Venerable Documentary Franchise Revamped for the Digital Age

            Today, CBS News launches CBS REPORTS: Children of the Recession, a multi-platform initiative created to raise awareness about the effects of the current dramatic economic downturn on America's youth, it was announced by Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports.

            "The economic crisis has been devastating to so many Americans," said McManus, "and children often are the most vulnerable. We will use the extraordinary resources and talents of CBS News across our various platforms to explore the many ways in which the recession is impacting young Americans and to highlight solutions that are helping some children and their families cope."   

            "The ripple effect of this recession is heartbreaking," added CBS Evening News Anchor and Managing Editor Katie Couric. "The impact it's having on children is becoming increasingly apparent. It can affect all aspects of their lives -- the quality of their education, their health and their emotional well-being. Compounding this crisis is the fact that the traditional safety nets are being pulled out from under these families because of budget cuts. These are critically important stories that will have a major impact on the future of this country."       

            Dr. Irwin Redlener is President and Co-Founder of The Children's Health Fund, whose work was an inspiration for and will be an early feature of CBS REPORTS: Children of the Recession.  "CBS News is drawing attention to a profoundly underreported phenomenon," said, Dr. Redlener. "I applaud their vision and their commitment to informing the American public and policymakers of the scope of this crisis."

            CBS News has revamped CBS REPORTS, the gold standard for network television documentaries, into a new multi-platform initiative. CBS REPORTS: Children of the Recession will provide breaking news, investigative reports, exclusive interviews, polling and statistical analysis for CBS News viewers, listeners and the online community. Reports will focus on housing and homelessness, medical care, physical health, psychological development, education, hunger and nutrition, child neglect and abuse and, looking to the future, long term impact on global competitiveness for America's next generation.

            Themed online content is debuting today, April 22, on a dedicated website - file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/ballabonj/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK178/www.CBSNews.com/CBSReports.

            The television debut of CBS REPORTS: Children of the Recession also took place today on THE EARLY SHOW, when two mobile clinics provided by The Children's Health Fund departed from the broadcast's plaza on 59th street and Fifth Avenue. The Children's Health Fund is providing quality healthcare to medically underserved children in some of the Nation's most disadvantaged urban and rural communities.  At least 1,000,000 American children have lost health insurance since the recession began about sixteen months ago.

            Planned CBS REPORTS: Children of the Recession coverage will appear on CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC, FACE THE NATION, SUNDAY MORNING, THE EARLY SHOW, the Saturday edition of THE EARLY SHOW, CBS EVENING NEWS Weekend Editions, CBS RADIO NEWS and CBSNews.com. CBS News' Polling & Survey Unit will play an active and ongoing role. 

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Press Contact:            Jeff Ballabon    212-975-7525 or ballabonj@cbsnews.com