Part two of VPM NEWS Focal Point’s first season premiered in October with ten new episodes airing through December 15.
Hosted by award-winning journalist Angie Miles and produced by Samatha Willis and Roberta Oster (pictured above), Focal Point is a weekly half-hour show framing statewide news through a lens of in-depth reporting on culture, politics, business, health, the environment, race, science, and the arts.
Focal Point is committed to producing stories about historically underreported communities to inspire a deeper understanding of Virginia and Virginians. “We are encouraged and energized by the tremendous response our spring episodes received,” said Angie Miles. “Our fall line- up will build on that momentum, using vibrant storytelling and even-handed reporting to reveal the many ways public policy and social issues are impacting the lives of Virginians.”
The first episode of Focal Point’s fall lineup, themed “Environmental Stewardship,” explored Virginia’s Tribal Nations mission to reclaim the land of their ancestors. In the feature story, the quest to save a historic Black schoolhouse called Pine Grove led to larger environmental concerns about a proposed mega landfill in Cumberland County. The spotlight focused on a group of determined seniors standing in solidarity against the controversial Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline. As Virginia remains a nexus of national issues, Focal Point uncovers how Virginians are navigating these challenges.
Focal Point will analyze a wide variety of topics throughout the fall, including inflation, Virginia’s agricultural landscape, media literacy, voter fraud, mental health, public safety, and much more.
“Focal Point reporters uncover authentic stories and new voices from the heart of local communities,” said senior producer Roberta Oster. “Our show offers deeper perspectives, historical context, and creative solutions to pressing issues that Virginians are facing across the commonwealth.”
Focal Point earned two Public Media Awards from the National Educational Telecommunications Association in September. The show won an award in the News & Public Affairs category and another for its integrated media campaign.
VPM NEWS Focal Point is available on-demand in the PBS Video App. Digital stories from the program will be posted on VPM.org and shared on VPM’s Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. Learn more about the Focal Point team.
