By B.J. HAMMERSTEIN
Free Press staff writer

"We're committed to making a difference to the community," Ed Fernandez told the Free Press when he became vice president and general manager of WXYZ-TV [[Channel 7) about seven months ago.

Now, metro Detroiters will get to see what he was talking about.

Fernandez told Names & Faces last week that his station is launching Detroit 2020, a decadelong initiative designed to dramatically change the course of metro Detroit.

"There are so many great entities in town that are trying to move the region forward," he said. "There are also very few organizations like WXYZ that have the capabilities to really bring people together to inspire, act and execute."

He said that through the station's reporting, various online platforms and community outreach, Detroit 2020 will "touch people each and every day" and "impact people to get involved."

Beginning Tuesday night, WXYZ viewers will see the first in a series of in-depth stories that are being done at a level people are used to seeing on newsmagazine shows like "60 Minutes."

"Historically, broadcast news only reports stories that are just the tip of the iceberg and we get criticized correctly for that," Fernandez said.

This week's special Detroit 2020 stories include:

• Tuesday: A feature called "A Tale of Two Cities" that explores changes that can move the region forward as well as the consequences of neglect.
• Wednesday: A profile of a Detroit neighborhood that has been revitalized.
• Thursday: A report on efforts that are paying off in one U.S. industrial city and the lessons that Detroit can learn from its success.
• Friday: A segment on the challenges suburban communities are facing as they struggle with job loss and income reduction.

Fernandez said that Detroit is the largest market in which the station's owner, Scripps Howard, operates and that the company has a lot invested in this area and believes a program like this is in everyone's best interest.

For more: detroit2020.com.


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