Turning the Tide – A Critical Natural Resource Makes a Comeback
On NJN Public Television
Monday, May 8, at 9 pm; rebroadcast Saturday, May 13, at 3 pm

STATEWIDE – NJN’s latest documentary, Turning the Tide, takes the viewer on a visual journey down the rivers and streams that wind through New Jersey’s open spaces, under bridges and roadways, past towns and historic sites, and near habitat that is home to numerous bird species. Since the time of the pilgrims, more than half of the wetlands in the lower 48 states have been destroyed. Often misunderstood, America’s wetlands were commonly seen as wastelands – too wet to be easily built upon or farmed, yet a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Now recognized as a critical natural resource, the tide is turning for the state’s wetlands. This change in attitude has inspired individual action as well as major policy changes to help protect, preserve and revitalize these special places.

Turning the Tide is filled with surprises. The documentary showcases the hidden beauty of the tidal areas in and around the Hackensack Meadowlands of northern New Jersey and the Hamilton-Trenton Marsh just south of the state capital of Trenton. The program follows scientists, senior citizens and young children as they visit urban wetlands and discover wilderness areas that are home to a rich variety of wildlife. Once considered worthless, these neglected places are making a dramatic recovery. Travel these wetlands with NJN and be surprised at what can be seen. The 30-minute program was shot in high definition and debuts on NJN on Monday, May 8, at 9 pm with a rebroadcast on Saturday, May 13 at 3 pm. The program is web streamed and archived on the NJN web site at njn.net and can be seen on NJN’s JerseyVision and on Time Warner Cable on channel 750 in New York. Turning the Tide is closed captioned.

SPECIAL PREVIEW The public is invited to attend a special preview of Turning the Tide on Monday April 24, 2006 from 4 pm to 6:30 pm at the NJN Studios in Trenton. A one-hour reception will precede the premiere viewing. Guests attending the premiere are encouraged to confirm attendance by calling NJN at (609) 777-5001. At the premiere, NJN will host a photography exhibit called Wetland Views.The Wetland Views exhibit will include work from both amateur and professional artists including: Clem Fiori, a noted photographer and author of The Vanishing New Jersey Landscape; Ruane Miller, an accomplished artist and a professor of art at The College of New Jersey where she has taught since 1986; William Vandever, a photographer for 30 years who has had several individual shows; and Ilya Genin, MD, a cardiologist at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton and expert nature photographer. The show also will include the work of other talented photographers and will feature captivating landscape views and spectacular wildlife images from the New Jersey Meadowlands and the Hamilton-Trenton Marsh.

NJN PRODUCTION TEAM
Turning the Tide is co-produced by Lynn Kosek Walker, writer, and Bob Szuter, editor. Walker produced Gardens Great & Small, a tour through several New Jersey gardens, and Szuter is the producer of The Highlands Rediscovered, an exploration of the scenic Highlands. Both programs have been distributed to public television stations throughout the country and have reached a national audience. The executive producer was Janice Selinger, and the narrator is Avery Brooks with the original music composed by Robert Sands. The camera and audio team includes Mike Budd, Paul Horvath, Aubrey J. Kauffman, Scott Neall and Jeff Reisly.

FUNDING
Major funding for Turning the Tide was provided by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission with additional funding provided by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.