OPB's OREGON FIELD GUIDE Receives Four Telly Awards

Oregon Public Broadcasting producer Vince Patton has received four prestigious Telly Awards for Oregon Field Guide stories that aired during the program's 20th season.

The 30th annual Telly Awards competition received over 13,000 entries from the most-respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, interactive agencies and corporations from all 50 states and countries around the world. It is a fantastic achievement to be selected for recognition.

Patton's segment with videographers Nick Fisher and Todd Sonflieth which documented the removal of the Marmot Dam won a Silver Telly in the Nature/Wildlife category. Unlike daily newscasts, Field Guide was able to document the largest dam removal to date, from start to finish over a six-month time span. Remote cameras were set to record the explosion in "stage one" while two cameras were employed to capture the even more dramatic demolition wrought by Mother Nature in "stage two."

A Silver Telly was also awarded in Sports for Patton's story on "Electric Drag Racing," produced with videographers Greg Bond and Michael Bendixen. In this piece, a gear-head in Gresham turned his 1972 Datsun into a super-powered race car able to leave gleaming Corvettes in his dust -- without a drop of gas. (Incidentally, this segment has been viewed over 1 million times on the OPB Web site and is also posted on YouTube.)

Winning a Bronze Telly in Nature/Wildlife was Patton's feature on "Bighorn Pneumonia." With videographers Tom Shrider and Dave Spangler, Field Guide took two trips to Northeastern Oregon and Idaho in sub-freezing winter and again the following summer to document how biologists are working to end an epidemic killing wild bighorns.

"Ceilio Revealed," produced with videographer Todd Sonflieth, also took a Bronze Telly in the Cultural category. Field Guide broke the story of the first images in 50 years of Celilo Falls as it exists at the bottom of the Columbia River. The remarkable underwater scenes proved the falls were still intact and had not been blown up as many tribes had feared.

Steve Amen is executive producer and host of Oregon Field Guide.

These and other Oregon Field Guide segments can be viewed at the Oregon Field Guide Web site.

About OREGON FIELD GUIDE
In its 20th season, Oregon Field Guide remains a valuable source of information about outdoor recreation, ecological issues, natural resources and travel destinations. Oregon Field Guide airs Thursday evenings at 8:30pm on the television stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting and repeats on Sunday evenings at 6:30pm. In the Mountain Time zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9:30pm Thursdays, and at 7:30pm Sundays.

Mt. Hood Community College Proposes Partnership with Oregon Public Broadcasting to Operate Jazz Station KMHD

Facing a significant budget shortfall due to state funding reductions, the Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) District Board of Education will consider a proposal to transfer the operation of Portland's only all-jazz station, KMHD (89.1 FM), to Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) effective July 1. Under the proposal, MHCC would continue to own the station, while OPB would take over programming, operational and fundraising responsibilities.

MHCC President John J. "Ski" Sygielski said the board of education will give serious consideration at its April 8 meeting to this proposed partnership with OPB. A decision is expected at the May 13 board meeting.

"This partnership would give KMHD the best opportunity to thrive in the future," Sygielski said.

"OPB's intention is to continue to operate KMHD as a jazz station. With a current audience of about 100,000 listeners, we believe that the station can attract an even wider audience through increased promotion and higher visibility to OPB's 1.5 million viewers and listeners," said OPB's president and CEO, Steve Bass. No changes in programming or on-air hosts are planned before July 1.

"At this time, we expect to receive at least $4 million less from the state in 2009-10, with further cuts anticipated beyond next year, so transferring KMHD's operations to OPB is one of the areas where we can reduce costs without compromising a music institution that is important to the College and the community," Sygielski noted.

Sygielski, who became MHCC's president in July 2008, has expanded the College’s outreach and visibility.

"I see this proposed partnership with OPB as providing significant benefits to Mt. Hood Community College in terms of increased visibility and internship opportunities for College students, while allowing us to redirect scarce resources into our academic programs," he said.

Under the proposal, MHCC would receive on-air sponsorship credits and recognition on both KMHD and OPB. OPB would be responsible for all operational costs, eliminating the need for the College to subsidize the station with taxpayer funds.

The proposal calls for OPB to originate programming for KMHD from OPB's studios on S.W. Macadam Ave., near downtown Portland. OPB's central location is expected to draw more event and fundraiser attendees as well as to shorten commutes for many of the volunteer on-air hosts. The station's call letters and city of license (Gresham) would not change and would be identified hourly on the air.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Receives Silver Telly Award

Oregon Public Broadcasting has received the prestigious Silver Telly Award for its Oregon Experience documentary, "Civilian Conservation Corps," produced by Kami Horton.

The 30th annual Telly Awards competition received over 13,000 entries from the most-respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, interactive agencies and corporations from all 50 states and countries around the world. It is a fantastic achievement to be selected for recognition.

Oregon Experience: "Civilian Conservation Corps tells the story of some of the "CCC boys" in Oregon. Recent interviews with former CCC workers, archival film and photos paint a captivating picture of the program that put millions to work on federal and state land for the "prevention of forest fires, floods, and soil erosion, plant, pest, and disease control." Nationwide, enrollees planted three billion trees and came to be known as the Tree Army. Today, Oregonians continue to enjoy the CCC legacy at parks and forests around the state.

Oregon Experience is an ongoing history series co-produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting and the Oregon Historical Society that brings to life fascinating stories that promote the shared identity of Oregonians. Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

To view "Civilian Conservation Corps" or any Oregon Experience episode, or for information on the series, go to the Oregon Experience Web site.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Wins Two Gracie Awards®

Oregon Public Broadcasting has won two prestigious Gracie Awards®. Think Out Loud, OPB's engaging call-in and online radio program, won the Outstanding Talk Show award for its "As We Are" program on abortion. Oregon Experience's "Lola Baldwin" was honored for Outstanding Portrait/Biography.

Think Out Loud was launched in January 2007 and has quickly become the respected destination for individuals in Oregon and southern Washington to engage in discussions that explore the issues, ideas and culture that make the Northwest such a vibrant place. Think Out Loud's "As We Are" is an occasional series focusing on the voices and the stories of people in our society who oftentimes are not heard. The show is hosted by award-winning journalist Emily Harris. David Miller, a veteran radio producer, serves as online host.

Oregon Experience is an exciting history series co-produced with the Oregon Historical Society that brings to life fascinating stories that help Oregonians understand who they are and the shared identity that bonds them. Each half-hour program features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Produced and written by award-winning journalist Nadine Jelsing, "Lola Baldwin" profiles the Oregon woman who, in 1908, became the nation's first policewoman.

Listen to Think Out Loud or explore any of the program's archives at the Think Out Loud Web site. The "As We Are" program on abortion can be heard here. Watch Oregon Experience online at the Oregon Experience Web site and see "Lola Baldwin" in its entirety here.

The Gracie Awards® recognize exemplary programming created for women, by women and about women in all facets of electronic media and is presented annually by the American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT). Each year, the Gracies® attract the best and the brightest in radio, television, cable and Web-based media. The Gracie® winners will be presented their awards in June in New York City. For more information, go to www.thegracies.org.