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October 4, 2006

Spark: KLRU’s Engaging Speaker Series, presented by AMD focuses on politics, global warming, cultural evolution and more.
Subscriptions on Sale Now

Austin, Texas — KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, brings contemporary minds together for five evenings of cutting-edge ideas during Spark: KLRU’s Engaging Speaker Series presented by AMD. Spark 07 focuses on issues with a global impact, social significance and community relevance. Subscriptions for the 2007 series go on sale on October 1.  Next year’s series features some of the world's most celebrated and outspoken experts with presentations by Gwen Ifill, Maria Hinojosa, Ray Suarez, Dr. Tim Flannery, Elizabeth Kolbert, Douglas Rushkoff and Anne Lamott.

Taking place once a month, from January 2007 to May 2007, KLRU’s Spark events feature a 45-minute presentation followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session. All lectures begin at 7:30 p.m. and take place at the Paramount Theatre located at 713 Congress Ave.

Five and three evening subscription packages are on sale starting Oct. 1 at klru.org/spark or by calling 475-9021. Five-lecture packages are $200 and three-lecture packages cost $120. Individual tickets go on sale January 2, 2007 through klru.org/spark or at the Paramount Theatre box office at 713 Congress Avenue.

Events in next year’s series are:

Gwen Ifill
Wednesday, January 31

Gwen Ifill, managing editor of PBS’s Washington Week and senior correspondent for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, is one of the most respected political analysts in the country. A veteran journalist, Ifill covered the White House, Congress and presidential campaigns for NBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post and others. She joined the PBS news team in 1999 and has since been pegged to moderate the Vice Presidential debates and serves on the board of Harvard University's Institute of Politics.

Maria Hinojosa and Ray Suarez in Conversation
Wednesday, February 21

After years of covering the cultural changes in the United States, two of the nations most respected journalists will discuss issues including immigration, family and the nation’s future.

• Maria Hinojosa
  Maria Hinojosa has been named Hispanic Business Magazine’s 100 most influential Latinos in the United States. Currently host of NPR’s Latino USA, she is also a senior correspondent for PBS’s NOW. She is the author of several books including Raising Raul, a memoir about raising a Latino child in a multicultural society.
• Ray Suarez
  In his work, Ray Suarez examines the economic, political and social dynamics that shape our culture. Formerly host of NPR’s Talk of the Nation, he joined PBS’s The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer in 1999. Suarez is the author of several books including 2006’s The Holy Vote, which examines religion and politics in America.

Global Warming Panel 
Tuesday, March 20

Two of the leading voices on climate issues take center stage to discuss the causes and impacts of global warming.

• Internationally acclaimed scientist Dr. Tim Flannery believes that human activity is altering the earth's climate. His best-selling book,  The Weather Makers, demonstrates the substantial climate change and the likely ecological effects to the planet if this process continues.
• Journalist Elizabeth Kolbert worked with top scientists for her groundbreaking environmental series for The New Yorker. That work has been expanded for the book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, which delves into what can be done to negate the causes of global warming.

Douglas Rushkoff
Wednesday, April 18

As an author, teacher and documentarian, Douglas Rushkoff focuses on the ways people, cultures and institutions create, share, and influence each other's values. As one of the leaders of the cyberpunk movement, he has written ten best-selling books including Get Back in the Box: Innovation from the Inside Out, Cyberia,  Media Virus and Playing the Future. Rushkoff has written and hosted two award-winning Frontline documentaries — “The Merchants of Cool” and  “The Persuaders” — and provides commentary for NPR's All Things Considered.

Anne Lamott
Tuesday, May 15

Author Anne Lamott takes complicated issues and breaks them down with her quirky, self-effacing sense of humor. From alcoholism and motherhood to religion and family, Lamott uses a personal honesty in her writing that lifts, comforts and inspires. She is the author of six novels including Hard Laughter, Rosie, Joe Jones, All New People and Crooked Little Heart, as well as four best-selling non-fiction works including Operating Instructions and Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.

About SPARK

Over nine years, KLRU has established a reputation for bringing Austin some of the world's most talented and recognizable individuals through our Speaker Series. The content of the Series — purposefully diverse, thought provoking and relevant — is fashioned in the spirit of KLRU’s educational and inspirational programming. Spark is sponsored by AMD, Wells Fargo, The Austin Chronicle Austinist.com and KUT. All proceeds benefit KLRU-TV, a 501 c (3) non-profit organization.

About KLRU

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, reflects, celebrates and inspires Central Texas through creative excellence,
community engagement and lifelong learning. Although primarily a television station providing locally produced and quality national programming, KLRU is also a non-profit organization helping to build a stronger community through educational workshops, community outreach projects and public events. Get more information about KLRU at klru.org.

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