Pentagon Channel Lauded for Public Service Programming

By David Mays
Special to American Forces Press Service

March 12, 2007 – An unconventional public service announcement produced by the Pentagon Channel reminding military members to vote has been awarded first place in a nationwide competition sponsored by Cable World Magazine. An emotional Pentagon Channel documentary on post-traumatic stress disorder also earned an honorable mention. Other competitors included cable giants such as Discovery and National Geographic, Pentagon Channel officials noted.

"The judges made their choices based on whether or not an entry clearly presented an important public affairs issue," said Seth Arenstein, the magazine's editorial director and assistant vice president. "In addition, the mix of education and entertainment was considered, as were production values."

The winning spot is "a clever piece of work from the Pentagon Channel taking the audio and black-and-white video from a cartoon PSA about military absentee voting privileges from television's early days and enhancing subtly with touches of color, including adding a female (character) into the all-male cartoon," Arenstein said. "It also added Web site info in the style of the times."

The Pentagon Channel's documentary "The Wounds Within," which focused on servicemembers returning from combat to face emotional struggles received an honorable mention.

"The judges were surprised by the openness and emotional nature of the Pentagon Channel's special on post-traumatic stress disorder, Arenstein said. "They were also impressed by the breadth of the special, which notes that some 7.7 million Americans get PTSD yearly, but most never receive treatment."

Awards will be presented here today during the Cable Television Public Affairs Association Forum 2007.

This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have written books as well as criminal justice online leadership.