by irwin | Oct 8, 2024 | Staff
Barbara Irwin, emerita professor of communication, and her co-authors Tony Buttino Sr. and Dr. Pam Johnson will participate in a virtual book talk hosted by the New York State Library, discussing their new book: Creating Reading Rainbow: The Untold Story of a Beloved Children’s Series.
This book tells the story of how the reading motivation series came to be, and how collaboration between libraries, educators, and public broadcasting was instrumental in its development and success. “Reading Rainbow” premiered in 1983 and went on to become one of the longest running and most impactful PBS children’s television series in history, helping generations of children cultivate a love of reading. Irwin worked as a project assistant on the groundbreaking series while at WNED PBS in Buffalo.
The live online event takes place on Thursday, Oct. 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m. More information and a link to register is available here.
Creating Reading Rainbow, published by North Country Books/Globe Pequot/Rowman & Littlefield (June, 2024), gives readers an inside look at the foundational work, origin, and history of the beloved television show that still inspires readers today.
Submitted by: Barbara Irwin, Professor Emerita, Department of Communication
by irwin | Sep 16, 2024 | Staff
Dr. Barbara Irwin, emerita professor of communication, will be a featured guest on PBS Books, discussing the new book she co-authored with Tony Buttino Sr. and Dr. Pam Johnson: Creating Reading Rainbow: The Untold Story of a Beloved Children’s Series.
The event will be streamed on Facebook and Youtube on Wednesday, September 18 at 8:00 pm ET.
Irwin worked as a project assistant on the groundbreaking reading motivation series while at WNED PBS in Buffalo. “Reading Rainbow” was designed to address the decline in reading skills seen over summer breaks from school. The series premiered in 1983 and went on to become one of the longest running and most impactful PBS children’s television series, in the company of “Sesame Street” and “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
“Reading Rainbow” earned 26 Emmys and a Peabody award, but most importantly, it sparked the passion for reading in generations of children.
Creating Reading Rainbow, published by North Country Books/Globe Pequot/Rowman & Littlefield (June, 2024), gives readers an inside look at the foundational work, origin, and history of the beloved television show that still inspires readers today.
More information is available here.
Submitted by: Barbara Irwin, PhD, emerita professor, Department of Communication
by irwin | Mar 15, 2024 | Staff
Barbara Irwin, PhD, professor emerita, communication, will give a brief talk/Q&A following the screening of “Butterfly in the Sky,” a nostalgic documentary about the PBS series Reading Rainbow.
Screenings are at the AMC Maple Ridge theater in Amherst on Sunday, March 17, 4:00 p.m. and Wednesday, March 20, 7:00 p.m. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2022.
Irwin worked on the series and appears in the film, as do series co-creator Tony Buttino and producer Pam Johnson, who will also be on hand for the talk. Together, they’ve written a book about the early history of the series, Creating Reading Rainbow: The Untold Story of a Beloved Children’s Series, set to be released June 18, 2024. Reading Rainbow was co-produced by WNED-TV, the public television station right here in Buffalo.
Submitted by: Barbara Irwin, Professor Emerita, Communication Department
by irwin | Mar 27, 2023 | Faculty
After selling out the first week, Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Honor Society, is continuing its cookie sale all this week, March 27-31, in the Andrew Bouwhuis Library. Cookies are $2 each and all proceeds benefit the Lt. Aaron Salter Memorial Scholarship Fund. You may also make a donation to the scholarship fund by stopping by.
Lt. Aaron Salter was a hero. He served 30 years in the Buffalo Police Department before retiring in 2018. He continued to protect the community as a security guard at the Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue. Lt. Salter was one of 10 people killed in the mass shooting in May. He was awarded a degree in communication studies, posthumously, at the 2022 commencement ceremony.
Students in Lambda Pi Eta chose to honor Lt. Salter by raising money to donate to the scholarship fund in his name. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors from financially disadvantaged families to help ensure that they succeed as matriculated college students.
Submitted by: Barbara Irwin, PhD, professor, Communication Department
by irwin | Mar 13, 2023 | Faculty
Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Honor Society, is selling St. Patrick’s Day cookies to benefit the Lt. Aaron Salter Memorial Scholarship fund. Cookies are $2 each and can be purchased Mon. through Friday, March 13-17 from noon until 6:00 pm in the Andrew Bouwhuis Library. You may also make a donation to the Scholarship fund by stopping by. One hundred percent of the funds raised will be donated to support the scholarship.
Lt. Aaron Salter was a hero. He served 30 years in the Buffalo Police Department before retiring in 2018. He continued to protect the community as a security guard at the Tops supermarket on Jefferson Avenue. Lt. Salter was one of ten people killed in the mass shooting in May. He was awarded a degree in Communication Studies posthumously at the 2022 commencement ceremony. Students in Lambda Pi Eta chose to honor Lt. Salter by raising money to donate to the scholarship fund in his name. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors from financially disadvantaged families to help ensure that they succeed as matriculated college students.
Submitted by: Barbara J. Irwin, PhD, Professor of Communication
