"VANGUARD," CURRENT TV'S 2010 PEABODY AWARD WINNING PROGRAM, TO AIR THREE-PART INVESTIGATIVE SERIES ON THE US-MEXICO BORDER ISSUE
Correspondent Christof Putzel Embeds With Illegal Immigrants to Chronicle A Dangerous and Deadly Border Crossing
"Vanguard - Three-Part Special: War on the Border" Premieres Monday, November 15 at 9:00 PM ET
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - On the heels of receiving the 69th annual Peabody Award and the 2010 Television Academy Honor Award, Current TV's "Vanguard" will debut a three-part investigative series on the U.S.-Mexico border issue beginning Monday, November 15th at 9:00 PM, ET. The documentary news program, which has been lauded for its groundbreaking and in-depth approach to some of the world's most important and under-reported stories, will provide a fresh and insightful perspective on one of the nation's most complex and controversial topics. The second and third installments will air at 9:00 PM, ET on consecutive Mondays, November 22 and November 29, respectively.
As seen in this election year and with the controversy over new laws passed in Arizona, the security of the U.S.-Mexico border has emerged as one of our nation's most hotly-debated issues. "Vanguard" will introduce all the players in this human drama: from the migrants making the terrifying, dangerous and illegal border crossings to the coyotes who profit from them. Additional focus will be placed on the policemen and border patrol agents trying to hold back the tide of immigrants, to the Mexican drug cartels, whose violent clashes threaten to spill over the border.
"We are extremely proud of the critical reaction Current TV has received for 'Vanguard'," said Mark Rosenthal, CEO, Current Media. "Despite hundreds of channels, and thousands of offerings, the fact is that Current TV is the only cable network providing this level of in-depth investigative journalism. We recognize the void in the marketplace for true long form journalism, and know that there is an audience thirsting for this type of programming."
Ocean MacAdams SVP, Programming, Current TV, adds, "We wanted to make sure we covered all the sides and ignited healthy dialogue on this heated issue that is affecting everything from our immigration policies to platforms in our next election. I applaud the efforts of our team of journalists and the risks they took in creating this special report. We have brought to television some of the most amazing and unexpected footage ever seen on this subject matter and are continuing the high standards we have set for ourselves."
Launched in 2008, "Vanguard" has become one of the only multi-award winning long-form investigative documentary series on cable television. Its programming has showcased and provided in-depth perspectives on notable issues such as immigration, the drug trade and the environment. The series has become one of the most celebrated news programs in the United States, receiving prestigious awards for journalism including the Livingston Award, the Prism Award, the Dupont Award and, most recently, the 2010 Peabody Award and the 2010 Television Academy Honor. "Vanguard" was created to offer a fresh approach to journalism. Striving to be more than 'talking heads' and with commitments to travelling to locations around the world, its correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Christof Putzel, Mariana van Zeller, and Kaj Larsen, provide in-depth exploration that showcases issues of large social significance.
"Vanguard - Three-Part Special: War on the Border" Program Description:
* In the first part of the special, "Vanguard" goes deep inside one of the most contentious issues in America today - immigration. "Vanguard" correspondent Christof Putzel investigates the underground world of immigrant smuggling across the borders of Arizona and Mexico, where thousands risk life and limb to seek a better life. He visits safe houses in Mexico and meets desperate young people who are willing to brave the 130 degree summers travelling across the desert to reach what they think is economic paradise. He gets coyotes to open up and show their methods and practices of getting people across the border. Putzel meets the men, women and children working illegally in America, who've been driven underground. Finally, Putzel embeds with illegal migrants and a coyote, someone who specializes in human smuggling, to cross the scorching Mexico-Arizona border.
* In the second and third parts of the special, "Vanguard" takes a deeper look at the drug trafficking trade between Mexico and the U.S. Mexican cartels in the U.S. now make more money from marijuana than from cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin combined. But now cartels are moving their marijuana-cultivating business across the border from Mexico into U.S. federal lands, making California a source state for marijuana. "Vanguard" executive producer and correspondent Adam Yamaguchi goes undercover to see how agents are working to dismantle the drug cartel operations popping up all over the U.S. Yamaguchi joins an elite U.S. task force as they survey and eradicate multi-million dollar marijuana fields. Undercover operatives give Vanguard unprecedented access to their efforts to take down the marijuana growers, from the low-level planters, to the middlemen and drug transporters, and all the way up to the cartel members themselves. The DEA shows "Vanguard" how the tentacles of Mexican drug cartels are now reaching the east coast, where they are creating hubs of operation to distribute their drugs --- bringing the war much closer to home.
ABOUT CURRENT TV:
Current TV is an award-winning media company committed to exploring the world's most important, interesting and entertaining stories. With a fully integrated television and online platform, Current connects its audience with what's going on in their world through its blend of bold and unique original and acquired productions. Current is available in the U.S., U.K., Italy and Ireland in 70 million households through distribution partners Comcast (Channel 107 nationwide); Time Warner (nationwide); DirecTV (Channel 358 nationwide); Dish Network (Channel 196 nationwide); Verizon; AT&T; BSkyB (Channel 183); Virgin Media (Channel 155) and Sky Italia (Channel 130). More information is available at www.current.com.
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