For more information: Teri L Sullivan
WKNO Promotions Manager
901-729-8735
tlsullivan@wkno.org
January 26, 2011
For Immediate Release
WKNO WELCOMES NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO TALK SHOW HOST TAVIS SMILEY FOR A COMMUNITY DIALOGUE
Tickets are on sale now for Tavis Smiley: Changing the World One Conversation at a Time. The event, presented by WKNO, will be held in the University Theater at Christian Brothers University, 650 East Parkway, on Saturday, March 5 at 11:00 a.m.
Tickets can be purchased from Sally Stover, 901-729-8719 or sstover@wkno.org, and are $15 for WKNO members and $20 for non-members. WKNO will also host a pre-event meet-and-greet brunch at 10 a.m. Tickets may be purchased for $50 for this special reception.
This event is sponsored nationally by Nationwide, AARP, Enterprise, and American Airlines; and sponsored locally by Lane College of Jackson, TN.
From his celebrated conversations with world figures to his work to inspire the next generation of leaders; as a broadcaster, author, publisher, advocate, and philanthropist, Tavis Smiley continues to be an outstanding voice for change. Smiley is currently the host of the late-night television talk show Tavis Smiley, which airs weeknights at 11:00 p.m. on WKNO/Channel 10.
This year Tavis marks his 20th anniversary in broadcasting by embarking on a five-city tour An Evening with Tavis Smiley: Changing the World One Conversation at a Time. But on this tour, Tavis becomes the interviewee as he answers questions from viewers and listeners. He will be joined on stage by moderator Mamie Shannon, host of the new weekly WKNO production Local Color (Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.).
“We are pleased to welcome a broadcaster of Tavis Smiley’s caliber to Memphis,” said Michael J. LaBonia, President and CEO of WKNO. “His work is very much admired in our community and we are excited to be able to offer this chance to our viewers.”
In addition to his radio and television work, Smiley has authored 14 books. His memoir, What I Know for Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America, became a New York Times best seller, and the book he edited, Covenant with Black America, became the first nonfiction book by a Black-owned publisher to reach #1 on The New York Times’ best-sellers list.
His forthcoming book, FAIL UP: 20 Lessons on Building Success from Failure, will be released May 1, 2011. In Fail Up, Smiley steps from behind the curtain of success to recount 20 instances of perceived “failures” that were, in fact, “lessons” that shaped the principles and practices he employs today. Readers will find a kinship in Smiley’s humanness that inspires, informs, and reminds us of our inherent ability to achieve and grow in spite of life’s inevitable setbacks.
In addition to the community event, WKNO will also be hosting a pre-event meet and greet brunch with Tavis at 10:00 a.m. Tickets may also be purchased for $50 for this special reception.
For more information, visit www.wkno.org
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About WKNO
WKNO is a non-profit, private foundation serving the Mid-South for more than 50 years. An important community resource, WKNO uses the power of non-commercial public broadcasting to provide the Mid-South with quality educational and cultural programs that inform, entertain, and inspire.
About Tavis Smiley on PBS
Tavis Smiley is a unique hybrid of news, issues and entertainment, featuring interviews with politicians, entertainers, athletes, authors and other newsmakers. Tavis Smiley was recently named to TIME’s list of 100 “Most Influential People in the World.”
Tavis Smiley is produced by The Smiley Group, Inc. / TS Media, Inc. in association with WNET/ New York. Major funding is provided by Wal-Mart and Nationwide Insurance. Additional support comes from PBS. The 30-minute program airs weeknights on PBS. To get local listings and to watch past episodes, please visit www.pbs.org/tavis.
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