Blue Ridge PBS “JobQuest” a Hit on Air, Online

For Immediate Release
January 15, 2009
 
Contact:
Stephen Grieco, Foundation and Marketing Director
sgrieco@blueridgepbs.org
540.344.0991 ext 1781
888.332.7788
 
(Roanoke, Va.)—The Blue Ridge PBS premiere broadcast of “JobQuest” was a hit on air and online, with hundreds of viewers calling in and logging on to get tips on finding employment. The monthly show began Jan. 6 and will continue Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. with another live, information-packed broadcast.
 
“The American people expect their public media station to step up at times like this and do whatever can be done to assist,” said James Baum, Blue Ridge PBS president and CEO. “We think ‘JobQuest’ is an excellent way for us to help.”
 
“The inaugural ‘JobQuest’ show could not have been any better for all involved,” said Stuart Mease, special projects coordinator with Roanoke’s Economic Development Office, a “JobQuest” partner. “The show pulled together many people and groups under one purpose to assist and serve job seekers. Anyone concerned about their job or career should tune in each month to participate in this joint effort.”
 
The hosts for “JobQuest” are news anchors Jean Jadhon and Keith Humphry, from the Roanoke-based CBS affiliate WDBJ7. They interviewed a variety of guests to get a closer look at employment issues in the region. A phone bank staffed by members of the local Society for Human Resource Management chapter was busy the entire show. Similarly, an Internet chat room set up for “JobQuest” buzzed with people sharing ideas about job opening highlights and job hunting insights.
 
"‘JobQuest’ is an excellent way to combine the impact of the region's strongest media organizations to provide meaningful assistance for people during this tough economic time," said Amy Morris, WDBJ7 news director.
 
According to “JobQuest” partner The Roanoke Times-roanoke.com, employers are getting applications from people who watched the show, and positions highlighted during the program have already been filled.
 
“Everyone recognizes the current tightness of the job market,” explained Keith Foreman, recruitment advertising manager at The Roanoke Times. “The key to managing through these tough economic times is utilizing the variety of resources available for job seekers that are presented on ‘JobQuest.’”
 
The Feb. 3 episode of “JobQuest” is already in production. Visit www.blueridgepbs.org for more information, program schedules, job site links and job listings highlighted during the show.
 
 
About “JobQuest”
“JobQuest” is a monthly Blue Ridge PBS production that showcases job openings from The Roanoke Times’ online employment bank—jobs.roanoke.com and the Virginia Employment Commission. The show provides viewers with helpful information about filing for unemployment insurance, hiring trends, job hunting on the Internet, job training and a variety of other topics. In addition to The Roanoke Times-roanoke.com, “JobQuest” community partners include WDBJ7, Virginia Western & New River Community Colleges, Roanoke’s Economic Development Office, The Roanoke Regional Office of the Virginia Employment Commission, The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce and Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc.
 
About Blue Ridge PBS
Blue Ridge PBS, founded in 1967, is the sole public multimedia enterprise serving 4 million individuals in portions of five states. The station’s 26,000 square-mile coverage area includes southwestern Virginia and bordering counties in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and North Carolina. As the region’s storyteller, Blue Ridge PBS offers outstanding informational, educational and cultural programming, along with an award-winning local production team devoted to regional issues and interests. Further, over 200,000 schoolchildren and their teachers benefit from the station’s education services that provide a safe, trusted environment for innovative on-air and online learning. Blue Ridge PBS is comprised of WBRA-TV/DT in Roanoke, WSBN-TV/DT in Norton, and WMSY-TV/DT in Marion, Va. www.blueridgepbs.org