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Angie Rapp, WIPB-TV Marketing Manager
arapp@bsu.edu | 765-285-2742

WIPB-TV AWARDED ADDY, TELLY AWARDS

United Way PSA and Documentary on 1st Infantry Division Recognized for Excellence

(Muncie, Ind., March 18, 2008) WIPB Public Television was recently awarded a Gold ADDY award by the Advertising Federation of East Central Indiana for a public service announcement it produced on behalf of the United Way of Delaware County.

Titled Community Matters, the public service announcement was created to support the 2007 United Way of Delaware County Annual Campaign.  Production staff and award winners include Sarah Dueker (Executive Producer), Al Rent (Producer/Writer/Co-Director), Bill Bryant (Co-Director/Videographer/Editor), Jeff Crone (Videographer), Sarah Jones (Production Assistant) and Jason Higgs (Production Assistant).

“We’re honored to be recognized for our work on the Community Matters public service announcement.  The United Way of Delaware County does an excellent job of supporting the needs of our community, and we wanted to create something that emphasized the importance of how those needs are met through donors supporting the United Way.  We hope that “Community Matters” was a positive factor in the United Way exceeding its campaign goal for 2007,” stated Bill Bryant, WIPB Producer/Director.

The Advertising Federation of East Central Indiana is a member club of the American Advertising Federation, a not-for-profit industry association which conducts the ADDY® Awards through its 200 member advertising clubs and fifteeen districts. It is the only creative awards program administered by the advertising industry for the industry. The ADDY Awards honor excellence in advertising and cultivate the highest creative standards in the industry. The local ADDY winners will proceed to fourteen regional competitions, and those winners proceed to the national finals.

WIPB was also recently awarded two Telly awards for its production,  Echoes of War: Stories from the Big Red One, a digital media experience presented by Ball State University and WIPB.  More than just a television program, the project involved a live, interactive educational program and companion website.  The  production won Silver Telly Awards (the highest honor possible) in the categories of Film/Television in Education and Live Events.

Focusing on the famed 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army, also known as the Big Red One, the project brought to life the misery, horror and humanity of war as told by veterans who witnessed them first hand.  Members of the Big Red One led the way for American troops during World War I in 1917, were the first to land on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day in World War II, were the first division called to fight in Vietnam, and the first to lead the charge into Iraq.

At the heart of the program was an hour-long live broadcast from the First Infantry Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton, Ill.  The broadcast allowed viewers to interact with war veterans and the program hosts via the Internet or by phone. 1st Infantry Division veterans, Ball State University historians, and Cantigny museum curators were on hand to answer questions from the audience.

Ken Burns, renowned producer and director of award-winning PBS historical documentaries such as The Civil War and Frank Lloyd Wright, provided an introduction to Echoes of War: Stories from the Big Red One.

“It's an extreme pleasure for our staff to be recognized for their excellent work on Echoes of War: Stories from the Big Red One, especially when the judges are their professional peers.  We were excited to give our viewers the chance to participate in the live program, or expand their learning experience of the Big Red One through the companion website. We hope Echoes of War: Stories from the Big Red One encouraged our viewers to reflect and appreciate the sacrifices and experiences of the veterans who served in the 1st Infantry Division,” stated Alice Cheney, General Manager for WIPB.

Production staff for Echoes of War: Stories from the Big Red One included Richard Collins (Producer/Director/Camera), Sam Clemmons (Producer/Director/Camera), Heather Hunt (Producer/Director/Tape Operator), Bill Bryant (Producer/Director), Dottie Kreps (Producer/Director/Editor, Sarah Kreps (Production Assistant/Audio Assistant/Editor), Rob Fultz (Producer/Director/Audio Director), Keith Huffman (Producer/Director/  Technical Director), Sharolyn Waters (Assistant Producer/Director/Editor), Steve Winslow (Production Assistant/Camera/Editor), Sarah Jones (Studio Coordinator/Camera), Alan Gordon (Production Manager/Camera), Chris Reidy (Graphic Designer/Associate Producer/Historical Consultant), Jason Higgs (Graphic Designer), Matt Rhoton (Graphics), Jeff Crone (Camera/Editor), Val Morris (Graphics Coordinator/Stage Manager/Graphics), Lori Georgi (Outreach and Education Coordinator), Associate Professor of History Kevin Smith (Historical Consultant/On-air Host), Associate Professor of History David Ulbrich, (Historical Consultant/On-air Host) and Melissa Estes (Stage Manager).
        

Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions.  The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world. The Telly Awards is a widely known and highly-respected national and international competition and receives over 13,000 entries annually from all 50 states and many foreign countries.

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ARThUR's WONDERFUL STORYTIME HEADLINeS ANNUAL READY TO LEARN FAIR

Free event includes stage show and activities for kids

(Muncie, Ind., February 1, 2008) Children of all ages are invited to participate in WIPB Public Television’s 10th annual Ready To Learn Children’s Fair on Saturday, February 23 at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie.  The event runs from 10 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., and admission is free.

This year’s Ready To Learn Fair includes a special stage show, Arthur’s Wonderful Kind of Storytime, featuring characters from the popular and award-winning PBS program Arthur.  Show times are 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. In Arthur’s Wonderful Kind of Storytime, Arthur appears live with Ms. Paige Turner, his hometown of Elwood City's friendly librarian. During each performance the kids in the audience interact with the characters, learn to spell Arthur’s name and enjoy hearing marvelous Arthur stories read to them by Ms. Turner. Colorful enlarged books give the kids a good view of the pictures.  After each show fans will be able to meet and greet Arthur.

Clifford the Big Red Dog and Curious George, both featured in popular children’s books and PBS Kids programs, 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,” states Lori Georgi, WIPB Membership and Outreach Manager.
 

The WIPB Ready To Learn Children’s Fair is made possible by generous sponsorships from WGE Federal Credit Union, Cardinal Health System, Rock-Tenn Company, Dairy Dream, Quello Bello Spa and The Delta Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Kappa.


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.

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WIPB TO PRODUCE 2008 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

Daniels speech to be broadcast statewide

(Muncie, Ind., January 9, 2008) WIPB Public Television announced today that the station has been selected to produce live coverage of the 2008 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 15, at 7:00 p.m. The address is the fourth State of the State Address for Governor Daniels, who began his term in January 2005.

Daniels is expected to review his 2007 legislative agenda (available in detail at www.in.gov/gov/2925.htm), including his plan for establishing full-day kindergarten statewide and his plan for creating a healthier Indiana. It is also expected that Daniels will highlight his 2008 legislative agenda, which will include addressing the pressing issue of property tax relief.

In October 2007 Daniels announced his Property Tax Plan, which includes the creation of permanent limits on property taxes as well as the establishment of a single professional property assessor in each county versus the current elected assessors.

„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.

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