The Thomson Reuters Foundation Partners With Link TV For New Docu Shorts Series TRUST DOCS Uncovering Under-reported Stories From Around the World
Press Contact:
Greta Baldwin
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Link TV Also Announces New Series BIG CITIES Connecting Public Television Broadcasters Across the Globe To Explore Solutions to Urban Challenges
Burbank, Calif. – April 19, 2017 – Link TV, a national independent public satellite television network,
announced today two new compelling documentary series dealing with transformations happening in an increasingly globalized world. TRUST DOCS, which is in partnership with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, takes viewers around the globe to explore under-reported stories about critical social issues through personal stories from individuals. This new magazine series utilizes short documentaries to translate headlines into human experiences and covers a range of issues including the effects of war, the fight for refugee rights, struggles to adjust to climate change, housing and land rights, global mental health, changing gender identities and more. TRUST DOCS premieres Wed., May 11 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on Link TV which is available to all subscribers of Dish Network (channel 9410) and DirecTV (channel 375). The program is also available for streaming at LinkTV.org/trustdocs and on Link TV’s Apple TV and Roku apps.
BIG CITIES connects public television stations from around the world (Link TV is the only U.S. public broadcaster) in this new documentary series that explores innovative solutions for some of the most important urban challenges facing global megacities. Each segment showcases the citizens who are bringing about significant change in urban planning, infrastructure and social issues in order to improve living conditions in populated urban areas. BIG CITIES premieres Wed., May 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). The program is also available for streaming at LinkTV.org/bigcities and on Link TV’s Apple TV and Roku apps.
These two original new series join Link TV’s current programming lineup that includes WHAT IN THE WORLD and BOTH WORLDS, which focus on globalization, human rights, social tolerance and cultural diversity. New episodes of WHAT IN THE WORLD and BOTH WORLDS will premiere on Link TV in June.
Episode synopses for TRUST DOCS and BIG CITIES are as follows (subject to change):
BIG CITIES, EP #01 “Sustainable Urban Farming” May 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). Maintaining a sustainable way of life through organic farming is possible -- even in big cities. In this episode, a woman in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro shows us how to maximize every last bit of local produce, while urban dwellers and beekeepers in Paris are developing a culture of sharing in rooftop gardens.
TRUST DOCS, EP #01 “Women’s Work” May 11 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). From Senegal to Sri Lanka, women from all over the world are trailblazing through gender barriers in difficult and often dangerous environments. They are defying cultural norms and finding ways to pursue their dreams and change their future. Many women overcome discrimination giving a new meaning to the term “women’s work.”
BIG CITIES, EP #02 “Heart of the City” May 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). The heart of many large cities lies in their historic neighborhoods but across the world, the cultural vitality of these neighborhoods is threatened by the forces of gentrification and aging infrastructure. Hear from the people of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles and the Old Quarter in Hanoi, Vietnam as they work to improve and preserve their communities.
TRUST DOCS, EP #02 “Colombia’s Ghosts of War” May 18 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). The 52-year Colombian civil war is not ending without leaving deep scars. As rebels hand over weapons, an entire generation of Colombians is emerging from the conflict to rebuild their nation. While some are struggling more than others, many citizens are rolling up their sleeves to clear out the ghosts of war.
BIG CITIES, EP #03 “Life in Public Spaces” May 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). Two groups strive to reinvigorate public spaces amid blocky apartment structures and rigid urban development. An artist collective from Spain travels the globe to create murals that draw life back into dwindling public centers. In Medellin, Colombia, urban gardeners create green spaces that beautify the community and empower its citizens.
TRUST DOCS, EP #03 “Life in Refugee Camps” May 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). More than a political buzzword, refugees are real people with real fears driving their decisions, and they take great risks to protect their families. A glimpse into the lives of immigrants living in refugee camps reveals their hunger for human rights and an opportunity to start over.
BIG CITIES, EP #04 “Alternative Communities” June 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). People are rethinking housing arrangements in growing cities across the globe. Many are ditching the confines of traditional apartments and opting for communal living. In Seoul, three families band together to build the home of their dreams and the urban support system they’ve never had. On a larger scale, participants in a housing cooperative in Lyon band together to share space and the responsibilities of homeownership in a Vertical Village.
TRUST DOCS, EP #04 “Searching for Home” June 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). Immigrants around the world face unbelievable challenges on their journey searching for a new place to call home. While much of the reporting focuses on the backlash refugees face from their new host nations, many communities are opening their arms and minds.
BIG CITIES, EP #05 “Immigrant Support Systems” June 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). Big cities attract dreamers from all over the world. Meet the people building communities of inclusion for immigrants. In Toronto, advocates shine a light on the benefits of diversity and the contributions of refugees. In Stockholm, volunteers help immigrants regain a sense of dignity in a city where they can easily become invisible.
TRUST DOCS, EP #05 “Adapting to Climate Change” June 8 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). Climate change affects us all, and less-developed communities that are more closely tied to the land often suffer more directly from environmental transformation. The changes include dramatic fluctuation of water sources, diminishing crop yields, and failure of long-held farming techniques. Discover how community leaders are adjusting, engaging with the international community and seeking innovative methods and new technologies to find sustainable ways of living.
BIG CITIES, EP #06 “Caring for the Vulnerable” June 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). Many people enjoy the anonymity found in city living, but this anonymity also creates dangers for more vulnerable people like the homeless and elderly. In Malaysia, an organization feeds the needy, paying particular attention to those living on the streets. In Tokyo, a community for senior citizens helps them cope with issues they encounter in their newly independent lives.
TRUST DOCS, EP #06 “Breaking Stereotypes” June 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). From India to Bosnia, China to Kenya, people are confronting traditional norms around gender and sexuality that are difficult to break. Despite opposition and discrimination from their communities, these people are armed with the courage to truly be themselves. The small steps people take to assert their role in society can result in major leaps for future generations.
BIG CITIES, EP #07 “Traditional Practices” June 22 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). Looking back to traditional practices can help us find modern solutions to various environmental and social issues of city life. In Peru, follow a Native leader nicknamed “The Engineer,” as he designs a bridge that brings together entire communities to work for a common cause. In Costa Rica, sound builders offer a bridge for city residents to cut through urban noise pollution and connect to memories of joy through natural and historic instruments.
TRUST DOCS, EP #07 “Storytelling Across the Globe” June 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). Virtual reality experiences, comic books, and architectural mapping are all forms of storytelling being used by artists and activists around the world to raise awareness of social problems. From calling out sexual assault in India to documenting war crimes in Gaza, these modes of communication are connecting people to issues across the world.
BIG CITIES, EP #08 “Passion for Preservation” June 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). From the depths of a volcano to the density of a forest, people around the world are preserving natural wonders in their home cities. A docent at Mount Vesuvius shares why he has devoted his life to the volcano that destroyed much of the area in previous generations. A man in Hong Kong leads neighbors in a fight to preserve an historic forest that has become polluted.
TRUST DOCS, EP #08 “The Resilience of Children” June 29 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). The future of our communities lies in protecting our most vulnerable yet most resilient members: our children. But often, children are the first victims of war and poverty. Many face horrifying events and live with the trauma for the rest of their lives. Despite this, some children survive these events to become leaders of their communities and voices for peace.
BIG CITIES, EP #09 “Water Solutions” July 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). Great water demands require greater water solutions to keep big cities afloat. Water activists combat climate change and the illegal wetland development flooding towns in Argentina. In Mexico City, citizens use innovative education models and technologies to address the city’s water shortage issues.
TRUST DOCS, EP #09 “Between Stigma and Healthcare” July 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). Many communities around the world see disease and mental illness not as something to be treated, but as something to be feared. As a result, many suffering from curable conditions are stigmatized within their communities. But through education and organizing, some people are challenging these stigmas and addressing health issues previously considered taboo.
BIG CITIES, EP #10 “Traffic Alternatives” July 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). Urban planners and average citizens around the world are working to improve transportation in congested cities. In Bangkok, an architect fed up with his daily commute studies the combination of traditional boats and modern trains to beat traffic. In Bogota, a professor and his students develop a citywide electric car sharing system to ease congestion in dense urban areas.
TRUST DOCS, EP #10 “Green at What Price?” July 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). In the name of environmental restoration, the Ugandan government is expanding the country’s forest reserves in order to sell into the global carbon credit market. But this program comes at a high human cost as the state is displacing long established villages, forcing people to relocate, and jailing those opposing the program.
TRUST DOCS, EP #11 “One Man, One City, Three Evictions?” July 20 at 8:30 pm ET/PT, on Link TV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and Dish Network 9410). Rio de Janeiro has experienced several waves of development in the past century. For Altair Guimaraes the changes have affected him directly. Brought up in a favela, he has been evicted three times as a result of Rio’s developments. As Brazil tries to gain global recognition and increase tourism, locals like Altair are forced to relocate despite property titles. Now, their struggles are becoming a symbol of a global phenomenon.
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ABOUT LINK TV
Founded in 1999, Link TV is an independent viewer-supported media organization dedicated to providing programs that engage and educate its audiences with unique perspectives and activate them to become involved in the world. Reaching more than 34 million U.S. satellite households nationally, Link TV (DirecTV channel 375 and DISH Network channel 9410) connects American viewers with people at the heart of breaking events, organizations at the forefront of social change and the vibrant cultures of an increasingly global community. Link TV is a service of KCETLink Media Group. For additional information about Link TV productions, web-exclusive content and program schedules, please visit linktv.org. Select programming from Link TV is also available for streaming on Hulu, Apple TV and Roku platforms.
ABOUT THE THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION
The Thomson Reuters Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the world’s leading news and information provider, acts to promote socio-economic progress and the rule of law worldwide. The organization runs initiatives that inform, connect and ultimately empower people around the world: access to free legal assistance, media development and training, editorial coverage of the world’s under-reported news, and the Trust Conference.
