Eliot Pearson Awards
Encyclopedia
The Eliot-Pearson Award for Excellence in Children’s Media is an award given biennially to honor outstanding contributions in the burgeoning field of children’s media. The award is co-sponsored by the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development and the Communications and Media Studies Program (CMS)
at Tufts University
. In recognition of the fact that media plays a significant role in the lives of children, this award honors commitment to innovation, diversity, non-violence and developmentally appropriate media. The award is given to organizations, individuals or companies that have made important inroads in the world of children’s media.
The Award is affectionately known as an “Abby,” named after Abigail Adams Eliot, a woman who, along with Elizabeth Pearson, is credited with helping to establish the early childhood movement of the first part of the 20th century, when they established the Ruggles Street Nursery School in Boston to serve children living in poverty in 1922. This school, one of the first such training programs in the country, became affiliated with Tufts University and, in 1964, it was absorbed into Tufts and became the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study, now the Department of Child Development.
Though the first few years of the Abbys acknowledged only television shows, since television has been and remains the dominant form of media in the lives of American children, a veritable explosion of children’s media in different platforms led the nominating committee to expand the awards to different media categories. Therefore, in addition to television, which remains an important force in children’s lives, awards were also given in film, interactive media, media literacy and advocacy.
and the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development.
’s comedy has delighted audiences of all different ages and cultures. Throughout his career he has been dedicated to making children’s media a vehicle for education and lessons about friendship, family, empathy and equity. Cosby has authored more than 10 books and is a frequent commentator on contemporary social issues.
Cosby’s career in children’s media began in the 1970s with his work on the Children’s Television Workshop show Electric Company, which used sketch comedy and other methods to teach reading skills. As part of an extensive audio discography, Cosby has produced two records exclusively for youth audiences, "The Electric Company
" and "Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs
", which both received Grammys.
His prior television work includes co-starring in I Spy, for which Cosby won three consecutive Emmys as "Outstanding Lead Actor” and was the first African American to costar on a television series. Cosby’s cartoons Cosby Kids
and the Emmy award winning Fat Albert
have also received praise for their educational content, entertaining storylines, and breaking down of racial barriers in entertainment.
Among other remarkable contributions to children’s media and education Cosby created and produced the Emmy awarding series Little Bill, based on his bestselling book series.
But perhaps Cosby is best known for The Cosby Show
, the warmhearted series about an upper-middle class black family, which held the No. One spot for years in the Nielson ratings, is the third-longest running US comedy series with a primarily African-American cast, and won many Emmys, NAACP, Golden Globes and other awards. The show received widespread critical acclaim for it story lines, which cut across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic lines.
In addition to his writing and comedy Cosby is also esteemed for his philanthropy. He has received a Kennedy Center Honors Award (1998)
, the Presidential Medal of Freedom
(2002), the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
(2009), and the Marian Anderson Award (2010).
is a Professor of Psychiatry and Faculty Associate Dean for Student Affairs at Harvard Medical School
. In awarding him the 2011 Eliot-Pearson Award, the nominating committee noted that Poussaint has combined his psychiatry background, work on race, gender and family relations, and passion for social justice into his advocacy for responsible programming in children’s media that is free of racial and gender stereotypes and promotes peaceful conflict resolution, cooperation and coping skills. Poussaint has published more than 100 articles and has authored several books
Poussaint served as Director of the Media Center at the Judge Baker Children’s Center from 1994-2010. He has also been active in the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, an organization dedicated to reducing the rampant commercialism to which children are exposed today. For his work as co-executive producer of Willoughby's Wonders, a PBS co-production modeling positive social interaction through the adventures of a co-ed urban soccer team, he received a New England Emmy
for Outstanding Children’s Special.
Dr. Poussaint specializes in race relations and multiculturalism in America and is a leader in the field of media images, children and changing family dynamics. In addition to his psychiatry career and media advocacy, Dr. Poussaint served as a script consultant for The Cosby Show
and A Different World and continues to consult various media outlets on responsible programming. He is a member of the Television and Media Committee of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Harvard Medical School. National Visionary Leadership Project.
was raised in New York City, then attended Hunter College High School
and Connecticut College
. In the 1960s, as the mother of two daughters, she became frustrated with the quality and variety of children’s television programming. She decided to make a difference, and created Action for Children's Television
(ACT), a nonprofit organization devoted to improving children’s programs. With ACT, Ms. Charren aimed to decrease the number of commercials during youth programming and increase the quality of the programs. However, she adamantly opposed any approach that included censorship, and consistently advocated for free speech and parents’ choice. The organization lobbied the FCC
and FTC
to create legislation requiring broadcasters to produce quality children’s programs. The group eventually expanded to about 10,000 members, and Ms. Charren became the official ACT president in 1972.
Ms. Charren’s work paid off in 1990 with the passage of the Children's Television Act
, which set guidelines for commercial length and the content of children’s programming. By 1992, ACT disbanded because it had succeeded in effecting dramatic change in the regulations surrounding children’s television programming. However, Ms. Charren continued her work dedicated to improving children’s television through ongoing involvement as a director and advisor to the “Library of Congress
, the Children’s Museum
, the 20th Century Fund, the Center for Psychological Studies, the American Repertory Theater, the Carnegie Commission, the National Science Foundation
, the National Women's Political Caucus
, the New England Foundation for the Arts
, the Massachusetts Civil Liberties Union, and National Video Resources.” In recognition of Ms. Charren’s efforts, in 1989, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honored her with its Trustees Award. Ms. Charren later received the Peabody Award
from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
, a Presidential Medal of Freedom
, the Annenberg Public Policy Center Award, and an Emmy Award
.
has made its mark as a producer of quality, educational and entertaining family-friendly films. Its goal is to “bring the kind of books we all love and admire to the screen.” By adapting books into movies the company introduces literary classics to children who might not otherwise read them without this encouragement. Walden Media goes far beyond producing films; in addition, they provide activity guides, DVDs, workshops, and seminars to give teachers the knowledge to use media as a learning tool in classrooms. Walden has collaborated with several book publishing companies, including the Penguin Young Readers Group
. Walden currently works with Walden Pond Press, a collaboration with HarperCollins
. This newest collaboration publishes humorous and readable stories for children and early teens.
Walden also works with museums and national organizations to hold large-scale events that reinforce the idea of reading and learning as exciting. On December 13, 2006, a Walden Media event set a world record for “most people reading aloud simultaneously in multiple locations” when world-wide participants read E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web
. The company has produced many successful films, including The Chronicles of Narnia
series; Holes
; Bridge to Terabithia
; and Ramona and Beezus
.
In addition to its children’s films, Walden also produces non-children’s films through Bristol Bay Productions
. The first film produced by Bristol Bay was Ray
, a biographical film about the life of Ray Charles
. The film starred Jamie Foxx
, whose performance as the blues musician earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor
.
1990 Tufts graduate Cary Granat
, the cofounder and CEO, was the president of Miramax Films
Dimension Label and managed the development and production of MCA/Universal Films before starting Walden Media in 2001 with Micheal Flaherty
, also a 1990 Tufts graduate. Flaherty, cofounder and president of Walden, created a program to help children from struggling school districts gain acceptance to exam schools in Boston. Granat left Walden Media in 2008, though Flaherty remains President.
is a PBS
show created and produced by Dorothea Gillim and Jack Ferraiolo (also the Head Writer). Ms. Gillim worked with Soup2Nuts
, a Boston-based production company that is a division of Scholastic Media. According to Ms. Gillim, “WordGirl hopes to enrich kids’ vocabulary, improve literacy, and hopefully instill a love of language along the way.” The show targets children ages 6 to 8, but its dialogue is sharp and witty. Wordgirl’s writers have worked for Family Guy
and [The Onion]], which gives them the experience necessary to write a quick, funny script that draws in the attention of children and their parents. In addition, voiceovers include Wanda Sykes
and other well-known adult actors, who give an edgy appeal to this unique PBS show. The show’s creator understands that the dialogue and content must attract children’s attention before it can teach them new vocabulary. The main character is Becky, an elementary school student who transforms into WordGirl, a superhero from Planet Lexicon, whenever people need help. The show’s villains are amusing characters, including Chuck the Evil Sandwich Making Guy and Tobey, a ten year old boy. Gillim started her career as a teacher at the Springside School for Girls and the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
. She received a Masters in Education from Harvard. Dorothea Gillim is now the Executive Producer of Children’s Television at WGBH
.
Scratch is a new programming language to allow children and teens to make their own “interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art” and then share their work with others on the internet. The Scratch team is based at the MIT Media Lab
and is headed by Mitchel Resnick
, the director of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the lab. The program targets children ages 8 and up and aims to give them a way to use technology in a fun and creative manner. By demonstrating to children how important numbers are, Scratch encourages kids to learn new math skills so they can create increasingly complex programs.
Resnick received a BS in physics from Princeton and a MS+PhD in computer science from MIT. He is the head of the Media Arts and Sciences academic program, director of the Okawa Center, and helped create Programmable Bricks (the foundation of LEGO MindStorms robotics construction kits). In addition, Resnick co-founded Computer Clubhouse
, an international network that encourages underprivileged kids to engage creatively with technology.
, which features the lives of Arthur the aardvark and his friends and family as they deal with the social issues that often face young children. The show also places an emphasis on the value of books, reading and learning and relationships with family and friends. Greenwald also served as Executive Producer of the Arthur spin-off entitled Postcards from Buster
and Curious George
. For her work on Arthur and Curious George, she has won four Emmys and a Peabody Award. Greenwald has also worked on a number of other children’s programs including Zoom
, Between the Lions
, and Peep and the Big Wide World
. She is currently Senior Executive Producer of Children’s Programs at WGBH Boston
.
. Between the Lions aims to instill a love of reading and books in children ages 4-7. Stoia has worked for WGBH Boston as a radio and television reporter, where she delivered in-depth coverage of Boston’s court-ordered busing program. Her book The Hardest Lesson, on her experience reporting during those years, received a Chistoph Medal for non-fiction. She was also Executive Producer of The AIDS Quarterly with Peter Jennings
and, among numerous other projects, has produced dramas for PBS
and ABC
. She has also worked as an Executive Producer at the ABC affiliate WCVB-TV
. Throughout her career she has won multiple awards such as Emmys, Gabriels, Cine Golden Eagles, New York Film Festivals, Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards, and Peabodys.
, which aired on PBS from 1999-2006 as a remake of the 1970s classic children’s show Taylor originally worked on as a segment producer. Zoom’s young cast played an active part in the show’s creation. Zoom centers around engineering, science and creativity. Taylor is a creator and producer at WGBH Boston where she specializes in producing children’s and youth educational programs focusing on the sciences. Currently, Taylor is the Executive Producer of FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman
and Peep and the Big Wide World
, which have won numerous awards, including Emmys. Taylor has also produced the Emmy award winning show Design Squad
, Degrassi Junior High
, and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? She served as executive-in-charge for the first two seasons of Arthur
.
preschool show Dora the Explorer
, which portrays multiculturalism, non-stereotypical gender roles, curiosity and open-mindedness. Gifford is also the producer of Nick Jr.’s Go, Diego, Go!
Gifford has written and composed music for Dora the Explorer stage shows and movies and Go, Diego, Go Live! The Great Jaguar Rescue. With Nickelodeon since 1989, Gifford has worked on multiple programs including Clarissa Explains It All
and Family Double Dare. As Nick Jr.’s executive in charge of development and production, Gifford led the development of new programs such as Allegra's Window
, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss
, The Busy World of Richard Scarry
, and the first season of Gullah Gullah Island
. Before Nickelodeon, Gifford worked for Children’s Television Workshop
and was an educator, teaching speech and drama.
preschool show Dora the Explorer
, the hit animated Nickelodeon show for preschoolers which features a bilingual seven year-old and teaches a new Spanish word to viewers each episode. The show portrays multiculturalism, non-stereotypical gender roles, curiosity and open-mindedness. Valdes is also the creator and Executive Producer of Go, Diego, Go!
, also on Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr. programming for preschoolers. Valdes holds a Master’s in Film and Dramatic Writing and Education from NYU.
. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1987.
was awarded the Eliot-Pearson Award for her role as creator and Executive Producer of Maya and Miguel
, a PBS Kids Go!
show that premiered in 2004 and teaches lessons of multiculturalism to its elementary aged audience. Forte is the President of Scholastic Media and Executive Vice President of Scholastic Inc. In 1997 Forte created Scholastic Entertainment, an arm of Scholastic Media, aimed at generating children’s media and boosting literacy. Forte is also the producer of widely renowned children’s shows such as Clifford the Big Red Dog and The Magic School Bus
. Forte has won more than 100 awards for her work, including Emmys and Oscars.
was awarded the Eliot-Pearson Award for her role as Executive Producer of Nick News for Kids
, a news program aimed at the ‘tween audience which exposes viewers to social, political and media issues. As Nick News writer and host, Ellerbee delivers weekly quality broadcasts on a wide range of issues to her young audience. Nick News is produced by Ellerbee’s production company, Lucky Duck Productions, which was founded in 1987 and is known for its outstanding work in children’s media. Lucky Duck Productions has received numerous awards for its excellence in children’s media, including a Peabody, Columbia-duPont Awards, the National Education Association, and the Parents Choice Awards. Ellerbee has had an extensive and very successful career in broadcast journalism, launching her career in the 1970s and 80s as she worked as NBC News
Washington Correspondent and co-anchor of NBC News Overnight. She has also been a reporter for the Today show and Good Morning America
as well as a commentator for CNN
.
, a news program aimed at the ‘tween audience which exposes viewers to social, political and media issues. As Producer of Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, Mark Lyons has earned seven Emmys and a CableAce for his work with Lucky Duck Productions. Prior to joining Lucky Duck, Lyons worked as a producer for Lifetime and NBC
. Lyons has also worked as Supervising Producer for a number of Lucky Duck projects at network stations.
was awarded the Eliot-Pearson Award for his role as the Executive Producer of the hit animated children’s series Hey Arnold!
, which was piloted on Nickelodeon
in 1994 and hit the air as a series in 1995. The show quickly soared to become Nickelodeon’s highest rated series and was praised by children’s media experts for its reflection of diversity, promotion of understanding and challenging of stereotypes.
The show was on the air until 2001 and then went to theaters as Hey Arnold! The Movie
in 2002. Bartlett is also known for his work writing for Rugrats
, another hit Nickelodeon animated show. After leaving Nickelodeon Bartlett went on to work for Cartoon Network
, BRC Imagination Arts, and The Jim Henson Company
, where he created the show Jim Henson’s Dinosaur Train
that was picked up and aired by PBS Kids
.
Communications and Media Studies, Tufts University
at Tufts University is an interdisciplinary program designed to educate Tufts students about mass media and communications within a liberal arts curriculum. Nearly 30 years after its inception, the program continues to focus on the role of media in the United States and internationally...
at Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
. In recognition of the fact that media plays a significant role in the lives of children, this award honors commitment to innovation, diversity, non-violence and developmentally appropriate media. The award is given to organizations, individuals or companies that have made important inroads in the world of children’s media.
The Award is affectionately known as an “Abby,” named after Abigail Adams Eliot, a woman who, along with Elizabeth Pearson, is credited with helping to establish the early childhood movement of the first part of the 20th century, when they established the Ruggles Street Nursery School in Boston to serve children living in poverty in 1922. This school, one of the first such training programs in the country, became affiliated with Tufts University and, in 1964, it was absorbed into Tufts and became the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study, now the Department of Child Development.
Though the first few years of the Abbys acknowledged only television shows, since television has been and remains the dominant form of media in the lives of American children, a veritable explosion of children’s media in different platforms led the nominating committee to expand the awards to different media categories. Therefore, in addition to television, which remains an important force in children’s lives, awards were also given in film, interactive media, media literacy and advocacy.
Selection Criteria
A faculty committee reviews nominations looking for media that demonstrate the following qualities:- The media product must in some way demonstrate an understanding that children are developmentally at different stages
- The media product must demonstrate ethnic/racial diversity
- The media product must demonstrate positive, non-stereotypical images of gender
- The media product will in some way(s) model positive social interactions among children
- The media product will demonstrate peaceful resolutions to conflicts
- The media product will show a variety of models of friendships and family images
- The media product is educational and/or informational
- The media product will appeal to a cross-section of children
- The media product will contain enough “depth” so that parents will watch/listen/participate along with their children
- The media product is widely available to children
- The media product will be of a high production quality
- The media product will be entertaining/humorous on different levels so as to appeal to children of different age groups as well as parents.
Eliot-Pearson Awards 2011
The 2011 Eliot-Pearson Awards were given to Dr. Bill Cosby and Dr. Alvin Poussaint on February 25, 2011 at 10 a.m. in the Distler Performance Hall at Tufts University. The event was co-sponsored by the Tufts Communications and Media Studies ProgramCommunications and Media Studies, Tufts University
at Tufts University is an interdisciplinary program designed to educate Tufts students about mass media and communications within a liberal arts curriculum. Nearly 30 years after its inception, the program continues to focus on the role of media in the United States and internationally...
and the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development.
Bill Cosby
Over the years, Bill CosbyBill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
’s comedy has delighted audiences of all different ages and cultures. Throughout his career he has been dedicated to making children’s media a vehicle for education and lessons about friendship, family, empathy and equity. Cosby has authored more than 10 books and is a frequent commentator on contemporary social issues.
Cosby’s career in children’s media began in the 1970s with his work on the Children’s Television Workshop show Electric Company, which used sketch comedy and other methods to teach reading skills. As part of an extensive audio discography, Cosby has produced two records exclusively for youth audiences, "The Electric Company
The Electric Company
The Electric Company is an educational American children's television series that was produced by the Children's Television Workshop for PBS in the United States. PBS broadcast 780 episodes over the course of its six seasons from October 25, 1971 to April 15, 1977...
" and "Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs
Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs
Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs is an album by Bill Cosby. Unlike most of his recordings, this is not a full-fledged comedy album, but rather a record intended for children to school them on the dangers of drugs through songs and dialogue. It won the Grammy Award in 1972 for Best Recording...
", which both received Grammys.
His prior television work includes co-starring in I Spy, for which Cosby won three consecutive Emmys as "Outstanding Lead Actor” and was the first African American to costar on a television series. Cosby’s cartoons Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created, produced, and hosted by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including Fat Albert himself. Filmation was the production company for the series. The show premiered in 1972 and ran until 1985...
and the Emmy award winning Fat Albert
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created, produced, and hosted by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including Fat Albert himself. Filmation was the production company for the series. The show premiered in 1972 and ran until 1985...
have also received praise for their educational content, entertaining storylines, and breaking down of racial barriers in entertainment.
Among other remarkable contributions to children’s media and education Cosby created and produced the Emmy awarding series Little Bill, based on his bestselling book series.
But perhaps Cosby is best known for The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
, the warmhearted series about an upper-middle class black family, which held the No. One spot for years in the Nielson ratings, is the third-longest running US comedy series with a primarily African-American cast, and won many Emmys, NAACP, Golden Globes and other awards. The show received widespread critical acclaim for it story lines, which cut across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic lines.
In addition to his writing and comedy Cosby is also esteemed for his philanthropy. He has received a Kennedy Center Honors Award (1998)
Kennedy Center Honors
The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture. The Honors have been presented annually since 1978 in Washington, D.C., during gala weekend-long events which culminate in a performance for—and...
, the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
(2002), the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is America’s foremost award for humor, and has been awarded by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts annually since 1998. It is named after the 19th century novelist, essayist and humorist Mark Twain and is presented annually to an individual who...
(2009), and the Marian Anderson Award (2010).
Alvin Poussaint
Dr. Alvin PoussaintAlvin F. Poussaint
Alvin Francis Poussaint is a noted professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and the author of numerous books on child psychiatry, with a particular focus on the raising of African American children.-Biography:...
is a Professor of Psychiatry and Faculty Associate Dean for Student Affairs at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
. In awarding him the 2011 Eliot-Pearson Award, the nominating committee noted that Poussaint has combined his psychiatry background, work on race, gender and family relations, and passion for social justice into his advocacy for responsible programming in children’s media that is free of racial and gender stereotypes and promotes peaceful conflict resolution, cooperation and coping skills. Poussaint has published more than 100 articles and has authored several books
Poussaint served as Director of the Media Center at the Judge Baker Children’s Center from 1994-2010. He has also been active in the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, an organization dedicated to reducing the rampant commercialism to which children are exposed today. For his work as co-executive producer of Willoughby's Wonders, a PBS co-production modeling positive social interaction through the adventures of a co-ed urban soccer team, he received a New England Emmy
New England Emmy Awards
New England Emmy Awards are a division of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The division was founded in 1977 and in addition to granting the New England Emmy Awards, it recognizes awards scholarships, honors industry veterans at the Silver Circle Celebration, conducts National...
for Outstanding Children’s Special.
Dr. Poussaint specializes in race relations and multiculturalism in America and is a leader in the field of media images, children and changing family dynamics. In addition to his psychiatry career and media advocacy, Dr. Poussaint served as a script consultant for The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
and A Different World and continues to consult various media outlets on responsible programming. He is a member of the Television and Media Committee of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Harvard Medical School. National Visionary Leadership Project.
Eliot-Pearson Awards 2008
The 2008 Eliot Pearson Awards were held on March 28, 2008 at the Stevens Library in the Eliot Pearson building at Tufts University. The awards were given to Peggy Charren, Walden Media, Word Girl, and Scratch.Peggy Charren
Peggy CharrenPeggy Charren
Peggy Charren founded Action for Children's Television , a national child advocacy organization, in 1968, in an effort to encourage program diversity and eliminate commercial abuses in children's television programming....
was raised in New York City, then attended Hunter College High School
Hunter College High School
Hunter College High School is a New York City secondary school for intellectually gifted students located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. It is administered by Hunter College, a senior college of the City University of New York. Although it is not operated by the New York City Department of...
and Connecticut College
Connecticut College
Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut.The college was founded in 1911, as Connecticut College for Women, in response to Wesleyan University closing its doors to women...
. In the 1960s, as the mother of two daughters, she became frustrated with the quality and variety of children’s television programming. She decided to make a difference, and created Action for Children's Television
Action for Children's Television
Action for Children's Television was founded by Peggy Charren and Judy Chalfen in Newton, Massachusetts in 1968 as a grassroots organization dedicated to improving the quality of television programming offered to children...
(ACT), a nonprofit organization devoted to improving children’s programs. With ACT, Ms. Charren aimed to decrease the number of commercials during youth programming and increase the quality of the programs. However, she adamantly opposed any approach that included censorship, and consistently advocated for free speech and parents’ choice. The organization lobbied the FCC
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
and FTC
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
to create legislation requiring broadcasters to produce quality children’s programs. The group eventually expanded to about 10,000 members, and Ms. Charren became the official ACT president in 1972.
Ms. Charren’s work paid off in 1990 with the passage of the Children's Television Act
Children's Television Act
The Children's Television Act was enacted in 1990 in the United States to enhance television's potential to teach the nation's children valuable information and skills. The Act requires each full-service television station that offers children's television programming in the U.S...
, which set guidelines for commercial length and the content of children’s programming. By 1992, ACT disbanded because it had succeeded in effecting dramatic change in the regulations surrounding children’s television programming. However, Ms. Charren continued her work dedicated to improving children’s television through ongoing involvement as a director and advisor to the “Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, the Children’s Museum
Boston Children's Museum
Boston Children's Museum is a children's museum in Boston, Massachusetts, dedicated to the education of children. Located on Children's Wharf along the Fort Point Channel, Boston Children's Museum is the second oldest children's museum in the United States...
, the 20th Century Fund, the Center for Psychological Studies, the American Repertory Theater, the Carnegie Commission, the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
, the National Women's Political Caucus
National Women's Political Caucus
The National Women's Political Caucus is a national bipartisan grassroots organization in the United States dedicated to recruiting, training, and supporting women who seek elected and appointed offices....
, the New England Foundation for the Arts
New England Foundation for the Arts
The New England Foundation for the Arts , headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of six not-for-profit regional arts organizations funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and by private foundations, corporations and individuals...
, the Massachusetts Civil Liberties Union, and National Video Resources.” In recognition of Ms. Charren’s efforts, in 1989, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honored her with its Trustees Award. Ms. Charren later received the Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
The Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is a college within the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, United States...
, a Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
, the Annenberg Public Policy Center Award, and an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
.
Walden Media
Walden MediaWalden Media
Walden Media is a children's film production and publishing company best known as the producers of The Chronicles of Narnia series. Its films are based on notable classic or award-winning children's literature, compelling biographies or historical events, documentaries and some original...
has made its mark as a producer of quality, educational and entertaining family-friendly films. Its goal is to “bring the kind of books we all love and admire to the screen.” By adapting books into movies the company introduces literary classics to children who might not otherwise read them without this encouragement. Walden Media goes far beyond producing films; in addition, they provide activity guides, DVDs, workshops, and seminars to give teachers the knowledge to use media as a learning tool in classrooms. Walden has collaborated with several book publishing companies, including the Penguin Young Readers Group
Penguin Group
The Penguin Group is a trade book publisher, the largest in the world , having overtaken Random House in 2009. The Penguin Group is the name of the incorporated division of parent Pearson PLC that oversees these publishing operations...
. Walden currently works with Walden Pond Press, a collaboration with HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
. This newest collaboration publishes humorous and readable stories for children and early teens.
Walden also works with museums and national organizations to hold large-scale events that reinforce the idea of reading and learning as exciting. On December 13, 2006, a Walden Media event set a world record for “most people reading aloud simultaneously in multiple locations” when world-wide participants read E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte's Web (2006 film)
Charlotte's Web is a 2006 American live-action/computer-animated feature film, based on the popular book of the same name by E. B. White. It is directed by Gary Winick and produced by Paramount Pictures, Walden Media, The K Entertainment Company, and Nickelodeon Movies...
. The company has produced many successful films, including The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia (film series)
The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of English fantasy films from Walden Media that are based on The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of novels written by C. S. Lewis...
series; Holes
Holes (film)
Holes is a 2003 film based on the novel of the same name by Louis Sachar, who also wrote the screenplay, with Shia LaBeouf as the lead role of Stanley Yelnats...
; Bridge to Terabithia
Bridge to Terabithia (2007 film)
Bridge to Terabithia is a 2007 fantasy drama film directed by Gábor Csupó and adapted for film by David L. Paterson and Jeff Stockwell. The film is based on the Katherine Paterson novel of the same name, and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures in the US. The film stars Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia...
; and Ramona and Beezus
Ramona and Beezus
Ramona and Beezus is a 2010 Fox-Walden film adaptation of the Ramona series of novels by Beverly Cleary. The film's title derives from Beezus and Ramona, the first of Cleary's Ramona books, though the plot is mostly based on the sequels, particularly Ramona Forever and Ramona's World.-Plot:The film...
.
In addition to its children’s films, Walden also produces non-children’s films through Bristol Bay Productions
Bristol Bay Productions
Bristol Bay Productions is a film company, the sister company of Walden Media. It was founded in 1995 as a home video company. Its first film was Ray.-Released films:* Ray...
. The first film produced by Bristol Bay was Ray
Ray (film)
Ray is a 2004 biographical film focusing on 30 years of the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles. The independently produced film was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Jamie Foxx in the title role; Foxx received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.Charles was set to...
, a biographical film about the life of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
. The film starred Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
, whose performance as the blues musician earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor
Academy Award for Best Actor
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
.
1990 Tufts graduate Cary Granat
Cary Granat
Cary Granat is co-founder and CEO of Walden Media, a production company whose goal is to produce films that "entertain and educate". Granat began his film career at Warner Bros...
, the cofounder and CEO, was the president of Miramax Films
Miramax Films
Miramax Films is an American entertainment company known for distributing independent and foreign films. For its first 14 years the company was privately owned by its founders, Bob and Harvey Weinstein...
Dimension Label and managed the development and production of MCA/Universal Films before starting Walden Media in 2001 with Micheal Flaherty
Micheal Flaherty (educator)
Micheal Flaherty is Co-Founder and President of Walden Media, a Production Company, which focuses on films that entertain and educate. Through Walden, he has developed educational materials and programs that insight enthusiasm in the classroom and connect learning to entertainment.Prior to founding...
, also a 1990 Tufts graduate. Flaherty, cofounder and president of Walden, created a program to help children from struggling school districts gain acceptance to exam schools in Boston. Granat left Walden Media in 2008, though Flaherty remains President.
WordGirl
'WordGirlWordGirl
WordGirl is an American children’s animated television series for children aged 6-12, produced by the Soup2Nuts animation unit of Scholastic Entertainment for PBS Kids...
is a PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
show created and produced by Dorothea Gillim and Jack Ferraiolo (also the Head Writer). Ms. Gillim worked with Soup2Nuts
Soup2Nuts
Soup2Nuts is an American animation studio founded by Tom Snyder, Loren Bouchard, Brendon Small, Jody Snider, and Amanda Normoyle. It is known for its animated comedy series...
, a Boston-based production company that is a division of Scholastic Media. According to Ms. Gillim, “WordGirl hopes to enrich kids’ vocabulary, improve literacy, and hopefully instill a love of language along the way.” The show targets children ages 6 to 8, but its dialogue is sharp and witty. Wordgirl’s writers have worked for Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
and [The Onion]], which gives them the experience necessary to write a quick, funny script that draws in the attention of children and their parents. In addition, voiceovers include Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes is an American writer, stand-up comedian, actress, and voice artist. She earned the 1999 Emmy Award for her writing on The Chris Rock Show. In 2004 Entertainment Weekly named Sykes as one of the 25 funniest people in America...
and other well-known adult actors, who give an edgy appeal to this unique PBS show. The show’s creator understands that the dialogue and content must attract children’s attention before it can teach them new vocabulary. The main character is Becky, an elementary school student who transforms into WordGirl, a superhero from Planet Lexicon, whenever people need help. The show’s villains are amusing characters, including Chuck the Evil Sandwich Making Guy and Tobey, a ten year old boy. Gillim started her career as a teacher at the Springside School for Girls and the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
Center for Talented Youth
The Center for Talented Youth is a gifted education program for school-age children, founded in 1979 by Dr. Julian Stanley at Johns Hopkins University. It was initially a research study of the rate at which gifted children can learn new material and became the first program of its kind to identify...
. She received a Masters in Education from Harvard. Dorothea Gillim is now the Executive Producer of Children’s Television at WGBH
WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV, channel 2, is a non-commercial educational public television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WGBH-TV is a member station of the Public Broadcasting Service , and produces more than two-thirds of PBS's national prime time television programming...
.
Scratch
MIT Media Lab
The MIT Media Lab is a laboratory of MIT School of Architecture and Planning. Devoted to research projects at the convergence of design, multimedia and technology, the Media Lab has been widely popularized since the 1990s by business and technology publications such as Wired and Red Herring for a...
and is headed by Mitchel Resnick
Mitchel Resnick
Mitchel Resnick is LEGO Papert Professor of Learning Research, Director of the Okawa Center, and Director of the at the MIT Media Lab. Resnick currently serves as the head of the Media Arts and Sciences academic program, the academic program that grants master's degrees and Ph.Ds at the MIT Media...
, the director of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the lab. The program targets children ages 8 and up and aims to give them a way to use technology in a fun and creative manner. By demonstrating to children how important numbers are, Scratch encourages kids to learn new math skills so they can create increasingly complex programs.
Resnick received a BS in physics from Princeton and a MS+PhD in computer science from MIT. He is the head of the Media Arts and Sciences academic program, director of the Okawa Center, and helped create Programmable Bricks (the foundation of LEGO MindStorms robotics construction kits). In addition, Resnick co-founded Computer Clubhouse
Computer Clubhouse
The Computer Clubhouse is a worldwide network of after-school learning settings, founded by Mitchel Resnick and Natalie Rusk of the MIT Media Lab in Boston, USA...
, an international network that encourages underprivileged kids to engage creatively with technology.
Eliot-Pearson Awards 2006
The 2006 Eliot Pearson Awards were held on April 21st , and recipients included Arthur, Carol Greenwald, Executive Producer; Between the Lions, Judy Stoia, Executive Producer; Zoom, Kate Taylor, Executive Producer.Carol Greenwald, Executive Producer, Arthur
Carol Greenwald was awarded the Eliot-Pearson Award for her role as Executive Producer and co-creator of ArthurArthur (TV series)
Arthur is an American/Canadian animated educational television series for children, created by Cookie Jar Group and WGBH for the Public Broadcasting Service...
, which features the lives of Arthur the aardvark and his friends and family as they deal with the social issues that often face young children. The show also places an emphasis on the value of books, reading and learning and relationships with family and friends. Greenwald also served as Executive Producer of the Arthur spin-off entitled Postcards from Buster
Postcards from Buster
Postcards from Buster is a children's television series for children aged 6-12, containing both animation and live-action that originally aired on Public Broadcasting Service . It is a spin-off of the Arthur cartoon series. The show stars Arthur's best friend, 8-year-old rabbit Buster Baxter...
and Curious George
Curious George (TV series)
Curious George is an animated television series based on the Curious George children's book series, which features Jeff Bennett as the voice of The Man with the Yellow Hat. Frank Welker, who voiced George in the 2006 feature film, returns here as the voice of Curious George. The stories of Season...
. For her work on Arthur and Curious George, she has won four Emmys and a Peabody Award. Greenwald has also worked on a number of other children’s programs including Zoom
Zoom (1999 TV series)
ZOOM is an American educational television series, created almost entirely by children, which aired on Public Broadcasting Service originally from January 4, 1999 to June 24, 2005. It was a remake of a 1972 TV series by the same name. Both versions were produced by WGBH-TV in Boston...
, Between the Lions
Between the Lions
Between the Lions is a PBS Kids' puppet show designed to promote reading. The show is a co-production between WGBH in Boston and Sirius Thinking, Ltd., in New York City, in association with Mississippi Public Broadcasting, in Mississippi. The show has won seven Daytime Emmy awards between 2001 and...
, and Peep and the Big Wide World
Peep and the Big Wide World
Peep and the Big Wide World is an animated cartoon that teaches nature and basic science concepts to preschoolers. The main characters include a baby chicken named Peep and his friends Quack, a blue duck, and Chirp, a red robin with purple eyelids...
. She is currently Senior Executive Producer of Children’s Programs at WGBH Boston
WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV, channel 2, is a non-commercial educational public television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WGBH-TV is a member station of the Public Broadcasting Service , and produces more than two-thirds of PBS's national prime time television programming...
.
Judy Stoia, Executive Producer, Between the Lions
Judy Stoia was awarded the Eliot-Pearson Award for her role as Executive Producer of Between the Lions, the highly-acclaimed PBS children’s series which has been awarded ten national Emmys and has twice received the Best Children’s Program by the Television Critics AssociationTelevision Critics Association
The Television Critics Association is a group of approximately 200 United States and Canadian journalists and columnists who cover television programming...
. Between the Lions aims to instill a love of reading and books in children ages 4-7. Stoia has worked for WGBH Boston as a radio and television reporter, where she delivered in-depth coverage of Boston’s court-ordered busing program. Her book The Hardest Lesson, on her experience reporting during those years, received a Chistoph Medal for non-fiction. She was also Executive Producer of The AIDS Quarterly with Peter Jennings
Peter Jennings
Peter Charles Archibald Ewart Jennings, CM was a Canadian American journalist and news anchor. He was the sole anchor of ABC's World News Tonight from 1983 until his death in 2005 of complications from lung cancer...
and, among numerous other projects, has produced dramas for PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
and ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. She has also worked as an Executive Producer at the ABC affiliate WCVB-TV
WCVB-TV
WCVB-TV, channel 5, is a television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Hearst Television and affiliated with the ABC Television Network. WCVB-TV's studios and transmitter are co-located in Needham, Massachusetts. WCVB is also one of six Boston television stations seen in Canada by...
. Throughout her career she has won multiple awards such as Emmys, Gabriels, Cine Golden Eagles, New York Film Festivals, Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards, and Peabodys.
Kate Taylor, Executive Producer, Zoom
Kate Taylor was awarded the Eliot-Pearson award for her role as Executive Producer of ZoomZoom (1999 TV series)
ZOOM is an American educational television series, created almost entirely by children, which aired on Public Broadcasting Service originally from January 4, 1999 to June 24, 2005. It was a remake of a 1972 TV series by the same name. Both versions were produced by WGBH-TV in Boston...
, which aired on PBS from 1999-2006 as a remake of the 1970s classic children’s show Taylor originally worked on as a segment producer. Zoom’s young cast played an active part in the show’s creation. Zoom centers around engineering, science and creativity. Taylor is a creator and producer at WGBH Boston where she specializes in producing children’s and youth educational programs focusing on the sciences. Currently, Taylor is the Executive Producer of FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman
FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman
FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman, sometimes shortened as FETCH!, is a children's television series for children ages 6–12 on PBS during the PBS Kids GO! block of educational programming. It is a game show/reality show that is hosted by an animated anthropomorphic dog who dispenses challenges to the show's...
and Peep and the Big Wide World
Peep and the Big Wide World
Peep and the Big Wide World is an animated cartoon that teaches nature and basic science concepts to preschoolers. The main characters include a baby chicken named Peep and his friends Quack, a blue duck, and Chirp, a red robin with purple eyelids...
, which have won numerous awards, including Emmys. Taylor has also produced the Emmy award winning show Design Squad
Design Squad
Design Squad is a PBS reality television series geared towards middle and high-school children, where they design whimsical machines in order to win an Intel college scholarship worth $10,000. The show is produced by WGBH.- Hosts :...
, Degrassi Junior High
Degrassi Junior High
Degrassi Junior High is a Canadian CBC Television teen drama series that was produced from 1987-1989 as part of the Degrassi series. The show followed the lives of a group of students attending the titular fictional school...
, and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? She served as executive-in-charge for the first two seasons of Arthur
Arthur (TV series)
Arthur is an American/Canadian animated educational television series for children, created by Cookie Jar Group and WGBH for the Public Broadcasting Service...
.
Eliot-Pearson Awards 2004
The 2004 Eliot Pearson Awards were held on April 16th at the Stevens Library at Eliot Pearson. Recipients included WGBH shows Dora the Explorer, Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh, Executive Producers and Cathy Galeota, Producer; Maya and Miguel, Deborah Forte, Executive Producer; Nick News for Kids, Linda Ellerbee and Mark Lyons, Executive Producers.Chris Gifford, Creator and Executive Producer, Dora the Explorer
Chris Gifford was awarded the Eliot-Pearson Award for his role as creator and executive producer of the hit Nickelodeon Nick Jr.Nick Jr.
Nick Jr. was a programming block on the Nickelodeon television channel, seen on Nickelodeon weekday mornings. It was aimed at a preschool-age audience ages 6 and under. On September 28, 2009, Nick Jr. became its own official channel, replacing Noggin...
preschool show Dora the Explorer
Dora the Explorer
Dora the Explorer is an American animated television series created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh, and Eric Weiner. Dora the Explorer became a regular series in 2000. The show is carried on the Nickelodeon cable television network, including the associated Nick Jr. channel. It aired on CBS until...
, which portrays multiculturalism, non-stereotypical gender roles, curiosity and open-mindedness. Gifford is also the producer of Nick Jr.’s Go, Diego, Go!
Go, Diego, Go!
Go, Diego, Go! is a children's television series created by Chris Gifferd and Valerie Walsh, and is a spin-off of Dora the Explorer. The show premiered on September 6, 2005, on Nickelodeon. It also aired as part of the Nick Jr. on CBS block from September 17, 2005, to September 9, 2006. On...
Gifford has written and composed music for Dora the Explorer stage shows and movies and Go, Diego, Go Live! The Great Jaguar Rescue. With Nickelodeon since 1989, Gifford has worked on multiple programs including Clarissa Explains It All
Clarissa Explains It All
Clarissa Explains It All is an American teen sitcom that aired on Nickelodeon. Created by Mitchell Kriegman, it aired for five seasons for a total of 65 episodes from March 23, 1991, to December 3, 1994, and then went into reruns....
and Family Double Dare. As Nick Jr.’s executive in charge of development and production, Gifford led the development of new programs such as Allegra's Window
Allegra's Window
Allegra's Window is a children's television series that aired on Nick Jr. from July 12, 1994 to May 1, 1996, with reruns airing from May 2, 1996 to August 30, 2000 and later airing on Noggin from February 2, 1999 to April 2003...
, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss
The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss
The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss is an American live-action/puppet television series based on characters created by Dr. Seuss, produced by Jim Henson Productions. It aired for two seasons on the Nick Jr. Block on Nickelodeon...
, The Busy World of Richard Scarry
The Busy World of Richard Scarry
The Busy World of Richard Scarry is a Canadian/French animated children's television series, produced by CINAR Animation and France Animation in association with Paramount Television, which aired from 1994 to 1997, first on Showtime, later on Nickelodeon, and ran for 65 episodes...
, and the first season of Gullah Gullah Island
Gullah Gullah Island
Gullah Gullah Island is an American children's television series starring Ron Daise and his wife Natalie Daise. It was the first show designed for preschoolers to feature a Gullah family.-Background:...
. Before Nickelodeon, Gifford worked for Children’s Television Workshop
Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop, formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop , is a Worldwide American non-profit organization behind the production of several educational children's programs that have run on public broadcasting around the world...
and was an educator, teaching speech and drama.
Valerie Walsh Valdes, Creator and Executive Producer, Dora the Explorer
Valerie Walsh Valdes was awarded the Eliot-Pearson Award for her role as creator and executive producer of the hit Nickelodeon Nick Jr.Nick Jr.
Nick Jr. was a programming block on the Nickelodeon television channel, seen on Nickelodeon weekday mornings. It was aimed at a preschool-age audience ages 6 and under. On September 28, 2009, Nick Jr. became its own official channel, replacing Noggin...
preschool show Dora the Explorer
Dora the Explorer
Dora the Explorer is an American animated television series created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh, and Eric Weiner. Dora the Explorer became a regular series in 2000. The show is carried on the Nickelodeon cable television network, including the associated Nick Jr. channel. It aired on CBS until...
, the hit animated Nickelodeon show for preschoolers which features a bilingual seven year-old and teaches a new Spanish word to viewers each episode. The show portrays multiculturalism, non-stereotypical gender roles, curiosity and open-mindedness. Valdes is also the creator and Executive Producer of Go, Diego, Go!
Go, Diego, Go!
Go, Diego, Go! is a children's television series created by Chris Gifferd and Valerie Walsh, and is a spin-off of Dora the Explorer. The show premiered on September 6, 2005, on Nickelodeon. It also aired as part of the Nick Jr. on CBS block from September 17, 2005, to September 9, 2006. On...
, also on Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr. programming for preschoolers. Valdes holds a Master’s in Film and Dramatic Writing and Education from NYU.
Cathy Galeota, Producer, Dora the Explorer
Cathy Galeota was awarded the Eliot-Pearson award for her work on the hit Nickelodeon Nick Jr. preschool show Dora the Explorer, which portrays multiculturalism, non-stereotypical gender roles through the adventures of a bilingual seven year old Latina girl, Dora, She also produces Nick Jr.’s Go, Diego, GO! Previously, Galeota worked on production management for The Nickellennium, a documentary created in 2000 that features youth around the globe from various cultures sharing their visions of life in the future. Prior to joining Nickelodeon, Galeota worked as a production manager for the Disney ChannelDisney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1987.
Deborah Forte, Executive Producer, Maya and Miguel
Deborah ForteDeborah Forte
Deborah Forte is an award winning producer of children’s and family TV, feature films, websites and digital media including I Spy, Clifford the Big Red Dog, The Magic School Bus, Goosebumps, WordGirl, and The Golden Compass.-Career:...
was awarded the Eliot-Pearson Award for her role as creator and Executive Producer of Maya and Miguel
Maya & Miguel
Maya & Miguel is a children's television animated series for children aged 6-12 produced by Scholastic Studios. It appears on PBS as part of the PBS Kids GO! lineup and on the CBBC channel in the UK...
, a PBS Kids Go!
PBS Kids GO!
PBS Kids GO! is an educational television brand used by PBS for programs intended for older children, rather than the original PBS Kids. It is primarily broadcast on PBS stations during the afternoons...
show that premiered in 2004 and teaches lessons of multiculturalism to its elementary aged audience. Forte is the President of Scholastic Media and Executive Vice President of Scholastic Inc. In 1997 Forte created Scholastic Entertainment, an arm of Scholastic Media, aimed at generating children’s media and boosting literacy. Forte is also the producer of widely renowned children’s shows such as Clifford the Big Red Dog and The Magic School Bus
The Magic School Bus (TV series)
The Magic School Bus is an American Saturday morning animated television series based on the book series of the same name by Joanna Cole. It is notable for its use of celebrity talent and combining entertainment with an educational show, according to an article in Animation World Magazine by...
. Forte has won more than 100 awards for her work, including Emmys and Oscars.
Linda Ellerbee, Executive Producer, Nick News for Kids
Linda EllerbeeLinda Ellerbee
Linda Ellerbee is an American journalist who is most known for several jobs at NBC News, including Washington, DC correspondent, host of the Nickelodeon network's Nick News, and reporter and co-anchor of NBC News Overnight, which was recognized by the jurors of the duPont Columbia Awards as...
was awarded the Eliot-Pearson Award for her role as Executive Producer of Nick News for Kids
Nick News with Linda Ellerbee
Nick News with Linda Ellerbee is an educational children's and teenagers' television show on Nickelodeon that has been shown since 1992. Nick News takes the form of a highly rated and recognized news program for children and teenagers alike, discussing important social, political and economic...
, a news program aimed at the ‘tween audience which exposes viewers to social, political and media issues. As Nick News writer and host, Ellerbee delivers weekly quality broadcasts on a wide range of issues to her young audience. Nick News is produced by Ellerbee’s production company, Lucky Duck Productions, which was founded in 1987 and is known for its outstanding work in children’s media. Lucky Duck Productions has received numerous awards for its excellence in children’s media, including a Peabody, Columbia-duPont Awards, the National Education Association, and the Parents Choice Awards. Ellerbee has had an extensive and very successful career in broadcast journalism, launching her career in the 1970s and 80s as she worked as NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
Washington Correspondent and co-anchor of NBC News Overnight. She has also been a reporter for the Today show and Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
as well as a commentator for CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
.
Mark Lyons, Producer, Nick News for Kids
Mark Lyons was awarded the Eliot-Pearson Award for his role as Producer of Nick News for KidsNick News with Linda Ellerbee
Nick News with Linda Ellerbee is an educational children's and teenagers' television show on Nickelodeon that has been shown since 1992. Nick News takes the form of a highly rated and recognized news program for children and teenagers alike, discussing important social, political and economic...
, a news program aimed at the ‘tween audience which exposes viewers to social, political and media issues. As Producer of Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, Mark Lyons has earned seven Emmys and a CableAce for his work with Lucky Duck Productions. Prior to joining Lucky Duck, Lyons worked as a producer for Lifetime and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. Lyons has also worked as Supervising Producer for a number of Lucky Duck projects at network stations.
Craig Bartlett, Executive Producer of Hey Arnold!
Craig BartlettCraig Bartlett
Craig Michael Bartlett is an animator best known for writing for Rugrats and creating the television series Hey Arnold!.-Career:...
was awarded the Eliot-Pearson Award for his role as the Executive Producer of the hit animated children’s series Hey Arnold!
Hey Arnold!
Hey Arnold! is an American animated television series created by Craig Bartlett for Nickelodeon. The show's premise focuses on a fourth grader named Arnold who lives with his grandparents. Episodes center on his experiences navigating big city life while dealing with the problems he and his friends...
, which was piloted on Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
in 1994 and hit the air as a series in 1995. The show quickly soared to become Nickelodeon’s highest rated series and was praised by children’s media experts for its reflection of diversity, promotion of understanding and challenging of stereotypes.
The show was on the air until 2001 and then went to theaters as Hey Arnold! The Movie
Hey Arnold!: The Movie
Hey Arnold!: The Movie is a 2002 animated film based on the 1996-2004 Nickelodeon animated television series Hey Arnold!. The film was released in theaters on June 28, 2002...
in 2002. Bartlett is also known for his work writing for Rugrats
Rugrats
Rugrats is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The series premiered on August 11, 1991, and aired its last episode on June 8, 2004....
, another hit Nickelodeon animated show. After leaving Nickelodeon Bartlett went on to work for Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
, BRC Imagination Arts, and The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company, an American entertainment organization, traces its origins to the founding of Muppets, Inc. in 1958 by puppeteer Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets. The Muppets helped the company gain worldwide acclaim in family entertainment for more than four decades...
, where he created the show Jim Henson’s Dinosaur Train
Dinosaur Train
Dinosaur Train is an American animated series created by Craig Bartlett. The series features a curious young T. rex named Buddy who, together with his adopted Pteranodon family, takes the Dinosaur Train to meet, explore, and have adventures with all kinds of dinosaurs.It was the second show by The...
that was picked up and aired by PBS Kids
PBS Kids
PBS Kids is the brand for children's programming aired by the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States founded in 1993. As with all PBS programming, PBS Kids programming is non-commercial. It is aimed at children ages 2 to 10...
.