Dave Savastano09.24.09
On Sept. 23, 2009, Plextronics, Inc. was featured on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. The program – which draws an audience of more than 5 million viewers according to the Nielsen Media Research – is broadcast to about 200 CBS affiliates nationally.
In her introduction of the piece, titled “The New Pittsburgh,” Couric commented that President Obama and other world leaders would be arriving in Pittsburgh for the G20 Summit on Sept. 24 and 25. “And,” she said, “if you’re asking ‘why Pittsburgh,’ Anthony Mason tells us it’s a model of how to turn an economy around.”
CBS Business Correspondent Anthony Mason said that the new Pittsburgh that will play host to world leaders this week is a potent symbol of economic recovery in a time of financial crisis. Thirty years ago, 27 percent of Pittsburgh's jobs were in manufacturing. Today, it's just 10 percent, but the region now has well over one million employees – more than in the last great years of the steel industry.
Mason interviewed Plextronics' CEO Andy Hannah to learn more about him, Plextronics and its role in the new Pittsburgh. “I wanted to work on a business that could literally change the world,” said Hannah in his discussion with Mason.
Identified as a Plextronics co-founder, Hannah described the company and what it does. “This is an ink that when put on glass, will absorb photons from the sun or any light and turn into electricity.”
Mason continued to describe the company’s products – inks that can be used to print low-cost solar panels. “In seven years, the company has grown from four employees to 70.”
In her introduction of the piece, titled “The New Pittsburgh,” Couric commented that President Obama and other world leaders would be arriving in Pittsburgh for the G20 Summit on Sept. 24 and 25. “And,” she said, “if you’re asking ‘why Pittsburgh,’ Anthony Mason tells us it’s a model of how to turn an economy around.”
CBS Business Correspondent Anthony Mason said that the new Pittsburgh that will play host to world leaders this week is a potent symbol of economic recovery in a time of financial crisis. Thirty years ago, 27 percent of Pittsburgh's jobs were in manufacturing. Today, it's just 10 percent, but the region now has well over one million employees – more than in the last great years of the steel industry.
Mason interviewed Plextronics' CEO Andy Hannah to learn more about him, Plextronics and its role in the new Pittsburgh. “I wanted to work on a business that could literally change the world,” said Hannah in his discussion with Mason.
Identified as a Plextronics co-founder, Hannah described the company and what it does. “This is an ink that when put on glass, will absorb photons from the sun or any light and turn into electricity.”
Mason continued to describe the company’s products – inks that can be used to print low-cost solar panels. “In seven years, the company has grown from four employees to 70.”