OPB Expands News Coverage With Its New Central Oregon News Bureau

Oregon Public Broadcasting is expanding its coverage of Central Oregon with the opening of its first news bureau in the region. OPB has hired an experienced reporter, Ethan Lindsey, who will be headquartered in Bend and file reports from throughout this area beginning in July.

"Hardly a week goes by without a big story from somewhere in Central Oregon, whether it's the cost of living or an environmental issue or the impact of some federal or state rule," said Morgan Holm, OPB's vice president of news and public affairs.

"Stories like these directly affect about a quarter of a million Oregonians living in the region," said Holm. "Of course, many other residents of the state and region regularly visit the area for business, recreation and education, and are just as interested in such developments. There is no shortage of great stories for Ethan to cover, and listeners can hear his reports throughout the day on OPB Radio."

Ethan received his bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of California at Berkeley and obtained a master's in journalism from Columbia University. He worked for the Salinas Californian newspaper and the popular public radio business program Marketplace before being selected as a Fulbright Fellow last year. He comes to OPB directly from his fellowship in Berlin, Germany to open OPB's Central Oregon Bureau. This won't be his first visit to the state, though. Ethan lived in Eugene when he was growing up.

OPB's new Central Oregon Bureau will bring better news coverage from across the region. Coupled with the Northwest News Network bureaus in Salem, Richland (Washington), Spokane/Coeur d'Alene and Olympia, OPB continues to expand the reach of our reporting to provide a wide range of in-depth stories for our audience.

Legislative Funding for Oregon Public Broadcasting Will Assure Digital Television Service for Rural Oregon

Last-minute bills include $3 million for OPB

Oregon Public Broadcasting is one step closer to installing digital transmission equipment in rural Oregon after the State Legislature today approved $3 million in capital funding in last-minute budget bills.

These new transmission facilities will ensure the continuation of OPB programming for more than 200,000 residents outside the major Portland metropolitan area, along with continuation of an emergency alert broadcast system that reaches throughout the state.

Under a federal government mandate OPB must turn off all full-power analog transmitters on February 17, 2009. At that time, the majority of those who rely on over-the-air broadcast television will need to either acquire a digital converter box in order to receive digital signals on analog television sets or purchase a digital television set. Find out more about watching digital broadcasts

Oregonians in many parts of the state -- particularly the coast, the Gorge, eastern and central Oregon -- rely on an extensive network of analog translators to receive public television service. These translators operate only in the analog system, requiring significant digital upgrades in order to maintain service after February 17, 2009.

"Many of the thousands of Oregonians who live in rural areas consider OPB to be a lifeline service, bringing them news and information, educational programming for children, and providing a connection to the rest of the state. The leadership of Governor Kulongoski and members of the legislature ensures that public broadcasting service in rural Oregon will be available for years to come," said OPB President Steve Bass.

Conversion of the network of analog translators will provide viewers in rural areas the same level of service currently enjoyed in Oregon's more urban areas. OPB currently offers four programming services on its digital transmission network, including high-definition programs, OPB analog simulcast (scheduled to begin early July), OPB Create and the Oregon Channel (a programming service offered in partnership with Legislative Media and the Oregon University System that provides legislative coverage and other public affairs programming).

Bass said substantial credit for this success goes to Governor Ted Kulongoski, who included funding for OPB in his recommended budget, as well as legislative leaders including Senator Betsy Johnson; Representative Mary Nolan, House co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee; Senate President Peter Courtney; House Speaker Jeff Merkley; and Senator Kurt Schrader, Senate co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

Bass said appreciation also goes to hundreds of Oregonians who championed the cause by writing letters, opinion pieces and columns in support of the legislative funding.

OPB will work in partnership with Southern Oregon Public Television to convert all statewide analog television translators to digital starting this summer. The legislative funding did not include operating funds to run the translators network.

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Comes to Portland on June 28

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, the irreverent and oddly informative radio news quiz program from NPR, will bring its comedic take on the week's headlines to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland on Thursday, June 28 at 7:30pm. Oregon Public Broadcasting is presenting the already sold-out live stage show, and will air the program on Saturday, June 30 at 11:00am.

Gert Boyle, chairman of the board of Columbia Sportswear Company, will join in on the act as the show's "Not My Job" contestant. Boyle will answer questions outside her area of expertise to try to win a prize for a listener, joining a growing roster of esteemed "Not My Job" players, such as Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, Senators Barack Obama and John McCain, actor Tom Hanks and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.

"We're pleased to welcome Wait Wait... back to Portland," said Lynne Clendenin, vice president of Radio Programming at OPB. "Oregonian listeners love this show, a fact well illustrated by the fact the tickets sold out quickly when they were released. And Gert Boyle, a national as well as an Oregon icon, is a perfect local addition to the mix."

Now in its 10th year, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! offers a contemporary and sometimes raucous twist on the old-time radio quiz show, mining NPR news stories for its quiz questions. The program is hosted by Peter Sagal, an award-winning playwright, and features legendary NPR newscaster Carl Kasell as official judge and scorekeeper. Panelists participating in the two-hour live show will be humorist, screenwriter and author Roy Blount, Jr.; Amy Dickinson, an author and syndicated newspaper advice columnist; and Adam Felber, a New York-based writer and performer.

The live show will include Wait Wait's take on the week's news that's the trademark of the weekly radio show. Panelists and callers will answer questions about the news, "fill in the blank" at lightning speed, sniff out fake news items, decipher limericks and banter about the week's weirdest events. Callers compete for the most coveted prize in public radio: a home answering machine greeting custom-recorded by Kasell. Listeners can get in on the action by calling 888-WAIT-WAIT.

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! is broadcast on OPB on Saturdays at 11am. The show from the Arlene Schnizter Concert Hall will be broadcast nationwide the weekend of June 30.

Award-Winning Filmmaker Ken Burns to Preview His Latest Documentary, "The War," in Portland

OPB is proud to host award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns when he visits Portland this summer to discuss and share clips from his upcoming series The War. The event will take place at the Newmark Theater on Monday, July 9 at 7pm. A question-and-answer session with the filmmaker will follow his presentation.

The seven-part series, six years in the making, tells the story of World War II through the personal accounts of a handful of men and women from four quintessentially American towns. The series explores the most intimate human dimensions of the greatest cataclysm in history -- a worldwide catastrophe that touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America -- and demonstrates that in extraordinary times, there are no ordinary lives. The film will air on OPB over two weeks beginning September 23.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts box office at 111 SW Broadway Ave., through Ticketmaster at 503.790.ARTS or Ticketmaster.com

A limited number of complimentary tickets are available for Veterans through the Veterans Administration by calling 503.273.5042.

For more information about the series and Ken Burns' visit to Portland, go to opb.org/thewar/.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Receives Two Regional Emmy Awards

Oregon Public Broadcasting received two Regional Emmy Awards at The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 44th Annual Northwest Regional Emmy Awards held Saturday, June 2 in Seattle.

Oregon Experience: Sam Hill won in the category of Historic/Cultural-Program/Special. Mike Midlo produced the program and Bruce Barrow was the editor. Sam Hill is one of Oregon's most important legendary figures. This documentary explores the life of a man who was not afraid to take risks. He was the key champion of the Columbia Gorge Highway as well as numerous monuments to peace, progress and culture.

Oregon Experience: Abigail Scott Duniway won in the Documentary-Cultural/Historical category. Eric Cain was the producer and Lisa Suinn Kallem was the editor. This documentary profiles Abigail Scott Duniway, a controversial newspaper editor, writer and suffragist who rose from quite ordinary beginnings to become a nationally famed champion of women's rights. It was through Duniway's tireless efforts that women in Oregon gained the right to vote before women on the national level.

Oregon Experience is an exciting new history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of local and national researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home.

The Northwest Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences serves television professionals in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Montana.

OPB Wins Six Society of Professional Journalists Awards

OPB was recognized with six awards at the regional Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) annual awards banquet held Saturday, June 2 in Seattle.

Rob Manning was recognized with a first-place award for Investigative News for his story last fall on Measure 39.

Colin Fogarty won second-place in the General News category for his story on the Sandy River flooding.

Allison Frost and the entire staff won second-place for Oregon Considered in the Newscast category.

A staff effort under the direction of Christy George took third place for the pandemic flu preparation series in the News Series category.

Kristian Foden-Vencil won third place for "Meals on Wheels -- for Fido!" in the Feature News category, and April Baer scored the Honorable Mention in the same category for her story on "Music Therapy."

The Pacific Northwest Excellence in Journalism Contest is among the oldest and largest regional contests in the country. About 2,900 entries were submitted in the regional contest, which includes categories in newspapers, television, online, alternative newspapers and radio. Region 10 includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Montana.

Professional journalists in Hawaii, Pennsylvania, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Florida, Illinois, Connecticut, Utah and Texas judged the entries.

"Judges were impressed by the high caliber of journalism performed daily throughout the Pacific Northwest," said Nathan Isaacs, SPJ's Region 10 director.