NEWSONE FEBRUARY SWEEPS PACKAGES
AMERICAN IDOL PREVIEW
(WEEK OF FEBRUARY 8-14)
Dreams of international stardom and worldwide fame are just some of what fans will find on this 4th season of American Idol. Aspiring singers submitted their best taped auditions to impress judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. Thousands competed from coast-to-coast for a chance to win a coveted ticket to Hollywood. From socially-distanced sets, the three powerhouse music stars will watch all the drama unfold, along with longtime host Ryan Seacrest. We’ll take you for an inside look at the return of this mega-hit, in the world of covid, as the search for the next music superstar gets underway. The premiere of the 4th season of American Idol is February 14th.
ABC’s Zohreen Shah reports.
SELF CARE ONLINE
(week of February 15-21)
Community lockdowns, job losses, social distancing, mask wearing, school closures, working from home, and much more: The Coronavirus Pandemic hasn’t just taken a toll on American’s physical wellbeing, but our mental health as well. A study by the Centers for Disease Control shows that nearly 41% of US adults reported struggling with mental health or substance abuse because of the pandemic. With restrictions still in place, more people are reaching out for help in dealing with their struggles. Not only are they looking to traditional therapy methods, but also apps that provide tools to help them cope better as we all suffer through the pandemic.
ABC’s Reena Roy reports.
JOB SEARCHING DURING THE PANDEMIC
(week of February 22-28)
Millions of jobs have been lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and businesses continue to teeter on the edge. The latest unemployment report shows the U.S. economy has only recovered about half of the jobs lost since the start of the pandemic – meaning nearly 10 million Americans still remain out of work. Many continue to face deep financial hardships. But some industries are bouncing back and are ready to hire anxious Americans eager to get back to work. So what types of jobs are available and what does it take to land an interview? We talk to job seekers about how their search for work has changed during the pandemic – and we get tips from top experts at job networking sites about how to make an impression during that all-important remote job interview.
ABC’s Elizabeth Schulze reports.
BLACK AMERICANS AND THE VACCINATION DILEMMA
(week of March 1-4)
The COVID-19 Pandemic has devastated the United States but, particularly the Black Community. Black Americans are 2 to 3 times more likely to be hospitalized or die from the virus according to the CDC. Yet, due to lack of access, distrust in the government due to the legacy of the Tuskegee experiments and the vaccine itself, the rates of blacks being vaccinated against COVID-19 is dramatically low. So what are doctors and leaders in the black community doing to build back the trust? Many celebrities, politicians and doctors are getting the vaccine in front of the public to prove that it’s safe but, will it be enough? We will speak with doctors and patients on what steps need to be taken to save lives.
ABC’s Alex Presha reports.