an anchor, Michelle will report on stories for the broadcast. She and Bill Rappleye will host the broadcast each week.
Bill Bartholomew is a contributing reporter, profiling local artists from the arts and music scene, as well as a range of other topics and stories.
Other Rhode Island PBS producers will have recurring roles in creating local and regional short documentaries for the broadcast.
The premiere will feature an in-depth story about racial justice entitled, ‘Justice for All?’ The half-hour broadcast will also include an interview with Rhode Island’s Youth Poetry Ambassador, as well as as the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote, plus election commentary by political analyst Scott MacKay of The Public’s Radio.
Stories in production for future episodes include the State’s takeover of the Providence School District, the effects of the pandemic on domestic violence and child abuse, the status of opioid use disorder and treatment under COVID-19, and a series of features about environmental issues. For additional local flavor, recurring short features will profile outstanding individuals, highlight pivotal and relevant moments in local history, shine a spotlight on beautiful locations in Rhode Island, and expand the popular ‘Kids Want to Know’ feature launched after schools shut down over COVID-19 in the spring.
Rhode Island PBS Weekly is available as a TV broadcast or online stream (ripbs.org/stream) on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. starting November 11. After broadcast, full episodes, segments from episodes, and digital-only bonus content will be available on-demand at ripbs.org/weekly.
WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits over the air in high definition on digital 36.1; Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD in MA; DirecTV 36, Dish Network 36.