For the past 30 years,
executive producer, photojournalist and filmmaker Barbara
Pyle has journeyed the world capturing the human spirit.
She has dedicated her life to protection of the earth and
environmental causes. Presently she is speared the One Child
One Voice grassroots campaign to focus awareness on the
upcoming U.N. World Summit on Sustainable Development to
be held Aug. 26 -Sept 4 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Barbara Pyle joined Turner Broadcasting Network (TBN) in
1980 and pioneered environmental television programming.
Her mandate was to make critical global issues understandable
and accessible to the widest audience. She has held various
executive positions at TBN and CNN including:
" Corporate Vice President, Environmental Policy, Turner
Broadcasting System
" CNN's Environment Editor
" Executive Producer, People Count
" Chairman of the Board, Captain Planet Foundation
She also served as CNN's Environment Editor and created
Earth Matters, CNN's weekly environmental news program.
Barbara Pyle has produced more than 50 films and won over
100 awards. She continues that dedication today with her
One Child One Voice campaign. In 1997, she was the first
member of the media to receive the world's most prestigious
environmental honor, the United Nations Environment Programme's
Sasakawa Environment Prize. In 1988, Barbara was named one
of the first United Nations GLOBAL 500 Laureates. Both awards
were received "for outstanding achievements in protecting
the global environment."
In 1992, One Child, One Voice produced by Barbara was the
centerpiece of the Save the Earth media campaign. She created
an unprecedented global collaboration between TBS, National
Geographic Explorer, National Audubon Society, The Cousteau
Society, Network Earth, Turner Publishing, Captain Planet
and the Planeteers, cable operators and numerous grassroots
environmental organizations. The film initiated a letter-writing
campaign to heads of state in support of the United Nations
Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The film was distributed
to over 100 countries and more than one million responses
were received from around the world. "Our planet will
not be saved by any one big decision," says Pyle, "but
by many individual choices - choices by people like you
and me. Television has an important role in providing the
information necessary to enable us to make these choices."
In 1987, Pyle created a network of international television
stations for her film Day of Five Billion. Over 80 countries
broadcast this award-winning documentary on July 11, the
symbolic day the world's population reached five billion.
In 1989, Without Borders expanded that network to 127 countries.
That network of broadcasters was the base that ultimately
became CNN World Report. Both programs were co-productions
with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and had
global impact.
From 1989 to 1996, Pyle was executive producer of Captain
Planet and the Planeteers the world's first animated eco-cartoon
for children. Created in 1990 and aired on the Cartoon Network
the series covered a wide range of environmental and social
issues accessible to children. Now in worldwide syndication
in over 100 countries with more than 113 episodes the Planeteers
continue to inspire children of all ages, races and backgrounds.
Barbara created The Captain Planet Foundation, which provides
grants for hands-on eco projects involving children.
Past projects have included: People Count, a documentary
series on remarkable people creating a better future. The
series highlighted success stories in the environment, population,
job creation and alleviating poverty. People Count aired
on CNN, CNN International, and the TBS Superstation and
is presently in worldwide syndication.
Prior to joining TBS, Pyle worked as a photojournalist and
aerial photographer. She produced photo essays for NBC News,
both nationally and locally in New York. She has three Time
Magazine covers to her credit and has been a contributor
to ten books. She has worked as a photojournalist and filmmaker
in over 90 countries. In 1970, Pyle founded the non-profit
Center for Reproductive and Sexual Health, a clinic affiliated
with the Clergy Consultation Service providing services
related to women's reproductive health.
Pyle studied at King's College, England and graduated Phi
Beta Kappa from Tulane University where she was named Outstanding
Student of Philosophy and a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. She earned
a Master's Degree in Philosophy and Logic at New York University.
Pyle is a native of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. Now an independent
producer with the Barbara Pyle Foundation and Earth Secure
she is creating global awareness for the state of the world
today.
Memberships and Affiliations
" Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Captain
Planet Foundation which provides grants to children's environmental
projects environmental projects
" Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Barbara
Pyle Foundation which provides grants for to sustainability
and empowering women
" Former -Rep. -Time Warner at World Business Council
for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) - a coalition of 125
multi-national companies working on sustainability issues
in business
" Bellagio Forum - honorary board member -- think-tank
of foundations created by the Rockefeller Foundation
" The Center of Information and Communication of the
Environment of North America (CICEANA) Board Member
" Environmental Grantmakers Association
" Representative to the Board of the Environmental
Media Association in Los Angeles whose mission is to get
environmental messages into mainstream television
" The Together Foundation Board Member
" Social Venture Network
" Society of Environmental Journalists
" United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) North American
Advisory Board
" The United States Committee for United Nations Development
Program (UNDP)
" Women in Film
" Women in Philanthropy
" Women's Funding Network
PEOPLE
COUNT AWARDS
4 American Women in Radio and Television - Gracie Allen
Awards:
Winner Public Affairs category - 1994
International Documentary Series - 1997 and 1998
Documentary/ Single Entry - 1999
Cable Ace Nomination - Public Affairs Special - 1994
2 CINE Golden Eagles - 1994 and 1996
6 Global Media Awards (The Population Institute) for Excellence
in Population Reporting, Best Global TV Documentary - (1994
- 1999)
National Educational Film and Video Festival - Bronze Apple
- 1994
2 New York Festivals - Nomination - 1995 and 1998
New York Festival - Silver Medal - 1994
Rome Reportage Human Rights Award from the Mayor of Rome,
Italy - 1996
Planned Parenthood Foundation Special Maggie Award for Outstanding
Media Coverage of Reproductive Health and Rights - 1994
3 US International Film and Video Festival Awards:
The Chris Awards - Bronze Plaque
Silver Screen - 1996
Certificate for Creative Excellence - 1994 and 1995
Watervision Media Awards - Finalist - 1998
Women in Communication's Clarion Award - 1996
For More information contact: Barbara Pyle
byepyle@aol.com 212-929-9230 Till May 31
Press Contact: Louis Mejia, lmejia@the-beach.net
