For Immediate Release
Nebraska Public Media Adds Spanish-Language Captioning to Legislative TV Coverage
LINCOLN, Neb. (Dec. 20, 2024) – Nebraska Public Media is making legislative floor debate and committee hearings held at the Nebraska State Capitol accessible to more Nebraskans.
Beginning this session, Nebraska Public Media will offer closed captioning in Spanish, as well as in English. The addition is a result of Legislative Bill 254, which passed during the Nebraska Legislature’s 2023 session.
Powered by artificial intelligence, new technology integrates closed captioning and real-time translation, providing nearly 100 percent accuracy. It transforms a resource-intensive process into an efficient, automated solution to document local government.
Mark Weakly, Nebraska Public Media’s chief engineer for government services, spearheaded the project, completing it well ahead of the legislative deadline.
“The system does a phenomenal job of interpreting speech patterns, including things like accents, hesitations, pacing and variations in how people speak. We’ve trained it to be specific to legislative proceedings with a goal of reaching a wider audience,” said Weakly.
As part of LB 254, Nebraska Public Media will also provide the legislature with video files of floor debate and committee hearings for a state-run, searchable digital archive.
When the Nebraska Legislature convenes on Wednesday, Jan. 8, gavel-to-gavel broadcasts on Nebraska Public Media’s WORLD television channel, local radio reporting from Fred Knapp during NPR’s “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” and online streaming at NebraskaPublicMedia.org/capitol and on the Nebraska Public Media app will connect constituents with state government action from the debate floor and more than a dozen other venues.
Nebraska Public Media’s coverage of legislative issues began in the mid-1950s with the interview series "Your Unicameral," followed by occasional live and videotaped coverage of specific legislative activities beginning in 1967. Gavel-to-gavel coverage began in 1980.
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About Nebraska Public Media
Nebraska Public Media has connected citizens with news, sports, education and entertainment since 1954. Providing global and compelling stories from PBS and NPR, the statewide public media network also produces award-winning local content. Its programs and services reach Nebraskans on television, radio, online, social media and mobile apps. Visit NebraskaPublicMedia.org for more information.