PITTSBURGH -- On Wednesday, Channel 11 and WPXI.com brought “The Great Pittsburgh Jobs Summit” live into homes throughout the Pittsburgh viewing area. This first of its kind, in-depth, interactive special, produced by Channel 11 News, focused on the challenges and opportunities we currently face in Western Pennsylvania.

SLIDESHOW: Go Behind The Scenes Of The Job Summit

Hosted by WPXI anchors David Johnson and Darieth Chisolm, “The Great Pittsburgh Jobs Summit” connected local people who need jobs with local employers that are hiring.

The hour long special brought together the best advice from economic experts on where to find work, insight from hiring managers about exactly what they’re currently looking for in employees, along with the stories of those who are struggling during these tough economic times.

During the “The Great Pittsburgh Jobs Summit,” job experts manned phone banks, as well as provided answers to viewer questions via online chats. Presidents from local community colleges talked on-air and online about free tuition and retraining opportunities.

“Many stations across the country hold job fairs and several thousand attendees wait in long lines to talk to employers,” explains WPXI-TV Vice President and General Manager Ray Carter. “At WPXI, we wanted to use the power of our TV station and Web site to connect with more job searchers. We want to put them in contact with hiring managers and recruiters, people who have jobs to fill right now.”

“The Great Pittsburgh Jobs Summit” aired live on WPXI on Wednesday June 24, 2009, at 7 p.m. and rebroadcast on WPXI on Sunday June 28, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. The special can also be seen on PCNC at 10 p.m. on Wednesday June 24 and Thursday June 25, 2009.