Posted by chicagomedia.org on February 22, 2008 at 10:28:39:
Cheryle Jackson, the president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, soon will be adding the title of television host to her resume.
In a joint venture with Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, the League plans to produce a weekly magazine show on economic empowerment in Chicago and related community issues.
The half-hour program, called "nextTV," will combine elements of a talk show and reality TV. It is expected to air Sunday mornings on Channel 32 and sister station WPWR-Channel 50, starting early next year.
Jackson, who will host the program, said it will "show the transformation of black people as they fight to grow their business, make over their careers, and achieve financial security."
Heading development of the show is Tracey Scruggs Yearwood, who is vice president of multimedia for the League and a former CNN producer.
In addition to Jackson's interviews with newsmakers and others, each show will feature a reality TV segment that will follow the progress of local entrepreneurs, Yearwood said.
The concept is an outgrowth of the League's heightened focus on African-American economic development.
Dominic Mancuso, vice president of programming and promotions for the two Fox outlets here, said the show "will be a really positive thing for the station and the community."