Participant Media Launches TakePart World

LOS ANGELES (July 24, 2014) – Participant Media unveiled today TakePart World, a year long, multi-platform series dedicated to global development and the innovators who are making a difference. TakePart World investigates the myths and misconceptions people across the globe have about the developing world. The series spotlights the faces and voices of those driving progress towards a sustainable future for the world’s poorest. TakePart World is made possible with support from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The on-air program kicks off tonight, July 24 at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT, on TakePart Live, Pivot’s nightly news program. Tonight’s episode explores the topic of foreign aid and the question of “does helping help?” Guests include Roger Ross-Williams, director of the film God Loves Uganda, and Reverend Canon Albert Ogle, to discuss benefits and problems associated with religious-based aid and other types of “help” from the west. The 10 dedicated TakePart World shows will focus on pertinent themes and welcome guests who are making steadfast gains in the areas of innovation and technology, agriculture and nutrition, health, disaster relief, and economic development. In addition to the dedicated monthly episodes, TakePart Live will regularly spotlight key individuals and debut documentary shorts filmed on location in Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya for special TakePart World segments. “TakePart World challenges long-standing misconceptions that the problems faced in the developing world are insurmountable. Through the series we’re proud to give a broader platform to the incredible people effecting change, and to help their work go further,” said Belisa Balaban, EVP Original Programming at Pivot. “TakePart World explores what’s working, and offers ways to get involved and become a part of impactful solutions,” added Karina Kogan, EVP of TakePart.com. The conversation continues online at TakePart.com/world with in-depth articles, profiles of key individuals who are creating historic changes in the developing world, and highlighting awe-inspiring solutions to challenges, such as global poverty. Along with editorial content, users will have the ability to take action on these important issues through the Take Action Platform. TakePart World is teaming up with top NGOs, including Global Citizen, to promote petitions combating extreme poverty, and to collaborate on reporting. Mashable will distribute select TakePart World content to all of their digital audiences. TakePart World community members will be able to participate in the conversation not only by sharing content on social media, but by helping producers and editors shape the coverage online and on-air. Two community members will join TakePart World in New York in September and have the opportunity to report from the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park (featuring scheduled performers such as Jay Z, The Roots, Carrie Underwood, Fun. and Tiesto).

About Participant Media
Participant is a global entertainment company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll to focus on feature film, television, publishing and digital content that inspires social change. Participant’s more than 55 films include Good Night, and Good Luck, Syriana, An Inconvenient Truth, Food, Inc., Waiting for ‘Superman’, The Help, Contagion and Lincoln. Participant, uniquely, launches campaigns that bring together government entities, foundations, schools, and others to raise awareness and drive people to take action on issues from each film or television show. Pivot, the company’s television network, is available in 45 million homes, serving passionate Millennials (18-34) with a diverse slate of talent and a mix of original series, acquired programming, films and documentaries. Participant’s digital network, TakePart, is a leading source of socially relevant news, opinion, entertainment and information about ways to get involved with the issues that shape our lives. Through its films, social action campaigns, digital network, and its television network, Participant seeks to entertain, encourage and empower every individual to take action.