WFLA News Channel 8 to Host Exclusive Town Hall Meeting “Voices United: A Real Conversation About Race”
Community Representatives to Address Race Relations and the “Black Lives Matter” Movement in the Greater Tampa Bay Area
Program will Air on Aug. 22, Available via Television Broadcast and Livestream Video
TAMPA, Fla. (August 13, 2020) – WFLA-TV News Channel 8, Nexstar Broadcasting’s television station serving the Tampa Bay area and West Central Florida, announced today that it will host an exclusive Town Hall meeting examining the topics of race relations, the “Black Lives Matter” movement, how to recognize personal prejudice and how to promote positive dialogue about issues of social justice. The Town Hall meeting, titled “Voices United: A Real Conversation about Race,” will air on News Channel 8 on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. ET and via livestream at wfla.com and on the WFLA app.
“The issues of race relations and social justice are critically important to the local residents of Tampa Bay, just as they are to people everywhere across the United States,” said Mark Higgins, Vice President and General Manager of WFLA-TV and WTTA-TV. “In order to move forward, we need to start discussing these issues in an open and honest forum. News Channel 8 is uniquely positioned to bring together representatives of local organizations to help educate our viewers, to foster understanding and positive dialogue, and to begin the process of coming together as a community. We are proud to bring this exclusive virtual Town Hall meeting to our viewers and grateful to our guests for their participation.”
The thirty-minute special will be hosted by News Channel 8 anchors Jennifer Leigh and Rod Carter. Panelists appearing on the show include, Senator Darryl Rouson, Florida State Senate; Anthony Holloway, St. Petersburg Police Chief; Lesley “Les” Miller, Jr., Hillsborough County Commissioner; Yvette Lewis, President, NAACP Hillsborough; James Ransom, Board Member/Chair, Tampa Organization of Black Affairs (TOBA); Rev. Ken Irby, Historic Bethel AME Church; and Freddy Barton, Executive Director, Safe & Sound Hillsborough.
“Our country and our community are experiencing the birth of a new movement – one that feels much different, one that is uniting ideals, sparking dialogue and igniting change,” said Carter. “WFLA is committed to being ‘On Your Side’ and we think this is a conversation that will help keep important dialogue open around issues germane not only to our communities, but to communities across the country.”
Watch Voices United: A Real Conversation About Race on News Channel 8, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. ET and available via livestream at wfla.com and on the WFLA app.
###
VOICES UNITED: A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE
Aug. 22, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. ET
WFLA-TV News Channel 8 Studios
Hosts: WFLA-TV, News Channel 8, Anchors Jennifer Leigh & Rod Carter
Panelists include:
• Darryl Rouson, Florida State Senate
• Anthony Holloway, St. Petersburg Police Chief
• Lesley “Les” Miller, Jr., Hillsborough County Commissioner
• Yvette Lewis, President, NAACP Hillsborough
• James Ransom, Board Member/Chair, Tampa Organization of Black Affairs (TOBA)
• Rev. Ken Irby, Historic Bethel AME Church
• Freddy Barton, Executive Director, Safe & Sound Hillsborough
About Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Nexstar Media Group is a leading diversified media company that leverages localism to bring new services and value to consumers and advertisers through its traditional media, digital and mobile media platforms. Nexstar owns, operates, programs or provides sales and other services to 196 television stations and related digital multicast signals reaching 114 markets or approximately 38% of all U.S. television households (reflecting the FCC’s UHF discount). Nexstar’s portfolio includes primary affiliates of NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV and The CW. Nexstar’s community portal websites offer additional hyper-local content and verticals for consumers and advertisers, allowing audiences to choose where, when and how they access content while creating new revenue opportunities. Nexstar also owns WGN America, a growing national general entertainment cable network and a 31.3% ownership stake in TV Food Network, a top tier cable asset. For more information please visit www.nexstar.tv.
Media Contacts:
Mark Higgins
Vice President and General Manager
WFLA TV
813/314-5639 or mhiggins@wfla.com
Gary Weitman
EVP & Chief Communications Officer
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
312/222-3394 or gweitman@nexstar.tv
Investor Contacts:
Joseph Jaffoni, Jennifer Neuman
JCIR
212/835-8500 or nxst@jcir.com