CMI 2021 Annual Report

The Dirt
Grant Ervin, the city of Pittsburgh’s Chief Resilience Officer,
has started a podcast called “The Dirt” to focus on green
technology, eco-living, sustainability and ways that government
and businesses affect the environment, climate change and
more. Special guests have included Justine Russo of Pitt Ohio,
Rebecca Lucore of Covestro, and Ned Eldridge of eLoop,
covering a myriad of sustainability topics. “The Center for
Media Innovation at Point Park University is a perfect setting
for our Podcasts,” producer Anthony Alfonsi said. “It has all
the latest technology for enhancing the podcast. The staff has
been great to work with and has made us feel welcome. We are
thankful for this partnership.”
Among Neighbors
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh and the CMI have teamed up to
produce Among Neighbors, a Podcast About Race, Power
and Privilege. The show explores conversations that
Pittsburghers rarely have about issues that divide and unite
us. Episodes over the past year have featured topics such as
the origins of Black History Month, interracial friendships,
media discrimination and inclusive holiday celebrations.
“This provides a great opportunity for us to engage with
experts in their field while reminding me of the value of
interpersonal conversations with those of different social
identities,” said Barbara Johnson, co-host and Vice President
of Race and Gender Equity at YWCA. You may find the show
wherever you listen to podcasts.
Our Region’s Business
The show must go on, and the Center for Media Innovation
helped to make it possible for the Allegheny Conference
throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Early on, the non-profit
economic and community development organization lost
studio access at WPXI-TV to record its weekly business
public affairs program, Our Region’s Business. “The CMI kept
us on the air throughout the pandemic, recording
interviews over video chat with regional business leaders from
their homes and offices,” said Bill Flanagan, the program host.
“We missed only one Sunday broadcast at the very beginning
of the pandemic. We couldn’t have done it without the rapid
and creative response by the CMI.” The program, now in its
18th year on WPXI-TV, airs every Sunday morning at 11 am
and is available online at WPXI.com/ORB.
29