Portland news station to host live, expert panel discussion during national conversation on Digital Divide
KGW will be one of three live locations across the country
Portland, Oregon (November 3, 2021) – KGW, Portland’s NBC-affiliate and Emmy-winning tv station, will host expert panelists during a live, national event taking place on Wednesday, November 17. Connected Nation (CN) is producing the free event titled “20 years of connecting the nation: a national conversation on the Digital Divide.”
“KGW is committed to innovation and journalism—and one part of that commitment includes public service,” said Steve Carter, president and general manager of KGW. “And much like our mission, this event is focused informing the public and providing a public service. Our hope is this day leads to continued conversations and action to change digital equity gaps across our nation.”
The Nov. 17 event will feature live, in-studio expert panel discussions from three US cities: Washington, DC; Sugar Land, Texas; and Portland, Oregon as well as stories from across the country profiling how individuals, families, and communities are directly impacted by the Digital Divide.
KGW’s anchor, Brenda Braxton, will moderate two important panels of the day: “Broadband data improve 2008 vs. 2020” and “What 2020 means for the future of the Digital Divide.”
"Many people and their families in the Portland-area didn't have the internet access they needed during the pandemic. They couldn't log on for remote learning, telehealth, and a lot of other things," said Braxton. "It's important that we examine how the last year has impacted digital inclusion and digital equity. I'm looking forward to moderating the discussion which will bring together experts from Pew Research and Intel as well as leaders in education and digital inclusion."
You can find more details about the panels and can register for this free event at cn20.org. KGW earned ten Northwest Emmy® awards from the Northwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) in 2020, including top honors for Overall Excellence for the second year in a row.
“When planning this event, we intentionally looked for live locations in different parts of the country so that we could more accurately represent and bring in different points of view,” said Jessica Denson, Communications Director, Connected Nation. “We were so lucky to have such a high caliber tv station like KGW agree to take part—donating studio time and staff for the broadcast of this event. Residents and businesses in Portland are lucky to have a tv station that cares and advocates for the people in its community.”
The event will also feature live panels hosted by the national rural network, RFD-TV, which will be broadcasting from its American Farm Bureau studio in Washington, DC, and Fort Bend ISD in Sugar Land, Texas, which will be the only student-run location for the event.
In addition to expert panels, Connected Nation will take you across America to meet those directly impacted by the Digital Divide. You’ll hear stories from business owners and farmers working in rural communities; teachers and students affected by remote learning; doctors and mental health practitioners who are leveraging telehealth in new ways; and others.
Registration is free and the event can be viewed from anywhere in the world virtually. Register now or head to https://cn20.org/ to learn more about the panel topics and expert panelists.
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About Connected Nation: The national nonprofit, based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is celebrating 20 years of service in 2021. Our mission is to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand access to and increase the adoption and use of broadband (high-speed internet) and its related technologies for all people. Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation. To learn more head to www.connectednation.org.