Who We Are

Heartland Media has been widely recognized for its work and has received numerous awards, including: CINE Golden Eagles, Parents' Choice Gold Awards, Teacher's Choice Awards, Parent's Guide to Children's Media Awards, the Golden Camera and Creative Excellence Award at the US International Film and Video Festival, the Chris Statuette, the Gold Hugo Award, the Omni, the Platinum Aurora and the Silver-World Medalist award at the NY Festivals as well as two Emmy Award nominations.

Heartland Media was formed by Michael Pritchard, Jim Watson and Edward Werz in 1996 to produce innovative youth guidance video educational television programming.  

Michael Pritchard is a youth activist, humorist and Public Television host who is known by audiences across the United States for his ability to help young people gain real insight into themselves and the choices they make.  For over 25 years, Mr. Pritchard has traveled the country, thrilling his youthful audiences while spreading his message of good choices, personal responsibility, and respect for others.   Featured in Time magazine and on CNN, Pritchard has the unique distinction of winning the San Francisco International Comedy Competition while he was California Probation Officer of the Year.  He keeps a demanding schedule visiting schools and universities across the country, while finding time to bring his inspiring message to parent, civic and professional groups, community organizations and corporations.                             

Pritchard, who 20 years ago rejected the offers of Hollywood to dedicate his life to helping teens, is constantly on the go, helping kids all across America.  From Kotzebue Alaska to Biloxi Mississippi, Pritchard has touched the hearts and minds of our youth.   No one can wake up a jaded, angry teenager like Pritchard.  Within minutes he moves a high school audience to both tears and laughter.  His insightful, often uproarious comedy and kind nature have an extraordinary effect on kids.  They open up and talk about their lives with unusual candor and honesty, broaching topics they rarely discuss with even their parents, teachers or counselors.  During a recent school visit a very emotional student told Pritchard, "Everybody needs a kind stranger to tell their secrets to."  Pritchard is that kind stranger and the kids know it. 

Pritchard is also a builder of bridges.  Kids from every background trust him because he listens, he has been there and he tells the truth.  In a time of vexing division and mistrust, he has an uncanny ability to reach across social and racial barriers and bring kids together for a common purpose. 

Michael Pritchard has hosted 6 critically acclaimed Public Television series for kids of all ages, including PeaceTalks, a violence prevention series; Saving Our Schools, featured on CNN; The Power of Choice; You Can Choose; and Big Changes - Big Choices.  His powerful new series, LifeSteps, spotlights Michael's ability to use humor to develop the critical life skills of resiliency, character and emotional intelligence. These series have been highly acclaimed in the educational press and received many major awards including the CINE Golden Eagle, the Parents' Choice Gold Award, and the Golden Camera Award at the US International Film and Video Festival. 

Michael has been profiled in the national press, from the Wall Street Journal to Time Magazine and appeared on CNN & Time, The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, as well as talk shows Dr. Joey Brown and Exhale with Candice Bergen.  Drawing on his background as a professional comedian -- including performing with Robin Williams, Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld -- Michael has appeared on Roseanne, an Emmy Award Winning episode of Taxi, Nash Bridges, The Tonight Show and has performed a variety of voices for Star Wars and cartoons.   Michael also had feature roles in the films The Right Stuff and Light Blast.  

His awards include: President's Volunteer Action Award, Office of the Attorney General Commendation, Paul Harris Fellowship, 1st place winner San Francisco International Standup Comedy Competition, Duveneck Humanitarian Award and California Probation Officer of the Year.

The Bureau For At-Risk Youth, launched in 1991, has developed and published over 1500 publications and videos. Many have won national awards for their content and educational value.  At-Risk Resources, a division of The Bureau For At-Risk Youth, distributes Bureau products through more than 100 sub-distributors across the United States and Canada.