NAB Joins COVID Education Initiative
• Given broadcasters’ integral role in educating the public on COVID-19 and the vaccine deployment, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has joined the COVID Collaborative, a national assembly of experts and organizations working on unified action against the COVID-19 pandemic. NAB President & CEO Gordon Smith will serve on the Collaborative’s National Advisory Council.
“Radio and TV broadcasters have devoted tremendous resources to keeping their audiences safe and informed throughout the pandemic,” said Smith (left). “Now, as vaccines roll out and the nation’s recovery begins, local broadcasters will play an important role in educating and engaging viewers and listeners. NAB looks forward to working with the Collaborative in leveraging broadcasters’ connections to local communities across America to inform the public and defeat the virus.”
John Bridgeland, co-Founder & CEO of the COVID Collaborative, remarked, “We are thrilled to welcome Senator Gordon Smith and the National Association of Broadcasters to our COVID Collaborative. Having the voice of the nation’s radio and television broadcasters could not come at a more critical time as our country works together to defeat COVID-19 and emerge better and stronger.”
Chaired by former Governors Dirk Kempthorne (R-ID) and Deval Patrick (D-MA), the Collaborative recently announced a “Call to Action Compact” between a bipartisan group of governors calling for a common, comprehensive approach to defeating COVID-19. NAB also recently shared research findings regarding local media’s critical role in educating the public about vaccine distribution. The organization will unveil a toolkit in early 2021 providing the resources, research and messaging local journalists need to effectively educate their diverse audiences.
