The greatest Rotary Club in the Universe was honored to host Ms. Val Zavala, Vice President of News and Public Affairs at KCET, the nation’s largest independent public television station and anchor of KCET’s weekly “SoCal Connected” program.  Ms. Zavala received her Masters in Journalism from American University in Washington, D.C. and her Bachelors in Latin American Studies from Yale University.

Ms. Zavala noted that her first job was in Commercial TV and it was pretty difficult, noting that she would not have stayed long on that side of the business, as most of what gets reported is so negative and narrow.  Times have changed so much since TV was introduced in 1950, over 65 years ago.  Originally we had maybe 3 sources for news; now there is an overwhelming number of choices on TV, Cable and the web with Facebook, Google, Linked In too. Val noted that “Getting new information from the Internet is like drinking from a fire hydrant” way to much.

KCET is celebrating their 50th Anniversary, relocating from Hollywood to Burbank in 2012 and in October of 2012, announcing that it was merging with non-commercial satellite network Link TV to form a new nonprofit entity, to be called “KCETLink” with its national headquarters based in KCET’s Burbank facilities. The decision to leave the umbrella of PBS was monumental for KCET, and CEO Michael Riley has had to address contracts and partnerships for not only Broadcast but Streaming via the WEB, On-Line and various other channels.

Today programming includes Doc Martin (one more season), MI5, SoCA Connected, Artbound and LinkVoices an independent documentary.  For 2016 the focus of the SoCA Connected will be the environment, transportation, health & medicine, the economy, culture and wildlife.  KCET channel 28 also has partnerships with L.A. Times, Otis Art School and Town Hall L.A.

Check out the upcoming programs like; California’s Gold with Huell Howser, Rick Steves’ Europe, SoCal Connected and Artbound “Monomania L.A.”