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Media Releases
American Public Media's The Splendid Table Wins 2008 James Beard Foundation Award
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
American Public Media's The Splendid Table Wins
2008 James Beard Foundation Award
(St. Paul, Minn.) June 10, 2008—American Public Media™ today announced that The Splendid Table® has won the 2008 James Beard Foundation Award in the Radio Food Show category. Referred to by TIME magazine as "The Oscars of the food world," the James Beard Foundation Awards honor culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their field.
Produced and distributed by American Public Media in Saint Paul, Minn., The Splendid Table is a culinary, culture and lifestyle one-hour program that celebrates the intersection of food and life. Each week, The Splendid Table's Lynne Rossetto Kasper leads public radio audiences on a journey of the senses and leads discussions with a variety of writers and personalities who share their passion for the culinary delights. The Splendid Table won its first James Beard Foundation Award in the Best National Radio Show category in 1998.
The Splendid Table production team includes host Lynne Rossetto Kasper, managing producer Sally Swift, producer Jennifer Russell and technical director Jennifer Luebke. The program is on the Web at www.splendidtable.org.
American Public Media Receives Renewal Grant from The Kendeda Fund for Continued Global Sustainability News Coverage and Programming
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
American Public Media Receives Renewal Grant from The Kendeda Fund for Continued Global Sustainability News Coverage and Programming
(St. Paul, Minn. & Los Angeles, Calif.) May 21, 2008—American Public Media today announced it has received renewed support from The Kendeda Fund that will total $3 million through 2010 for continued in-depth news coverage and programming on global sustainability issues across several American Public Media programs. Tide Foundation's Kendeda Sustainability Fund, a donor-advised fund, was the original funder of American Public Media's Sustainability Initiative.
For the past three years, American Public Media has been aggressively reporting on global sustainability through ongoing coverage across six programs and through many high-profile special series. American Public Media's Marketplace, Marketplace Morning Report, Marketplace Money, American RadioWorks, Being, and Weekend America have produced programming that tells the unfolding story of sustainability as it becomes an ever larger issue in the national and global dialogue over how we use the Earth's resources. American Public Media also created Consumer Consequences, an interactive game that lets people see the environmental consequences of their lifestyles.
The Kendeda Fund renewal grant will allow Marketplace, Marketplace Morning Report, Marketplace Money, American RadioWorks, Being, and Weekend America to continue their ongoing sustainability coverage with a focus on the people, groups and ideas offering concrete answers to the interconnected problems of global sustainability. Some have called this task ahead of searching for solutions and overcoming their obstacles the "Big Re-design." American Public Media's "Big Re-design" reporting and programming will be aimed at individuals and their activities at the grass-roots level, while underscoring the scale and breadth of the "Big Re-design" effort.
"The Kendeda Fund's support for Marketplace and the suite of American Public Media programs is designed to bring about a truly transformational body of work within the field of public radio," said Diane Ives, Fund Advisor, The Kendeda Fund. "While some mainstream media outlets are faced with cutting back on the ability to do more in-depth and comprehensive reporting, American Public Media is training a more focused eye on the concept of a sustainable economy, and is exploring it as the multi-faceted, contradictory and intriguing concept that it really is."
"American Public Media considers sustainability a crucially important topic," said Bill Kling, president and CEO of American Public Media Group. "The Kendeda Fund's renewal increases our capacity to communicate sustainability issues through a far-reaching network of innovative programming. American Public Media's global sustainability coverage will constitute a comprehensive forum for opinion, analysis, commentary and solutions to the most pressing sustainability issues around us."
The Kendeda Fund is a charitable giving program dedicated to exploring how human beings can relate to one another and to this planet more mindfully and use resources equitably. Through its grant making, the Fund is committed to examining two of the critical questions confronting humanity: How do we live within the limits of the natural world in ways that promote community, equity, and health? and How do we redefine prosperity so that it leads to deeper contentment in our lives?
NEW ONLINE GAME EMPOWERS ANYONE TO BE AMERICA'S "BUDGET HERO"
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
NEW ONLINE GAME EMPOWERS ANYONE TO BE AMERICA'S "BUDGET HERO"
American Public Media and the Woodrow Wilson Center launch new "serious" game for public to weigh values and develop insight on managing the federal budget
(St. Paul, Minn.) May 12, 2008—On a recent episode of the U.S. television game show "Deal or No Deal," President George W. Bush made a highly unusual appearance and sought host Howie Mandel's help to deal with the federal budget in upcoming talks with Congress. President Bush can now turn to millions of Americans for this help as American Public Media, in partnership with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, announces the launch of "Budget Hero"—an online game that lets citizens weigh in on where their tax dollars should go.
"Budget Hero is a new type of journalism that gives people the big picture on the complex and fragmented federal budget process. We created this news game to help Americans feel they can understand and participate in the national debate over the election, the budget and the direction of our country," said Michael Skoler, executive director of the Center for Innovation in Journalism at American Public Media. "It isn't easy to be a Budget Hero in the game. You have to stay true to the values you express in the first screen and create a budget that achieves your main goals without jeopardizing the fiscal health of the nation for your children and grandchildren."
As players choose from over 100 policy cards, they explore the pros, cons and social impact of the most important policy issues and choices facing our country. "Budget Hero" players get immediate feedback on their choices through a budget "skyline" that shows how their policies affect money for areas like defense, education and health care. They also watch as meters show them how their choices affect national debt, the size of government and the year the budget goes bust (when there's no money left beyond Social Security, health care and interest on debt). The game gives players an accurate yet simplified understanding of the federal budget.
"The saying 'you can't understand until you walk a mile in someone else's shoes' best describes Budget Hero," said David Rejeski, who heads the Serious Games Initiative at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. "The game empowers players to take on the role of our government officials and allows anyone to try out their solutions and ideas on how to manage the federal budget."
Players can open up large categories of the budget and review "cards" that represent specific policy decisions. Players choose among the policy decisions by "playing" the card or cards that align with their values. So under Defense and Diplomacy, for example, a player may choose to pull all troops from Iraq by 2010, withdraw troops over five years, or stay the course in Iraq and add two new Army divisions.
Players can work to achieve a variety of financial and policy goals in the game. Financial goals might include balancing the federal budget by a certain year, eliminating the national debt or limiting the size of government by keeping it at a certain percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (or GDP, which measures the size of the economy). Policy goals might include providing universal health coverage, fully funding No Child Left Behind, or raising or lowering income taxes.
"Budget Hero is unique in that it provides the player with immediate feedback on how their choices affect the federal budget in terms of revenues, spending, deficit and debt, and the economic, societal and individual impact of their policy choices," added Skoler. "And the game collects the choices players make, as well as their comments, so our journalists learn how people think through the budget debate.""Budget Hero" players can also compare how their policy choices and budgets stack up to other players across a wide range of demographic groups based on gender, income, age, political loyalty or region. American Public Media is also hosting an online discussion for players of "Budget Hero" on Gather.com (http://budgethero.gather.com/?ref=apm_budgethero).
American Public Media is offering the game to other public radio and television stations, and even commercial news organizations, as a widget that can be imbedded in a Web site, so these media groups can directly engage their audiences in the national political debate.
Additional support for "Budget Hero" has been provided by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Richard Lounsbery Foundation.
To play "Budget Hero," visit www.BudgetHero.org.
American Public Media has created a "widget" version of Budget Hero to embed on Web sites. Marketplace, American Public Media's award-winning daily business and economics news program, is featuring the Budget Hero widget at http://marketplace.org/budgethero.
To learn more about how to add the Budget Hero widget to a Web site, visit http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/engage08/budgethero/widget/.
About Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (www.wilsoncenter.org) is the living, national memorial to President Wilson established by Congress in 1968 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center establishes and maintains a neutral forum for free, open and informed dialogue. It is a nonpartisan institution, supported by public and private funds and engaged in the study of national and international affairs.
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION'S "SUMMER NIGHT IN LAKE WOBEGON" RHUBARB TOUR HITS THE ROAD AUGUST 10th
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: David O'Neill
Prairie Home Productions
Phone: 651-999-1095
E-mail: davido@prairiehome.us
May 6, 2008
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION'S "SUMMER NIGHT IN LAKE WOBEGON" RHUBARB TOUR HITS THE ROAD AUGUST 10th
Garrison Keillor and company to play 16 cities
(SAINT PAUL, Minn.) The 2008 A Prairie Home Companion "Summer Night in Lake Wobegon" Rhubarb Tour kicks off on August 10th for a 16-city run that will take the troupe from coast to coast.
Garrison Keillor describes the ramble this way:
"The Home of the Heart Tour is the soul of A Prairie Home Companion - stories from Lake Wobegon, passionate duets, the philosophy of Guy Noir, wild radio dramas starring sound-effects genius Fred Newman, and the incredible Guy's All-Star Shoe Band. ""This is the show I'd do if I could only do one more show. It's the essence of everything from the past 34 years of Prairie Home that was funny and heartbreaking and made for great radio. The terrific Suzy Bogguss joins us for the singing, and Guy Noir reminisces about his salad days in the P.I. business, and I'll tell about the little town that time forgot and State Fairs and the first girl I loved, and we'll all sing 'America the Beautiful' and go home."
Beginning its 35th season in September 2008, A Prairie Home Companion is heard by some 4 million listeners on more than 500 public radio stations nationwide, as well as on XM Radio, the Armed Forces Network Europe, the Far East Network, and in dozens of European cities via the Astra satellite network.
A Prairie Home Companion is produced by Prairie Home Productions and presented by American Public Media. The show is sponsored nationally by General Mills, Inc. and by the Sleep Number Bed by Select Comfort. Audio clips, scripts and more information on A Prairie Home Companion can be found online at www.prairiehome.org.
WHAT: A Prairie Home Companion's "Home of the Heart" Rhubarb Tour hits 16 cities beginning August 10, 2008
WHO: Garrison Keillor, the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, singer Suzy Bogguss, sound-effects wizard Fred Newman
WHEN/WHERE:
Aug. 10 Bayfield, WI - Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua
Aug. 12 Lewisburg, WV - State Fair of West Virginia Grandstand
Aug. 13 Indianapolis, IN - Indiana State Fair Grandstand
Aug. 14 Bismarck, ND - Bismarck Civic Center
Aug. 15 Seattle, WA - Marymoor Park (Redmond, WA)
Aug. 16 Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
Aug. 17 Des Moines, IA - Iowa State Fair Grandstand
Aug. 19 Salt Lake City, UT - Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series
Aug. 20 Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Aug. 21 Ocean Grove, NJ - The Great Auditorium
Aug. 23 Essex Junction, VT - Champlain Valley Fair Grandstand
Aug. 24 Gilford, NH - Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion
Aug. 26 Santa Fe, NM - The Santa Fe Opera
Aug. 27 Salem, OR - Oregon State Fair, L.B. Day Amphitheater
Aug. 31 Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent
Sept. 1 Cohasset, MA - South Shore Music Circus
TICKET INFO: See links at www.prairiehome.org
ABOUT SUZY BOGGUSS: go to www.suzybogguss.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION: go to www.prairiehome.org, or contact David O'Neill at davido@prairiehome.us
# # #
American Public Media's Being Wins 12th Annual Webby Award
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
American Public Media's Being Wins 12th Annual Webby Award
(St. Paul, Minn.) May 6, 2008—American Public Media's Peabody Award-winning Being with Krista Tippett—public radio's premier in-depth conversation about religion and spiritual ethics in individual and public life—has won a 12th Annual Webby Award from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.
Established in 1996, the Webby is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Web sites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile web sites. Being won the Webby in the "Religion and Spirituality" category. Being was the first public radio program ever to be honored with the prestigious prize, winning its first Webby Award in the same category in 2005.
Created and designed by Being Online Editor Trent Gilliss, with the contributions of Being's production staff, speakingoffaith.org offers a behind the scenes look at the radio production with complimentary multimedia content such as unedited mp3s of the radio interviews, videos and slide shows, and a new staff blog called SoF Observed.
The 12th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from all 50 states and more than 60 countries worldwide. The Webby Awards will be presented June 10 at a ceremony in New York City.
Just as religion has emerged as a powerful and at times dangerous force in global life, Being has innovated a new journalistic paradigm to address it with unparalleled creativity, depth and diversity. Created as an occasional series at American Public Media in 2001 and launched weekly in 2003, the show is now heard on more than 200 public radio stations in the U.S. and globally via Web and podcast.
Being's host and creator Krista Tippett brings a rare combination of intellect and compassion to her interviews, moving far beyond wedge issues and polarizing voices. She engages theologians, scientists, philosophers and a wide array of other thinkers and activists to reframe public conversation about some of the largest issues of our time. A complete archive of programs can be accessed at speakingoffaith.org.
American Public Media’s Being Wins 12th Annual Webby Award
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
American Public Media’s Being Wins 12th Annual Webby Award
(St. Paul, Minn.) May 6, 2008—American Public Media’s™ Peabody Award-winning Being® with Krista Tippett—public radio’s premier in-depth conversation about religion and spiritual ethics in individual and public life—has won a 12th Annual Webby Award from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.
Established in 1996, the Webby is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Web sites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile web sites. Being won the Webby in the "Religion and Spirituality" category. Being was the first public radio program ever to be honored with the prestigious prize, winning its first Webby Award in the same category in 2005.
Created and designed by Being Online Editor Trent Gilliss, with the contributions of Being’s production staff, speakingoffaith.org offers a behind the scenes look at the radio production with complimentary multimedia content such as unedited mp3s of the radio interviews, videos and slide shows, and a new staff blog called SoF Observed.
The 12th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from all 50 states and more than 60 countries worldwide. The Webby Awards will be presented June 10 at a ceremony in New York City.
Just as religion has emerged as a powerful and at times dangerous force in global life, Speaking of Faith has innovated a new journalistic paradigm to address it with unparalleled creativity, depth and diversity. Created as an occasional series at American Public Media in 2001 and launched weekly in 2003, the showis now heard on more than 200 public radio stations in the U.S. and globally via Web and podcast.
Being’s host and creator Krista Tippett brings a rare combination of intellect and compassion to her interviews, moving far beyond wedge issues and polarizing voices. She engages theologians, scientists, philosophers and a wide array of other thinkers and activists to reframe public conversation about some of the largest issues of our time. A complete archive of programs can be accessed at speakingoffaith.org.
The Splendid Table Locavore Nation Participants Report Ability to Fulfill 57 Percent of Food Needs Locally
Contact: Kathleen Davies
651-605-5172
kdavies94@msn.com
The Splendid Table Locavore Nation Participants Report Ability to Fulfill 57 Percent of Food Needs Locally
(St. Paul, Minn.) April 16, 2008—First-quarter results for The Splendid Table® Locavore Nation, a one-year qualitative research study on eating sustainably, reveal 14 out of 15 participants are maintaining a local/regional diet at least 45 percent of the time and the overall average for the 14 was 57 percent. One of the members made the 80 percent goal.
Although a few participants in rural or northern areas of the country expressed frustration over price and fewer sources for fresh produce in winter, surprisingly, cost was not a factor for most and healthier, more conscientious eating habits were reported as a tangible benefit.
The group was selected by The Splendid Table in December 2007 from more than 5,000 initial applicants to explore the obstacles or ease of maintaining a local/regional diet. Produced and distributed by American Public Media,™ The Splendid Table is public radio's only national program exploring the many dimensions of food.
The criteria the group agreed to meet was to average 80 percent of food items purchased or obtained from organic local/regional sources within 50 to 500 miles of their homes. Spices are exempt. The group also keeps food journals to measure progress and note difficulties, resources and local trends. Most are adhering to a 100-mile distance for purchases.
"Hitting 40 percent would be amazing during winter for almost anyone in the U.S.," according to Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of The Splendid Table. "The group surpassed all our expectations."
The Locavore Nation participants, who represent a national geographic and demographic mix, write about their experiences on The Splendid Table Web site at www.splendidtable.org.
Difficulties experienced by the group include: narrowing the amount of variety in their diets; seasonal sacrifices such as no berries in winter; eliminating tropical fruits; driving long distances to find suppliers; taking time to learn about sources; and cooking from scratch. Non-local foods most report buying are organic coffee, special fruits, wine, chocolate and, for some, staples like flour and sugar.
Only two expressed pessimism about the Locavore movement and knowing where food is produced. The first was concerned about cultural elitism and affordability for those on a poverty level. The second was troubled that the movement may obscure more major issues, such as global warming and genetically modified plants (GMO), unaddressed by U.S. government policy.
The remainder of the participants expressed optimism and pleasure at the strong support they get from friends, family and others adopting sustainable lifestyles. Some were touched by the positive experiences of interacting with and learning from their farmer/suppliers. They also believe they are supporting their communities and farm economies strongly by purchasing locally.
Participants agreed to the stringent diet out of concern about industrialized food production methods in the U.S. potentially affecting the nutritional quality of food and other health-related issues from E-coli and salmonella contamination to obesity.
The Splendid Table also assists those confused about making good choices in a new book, How to Eat Supper.
Updates on Locavore Nation progress will be issued quarterly. A final report, focusing on regional issues and findings, will be released in January 2009.For details about individual results, contact Kathleen Davies at 651-605-5172 orKdavies94@msn.com.
About The Splendid Table
Produced and distributed by American Public Media™ in Saint Paul, Minn., The Splendid Table is a culinary, culture and lifestyle one-hour program that celebrates the intersection of food and life. Each week, The Splendid Table's Lynne Rossetto Kasper leads public radio audiences on a journey of the senses and leads discussions with a variety of writers and personalities who share their passion for the culinary delights.
American Public Media and The San Francisco Symphony's The MTT Files Wins Peabody Award
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
American Public Media and The San Francisco Symphony's The MTT Files Wins Peabody Award
(St. Paul, Minn.) April 4, 2008—The MTT Files, a public radio series produced by American Public Media and the San Francisco Symphony and hosted by the renowned San Francisco Symphony music director Michael Tilson Thomas, has won a 2007 Peabody Award.
Michael Tilson Thomas, also known as MTT, is acclaimed for his work as a conductor, composer and as one of the great communicators about music in the world today. In The MTT Files, Tilson Thomas metaphorically pulls out some of his "files"—files full of ideas about music and art, and reminiscences of the legendary artists he has known throughout his career—to create eight very original and personal one-hour radio programs. The series includes an episode featuring Tilson Thomas in conversation with James Brown, in one of the soul singer's final interviews before his death.
Announcing the Peabody Award, Horace Newcomb, director of the Peabody Awards, said, "In these beautifully crafted radio pieces, conductor Michael Tilson Thomas examines a series of his personal files that range over an expansive world of music from Igor Stravinsky to James Brown. The subjects and topics in Tilson Thomas's explorations broaden our knowledge as they delight our brains and our imaginations."
The Peabody Awards are the oldest honor in broadcasting and widely considered electronic media's most coveted award. The Peabody Awards recognize excellence and meritorious work by radio and television stations, networks, Webcasters, producing organizations and individuals. For more information, visit www.peabody.uga.edu.
The Peabody Awards will be presented June 16, 2008, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Brian Williams, anchor of NBC Nightly News, will host the ceremony.
The MTT Files was produced and mixed by Tom Voegeli of American Public Media. Voegeli also wrote, produced and mixed American Mavericks, a public radio series also produced in association with the San Francisco Symphony and hosted by Tilson Thomas. American Mavericks won a Peabody Award in 2004. Voegeli is also the executive producer of From the Top, a weekly radio showcase of America's top young classical musicians, hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher O'Riley.
The MTT Files are supported by a grant from Koret Foundation Funds and by members of Minnesota Public Radio. The MTT Files are part of Keeping Score, made possible with lead funding from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund and with generous support from The James Irvine Foundation, Marcia and John Goldman, Nan Tucker McEvoy, William and Gretchen Kimball Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, and others.
In November 2006, the San Francisco Symphony launched Keeping Score, a national television series aimed at making classical music more accessible to people of all ages and musical backgrounds. The Keeping Score project features PBS telecasts, a national radio series, interactive websites, and a K-12 education program. For additional information, visit www.sfsymphony.org and www.keepingscore.org.
American Public Media has the largest broadcast audience reach of any classical music radio producer in the United States. Through global partnerships with leading music organizations, the European Broadcasting Union, the BBC, orchestras, festivals, vocal ensembles, and artists, American Public Media's classical music service delivers performances and insight from around the world to its listeners. American Public Media's classical music portfolio includes nationally renowned programs Performance Today, SymphonyCast, Pipedreams, and Saint Paul Sunday.
American Public Media’s Being Wins Peabody Award
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
American Public Media’s Being Wins Peabody Award
(St. Paul, Minn.) April 2, 2008—American Public Media’s™ Being™ with Krista Tippett—public radio’s premier in-depth conversation about religion and spiritual ethics in individual and public life—has won a 2007 Peabody Award for its program, “The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi.” The citation reads, “Delving into the ‘adventurous, cosmopolitan’ Islam of a 13th century Persian poet now enjoying revival worldwide, this public-radio series continues to illuminate connections among people of all faiths.”
Announcing the award, Bel Hernandez, Chair of the Peabody Board, said, “This hour of Being… exemplifies the approach of the long-running series. Here, spirituality and faith in contemporary life always remain central, and are explored with extraordinary breadth and understanding."
Just as religion has emerged as a powerful and at times dangerous force in global life, Speaking of Faith has innovated a new journalistic paradigm to address it with unparalleled creativity, depth and diversity. Created as an occasional series at American Public Media in 2001 and launched weekly in 2003, the showis now heard on more than 200 public radio stations in the U.S. and globally via Web and podcast.
Being’s host and creator Krista Tippett brings a rare combination of intellect and compassion to her interviews, moving far beyond wedge issues and polarizing voices. She engages theologians, scientists, philosophers and a wide array of other thinkers and activists to reframe public conversation about some of the largest issues of our time. A complete archive of programs can be accessed at www.speakingoffaith.org.
The Peabody is electronic media’s most coveted award. The 2008 awards will be presented June 16 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Brian Williams, anchor of NBC Nightly News, will host the ceremony.
“The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi” program was funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Speaking of Faith also receives support from the Ford Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, the George Family Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, Inc., the Marbrook Foundation, and the Kendeda Sustainability Fund of the Tides Foundation.
American Public Media's Being Wins Peabody Award
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
American Public Media's Being Wins Peabody Award
(St. Paul, Minn.) April 2, 2008—American Public Media's Being with Krista Tippett—public radio's premier in-depth conversation about religion and spiritual ethics in individual and public life—has won a 2007 Peabody Award for its program, "The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi." The citation reads, "Delving into the 'adventurous, cosmopolitan' Islam of a 13th century Persian poet now enjoying revival worldwide, this public-radio series continues to illuminate connections among people of all faiths."
Announcing the award, Bel Hernandez, Chair of the Peabody Board, said, "This hour of Being...exemplifies the approach of the long-running series. Here, spirituality and faith in contemporary life always remain central, and are explored with extraordinary breadth and understanding."
Just as religion has emerged as a powerful and at times dangerous force in global life, Being has innovated a new journalistic paradigm to address it with unparalleled creativity, depth and diversity. Created as an occasional series at American Public Media in 2001 and launched weekly in 2003, the show is now heard on more than 200 public radio stations in the U.S. and globally via Web and podcast.
Being's host and creator Krista Tippett brings a rare combination of intellect and compassion to her interviews, moving far beyond wedge issues and polarizing voices. She engages theologians, scientists, philosophers and a wide array of other thinkers and activists to reframe public conversation about some of the largest issues of our time. A complete archive of programs can be accessed at www.speakingoffaith.org.
The Peabody is electronic media's most coveted award. The 2008 awards will be presented June 16 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Brian Williams, anchor of NBC Nightly News, will host the ceremony.
"The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi" program was funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Being also receives support from the Ford Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, the George Family Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, Inc., the Marbrook Foundation, and the Kendeda Sustainability Fund of the Tides Foundation.
American RadioWorks Presents "King's Last March"
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
American RadioWorks Presents "King's Last March"
Public Radio Documentary Describes the Turbulent Last Year ofDr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Life
(St. Paul, Minn.) March 27, 2008—American RadioWorks, the award-winning documentary unit of American Public Media, today announced "King's Last March," a new public radio documentary that traces the difficult and surprising last year of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 4, 2008, is the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination. In recognition of this significant anniversary, American RadioWorks looks at one of the most difficult and fascinating years of Dr. Kingís life—his last year. For many people, the enduring image of King is when he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 to give his "I Have A Dream" speech. He was at the height of his political and social power then.
By 1967, Dr. King's message to the nation had become more challenging and more radical than many people remember. He condemned America's war in Vietnam, and he castigated the government for failing to help America's poor. Dr. King was convinced that the nation's struggles with racism, poverty and war were inextricably linked. While his critics said he was sacrificing the domestic aims of the civil rights movement by speaking out against the Vietnam War, Dr. King believed he could not do otherwise.
"King's Last March uses archival audio, compelling interviews and a rich array of King recordings to draw a vivid picture of Dr. King in the final year of his life," said Stephen Smith, American RadioWorks executive editor and host. "Many listeners will discover a King they never knew."
TUNE IN: "King's Last March" will be broadcast on public radio stations nationwide. Check local listings for availability.
WEB SITE: "King's Last March" has a companion Web site, www.americanradioworks.org, which includes extended audio excerpts of speeches and sermons Dr. King made in the last year of his life, along with slideshows, essays and secret documents from Dr. King's FBI file.
SOURCES: "King's Last March" producers Stephen Smith and Kate Ellis of American RadioWorks are available for interviews. Please contact Brad Robideau at American Public Media at (651) 290-1113 or brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org to arrange.
American RadioWorks
Based in St. Paul, Minn., American RadioWorks is public radio's largest documentary production unit. American RadioWorks creates documentaries, series projects and investigative reports for the public radio system and the Internet. Its hour-long specials provide in-depth reporting on public affairs, social and cultural subjects and the 20th-century experience. Major funding for American RadioWorks is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. American RadioWorks is on the Web at www.americanradioworks.org.
American RadioWorks on iTunes U
In partnership with Apple, American Public Media has created a rich archive of journalism from American RadioWorks and other signature radio programs available on the popular iTunes U platform. Get free, easy access to in-depth audio journalism that spans the globe and expands your mind with downloadable programs and interviews, searchable by subject; printable transcripts; discussion questions; and links to online resources: annotated program notes, primary source information, reading lists, and interactive timelines.
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION ANNOUNCES THE BED OF ROSES LOVE SONNET CONTEST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: David O'Neill
Prairie Home Productions
Phone: 651-999-1095
E-mail: davido@prairiehome.us
March 17, 2008
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION ANNOUNCES THE BED OF ROSES LOVE SONNET CONTEST
Winner to be decided by audience vote during April 12th broadcast
(SAINT PAUL, Minn.) "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" "When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes / I all alone beweep my outcast state Ö" It seems spring brings out the poet in some, and Garrison Keillor is encouraging all sonneteers to enter their best in A Prairie Home Companion's Bed of Roses Love Sonnet Contest.
Keillor says, "We'll read the best entries on our April 12th live broadcast from Town Hall in New York, and we'll invite our audience — at home and at the theater — to vote a winner. The first prize will be a Sleep Number queen-size bed from Select Comfort, along with three dozen roses — a bed of roses delivered to your door — a source of untold joy, not to mention untold sleep."
He adds, "We'll accept rhymed or unrhymed 14-line sonnets. We think they should be love poems, but love of what, who's to say?"
Sonnets absolutely must be original and will be accepted until Friday, April 11, at midnight Central Time. Versifying wordsmiths can submit poems by going to www.prairiehome.org
Currently in its 34th season, A Prairie Home Companion has made Minnesota's way of life and the fictional small town of Lake Wobegon part of American popular culture. The show is heard on more than 500 public radio stations nationwide, with a weekly audience that tops 4.3 million listeners. The program can also be heard on XM Radio, the Armed Forces Network Europe, the Far East Network, and in dozens of European cities via the Astra satellite network. Garrison Keillor's signature monologue, The News From Lake Wobegon, is available via podcast/iTunes.
A Prairie Home Companion is produced by Prairie Home Productions and presented by American Public Media. The show is sponsored nationally by General Mills, Inc. and by the Sleep Number Bed by Select Comfort. Audio clips, scripts and more information on A Prairie Home Companion can be found online at www.prairiehome.org.
WHAT: A Prairie Home Companion Bed of Roses Love Sonnet Contest
RULES: Poems must be original, rhymed or unrhymed 14-line sonnets. Entries will be accepted at www.prairiehome.org until midnight (Central Time) on April 11, 2008
WHEN: Winners will be selected by audience vote during the APHC live broadcast on Saturday, April 12, 2008
BROADCAST: In most markets, A Prairie Home Companion is broadcast on Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Check local public radio listings for broadcast times in your area
WHERE: The Town Hall ó123 West 43rd St. (West 43rd between 6th Ave. and Broadway) New York, NY. (Show begins at 5:45 p.m.)
TICKETS: Purchase tickets to this A Prairie Home Companion show in person at The Town Hall Box Office, or through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or 212.307.4100
FOR MORE INFORMATION: go to www.prairiehome.org, or contact David O'Neill at davido@prairiehome.us
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American Public Media's American RadioWorks Wins National Headliner Awards
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
American Public Media's American RadioWorks Wins National Headliner Awards
(St. Paul, Minn.) March 11, 2008—American Public Media™ today announced that its documentary unit, American RadioWorks, won two National Headliner Awards from the Press Club of Atlantic City for the documentary, "Put to the Test." American RadioWorks won the Grand Award—the top award among all radio entries—and first place in the Documentary or Public Affairs category.
Founded in 1934 by the Press Club of Atlantic City, the National Headliner Awards program is one of the oldest and largest annual contests recognizing journalistic excellence. American RadioWorks will receive the award at a ceremony in Atlantic City on May 17, 2008.
"Put to the Test" explores how high-stakes testing took root in American classrooms and what effect it is having. American RadioWorks spent two years at Western Guilford High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. The majority of students at Western go on to college; SAT scores are a bit above the national average. However, the school has failed to meet the federal government's testing goals twice since No Child Left Behind took effect. Testing pressures are also having a big impact on teachers and students. "Put to the Test" follows students, teachers and administrators from Western Guilford High School as they navigate the requirements of No Child Left Behind.
"Put to the Test" was reported and produced by Emily Hanford, Alison Jones, Ben Shapio and Deborah George, and edited by Mary Beth Kirchner. It was produced in cooperation with North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC. American RadioWorks' reporting on education is funded by the Spencer Foundation, supporting research to improve learning.
Judges Comments: "Put to the Test" showed a rare commitment to a vital project with well integrated natural sound that truly made this project standout. When "put to the test" themselves, the reporters and producers who worked on this ambitious project truly "made the grade" by taking listeners into Western Guilford High School in this memorable documentary. The two years spent at the high school in North Carolina was time well spent in telling this story of "No Child Left Behind."
American RadioWorks
Based in St. Paul, Minn., American RadioWorks is public radio's largest documentary production unit. American RadioWorks creates documentaries, series projects and investigative reports for the public radio system and the Internet. Its hour-long specials provide in-depth reporting on public affairs, social and cultural subjects and the 20th-century experience. Major funding for American RadioWorks is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. American RadioWorks is on the Web at www.americanradioworks.org.
American RadioWorks on iTunes U
In partnership with Apple, American Public Media has created a rich archive of journalism from American RadioWorks and other signature radio programs available on the popular iTunes U platform. Get free, easy access to in-depth audio journalism that spans the globe and expands your mind with downloadable programs and interviews, searchable by subject; printable transcripts; discussion questions; and links to online resources: annotated program notes, primary source information, reading lists, and interactive timelines.
The Middle East @ Work: Marketplace Public Radio Programs to Broadcast from the Middle East with a Special Two-Week Series
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
The Middle East @ Work: Marketplace Public Radio Programs to Broadcast from the Middle East with a Special Two-Week Series
March 3-14, 2008: Marketplace, Marketplace Morning Report and Marketplace Money to Report on Economics, Business and Money in the Middle East
(Los Angeles, Calif.) February 28, 2008—Marketplace, American Public Media's award-winning daily business and economics news program, today announced that from March 3-14, 2008, the Marketplace portfolio of business programs will be reporting from the Middle East with a special two-week series entitled The Middle East @ Work. Marketplace Morning Report with host Scott Jagow will broadcast from Cairo, Egypt, March 3-7; Marketplace Money with host Tess Vigeland will give the American perspective the weekend of March 8-9; and Marketplace with host Kai Ryssdal will report from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 10-14.
"No other region affects our pocketbooks, politics and portfolios more. Our tax money, our gas money, even our retirement money—it's all connected," said JJ Yore, executive producer of Marketplace and vice president of programming at American Public Media. "Marketplace is excited about this opportunity to provide our listeners original, in-depth stories about why the Middle East matters in the voices of people who study, live and work in the region."
The Middle East @ Work Story Highlights:
Marketplace Morning Report:
Egyptian Gold Rush—Despite a 4,000-year history of gold mining, Egypt has largely missed out on the gold boom; however, thatís beginning to change now that some foreign companies recently signed deals to begin exploration and the Egyptian government is drafting a new mining code more favorable to outside investors. From Cairo, Marketplace's Amy Scott speaks with Josef El-Raghy, CEO of Centamin Egypt Limited, an Australian-Egyptian mineral exploration company. Centamin Egypt Limited is building Egypt's first major modern gold mine in the Eastern Desert near the Red Sea. It is estimated that over 55 million ounces of gold have come from this Red Sea Hills area of Egypt, which makes it one of the biggest gold fields in the world.
Marketplace Money:
Muslim Mortgages—Islam forbids the essential part of any loanóinterest. So how does a devout Muslim buy a home? Just ask the largest Islamic mortgage lender in the United States, American Finance House LARIBA. This Pasadena-based company has made money by not charging interest on home loans. So how does it work? Marketplace Money host Tess Vigeland profiles American Finance House LARIBA and a family that has received a mortgage. What makes this story more interesting is that finance experts say these mortgages are exactly what should have been offered to non-traditional borrowers, those caught up in the current subprime mortgage mess.
Marketplace:
The Real Emirates—Dubai's economic success has relied heavily on immigration. The vast majority of immigrants are migrant workers performing manual labor and a large number of white-collar employees are foreign, too. Many of these workers hold key positions in the national airline, real estate, financial services and media. Native-born citizens are thought to make up only around 3.5 percent of the United Arab Emirates' 2 million people. By 2015, foreigners are expected to make up 99 percent of the population. From Dubai, Marketplace's Stephen Beard reports on Dubai's vanishing native-born citizens by asking Emiratis what they think about their country's massive demographic changes and whether they fear losing their status and identity.
For more information about The Middle East @ Work, visit www.marketplace.org/middleeast.
Support for The Middle East @ Work is provided by Constellation Energy and the Cleveland Clinic.
Sources: Members of the Marketplace news team who contributed to The Middle East @ Work are available for interviews on this series and on any other stories you may be developing on Middle Eastern economics, business and finance. Please contact Brad Robideau at American Public Media to arrange at (651) 290-1113 or brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org.
Marketplace is an award-winning portfolio of business programs (Marketplace, Marketplace Money and Marketplace Morning Report) that provides public radio audiences a smart, witty take on the state of the global economy and how it relates to them. The "business show for the rest of us" breaks down the impact of the week's major national and international stories on our world and on our wallets. The only national business news programs that originate from the West Coast, the Marketplace portfolio is heard by more than eight million listeners each week, more than any other business program on radio or TV. Marketplace is on the Web at www.marketplace.org.
American Public Media is the nation's second-largest producer of public radio programs, reaching more than 15 million listeners nationwide each week. National programs include A Prairie Home Companion, Weekend America, Marketplace, Marketplace Money, Performance Today, The Splendid Table, Being and special reports produced by its national documentary unit, American RadioWorks. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services for the American Public Media national network can be obtained at www.americanpublicmedia.org.
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Source: Data are copyright Arbitron, Inc. Arbitron data are estimates only. Fall 2006/Spring 2007 average
15 Individuals Selected from Across the U.S. to Participate in One-Year Locavore Living Challenge Sponsored by The Splendid Table
Contact: Kathleen Davies
651-605-5172
kdavies94@msn.com
15 Individuals Selected from Across the U.S. to Participate in One-Year Locavore Living Challenge Sponsored byThe Splendid Table
(Saint Paul, Minn.) January 17, 2008 — Fifteen individuals from across the country were selected by The Splendid Table® show to participate in Locavore Nation, a one-year sustainable living challenge. The participants were selected from more than 5000 who volunteered to document the trials and tribulations of eating primarily locally grown, organic and seasonal foods.
Produced and distributed by American Public Media,™ The Splendid Table is public radio's only national program exploring the many dimensions of food. Hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper, nationally syndicated food columnist, author and journalist, the program will support a blog on its Web site documenting the findings of participants. Selected bloggers will be interviewed on the weekly show periodically.
Based upon answers to previous survey questions indicating a high a degree of knowledge and commitment to eating sustainably, the original 5000 entrants were narrowed to 150. The greatest number of qualifying candidates was from the Seattle, WA/Portland, OR, and the Northeast corridor.
Among the criteria used to select the participants were geography, age, marital status, ethnicity, rural/urban residency, special life circumstances and experience with sustainability. For example, one of the participants is pregnant, another is an MD focusing on nutrition among Mexicans living in the US and another expressed particular interest in the future of farmers.
Listed alphabetically are the participants and their locations: Leslie Allen, Reno, NV; Timothy Baird, Carrboro, NC; Sareen Dunleavy-Keenan, Minneapolis, MN; Margaret Hochla, El Reno, OK; Warren Johnston, South Royalton, VT; Barbara Kattman, Holliston, MA; Gina Keenan-Klages, Eau Claire, WI; Autumn Long, Wallace, WVA; April Luginbuhl-Mather, Columbus, OH; Donna McClurkan, Kalamazoo, MI; Vera Schabicki, Ashland, MS; Laura Solorio, Salinas, CA; Cher Steuwe-Portnoff, St. Louis, MO; Scott Swendson, Boise, ID; Paulette Thompson, Seattle, WA. Alia Habib, NYC, NY, will be a special guest commentator.
The Locavore Nation group will actively chronicle the experiences and challenges of living a regionally sustainable, organic and seasonal diet via an online blog. Their overarching goal is to select 80 percent of food items purchased, within their region. For some, that means 50 miles for others it may mean 500 and they will justify their choices. Updates on their progress, summaries and other information can be found at www.splendidtable.org.
About The Splendid Table
Produced and distributed by American Public Media™ in Saint Paul, Minn., The Splendid Table is a culinary, culture and lifestyle one-hour program that celebrates the intersection of food and life. Each week, The Splendid Table's Lynne Rossetto Kasper leads public radio audiences on a journey of the senses and leads discussions with a variety of writers and personalities who share their passion for the culinary delights.
Judy McAlpine to Lead National News and Information for American Public Media
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
Judy McAlpine to Lead National News and Information for American Public Media
(St. Paul, Minn.) December 17, 2007—American Public Media,™ creator of distinctive, signature programs for public radio and the Internet, today announced that Judy McAlpine, former Director of International/Business Development for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Radio, has been named American Public Media's Executive Management Consultant.
In this new position, McAlpine will assist in overseeing American Public Media's award-winning national News and Information program production, including Being,® American RadioWorks,® Weekend America,® Word for Word;™ production partnerships for The Story™ and As It Happens; and new national News and Information program development. McAlpine will assume her responsibilities on January 14, 2008.
"Judy's award-winning career at the CBC has spanned local, national, and international broadcast and program production," said Sarah Lutman, senior vice president, Content and Media, for American Public Media. "Her leadership and production experience will help American Public Media advance the strength and scope of its national News and Information service."
"I am thrilled to join such a dynamic organization and look forward to building on the strong programming that American Public Media delivers to public radio listeners in the U.S. and around the world," said McAlpine.
As Director of Sirius Satellite Radio One, McAlpine led the development of a 24/7 satellite channel that has helped drive Sirius' growth in Canada. In her international capacity, she was instrumental in introducing American listeners to many CBC Radio programs. Under her leadership, the number of shows carried by U.S. broadcasters grew from As It Happens to a varied portfolio. She has also strengthened partnerships with other public broadcasters, and negotiated agreements involving BBC World Service, ABC and Radio New Zealand.
In 2001, McAlpine became Area Head of Network Current Affairs and then Associate Director of Programming, where she oversaw the re-design strategy for the CBC's morning radio schedule. In 2006, she led Radio One's podcast plan from the pilot stage to more than 40 podcasts. She also oversaw radio revenue strategy, including sponsorship of podcasts and the launch of CBC Radio programming on mobile. Most recently, McAlpine took on management of CBC's small market strategy, including oversight of Windsor, Thunder Bay and Sudbury.
McAlpine began her career in Toronto at As It Happens, in 1983. She then spent time in locations across the country, including Ottawa, Vancouver and Whitehorse, where she received the Gabriel Award for "True North." She returned to Toronto in 1997, and the next year created Outfront. The program quickly won acclaim with several major international awards. Later, she became executive producer of This Morning and Sunday Edition.
American Public Media's The Splendid Table Announces Turkey Confidential 2007
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
American Public Media's The Splendid Table AnnouncesTurkey Confidential 2007
Live, two-hour call-in program on Thanksgiving morning from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ET)
Listen on public radio or join us live on the Web
(St. Paul, Minn.) November 8, 2007—Help is on the way for Thanksgiving cooks, kitchen helpers and their guests on the biggest cooking day of the year. On Thanksgiving morning, join Lynne Rossetto Kasper, the award-winning host of public radio's national food show, The Splendid Table,® for real-time turkey triage during the live broadcast of Turkey Confidential 2007. This year, Lynne will be joined by special guests chef Mario Batali, Cook's Illustrated's Christopher Kimball, actress and writer Amy Sedaris, road food warriors Jane and Michael Stern, and wine entrepreneur Joshua Wesson.
Phone lines (800-537-5252) will be open nationwide from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET and the program will be simulcast live on the Web at www.splendidtable.org.
The Splendid Table's Lynne Rossetto Kasper will be available to answer listener questions during the live, two-hour program. Quickly becoming a Thanksgiving morning tradition, past shows have included everything from a cross-country trucker cooking his Thanksgiving dinner on the manifold to a panicked first-time cook who didn't realize the turkey needed to be thawed. Lynne handles all questions with great wit, expertise and laughter.
About The Splendid Table
Produced and distributed by American Public Media™ in Saint Paul, Minn., The Splendid Table is a culinary, culture and lifestyle one-hour program that celebrates the intersection of food and life. Each week, The Splendid Table's Lynne Rossetto Kasper leads public radio audiences on a journey of the senses and leads discussions with a variety of writers and personalities who share their passion for the culinary delights.
Is Our Consumer Economy Culture Sustainable?
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
Is Our Consumer Economy Culture Sustainable?
New public radio series from American Public Media —"Consumed"—explores whether our consumer economy is sustainable
(St. Paul, Minn. & Los Angeles, Calif.) November 8, 2007—American Public Media™ today announced that "Consumed," American Public Media's cross-program series on the sustainability of the consumer economy, will broadcast on public radio stations nationwide November 9-18. "Consumed" will provide listeners with a unique perspective of the impact our consumption has on our economy, our ethics, our environment and more.
"Consumed" is part of American Public Media's in-depth news coverage and programming on global sustainability and the economy across several American Public Media programs. "Consumed" comprises reports from Marketplace,® Marketplace Morning Report,® Marketplace Money,® Weekend America,® Being,® The Story™ and American RadioWorks.® Each program will examine the consumer economy in its own way, providing a thorough, multi-disciplinary approach to a topic that affects all of us.
Check local public radio stations for broadcast schedules of American Public Media programs. "Consumed" and additional information about American Public Media's sustainability reporting are on the Web at http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumed/.
Funding for American Public Media's sustainability coverage is made possible by the Kendeda Sustainability Fund of the Tides Foundation.
American Public Media Brings Award-Winning Radio Programming to iTunes U
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
American Public Media Brings Award-WinningRadio Programming to iTunes U
(St. Paul, Minn.) October 18, 2007—American Public Media,™ creator of award-winning programming for public radio stations across the country, today announced that a rich archive of journalism from its signature radio programs is now available for free on iTunes U, a dedicated area of the iTunes Store featuring educational content. Educators, students and lifelong learners now have easy, subject-searchable access to highly produced, audio journalism from a trusted source that brings to life a broad range of topical subjects in business and economics, science and health, culture and literature, and religion and philosophy.
Drawing from hundreds of hours of journalism and rich programming archives, the American Public Media free offerings in the new "Beyond Campus" section of iTunes U feature an extensive catalog of programs produced by Marketplace,® Being,® and American RadioWorks,® as well as selections from The Writer's Almanac® with Garrison Keillor, Word for Word™ and Composer's Datebook.® Adding a valuable dimension to the downloadable audio are printable transcripts and suggested discussion questions to support the use of these programs in a classroom setting.
"iTunes U offers an exciting opportunity to extend the value of the outstanding programming produced by American Public Media's radio series, strengthen our relationship with educators, and connect with a generation of students that are already plugged in to iTunes," said Sarah Lutman, senior vice president, Content and Media, for American Public Media. "iTunes U will also be a powerful gateway to the dynamic supplemental web content that accompanies our signature programs."
American Public Media's content has already become a valuable teaching asset in many classrooms. Faculty at university and colleges, as well as high school and middle school teachers, have turned to the documentaries produced by American RadioWorks, the up-to-date economic analysis of Marketplace, and the probing discussions of issues of religion and ethics from Being for use in their course curriculum or as supplemental course material. Using media as a modern tool for learning, educators are increasingly using audio and Web content to supplement or replace text books, or become the centerpiece for entire courses and seminars.
Bringing American Public Media's topic-specific programs to the new "Beyond Campus" section of iTunes U ensures they are easy to browse and discover, introducing to a wider audience the unique content of American Public Media programs.
To view the complete collection of American Public Mediaís content, visit the iTunes U section of the iTunes Store. Appleís iTunes software, a free download at www.apple.com/itunes, is required.
Lilly Endowment to Support American Public Media's Being In Audience Engagement and Resources for Public Dialogue
Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org
Lilly Endowment to Support American Public Media's Being
In Audience Engagement and Resources for Public Dialogue
(St. Paul, Minn.) October 16, 2007—Being® with Krista Tippett, public radio's premiere conversation about religion, meaning, ethics, and ideas, today announced it has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Produced and distributed by American Public Media™ in St. Paul, Minn., Being is heard on over 200 public radio stations and by podcast. In four years of award-winning weekly production, Being has emerged as a distinctive media platform for bringing an informed and intellectually robust conversation on religion and spiritual ethics to U.S. and global audiences.
The Endowment will support the innovation of multi-media resources to draw new listeners and deepen audience engagement with the conversations hosted on the radio program and its Webby-award winning Web site, www.speakingoffaith.org. It will focus specifically on educational outreach to churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship and community, offering new resources for learning and discussion.
"We are thrilled to have Lilly Endowment as partners as we move into a new stage of growth," said the program creator and host Krista Tippett. "This generous funding will allow us to remain on the cutting edge of change in our industry, while meeting listeners' desires to apply insights from Being in their own lives and communities. It will equip us more creatively and practically to enhance public discourse between religious people, ideas and institutions and critical issues in our world."
In an initial exploratory project with Endowment funding, Being created resources for adult and family discussion on topics ranging from the religious roots of American democracy, to the spirituality of parenting, to "the soul of war"—reflections of a National Guard chaplain on the experiences of soldiers engaged in the war in Iraq.
Lilly Endowment is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family—J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli—through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. The Endowment, however, is a separate entity from the company with a distinct governing board, staff and location. It is devoted to the causes of religion, education and community development.