The Groundbreaking Online Series Honored for Outstanding Educational Web Site for Innovative Media
Los Angeles – October 28, 2011 – KCET, the nation’s largest independent public television station serving Southern and Central California, is pleased to announce that today its online documentary series Departures was awarded the prestigious Japan Foundation President’s Prize by the Japan Prize International Contest for Educational Media for innovation in media.
The Japan Prize was established in 1965 by NHK as an International Educational Program Contest that aims to improve the quality of educational programs around the world, as well as contribute to the development and fostering of international understanding and cooperation.
Receiving recognition for its 360-degree people-centric experience, KCET’s Departures was awarded the prestigious Japan Foundation President’s Prize for “an excellent work that encourages mutual understanding among nations and races, or contributes to cultural change.”
Since its debut in 2009, Departures has served as a central nexus for sharing, commenting, collaborating, and finding ways for residents to be involved in their communities. Departures fosters relationships between cultures offline and on by engaging community residents, non-profit organizations, schools and students in the creation and procurement of relevant and relatable content for the series.
“We are honored that Departures is being recognized internationally for its efforts to help our community appreciate and engage with other cultures through visually dynamic and enlightening experiences,” said Juan Devis, executive producer of Departures.
The Japan Foundation President’s Prize is just one of several awards Departures has won, including honors at the National Arts Journalism Summit, the Summit Creative Awards, and the ADDY Creative Show Award to name a few. For more information on Departures visit kcet.org.
