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June 11, 2020

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ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago To Produce and Broadcast ‘Graduation 2020: For Chicago. By Chicago.,’ a Virtual Ceremony for Chicago’s Graduating High School Seniors

Virtual Graduation Is Hosted by ’Hamilton’ Star Miguel Cervantes, With Commencement Address by Oprah Winfrey, Joined by Celebrity Appearances Including Award-Winning Hip-Hop Artist Common

Special to air Sunday, June 14, (1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CDT) on ABC7 Chicago, Localish Network, and multiple radio and television stations across the city of Chicago

Stream live at ABC7Chicago.com, ABC7’s connected Apps, ABC7Chicago’s Facebook and Localish’s Facebook, YouTube and Windy City Live’s Facebook

ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago and ABC’s Localish digital network to broadcast and exclusively produce “Graduation 2020: For Chicago. By Chicago.,” a live 60-minute first-of-its kind, citywide virtual graduation ceremony to celebrate the city of Chicago’s 35,000 graduating seniors. The special will recognize the tenacity and achievements of Chicago’s high school seniors who are graduating during unprecedented times. The ceremony will air SUNDAY, JUNE 14 at 1:00 p.m. CDT, hosted by Chicago’s “Hamilton” star Miguel Cervantes, and commencement keynote by Oprah Winfrey.

The star-studded lineup will appear virtually to give tribute and well-wishes to graduating seniors’ achievements. Confirmed appearances include Gov. JB Pritzker, “The Voice”’s Katie Kadan performing the national anthem, and an opening narrated by Chicago’s hometown, hip-hop recording artist, Common, the first rapper to win an Emmy®, Grammy®, and an Academy Award®, with many more special appearances.

The televised production captures inspiring citywide images of Chicago, its high schools and students through original and drone aerial footage, despite a pandemic and citywide protests. Partnered with footage of tributes and speeches from well-known Chicagoans ranging from Mayor Lightfoot to Chicago’s professional sport stars to extraordinary high school graduates; the special also showcases popular high school band performances that display the pride and culture of the city. ABC7 made submission links available to all seniors for their own “Pomp and Circumstance Graduation Walks” videos, which production then paired with music produced by Chicago’s DJ Hot Rod to air as part of the graduation celebration. The package is showcased through original short videos and segments produced by ABC7 Chicago and Localish.

“We are honored to not only produce this historic event for the city of Chicago’s graduating seniors, but we are pleased to be able to expand the virtual graduation past our broadcast on WLS and Localish, and offer it to all television and radio stations across the city of Chicago,” said John Idler, president and general manager, WLS-TV. “We are living in an unprecedented time, but that didn’t stop the class of 2020. WLS wants to ensure that we produce and deliver an exciting, heartfelt send-off that can be felt by all graduating seniors and their families wherever they are throughout the city, and one that will not be forgotten.”

In addition to ABC7, the virtual graduation ceremony will be broadcast on WGN-TV, WTTW, WCIU, CBS2, NBC5, FOX32 and Univision Chicago (WGBO-TV); and will air live on Localish Network in 14 million homes across the country, and on the Facebook page of WLS’s ‘Windy City.’ WBEZ 91.5 FM Chicago will air portions of the graduation celebration and stream the entire ceremony live on WBEZ.org. Additionally, the city of Chicago will provide a live-stream feed from Chicago.gov and it’s Facebook page. The ceremony will be closed captioned and Univision Chicago (WGBO-TV) will provide Spanish closed captioning.

ABC7 Chicago and Localish are the lead broadcasters and will showcase the live virtual celebration with a multiplatform focus that will leverage its promotional strength across ABC’s linear, digital and social footprints. Viewers can stream live at ABC7Chicago.com, ABC7’s connected Apps, ABC7’s Facebook, YouTube, and Localish on Facebook, YouTube and WLS-TV’s ‘Windy City Live’ Facebook. The station will also rebroadcast the special across its digital streaming platforms and connected TV.

About ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago
ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago is the No. 1 local news source and most-watched television station in Chicago. With top-rated daily newscasts spanning decades in linear broadcast and the largest social media presence in the market with more than 2.3 million Facebook followers, ABC7 Eyewitness News provides breaking news, investigative reporting, weather, politics, traffic and sports in the multiplatform space to Chicago, the suburbs and northwest Indiana. Named Best News Operation by the Associated Press for four consecutive years, the station produces 41 hours of local news weekly in addition to producing Chicago’s only local weekday entertainment talk show, “Windy City LIVE,” as well as its highest-rated New Year’s Eve special. ABC7’s award-winning community outreach includes programs showcasing the city’s diversity such as “Heart and Soul,” “The Ñ Beat” and “Asian Influences”; producing and broadcasting parades representing Chicago’s rich cultural history; town halls focused on current social issues; annual partnerships with the Red Cross for life-saving blood drives; and most recently, spearheading an effort to raise more than $1.5 million for area food pantries.

About Localish
Localish, a digital native lifestyle brand from ABC Owned Television Stations featuring locally sourced yet nationally relevant stories which target a younger audience, debuted its broadcast home on Feb. 17, 2020. In Localish’s first year, ABC’s owned stations produced over 700 pieces of digital video, totaling more than 240 million video views, with 65% of its audience under the age of 44. Most recently honored with the 2019 Innovator Award – the highest distinction among TVNewsCheck’s annual Social Media Excellence Awards – Localish was credited for its forward-minded ideas, sleek execution and all-around positive impact. As a broadcast network, Localish expanded its short-form series of local storytelling into long-form programming to reach approximately 14 million households across America. The brand also continues to debut stories on localish.com, ABC digital platforms and social media platforms, as it transcends city limits and inspires its audience to live like a local wherever they are.

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Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rosie Pérez, Esaí Moráles, Gilberto Santa Rosa, La India and Pedro Capó Among the Stars Headlining the National Puerto Rican Day Parade TV Special on June 14

Program to feature the traditional Afro-Puerto Rican dance, Bomba, historically used as an artistic and peaceful form of protest and cultural pride

Commemorative TV special to air on June 14 on ABC7 in New York and streamed live on abc7ny.com at noon EDT, and on ABC7/KGO-TV San Francisco at 2:00pm PDT

The National Puerto Rican Day Parade announces an all-star lineup of Puerto Rican luminaries from television, film, music and theater to headline the commemorative TV special to air on WABC-TV channel 7 on June 14 at noon EDT, given the postponement of the 63rd Annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade that normally takes place on 5th Avenue, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Confirmed artists include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rosie Pérez, Esaí Morales, Gilberto Santa Rosa, La India, Victor Manuelle, Ivonne Coll, Pedro Capó Anthony Ramos, Ariana DeBose, Kany García, and many others. The TV special will continue the longstanding tradition of the largest celebration in America that recognizes Puerto Rican culture and history, in addition to raising awareness of the issues that affect Puerto Rico.

A key feature in the program will be the Puerto Rican community’s solidarity with Black people around the world by showcasing the traditional dance of Bomba, an Afro-Puerto Rican tradition of music and dance that represents resistance, survival, celebration and healing. Bomba originates from the black slaves who worked on the sugar plantations in 17th century Puerto Rico. Today, Bomba has become an artistic and culturally meaningful form of protest and a symbol of pride.

For the first time ever, National Puerto Rican Day Parade programming will air in the San Francisco Bay area on ABC7/KGO-TV, at 2:00pm PDT, as well as on ABC5 WORA-TV in Puerto Rico at noon EDT. It will also be streamed on abc7ny.com, the station’s connected TV apps on Amazon FireTV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku. The stream will also be available on the websites of the ABC Owned Television stations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh/Durham and Fresno.

In late May, WABC-TV Channel 7 and the National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) Board of Directors announced their plans to broadcast a 90-minute TV special, hosted by WABC-TV anchors Joe Torres and David Novarro along with Sunny Hostin, co-host of “The View.”

About WABC
WABC-TV has been the leader in local news and entertainment programming in the New York City area for more than 60 years. Producing more than 45 hours of live, local news and weather each week, Channel 7 “Eyewitness News” is the most watched local news in New York and the United States. WABC-TV also produces “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” weekdays at 9:00 a.m., which is seen in more than 200 markets across the U.S. Quality news and programming, cutting-edge technology and ongoing community outreach are the hallmarks of excellence that have consistently kept WABC-TV New York’s No. 1 station and the most-watched television station in the nation.

About the National Puerto Rican Day Parade
Now in its 63rd year, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) is America’s largest celebration of cultural pride in the nation. Programs and events preserve Puerto Rican culture through special tributes to national symbols, historical figures and campaigns to raise awareness on important issues impacting the community. NPRDP’s hallmark program is the Scholarship Program, which serves to advance educational achievement in the Puerto Rican community. The Parade’s TV broadcast is a top-rated program and has been nominated for an Emmy® for three consecutive years.

WABC Media Contact
Elita Fielder Adjei
(424) 247-3517
Elita.Adjei@disney.com

NPRDP Media Contact New York
Javier E. Gomez
(917) 533-1247
javier@highpitchpr.com

NPRDP Media Contact Los Angeles
Jasmin Espada
Espada PR
(818) 521-3807
jasmin@espadapr.com

NPRDP – Media Contact Puerto Rico
Wilson Nazario
(787) 409-8376
wilson.nazario@gmail.com

Press Release

June 4, 2020

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ABC7/KGO-TV San Francisco Partners With Black Community Organizations and Allies for a One-Hour Virtual Town Hall in Response to the Protests and Outrage Over Police Brutality and Systemic Racism Against Black Americans

‘From Anger to Action: A Bay Area Conversation’ Airs TODAY, Thursday, June 4 (4:00 P.M. PDT), Live on ABC7

Audience Members Are Invited to Participate With the Panel of Guests in Real Time Via the ABC7 Bay Area Facebook

ABC7/KGO-TV presents a one-hour virtual town hall, “From Anger to Action: A Bay Area Conversation,” in response to the protests and outrage over police brutality and systemic racism against black Americans. ABC7 continues to stand with black colleagues, viewers and every ally of the black community. The town hall is aimed to empower the community with expert advice, facts and vetted resources. The solution-based discussion is hosted by ABC7 anchors Kumasi Aaron, Eric Thomas and anchor/reporter Jobina Fortson.

ABC7’s panel represents a diverse range of voices, each of them working to help build a better Bay Area. They will answer questions live, giving the audience a chance to connect directly with community leaders, government, law enforcement and other allies of the local black community.

Viewers are encouraged to submit their questions to the panel in advance at facebook.com/abc7news, or LIVE via comments on the ABC7 Bay Area Facebook and Instagram pages.

Panel members include the following:

Ersie Joyner, retired captain, Oakland Police Department
Dr. Joe Marshall Jr., executive director, Alive & Free
Paul Henderson, executive director, San Francisco Dept. of Police Accountability
Samuel Getachew, Oakland Tech graduate; poet, writer, activist
LaNiece Jones, executive director, BWOP (Black Women Organized for Political Action)

Questions from the public will be incorporated into the broadcast through a social media monitor in the studio, where ABC7 News hosts will be without a studio audience due to COVID-19 restrictions. The panel of experts will join the conversation live via a private Zoom conference.

“From Anger to Action: A Bay Area Conversation” will air LIVE on ABC7/KGO-TV, and viewers can also stream the town hall on abc7news.com, the ABC7 News app, the ABC7 News Bay Area YouTube channel and Apple News.

About ABC7/KGO-TV San Francisco
Emmy® Award-winning station KGO-TV ABC7 is the San Francisco Bay Area’s source for breaking news, weather and live video. Widely recognized for its solution-based promise to help the Bay Area communities, the station’s initiative “Building a Better Bay Area” dedicates more time, resources and reporting to the issues that impact its viewers’ quality of life. From the local economy and education, to health and safety, to issues impacting the environment, ABC7’s focus is to bring greater perspective on the challenges currently facing neighborhoods. In addition to being the first station in the market to expand its weekday morning program to 4:30 a.m. in 2008 and their 11 p.m. weekend newscast to one hour in 2011, the station has consistently garnered Emmy nominations and wins for Overall Excellence/News Excellence, with one most recently awarded in 2019. KGO-TV is an ABC owned television station serving San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and all of the greater Bay Area.

Twitter:	https://twitter.com/abc7newsbayarea
Facebook:	https://www.facebook.com/abc7news/

Media Relations
Tom Cibrowski
ABC7 President and General Manager
tom.cibrowski@abc.com

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Mike Monsell

6abc WPVI-TV

mike.monsell@abc.com

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6ABC/WPVI-TV Philadelphia to Stream Virtual Town Hall on Combating Racial Injustice and Dealing With Racial Trauma

‘Race, Rage and Healing: Where Do We Go From Here?’ Virtual Town Hall to Stream Sunday, June 7 (12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EDT), at 6abc.com

In the wake of continued national civil unrest due to the George Floyd homicide at the hands of law enforcement, 6abc anchor Sharrie Williams will moderate a town hall, “Race, Rage and Healing: Where Do We Go From Here?,” with prominent community leaders from Philadelphia, SUNDAY, JUNE 7 (12:30-1:30 pm EDT), on 6abc. This hour-long conversation will also be streamed live simultaneously on 6abc.com, 6abc news app, and 6abc connected television apps.

Anchor Gray Hall will field questions from the community with topics including actionable next steps for combating racial injustice, pushing for policy changes in law enforcement, addressing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the health and economics in communities of color as well as discussing racial trauma.

Panelists will include (but not be limited to) the following:

Chad Dion Lassiter – executive director, PA Human Relations Commission; and national speaker on race relations and Black Male Violence Prevention
Dr. Erica Wilkins – psychologist and Drexel associate professor researching the residual effects of slavery and sociocultural factors in African Americans in the treatment of post-traumatic stress and grief counseling
Rev. Dr. Alyn E. Waller – pastor of the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, the largest African American Church in Pennsylvania.
Andrea Custis – president & CEO of the National Urban League Philadelphia
George Burrell – attorney, former politician and local leader in business, civic and political affairs in Philadelphia for 30 years
Retired Detective Crystal Williams-Coleman – Philadelphia Police Department – president of the Guardian Civic League – social justice organization for African American police officers
Lauren Footman – director of Outreach and Equity for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence

Viewers can submit questions to 6abc.com and the Action News Facebook Page.

About 6abc/WPVI-TV Philadelphia
For over half a century, 6abc/WPVI-TV Philadelphia has been broadcasting to viewers in the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys, an area covering southeastern Pennsylvania, northern and central Delaware and southern New Jersey. As the No. 1 station in Philadelphia for almost 45 years, 6abc Action News delivers local news, information, traffic and weather to more than 3 million homes. Action News captures over half of all Adult 25-54 news viewers on an average day*. In the past year, Action News has won 2,633 out of 2,662 newscasts in Households for a winning percentage of 98.9%.†

*Based on April 2020 Nielsen survey

†Based on May 2019 – April 2020 Nielsen data

Twitter:	https://twitter.com/6abc
Instagram:	https://www.instagram.com/6abcactionnews/
Facebook:	https://www.facebook.com/6abcActionNews/

Contact:
Mike Monsell
mike.monsell@abc.com

Press Release

June 3, 2020

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ABC13/KTRK-TV Houston to Host Virtual Town Hall to Discuss the Relationship Between the Police And Communities of Color

Virtual Town Hall Airs Thursday, June 4 (7:00 – 8:00 p.m.)

Exclusively Stream Live at ABC13.com, ABC13’s Facebook Live and YouTube, ABC13’s connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku

ABC13, Houston’s most-watched television station, presents a one-hour virtual town hall on THURSDAY, JUNE 4 (7:00 – 8:00 p.m. CDT), to discuss the relationship between law enforcement and communities of color.

Hosted by ABC13’s Eyewitness News anchors Melanie Lawson and Chauncey Glover, the town hall will address the historic tension between the police and minority groups. The special will take a closer look at police issues that have extended from the Civil Rights Movement to current times where images of George Floyd’s arrest have been shared around the world.

Panelists for the town hall include the following:

Trae Tha Truth, musical rapper and local community activist
Bun B, musical rapper and local community activist
Dr. Gerald Horne, Moores Professorship of History, his research has addressed issues of racism in a variety of relations involving labor, politics, civil rights, international relations and war.
Rev. William Lawson, president and founder of Outreach Strategists, also founding pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

Viewers are urged to join the town hall and submit their questions online at ABC13.com or through the ABC13 news app for possible inclusion in Thursday’s town hall.

The virtual town hall will take place on THURSDAY, JUNE 4, at 7:00 p.m. CDT, and exclusively stream live on ABC13’s Facebook Live, YouTube, ABC13’s app, and ABC13’s connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Roku.

About KTRK- TV
For over 50 years, ABC13 has been the undisputed news leader in Houston, from sign-on to sign-off. Broadcasting 47 hours of locally produced newscasts each week, ABC13 is top-rated and most-watched among the Houston-area viewers. ABC13 also leads the market in its digital media efforts, with top rankings for its website, abc13.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. ABC13 is deeply invested in the Houston community, and we spotlight Houston’s diversity through Eyewitness News reporting, covering issues that affect different segments of our population. ABC13 is also known for telecasting the city’s major events including the annual July 4th Freedom Over Texas celebration, The Chevron Marathon, The Bayou Bowl and The Houston Rodeo Parade. The station also broadcasts several community affairs projects throughout the year including: Share Your Holidays, an annual food drive benefiting the Houston Food Bank; and our E-cycle Drive, a collection/recycling effort for outdated electronic equipment in conjunction with Earth Day.

Twitter:	https://twitter.com/abc13houston
Instagram:	https://www.instagram.com/abc13houston/
Facebook:	https://www.facebook.com/abc13Houston/

KTRK/ABC13 Contact
Brandon DeHoyos, Director of Community Engagement
(713) 663-8712
brandon.dehoyos@disney.com

Press Release

May 28, 2020

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News Executive Rob Elmore Named President and General Manager of ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham

Award-winning local news executive Rob Elmore has been named the president and general manager of ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham, announced Wendy McMahon, president, ABC Owned Television Stations, to whom he will report. In this new role, Mr. Elmore has overall management responsibility of the station’s operations and its ancillary businesses.

Elmore is a seasoned news executive bringing extensive experience leading teams in the multiplatform space including ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles which serves the second largest market in the United States. As the vice president of KABC’s news division for the past five years, Elmore has helped cement the station’s status as Southern California’s leading source for local news and information, expanding coverage to serve audiences across broadcast, digital and social platforms. Prior to KABC, Elmore spent 17 years at WTVD where he held the position of news director serving the Research Triangle Region of Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Fayetteville with the most trusted news information, entertaining content and inspiring storytelling.

“Rob has been an extraordinary and transformational leader for the ABC owned television stations, building next-generation newsrooms at ABC11 in Raleigh-Durham and ABC7 in Los Angeles,” said McMahon. “Rob leads with a sharp vision for modernization and an uncompromised commitment to our communities and audiences. As ABC11 continues to press forward in innovation and growth to serve our viewers across even more platforms, we’re thrilled for Rob’s leadership as he returns to his Raleigh-Durham roots.”

“After a great five years in Los Angeles, returning to central North Carolina and the team at ABC11 in many ways feels like a homecoming. I spent one of the most formative periods of my life and career in Raleigh-Durham, during which time I came to know and love the resiliency and the vibrancy of the community,” said Elmore. “Especially with the health and economic impact of the pandemic felt so broadly, there is never a more important time for local news to support our community and business partners by keeping our audiences informed and connected. ABC11 has been there for our viewers for every step of the journey, and I’m thrilled to be coming back to this amazing team as we see our community back onto its feet.”

At KABC, Elmore specialized in creating and executing content and format strategies to increase multiplatform viewership and engagement, helping to secure ABC7’s position as the No. 1 station in the country on digital and social. Most recently, KABC was honored in 2020 with four Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for Overall Excellence, Breaking News Coverage, Excellence in Video, and Best Newscast in large-market television in Region 2 of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA).

As news director of WTVD, Elmore spearheaded the opening of the first and only downtown Raleigh street-level studio, The Raleigh Eyewitness News Center, in 2005. In 2008, his team was the first in the country to deploy a live broadband mobile unit, Breaking News 1, for spot news and severe weather coverage. In 2011, he and the team created the Happening Now at 5 p.m. format, which has been replicated at local stations across the country.

Before joining ABC Owned Television Stations, Elmore was news director and assistant news director at News 10 NBC in Rochester, New York. Earlier in his career, he was a news producer at WSMV in Nashville, Tennessee, where produced the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts; and WHAM-TV in Rochester, New York, where he produced the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. He began his television career as a reporter at WWNY-TV in Watertown, New York, during summer and college breaks.

Elmore graduated magna cum laude from SUNY Geneseo with a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication.

*COPYRIGHT ©2020 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All photography is copyrighted material and is for editorial use only. Images are not to be archived, altered, duplicated, resold, retransmitted or used for any other purposes without written permission of ABC. Images are distributed to the press in order to publicize current programming. Any other usage must be licensed. Photos posted for Web use must be at the low resolution of 72dpi, no larger than 2×3 in size.

About ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham
ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham is an ABC owned television station serving the Research Triangle Region of Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Fayetteville, an area collectively known for its technology companies and scholarly institutions. In 2017, WTVD transformed into a multiplatform newsroom as the first stations selected for the UNC Knight-Lenfest Newsroom Initiative, modernizing the station and maximizing its reach and engagement across linear broadcast and streaming video on demand. ABC11 is proudly the broadcast partner for the Raleigh Christmas Parade, the largest local event in the region, and the news gathering partner with the News & Observer, the region’s paper of record.

Twitter:	https://twitter.com/ABC11_WTVD
Instagram:	https://www.instagram.com/abc11_wtvd/
Facebook:	https://www.facebook.com/ABC11/

About ABC Owned Television Stations
The ABC Owned Television Stations includes WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. The eight owned stations reach 23% of all U.S. television households. The stations are consistently market leaders in multiplatform local news, collectively No. 1 in local news among Adults 25-54 for 11 consecutive broadcast seasons, and in overall digital audience, video consumption and social reach and engagement. In 2018, the Stations further expanded their content portfolio and reach with the launch of the digital-first national lifestyle brand Localish that in its first year produced over 650 pieces of digital video content, totaling more than 240 million video views.  The Live Well broadcast channel was rebranded as Localish in February 2020, delivering locally sourced yet nationally relevant storytelling as long-form linear programming to more than 14 million viewers across America. 

Media Relations
Elisa Bolduc
(818) 460-5095
elisa.bolduc@disney.com

Press Release

May 27, 2020

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ABC7/KGO-TV San Francisco Addresses the Future of Public Education in Virtual Town Hall

‘Education: A Bay Area Conversation’ Airs Thursday, May 28 (4:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDT), Live on ABC7

Audience Members Are Encouraged to Participate in a Real Time Q&A With Bay Area School Superintendents Via the ABC7 Bay Area Facebook Page and @abc7newsbayarea Instagram

ABC7 News presents a one-hour virtual town hall on Thursday, May 28 (4:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDT), to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on the education system and bring local and state education leaders together for a candid conversation. The interactive program is hosted by ABC7 News anchor Ama Daetz and ABC7 News education reporter Lyanne Melendez.

The panel, consisting of school superintendents, will answer questions submitted by parents, students and teachers, empowering them with facts about what K-12 public schools will look like in the upcoming fall semester. Viewers are encouraged to submit their questions in advance via abc7news.com or live during the town hall at ABC7 Bay Area Facebook and @abc7newsbayarea Instagram.

The panel of school superintendents include the following:

Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Dr. Vincent Matthews, San Francisco Unified Superintendent of Public Instruction
Dr. Kayla Johnson-Trammell, Oakland Unified Superintendent of Public Instruction
Nancy Albarrán, San Jose Unified Superintendent of Public Instruction

Questions from the public will be incorporated into the broadcast through a social media monitor in the studio, where ABC7 News hosts will be without a studio audience. The panel of superintendents will join the conversation live via a private Zoom conference.

“Education: A Bay Area Conversation” will air LIVE on ABC7/KGO-TV while viewers can simultaneously engage on Facebook. Viewers can also stream the town hall live abc7news.com, the ABC7 News app, the ABC7 News Bay Area YouTube channel and Apple News.

About KGO-TV San Francisco
Emmy® Award-winning station KGO-TV ABC7 is the San Francisco Bay Area’s source for breaking news, weather and live video. Widely recognized for its solution-based promise to help the Bay Area communities, the station’s initiative “Building a Better Bay Area” dedicates more time, resources and reporting to the issues that impact its viewers’ quality of life. From the local economy and education, to health and safety, to issues impacting the environment, ABC7’s focus is to bring greater perspective on the challenges currently facing neighborhoods. In addition to being the first station in the market to expand its weekday morning program to 4:30 a.m. in 2008 and their 11 p.m. weekend newscast to one hour in 2011, the station has consistently garnered Emmy nominations and wins for Overall Excellence/News Excellence, with one most recently awarded in 2019. KGO-TV is an ABC owned television station serving San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and all of the greater Bay Area, which together comprise the nation’s sixth largest television market.

Twitter:	https://twitter.com/abc7newsbayarea
Facebook:	https://www.facebook.com/abc7news/

Media Relations
Tom Cibrowski
ABC7 President and General Manager
tom.cibrowski@abc.com

Press Release

May 26, 2020

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WABC-TV Channel 7 and National Puerto Rican Day Parade Announce Official National Puerto Rican Day Virtual Celebration

National Puerto Rican Day Parade Special Airs June 14 at Noon EDT

Stream Live at abc7ny.com and ABC7NY’s connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku

Photo Courtesy: National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc.

WABC-TV, the No. 1 broadcast station in the U.S., and the National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) committee announced an exciting 90-minute community celebration taking place on SUNDAY, JUNE 14, at noon EDT. The program will be hosted by WABC-TV anchors Joe Torres and David Novarro along with Sunny Hostin, co-host of “The View.” Featured will be special appearances from community leaders like Luis Miranda Jr. as well as Puerto Rican television, film and music luminaries, including award-winning actor, composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda. The historic program is in tribute to the popular annual parade known for its festive display up 5th Avenue, postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but will carry on the tradition of America’s largest celebration of Puerto Rican history, culture, historical figures and issues of importance.

“The Parade is more than a celebration of pride and culture. It’s a platform for preserving our heritage while advancing our community by informing on important issues and promoting educational achievement,” said Louis Maldonado, board chair for the parade committee. “Given the profound impact COVID-19 has had on New York and communities across the nation, and with Puerto Rico still grappling with incessant earthquakes and its own COVID19-related pause, the Parade Board agrees it’s critically important to continue the Parade’s legacy while celebrating our resilience.”

The celebration will showcase winners of the NPRDP Scholarship program and serve as a fundraiser for the scholarship fund. For four consecutive years, the NPRDP has awarded $200,000 to 100 exceptional high school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores and juniors of Puerto Rican descent.

“It’s more important than ever for communities to celebrate,” said Debra OConnell, WABC-TV president and general manager. “We are proud to continue our partnership with the National Puerto Rican Day Parade committee on their official celebration this year.”

The National Puerto Rican Day Parade Celebration will broadcast on WABC-TV, Channel 7, from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. EDT, on Sunday, June 14. It will also be streamed on the station’s website abc7ny.com as well as on the station’s free news and connected TV apps on Amazon FireTV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku

Additional guest community leaders and artists will be announced in upcoming weeks.

WABC Media Contact
Elita Fielder Adjei
(424) 247-3517
elita.adjei@disney.com

NPRDP Media Contact New York/Puerto Rico
Javier Gomez
(917) 533-1247
javier@highpitchpr.com

NPRDP Media Contact Los Angeles
Jasmin Espada
Espada PR
(818) 521-3807
jasmin@espadapr.com

Press Release

May 21, 2020

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ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles Presents the 131st Memorial Day Celebration Live From the Los Angeles National Cemetery

The Annual Event Will Televise Live Without an Audience With Live Broadcast to Air Monday, May 25, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT

Stream Live on abc7.com and ABC7’s connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku

KABC-TV, Southern California’s most-watched television station, has joined with the Los Angeles National Cemetery to present the first-ever telecast of the annual Memorial Day celebration. The 131st Memorial Day Celebration will broadcast and stream live from the L.A. National Cemetery without an audience due to the stay-home and social distancing orders stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. ABC7’s Eyewitness News anchor David Ono will host the celebration on MONDAY, MAY 25 (10:00-11:00 a.m. PDT).

The Memorial Day ceremony is one of the largest ceremonies held in Southern California, where local leaders and families have traditionally gathered at the L.A. National Cemetery to pay their respects. Nearly 90,000 service members dating back to the Civil War, including 15 Medal of Honor recipients, are buried at L.A. National Cemetery.

When it appeared the event would be canceled due to the pandemic, KABC began working with the L.A. National Cemetery to produce the ceremony as a distanced experience to continue to support the community in observance of Memorial Day. KABC will use multiple cameras and drones to produce a telecast ceremony of the featured guests’ presentations, performances and dedications to present an engaging, informative and entertaining program for viewers while adhering to social distancing to protect the health and safety of participants.

“The annual Memorial Day ceremony is such an important way for the community to come together and honor the nearly 1.2 million veterans of greater Los Angeles. Despite the challenges of this unprecedented time that prevented a physical gathering, we wanted to preserve the tradition and deliver a way for the community to still safely experience it,” said Cheryl Fair, president and general manager of KABC-TV. “It’s an honor for KABC to help produce and broadcast the 2020 Memorial Day event in its entirety, and we’re proud to support the community in remembrance of service members no longer with us.”

Ono will be joined onstage with keynote speaker Brigadier General Michael Leeney, deputy commanding general of the 40th Infantry Division. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti will address Los Angelenos virtually, as well as Congressman Ted W. Lieu who will appear virtually from Washington, D.C., to honor members of the armed forces; Rabbi Ed Feinstein from Valley Beth Shalom Synagogue will lead the invocation, and Monsignor Frank Hicks from St. Basil Catholic Church will give the benediction before the traditional “Echo Taps.” Additional speakers will appear on-site from four stages spatially placed throughout the cemetery to adhere to social distancing.

Additional speakers include the following:

Jennifer Campbell, American Legion Hollywood Post 43 Commander
Dr. Stephen Braverman, director, West Los Angeles VA Healthcare System
Emmett O’Meara, district director for the Veterans Benefit Administration
Bob Kurkjian, regional president, USO
(Retired) General Ruth Wong, director of Los Angeles County Military Affairs
Jere Romano, Ronald Reagan Palisades Post 283 Commander
Jimmy Weldon, WWII Veteran and retired voice of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Yakky Doodle
Lindy Sisters, swinging songstresses, will perform the “Star-Spangled Banner,” “I’ll be Seeing You,” “The Miliary Branch Melody” and closing song “Amazing Grace.”

The 2020 ceremony will air live exclusively for the first time on ABC7’s linear broadcast and stream on abc7.com and the new ABC7 Los Angeles connected TV apps for Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku.

About KABC Los Angeles
ABC7 Los Angeles is Southern California’s No. 1 local news and information source. ABC7 is a leader in digital and social audience engagements and was the first station in the Los Angeles market to regularly broadcast news in high definition and also the first local television station in the United States to surpass 2 million Facebook followers. The station’s offices and studio are located in Glendale, California.

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Press Release

May 20, 2020

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ABC7/KGO-TV Connects Audience With Mental Health Professionals to Help With Stress, Anxiety, Mindfulness and Coping Tactics During Pandemic

‘Your Mental Health: A Bay Area Conversation’ Airs Thursday, May 21 (4:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDT), Live on ABC7

Questions for the panel can be submitted anonymously at abc7news.com.

ABC7 News presents “Your Mental Health: A Bay Area Conversation,” a one-hour virtual town hall and solution-based discussion, hosted by ABC7 Mornings anchor Reggie Aqui. ABC7 News reporter Kate Larson will moderate audience questions live from ABC7’s Facebook throughout the event.

ABC7’s panel of mental health experts will be LIVE during the town hall, answering questions, offering real solutions, and giving guidance on how to best care for yourself and others to make each day better during this pandemic and beyond. Panel members include the following:

Dr. Christine Garcia, regional director Edgewood Center, San Francisco
Dr. Andrew Huberman, associate professor of neurobiology & ophthalmology, Stanford
Dr. Karyn Skultety, executive director, Openhouse, San Francisco

Questions from the public will be incorporated into the broadcast through an anonymous tip line and social media monitor in the studio, where ABC7 News hosts will be without a studio audience. The panel of experts will join the conversation live via a private Zoom conference. Questions and comments can be submitted via ABC7’s private tip line on abc7news.com and on the ABC7 Bay Area Facebook page.

“Your Mental Health: A Bay Area Conversation” will air LIVE on ABC7/KGO-TV while viewers can simultaneously engage on Facebook. It will also be available live on abc7news.com, the ABC7 News app, all ABC7 News connected TV apps, the ABC7 News Bay Area YouTube channel and Apple News.

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