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Angie Rapp, WIPB-TV Marketing Manager
arapp@bsu.edu
| 765-285-2742
2007 PRESS RELEASES
PUBLIC INVITED TO LIVE TV SHOW FOR INTERNATIONAL BOWL
WIPB'S Cardinal End Zone goes to Cheeseburger in Paradise for special episode(Muncie, Ind., December 12, 2007) Ball State Sports Network will celebrate Ball State University’s invitation to play in the International Bowl in January with a special live edition of CARDINAL END ZONE on Thursday, December 20. The program, which will be aired live from Muncie’s Cheeseburger in Paradise on McGalliard Road, will begin at 7:00 p.m. on WIPB-TV. BSU fans are invited to share their excitement by attending the event.
“WIPB is excited to play a role in getting the entire community to rally behind the Cardinals for our first trip to a Bowl Game since 1996,” said Alice Cheney, WIPB general manager. “We hope scores of Ball State fans will come out to Cheeseburger in Paradise on December 20 to be a part of the audience for this special edition of CARDINAL END ZONE.”
Muncie native and well-known Indianapolis television personality Wil Hampton hosts CARDINAL END ZONE on WIPB, the long-running sports magazine that features Ball State head football coach Brady Hoke. Hoke, along with Ball State athletic director Tom Collins, and key players will be interviewed during the live program.
A special good luck hotline has been designated so that Cardinal fans can leave well wishes on a voice mail message for the team. Some of the messages will be featured during the live broadcast. That number is 765-285-7160.
Ball State Sports Network production crews and WIPB’s state-of-the-art remote production truck will also travel to the International Bowl in Toronto for a live special pre-game edition of CARDINAL END ZONE on January 4 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. That episode will be broadcast live from Toronto at the Sheraton Centre, Dominion Ballroom and fans are invited to attend.
WIPB began airing Ball State basketball games in 1976, and began producing CARDINAL END ZONE in 2001.
WIPB to Air Muncie Mayoral Debate Live
Candidates Mansfield and McShurley face off
(Muncie, Ind., October 23, 2007) With the November 6 election a little more than two weeks away, the candidates for Mayor will debate the issues facing the city of Muncie during a live broadcast at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 25 on WIPB Public Television. The debate will be rebroadcast on Saturday, October 27 at 5:30 p.m.
Democrat James Mansfield Jr. and Republican Sharon McShurley will participate in the 90 minute debate broadcast live from Northside Middle School in Muncie. The debate moderator will be Dr. Maria Williams-Hawkins, Associate Professor of Telecommunications at Ball State University.
The debate is open to the public, but no questions will be taken from the audience. Questions for the candidates were submitted in advance to the Muncie Star Press and will be previewed by the League of Women Voters.
The candidates seek to replace Republican Mayor Dan Canan, who did not seek a new term after serving as Muncie's mayor for three consecutive four-year terms.
"With this election being so pivotal to the future of Muncie, we're proud to broadcast this debate to provide the electorate with as much information about the candidates as possible. It's part of our mission to inform our community with this debate being a great example of WIPB's community involvement," stated Alice Cheney, WIPB General Manager.
Dystonia Documentary Hits Close to Home
WIPB staff member diagnosed with relatively unknown disease
(Muncie, Ind., January 12, 2007.) Local resident Max Hunt waited for more than twenty-three years to get a correct diagnosis of dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that forces the body’s muscles to twist into abnormal, often painful, movements or postures. He is one of an estimated 300,000+ North Americans affected by this relatively unknown disease.
WIPB Public Television will focus the spotlight on dystonia during its airing
of “Twisted”, part of the PBS series Independent Lens on January
30 at 10 p.m.
Produced, written and directed by independent filmmaker Laurel Chiten, “Twisted”
tells the gripping story of three dystonia sufferers: Pat Brogan, a basketball
coach and triathlete who developed dystonia after a bike accident; Shari Farber-Tritt,
whose dystonia affects her entire body; and Remy Campbell, an artist who gambled
on a radical form of brain surgery which resulted in her regaining control
over her body. Chiten herself has been diagnosed with dystonia.
Dystonia can strike children as young as six and disable adults in the prime of their lives—including environmental activist/lobbyist Robert Kennedy, Jr.; NHL hockey player Rem Murray of the Edmonton Oilers; “Dilbert” creator Scott Adams; and rapper Darryl “DMC” McDaniels (of Run DMC). The third most common movement disorder after Parkinson’s disease and tremor, dystonia can be hereditary or result from a brain injury or exposure to certain medications.
While there is no cure for dystonia, there are many treatments available from medications to deep brain stimulation (DBS). DBS involves inserting electrodes into the brain near the area causing the abnormal muscle movement. The electrodes are connected to a device that sends small electrical signals to the brain in hopes of blocking or disrupting the abnormal brain impulses that cause dystonia. Artist Remy Campbell, featured in “Twisted”, has had spectacular results using DBS.
Max Hunt is excited about “Twisted” and the publicity it can bring to the disease. “I worked with a national dystonia organization in the early 1990s, helping with support groups and trying to get the word out. That was the most difficult and exasperating part of my involvement. Media outlets are so inundated with publicity from other diseases and disabilities that they weren’t terribly interested in dystonia. I lived 23 years being misdiagnosed and I know that frustration -- that is why Chiten’s “Twisted” film is so important. There will be people who will see this film and either know they have dystonia or know someone who does and they can get the support they need.”
Hunt is the Operations Manager of WIPB Public Television, and is eager to meet others in east central Indiana also diagnosed with dystonia.
Chicago-based Dystonia Medical Research Foundation provided partial funding for “Twisted” as part of an effort to inform the public about dystonia, its symptoms and potential treatments. “We believe that thousands of dystonia cases go undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed, in the U.S. every year,” says Jan Teller, MA, PhD, science officer at the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. “That’s why we’re urging the public and the medical community to become more familiar with the warning signs of this potentially crippling disorder.”
WIPB General Manager Alice Cheney stated, “We’re excited to be able to bring such an informative and insightful program to our viewers. “Twisted” provides all of us with an inside view of what it’s like to have dystonia, and gives hope that someone can overcome this disease. It’s a particularly relevant and touching program for all of us at WIPB because Max Hunt, our Operations Manager, has dystonia.”
“Twisted” will air on WIPB Public Television on January 30 at 10 p.m.
Dystonia’s symptoms may include:
• Cramping and twisting in the feet, limbs and torso
• Spasm of the neck and shoulders, forcing the head back, forward or
to the side
• Uncontrollable blinking of the eyelids
• Curling of the fingers and cramping of the hand and forearm
• Grimacing of the face, tongue protrusion, jaw closure or jaw opening
• Spasm of the vocal chords, making it difficult to speak
For more information, visit www.dystonia-foundation.org or call (800) 377-3978. Visit the "Twisted" website.
WIPB's Ready To Learn Children's Fair Features Free Family Fun
Host of SIGNING TIME, PBS KIDS' stars scheduled to appear
(Muncie, Ind., January 16, 2007.) Children of all ages are invited to participate in WIPB Public Television's 9th annual Ready To Learn Children's Fair on Saturday, February 24 at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie. The event runs from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., and admission is free.
This
year's Ready To Learn Fair features a special stage show with Rachel de
Azevedo Coleman host of the the PBS KIDS? series, SIGNING TIME! Show times
are 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Molly from the PBS KIDS' show BIG COMFY COUCH and
Curious George, featured in the popular children?s books and PBS KIDS? program,
will also make appearances at the Ready To Learn Fair.
The first 1500 children who complete the various activity stations throughout the Fair will receive a free book. The activities are based upon The Learning Triangle, a concept of learning that incorporates television programming, storybooks and activities.
"WIPB believes in providing our community with more than just great educational television for children. Our Ready To Learn Fair gives us the opportunity to demonstrate to parents and caregivers of young children how they can make learning fun by incorporating WIPB's kids programs with related books and activities," stated Lori Georgi, WIPB Outreach Manager.
SIGNING TIME is a children's television program that teaches American Sign Language (ASL). It airs on WIPB Sundays at 7:30am and Fridays at 12:00pm.
In late 1996, Coleman had a daughter, whom she named Leah. Fourteen months after she was born, Coleman and her husband, Aaron, discovered that Leah had been deaf since she was born. Afterwards, the couple began to teach Leah American Sign Language so that they may learn to communicate, becoming quite able at the skill.
At the same time, Rachel's sister Emilie and her husband Derek began teaching Leah's newborn cousin, Alex, how to sign, and he grew to learn it quickly as well. Rachel and Emilie decided to create a visual video for hearing children so that ASL could be made accessible to all children, and together created Two Little Hands Productions, their producing company. The project has turned into a massive success, spawning a successful television run and much merchandise.
Rachel hosts the show herself, with her daughter Leah and nephew Alex also starring to provide support. Already a musician, Rachel sings a myriad of songs during each episode, all the while signing the words. During the episode, many signs from a certain topic (schools, daytime activities, etc.) and then has Leah and Alex sign, alongside with a montage of many other children of different backgrounds. The words are then emphasized with song.
The WIPB Ready To Learn Children's Fair is made possible by generous sponsorships from Cardinal Health System, Dairy Dream, Muncie Power Products, WGE Federal Credit Union and Wick's Pies.
The Ready To Learn Service is a nationwide effort using on-air, online and print resources and local support to help parents and early childhood educators prepare children for success in school.
WIPB to Produce 2007 State of the State Address
Daniels' speech to be broadcast statewide
(Muncie, Ind., January 8, 2007.) WIPB Public Television announced today that the station has been selected to produce live coverage of the 2007 State of the State Address, providing the broadcast of the speech to commercial and public television stations across Indiana.
Governor Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. will give the State of the State Address on Tuesday, January 16, at 7:00 p.m. The address is the third State of the State Address for Governor Daniels, who began his term in January 2005.
Daniels is expected to review his 2006 legislative agenda (available in detail at www.in.gov/gov/issues), including his Major Moves plan for improving Indiana's transportation infrastructure while eliminating the state's transportation budget deficit through public-private partnerships. It is also expected that Daniels will highlight his 2007 legislative agenda, including establishing full-day kindergarten statewide.
"WIPB and Ball State University are proud to continue our tradition of producing this important live broadcast for the state. It's an honor to be able to use our state-of-the-art equipment and highly trained staff to bring the Governor's speeches to the people of Indiana," stated Alice Cheney, WIPB General Manager.
WIPB is the only public television station in Indiana with a 40-foot remote truck fully equipped to do live broadcasts, and utilizes the truck regularly for game broadcasts on the Ball State Sports Network.
WIPB Tagline: A Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) affiliate, WIPB-TV is licensed to Ball State University and serves nearly 400,000 households in east central Indiana and western Ohio. WIPB endeavors to educate, entertain and engage the communities we serve through distinctive television programs and enriching outreach services. For more information call 800-252-9472 or visit WIPB Online at http://www.wipb.org.
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