Grupo Televisa and Sesame Workshop encourage children: tell a parent if you feel sick, wash your hands and cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze.
(Mexico City, MÉXICO and New York, NEW YORK; April 29, 2009) - Beyond teaching letters and numbers, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street and Plaza Sésamo, is known for its consistently honest and brave approach to tough subjects. As news and concern about a potential swine flu pandemic originating in Mexico City reaches around the world, today is no exception. Production partners for over 35 years, Televisa, México's largest producer and terrestrial broadcaster, and Sesame Workshop have produced four public service announcements (PSAs) featuring the beloved Muppets of Plaza Sésamo Pancho and Lola as well as Mexican celebrities Lucero, Jorge Poza and Adrián Uribe, all of whom donated their time to the cause. Plaza Sésamo's Education and Research team worked with México's Ministry of Health on developing the scripts which present the following important messages:
Tell a parent if you feel sick so they can take you to the doctor. Don't go to school or outside where there are people who might catch your sickness.
It is important to cover your mouth with a tissue or your arm if you sneeze or cough. Be sure to throw away the tissue and cover the trash can, too!
Wash your hands with soap and clean water several times throughout the day for at least 20 seconds.
The PSAs began airing on Televisa this morning.
(Mexico City, MÉXICO and New York, NEW YORK; April 29, 2009) - Beyond teaching letters and numbers, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street and Plaza Sésamo, is known for its consistently honest and brave approach to tough subjects. As news and concern about a potential swine flu pandemic originating in Mexico City reaches around the world, today is no exception. Production partners for over 35 years, Televisa, México's largest producer and terrestrial broadcaster, and Sesame Workshop have produced four public service announcements (PSAs) featuring the beloved Muppets of Plaza Sésamo Pancho and Lola as well as Mexican celebrities Lucero, Jorge Poza and Adrián Uribe, all of whom donated their time to the cause. Plaza Sésamo's Education and Research team worked with México's Ministry of Health on developing the scripts which present the following important messages:
Tell a parent if you feel sick so they can take you to the doctor. Don't go to school or outside where there are people who might catch your sickness.
It is important to cover your mouth with a tissue or your arm if you sneeze or cough. Be sure to throw away the tissue and cover the trash can, too!
Wash your hands with soap and clean water several times throughout the day for at least 20 seconds.
The PSAs began airing on Televisa this morning.
"Whether they are learning to read or count, facing natural disasters, or practicing healthy habits, we combine our expert research with the power of Muppets to provide children and their families with the tools they need to cope with what is going on in their communities," said Gary E. Knell, President and CEO, Sesame Workshop. "Today, we are creating PSAs in México to generate an awareness of the flu virus and the steps kids and families can take to lead safer, healthier lives."
"I firmly believe you have a certain responsibility to your viewers - especially kids - when you work in television," said Javier Williams, Executive Producer, Televisa. "Especially in a time of crisis, when people feel scared and confused, it is essential that Plaza Sésamo remain a constant, friendly place where children can go for a sense of comfort and understanding."
Executive Producer of Plaza Sésamo, Ginger Brown, traveled to México to begin production of a new season of the series. News of the outbreak broke while she was in transit, and she arrived to find Mexico City focused on preventing the spread of influenza. Instead of beginning a new season, Brown and Williams focused their efforts on producing and broadcasting the PSAs to provide basic hygiene messages to children. Brown stated, "It is reassuring to know we can bring a feeling of warmth and even a sense of empowerment to children when the world around them feels completely disordered by telling them, 'Here is what you can do to stay healthy.' The timing was coincidental, but we are fortunate to have a long-term relationship with Televisa that allows us to respond quickly."
Sesame Workshop and Televisa will also offer the PSAs to several government organizations to extend the message in México including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Government Workers' Social Security and Services Institute (el ISSSTE) and Mexico City's public transit system.
The Plaza Sésamo series is broadcast in México on Televisa Canal 5 and on Discovery Kids in every major territory throughout Latin America. In addition, children and their parents and caregivers can now visit www.plazasesamo.com to learn more about their favorite characters, for Plaza Sésamo -themed games and coloring sheets, as well as tips and articles on healthy nutrition and other healthy habits.
Grupo Televisa S.A. is the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world. Through its subsidiaries and strategic associations, produces and transmits TV programs, produces restrained television broadcasting signals, distributes TV programs for national and international markets, develops and operates television direct-to-home satellite services, editorials and publishing distribution, provides cable television services, produces and transmits radio programs, promotes professional sports shows and special events, produces and distributes films and operates a horizontal Internet portal. Grupo Televisa also has an equity stake in Univision, the leading Spanish-language television company in the United States and in La Sexta, a public TV channel in Spain.
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. As the single largest informal educator of young children, local Sesame Street programs produced in countries as diverse as South Africa, Bangladesh and India are making a difference in over 140 nations. Using proprietary research to create engaging and enriching content, Sesame Workshop produces programs such as Dragon Tales and Pinky Dinky Doo. In addition, multimedia needs-driven initiatives provide families tools for addressing such issues as children's health, military deployment and emergency preparedness. As a nonprofit, product proceeds and philanthropic donations support Sesame Workshop's educational research and creative content for children around the world. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.
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"I firmly believe you have a certain responsibility to your viewers - especially kids - when you work in television," said Javier Williams, Executive Producer, Televisa. "Especially in a time of crisis, when people feel scared and confused, it is essential that Plaza Sésamo remain a constant, friendly place where children can go for a sense of comfort and understanding."
Executive Producer of Plaza Sésamo, Ginger Brown, traveled to México to begin production of a new season of the series. News of the outbreak broke while she was in transit, and she arrived to find Mexico City focused on preventing the spread of influenza. Instead of beginning a new season, Brown and Williams focused their efforts on producing and broadcasting the PSAs to provide basic hygiene messages to children. Brown stated, "It is reassuring to know we can bring a feeling of warmth and even a sense of empowerment to children when the world around them feels completely disordered by telling them, 'Here is what you can do to stay healthy.' The timing was coincidental, but we are fortunate to have a long-term relationship with Televisa that allows us to respond quickly."
Sesame Workshop and Televisa will also offer the PSAs to several government organizations to extend the message in México including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Government Workers' Social Security and Services Institute (el ISSSTE) and Mexico City's public transit system.
The Plaza Sésamo series is broadcast in México on Televisa Canal 5 and on Discovery Kids in every major territory throughout Latin America. In addition, children and their parents and caregivers can now visit www.plazasesamo.com to learn more about their favorite characters, for Plaza Sésamo -themed games and coloring sheets, as well as tips and articles on healthy nutrition and other healthy habits.
Grupo Televisa S.A. is the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world. Through its subsidiaries and strategic associations, produces and transmits TV programs, produces restrained television broadcasting signals, distributes TV programs for national and international markets, develops and operates television direct-to-home satellite services, editorials and publishing distribution, provides cable television services, produces and transmits radio programs, promotes professional sports shows and special events, produces and distributes films and operates a horizontal Internet portal. Grupo Televisa also has an equity stake in Univision, the leading Spanish-language television company in the United States and in La Sexta, a public TV channel in Spain.
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. As the single largest informal educator of young children, local Sesame Street programs produced in countries as diverse as South Africa, Bangladesh and India are making a difference in over 140 nations. Using proprietary research to create engaging and enriching content, Sesame Workshop produces programs such as Dragon Tales and Pinky Dinky Doo. In addition, multimedia needs-driven initiatives provide families tools for addressing such issues as children's health, military deployment and emergency preparedness. As a nonprofit, product proceeds and philanthropic donations support Sesame Workshop's educational research and creative content for children around the world. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.
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