NJN's The Highlands Rediscovered
Goes National on Public Television Stations Across the Country

STATEWIDE – “NJN is proud to announce that The Highlands Rediscovered has been selected by American Public Television for national distribution to public television stations throughout the country,” states Elizabeth Christopherson , executive director, NJN Public Television & Radio. “ The Highlands Rediscovered , an NJN documentary that originally aired on NJN in October 2004, is a uniquely New Jersey story that will now reach the rest of the country.”

Shot in high-definition video with an emphasis on recording the Highlands ' physical attributes, this half-hour program is a visually captivating exploration of an underappreciated wilderness surrounded by – and supplying water to – one of the most densely populated areas in the nation. The Highlands Rediscovered explores what makes this area special by focusing on the natural history of the Highlands as seen through the eyes of the professionals who study and work there.

Besides its exquisite beauty, the Highlands safeguards a source of naturally clean water that provides water for millions of people in cities and suburbs along the coast. For over a hundred years, the region has been pointed to as northern New Jersey 's best, last hope for clean water – a resource we take for granted – but cannot live without. In 2002, a U.S. Forest Service study of the New York-New Jersey Highlands reported in no uncertain terms that accelerating development in this northeastern “green belt” would compromise the Highlands water supply significantly.

Funding for The Highlands Rediscovered has been made possible by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. The Highlands Rediscovered is written and produced by Robert Szuter; associate producer is Dari Mandell; narrator is Laura Novia. The original music is by Robert Sands. Camera work is by Mike Budd, Paul Horvath, Scott Neall and Jeff Reisly. For more information on the program, interviews with experts in the Highlands , images and other available resources, visit the NJN web site at www.njn.net .

For over 42 years, American Public Television has been a prime source of programming for the nation's public television stations. With more than 10,000 hours of available programming, APT identifies innovative programs and assists local stations like NJN to distribute their original programs to other public television stations all over the country. Each year, APT makes available over 300 series and specials in a variety of genres including documentary, cooking and lifestyle, travel, feature film packages, drama, music and entertainment.