SOCAL CONNECTED Returns to KCET for 8th Season Premiering 10/10

KCET, the nation's largest independent public television station, announced today the return of Emmy award-winning weekly half-hour local news series SOCAL CONNECTED. The longest running newsmagazine program in Los Angeles has a renewed commitment to always questioning critical decisions that impact Angelenos. The eighth season of SOCAL CONNECTED anchored by Val Zavala premieres Tues., Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. on KCET in Southern California.

"From quality of life and public policy issues to environmental dangers and local government infractions, SOCAL CONNECTED will uncover the important stories shaping our rapidly changing region," says Karen Foshay, who recently rejoined KCET in the newly created position of Executive Director of News Programming.

"With newsrooms shrinking at an alarming rate, the role of local journalism is more necessary now more than ever to provide in-depth coverage to the community," says Foshay whose investigative work has garnered multiple awards for the series, including a Peabody in 2009. "This season of SOCAL CONNECTED will hold the powerful accountable. There's a lot at stake right now in our current climate, and we're here to make sure our audiences don't lose sight of how important local reporting is to their
communities."

Kicking off the new season, the SOCAL CONNECTED reporting team follows the agonizing search for a missing woman with Alzheimer's. Most missing persons in Los Angeles are found within 24 hours, but for those who aren't - it's left to loved ones to scour the region's 4000 square miles packed with 10 million people.

The season ahead will present deep reporting on topics that include sports, housing, local politics and labor, among others.

The season's reporting team includes Nic Cha Kim, Vince Beiser, Deepa Fernandes and Stephanie O'Neill, among others.

The programs will also be available online along with additional resources at [ http://www.kcet.org/socalconnected ]kcet.org/socalconnected

Join the conversation on social media using #SoCalConnected

On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from
around the world. Throughout its 52-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and children's
programs, its outreach and community services and its website, kcet.org. KCET is a donor-supported community institution. For additional information about KCET productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org. KCET is a part of the KCETLink Media Group. Select original programming from KCET is also available for streaming on Apple TV and Roku platforms.