Under the banner of PBS ELECTION 2012, PBS’ acclaimed news and public affairs shows NEED TO KNOW, PBS NEWSHOUR, WASHINGTON WEEK and FRONTLINE will bring viewers insightful coverage of the fall’s biggest election news and events, each with its own unique perspective. In addition, two new specials announced today — AMERICA BY THE NUMBERS: CLARKSTON, GEORGIA WITH MARIA HINOJOSA and RACE 2012 — will help round out PBS’ slate of election-year programming.

“PBS has been cited as the most trusted news source on television.1 We value the public’s trust and know that viewers turn to us for coverage that is in-depth, thoughtful and independent,” said John F. Wilson, PBS senior vice president & chief TV programming executive. “From our roster of signature programs to our specials, our election-focused programming offers viewers analysis from multiple perspectives.”

In addition to previously announced PBS Election 2012 programming, two new programs about the changing face of America and how those changes may affect this year’s presidential election — and the country’s political future — have been added to the lineup this fall. AMERICA BY THE NUMBERS: CLARKSTON, GEORGIA WITH MARIA HINOJOSA is a NEED TO KNOW Election 2012 Special Presentation that looks at the changing demographics in the United States through the story of a small Southern town that has seen dramatic shifts in its population over three decades. The program airs Friday, September 21, 8:30 p.m. ET. RACE 2012 uses the current presidential election as a lens through which to view America’s racial landscape and the competition among candidates for votes from various ethnic groups. RACE 2012 airs Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 9:00 p.m. ET, with an encore on Friday, October 19, 2012, 9:00 p.m. ET.

Produced and hosted by award-winning investigative journalist Maria Hinojosa, AMERICA BY THE NUMBERS: CLARKSTON, GEORGIA WITH MARIA HINOJOSA visits one of the country’s most surprisingly diverse communities. A small town of 7,500 people that was 90 percent white in the 1980s, Clarkston is now home to residents from more than 40 countries who speak more than 60 languages and dialects; the white population today is less than 14 percent. The special explores lessons about democracy and coexistence that a divided nation can learn from its newest citizens.

RACE 2012, a PBS Election 2012 special produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Phillip Rodriguez, uses the current presidential election as a lens through which to view America’s racial landscape. Among other issues, RACE 2012 delves into immigrants’ reshaping of the American electoral landscape, white voters’ reactions to their declining numbers and diminished influence, and the economic imbalance between races that may affect America’s political future. Fast-moving and non-partisan, RACE 2012 draws insights on racial political history from notable analysts, strategists and activists.

The specials join PBS’ previously announced news and public affairs programming focused on the 2012 presidential election. For more information about these programs, please visit About PBS at: http://www.pbs.org/about/news/archive/2012/lineup-2012-presidential-election

1 Public Policy Polling. January 18, 2012

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