User:Iradavidlevy

Ira David (born Born Ira David Levy on October 24, 1963) is the creator, executive producer, and host of Pedal America, an ongoing national series that begins airing on PBS affiliates nationwide in May 2012. Born and raised in New York City, and an avid cyclist for 30 years, Ira David created and organized the 9-11 NY Education Ride, a 70-day, 4486-mile bicycle trek across the United States to raise college funds for children who lost parents in the September 11th terrorist attacks. (www.911nyeduride.org)

Before that, he spent seven years pedaling his bike for Breast Cancer, AIDS, and other charitable causes. In 1996, 1997, and 1998 he biked from Minneapolis to Chicago; in 2000 he pedaled 525 miles across Alaska; and in 2001 he rode 575 miles across Montana. In July 2008 he pedaled 530 miles from Missoula, Montana to Banff/Lake Louise, Canada.

In the mid-1980’s he worked in radio and television in Upstate NY, and at CNN, in Atlanta. he holds a Masters Degree from DePaul University and has published numerous local, regional and national articles on outdoor activity.

Between 1995 and 2011 he worked as an Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at Wright College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, where he advised The Wright Times - the nationally recognized and award-winning student news organization. In 2003 College Media Advisers awarded him “Adviser of the Year” at the National Collegiate Press convention, in Orlando, Fla.

He lives in Chicago.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Ira David caught the "media bug" at around nine years old when he would watch along with his father the Channel 5 (WNEW) ten o'clock news. Always enjoying the daily signature sign-off of news anchor Bill Jorgensen "...thanking you for your time, this time, til next time," Ira David started practicing news writing in his bedroom, digging up stories about his neighbors, friends and family members. He would deliver his newscasts under a beaming florescent desk lamp against a backdrop of a world map which he used for delivering weather reports in his bedroom.

After one semester at the University of Bridgeport, in Connecticut, Ira transferred to Ithaca College to pursue a career in media. He graduated in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and a minor in Writing. While working as a disc jockey for Ithaca College's television, AM, and FM stations as an on-air host, news reporter/anchor, and disc jockey, he worked professionally at Ithaca's local professional radio station WQNY (Q-104 FM). in 1986 he landed work at CNN's Headline News. He moved to Chicago in 1989 and in 1991 was accepted into DePaul University's Masters in Writing program. Ira David started and facilitated the Jabberwocky writers workshop which folded after he graduated in 1993. Between 1992 and 2007 he authored many local, regional, and national magazine and newspaper articles focusing on health, travel, and outdoor sports and adventure with a strong emphasis in skiing and bicycling.

In 1995, Wright College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, hired him full-time to create the school's journalism program and advise the student news organization Diversity, now called The Wright Times. Ira David led the students to earn more than 130 state, regional and national awards, including the Associated Collegiate Press's National Pacemaker awards which are considered the Pulitzer Prize of college journalism. Between 1996 and 2005, he served as Chair the Magazine and then the Professional Development committee for College Media Advisers. In 2005 the organization appointed him Secretary to the Board of Directors.

In 2008 Ira David resigned from advising The Wright Times and then from the CMA Board in 2009 to make room for his next career move - the creation and development of Pedal America, produced by his production company Out-Write Media, LLC.