Oregon Public Broadcasting Receives Honors at the Oregon Associated Press Broadcast Awards

Oregon Public Broadcasting was honored with six awards at the annual Oregon Associated Press Broadcast Awards held Saturday.

Colin Fogarty took first place in the Best Feature Story category for his report on the Sandy River changing course after a major storm. Kristian Foden-Vencil took second place in the category for his story on local volunteer groups taking over management of historic venues like Pittock Mansion in Portland.

Rob Manning received the first place award in the Best Investigative category for a story about Measure 39 that raised questions concerning one of the property owners used in a pro-Measure 39 commercial. As a result of the story, the campaign pulled that commercial and distanced itself from the property owner.

OPB's news Web site took second place for radio news sites in Oregon.

OPB's 9-11 anniversary special on Oregon's experience with civil rights cases in the aftermath of the terrorist attack took third place in the Best Treatment of a Single Subject category. Allison Frost and Eve Epstein produced the show. Steven Vaughn Kray was the audio engineer.

And Colin Fogarty took third place in the Best Breaking News category for his report on the Supreme Court's decision upholding Oregon's assisted suicide law.

OPB Hires New Producers

Oregon Public Broadcasting has hired two new producers, Vince Patton and Katrina Sarson, to work on local productions including Oregon Field Guide, Oregon Art Beat and Oregon Experience.

For the past six years, Patton has been the environmental reporter for KGW TV. His work has been honored with four regional Emmys and one of his documentary reports won first place in the nation from the Society of Environmental Journalists. Patton will begin working with OPB on April 16.

Katrina Sarson comes to OPB after about 10 years as an Emmy-award winning freelance producer, primarily working on programs for HGTV and the Food Network. But she has some PBS roots as well, producing the Parenting Works! series for KQED. She has a keen interest in childhood education and a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Sarson's first day at OPB will be April 10.

OPB Announces Changes in Music Programming

Oregon Public Broadcasting said it will continue to make changes in its OPB Radio (91.5 FM) music programming beginning with the April 1 discontinuation of Beats & Pieces.

Special music programming will begin April 6 and continue through mid-May when OPB will launch new programs featuring local and regional music and artists.

"We believe our listeners will be very pleased with this new programming, especially when it features the music of this region and some of our own most talented musicians," said OPB President Steve Bass. He said more details will be announced closer to the mid-May launch date.

He also thanked Steven Cantor, host of Beats & Pieces, for his many years of service as the program's host. Cantor was offered a different position with OPB but declined to accept it.

Bass said OPB constantly reviews its programming via member surveys, calls and emails, audience ratings and focus group research. Similar research guided OPB’s earlier decision to offer the Performance Today program to All-Classical 89.9 FM and its current decision to end Beats & Pieces, which had a loyal but very small following.

"We are listening to our members when we make these decisions and what they are telling us is that they want change and expect top-quality music programs such as those we'll be adding to OPB Radio," he said.

After Beats & Pieces ends, the following programs will air between April 2 and mid-May.

Fridays 9 -11pm
UNDERCURRENTS
A mix of rock, folk, blues, reggae, world music and roots, plus a selection of contemporary Native artists. Hosted by Gregg McVicar.
Playlists and more at http://www.undercurrentsradio.net/

Saturdays 9-11pm
THE BLUES – 13 part series
A comprehensive chronicle of the blues, from its origins to its most contemporary sounds and styles. Uses new and archival interviews, recordings and remotes from where blues history occurred as well as where the music thrives today. Locations such as the Delta Blues Museum, the Chess Studios in Chicago and Beale Street in Memphis will be visited to emphasize the music's contemporary connections.

Saturdays 11pm-Midnight
AFROPOP WORLDWIDE
A rebroadcast except on first and last Saturdays when 11pm broadcast is the only broadcast due to Live Wire! at 8pm

Saturdays Midnight-5am New!
BBC WORLD SERVICE
Starts at Midnight - new time. This will NOT change in May.

Sundays 9-10pm
EVERY VOICE AND SING! – 5-part series
Michele Norris, award-winning journalist and host of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, hosts and narrates the series on black choral music. Explores the importance of Black choirs in the survival and growth of Black colleges from before the Civil War through the post-Reconstruction eras. With unique stories, interviews and performances, the series traces the development of this music, from the early Spirituals and Work Songs, evolving into Blues, Jazz and Gospel. The programs also trace how Hollywood and Broadway influenced wide public acceptance of the music, and details the evolution of the music.

Sundays 10pm-Midnight
UNDERCURRENTS
See above for description.

This schedule will change as the short series conclude.