New Episode of OREGON EXPERIENCE, "Kam Wah Chung," Airs May 14 at 9pm

In the late 1800s, thousands of Chinese miners came to Eastern Oregon in search of gold. Often these men encountered hostility and violence as they tried to make their way in the West. Among them were two men, Ing Hay and Lung On, who joined forces and opened a business in John Day called Kam Wah Chung – The Golden Flower of Opportunity. The next episode in the Oregon Experience series explores the contributions the two men and their business made to this remote area of Oregon at the turn of the century. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Thursday, May 14 at 9pm.

Kam Wah Chung was a multi-purpose center for the Chinese community. It served as a general store, a temple, a recreation hall, a bunkhouse and labor recruitment center for Chinese miners, but, above all, it was an apothecary.

Ing Hay was a gifted practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and pulsology, able to diagnose ailments by feeling pulse points on a patient’s arm. He was also expert at prescribing herbs from his apothecary to treat these ailments.

Lung On was highly educated, politically savvy and a sharp businessman, literate in Chinese and English. He ran the general store, served as a labor contractor and assisted Ing "Doc" Hay with the practice.

When the mines played out and the Chinese population dwindled, these two men began to focus their attentions on the non-Chinese of Eastern Oregon. At a time when doctors were scarce, "Doc" Hay’s ability to treat infection and cure disease became big news. Over time, Kam Wah Chung became the focal point for medicine in Eastern Oregon, and Doc Hay and Lung On were a welcome sight when illness struck the region. For these and other efforts, these two men became well known and highly regarded members of the community.

Oregon Experience: "Kam Wah Chung" talks to people from the John Day area who remember the two men and the impact they had on everyone they met. Today the recently restored Kam Wah Chung is an Oregon treasure filled with thousands of different herbs and artifacts.

Watch this episode of Oregon Experience online after May 14 and other episodes, anytime at the Oregon Experience Web site.

About Oregon Experience
Oregon Experience is an exciting history series on OPB 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, takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. 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. The Oregon Experience Web site is opb.org/oregonexperience.

OPB Radio Broadcasts Nobel Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu Live from University of Portland

Oregon Public Broadcasting will air a special live broadcast of the 40th Annual Collins Lecture on May 4 with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Presented by the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO), his speech entitled "Transformative Power of Reconciliation in Society" will begin at approximately 7:30pm from the University of Portland, Chiles Center.

For years, Archbishop Tutu has been at the forefront of the crusade to fight racial injustice in South Africa. His work has been recognized by leaders worldwide and in 1984, he became the second South African to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1986, he was elected as the Archbishop of Cape Town and in 1996, he was appointed by President Nelson Mandela to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which investigates human rights violations that occurred during apartheid. Archbishop Tutu is also the recipient of the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism and the Gandhi Peace Prize, and has authored several books.

Tickets to the May 4 event are sold out. However, listeners can tune in to hear the entire speech live on OPB Radio. For a full listing of stations around Oregon and southern Washington, visit our Radio Page. For more information about the event, visit EMO's Web site.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Wins Oregon AP Awards

Oregon Public Broadcasting has won 11 Oregon Associated Press Awards. The announcement came in early April and the awards will be presented at the Oregon Associated Press Broadcast Convention on April 25 at the University of Oregon George S. Turnbull Center in Portland.

"It's quite an achievement," said Morgan Holm, vice president of News and Public Affairs. "To have our entire staff recognized individually and collectively in so many categories really says something about the quality of reporting we have here at OPB."

The Oregon AP Awards are a yearly awards celebration recognizing outstanding Oregon news, radio and broadcast content.

The list of the winners from OPB are:

First Place, Best Treatment of a Single Subject: "On Our Minds" by Allison Frost.

Second Place, Best Treatment of a Single Subject: "Profile of a Military Family" by April Baer.

First Place, Best Feature Story: "Families Host Minor League Players" by Chris Lehman.

Second Place, Best Feature Story: "John Blaufus: PTSD Profile" by April Baer.

First Place, Best Use of Sound: "Project Pooch" by Kristian Foden-Vencil.

First Place, Best News Writing: "Oregon Coast Feels Economic Pinch" by Chris Lehman.

Second Place, Best News Writing: "Urban Rural Reserves" by Rob Manning.

First Place, Best Commentary: "Heterosexual Discrimination" by Courtenay Hameister.

First Place, Best Investigative Reporting: "New ID Rules: Aimed at Terrorists, Tripping Up Everyone" by Christy George.

Second Place, Best Investigative Reporting: "Sheriffs Show United Front on Concealed Weapons Privacy" by Ethan Lindsey.

First Place, Best Web site: "OPBNews.org" by Michael Clapp and Pete Springer.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Nominated for 25 Emmys

Oregon Public Broadcasting has received an astounding 25 nominations in the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 46th Annual Northwest Regional Emmy Award competition.

"To receive a regional Emmy nomination is a tremendous honor, and for OPB to receive 25 nominations is exceptional," said Steve Bass, OPB president and CEO. "We're up against some of the best in broadcasting, so this is a testament to quality work we're producing and the impact it's having on our community."

Award winners will be announced at a ceremony in Seattle in late May.

Nominations:

Community Service
The Silent Invasion; Jeff Douglas, senior vice president & Station Manager

Arts/Entertainment - Feature/Segment
Pinhole Photography (Oregon Art Beat); Vince Patton, producer/reporter

Arts/Entertainment - Program Special
Oregon Art Beat Episode #917; Jessica Martin, executive producer
Oregon Splendor; Todd Sonflieth, producer/editor

Historic/Cultural - Program/Special
Oregon Experience: Lola G. Baldwin; Nadine Jelsing, producer/writer; Wendy Morgan, editor
Oregon Experience: Searching for York; Beth Harrington, producer/writer; Laurance Johnson, co-producer; Ron Craig, consulting producer
Oregon Experience: Civilian Conservation Corps; Kami Horton, producer/writer; Lisa Suinn Kallem, editor
Celilo Revealed (Oregon Field Guide); Vince Patton, Producer/Reporter; Todd Sonflieth, photographer

Sports - Feature/Segment
Electric Drag Racing (Oregon Field Guide); Michael Bendixen, videographer; Vince Patton, producer/reporter; Greg Bond, videographer/editor

Informational/Instructional - Feature/Segment
Reptile Hunter (Oregon Field Guide); Ed Jahn, producer/director
Marmot Dam Removed (Oregon Field Guide); Vince Patton, producer/reporter

Documentary - Cultural/Historical
Oregon Experience: The River They Saw; Eric Cain, producer/writer; Nadine Jelsing, producer/writer; Emily Shreefter, editor

Documentary - Topical
The Silent Invasion; Ed Jahn, producer/writer; Sarah Fox, associate producer; Bruce Barrow, editor; Todd Sonflieth, photographer; Nick Fisher, photographer

Informational/Instructional - Program/Special
Oregon Field Guide 20th Anniversary Special; Steve Amen, executive producer/host; Lisa Kallem, senior video editor

Promotion - Program - Campaign
The Silent Invasion; Mark Buchanan, director, on air creative

Director
Oregon Experience: The River They Saw; Nadine Jelsing, executive producer

Writer - Program
Oregon Experience: Civilian Conservation Corps; Kami Horton, producer/writer
The Silent Invasion; Ed Jahn, writer
Oregon Experience: The River They Saw; Eric Cain, writer
Oregon Experience: Searching for York; Beth Harrington, writer

Photographer - Program
Mt. Washington Climb and Spirit Lake Photoessay (Oregon Field Guide); Michael Bendixen, videographer/editor

Editor - Program
Oregon Experience: The River They Saw; Emily Shreefter, editor
Oregon Experience: Civilian Conservation Corps; Lisa Kallem, editor

Craft Specialty - Musical Composition/Arrangement
The Silent Invasion; Cal Scott, composer

OPB and OMSI Present Two Small Pieces of Glass

In 1609, astronomer Galileo revealed mankind's place in the galaxy. Now, 400 years later, to celebrate the progress we have made since his initial discoveries, 2009 has been declared the International Year of Astronomy.

As part of the celebration, Oregon Public Broadcasting and OMSI will be showing the full-dome planetarium program, Two Small Pieces of Glass, on Sunday, April 19. Three separate screenings will take place at the OMSI Kendall Planetarium at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm. The event is free for OPB and OMSI members with RSVP to rsvp@omsi.edu or by phone at 503.797.4677. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214-3354.

In-between screenings, telescope and planisphere presentations will be given in the lobby by OMSI staff and volunteers and a raffle will be held for event attendees. Prizes include OMSI Planetarium ticket packages, three Firstscope Telescopes, and companion DVDs and books. Cake and refreshments will be provided.

Two Small Pieces of Glass is a companion piece to the documentary 400 Years of the Telescope, a visually stunning chronicle that takes viewers on a sweeping journey from Galileo's initial discovery to today's thrilling quest to discover new worlds in the universe. Presented by Southern Oregon Public Television in Medford, Oregon, the film was written, produced and directed by Emmy award-winner Kris Koenig, with Dan Koehler as the Executive Producer. OPB will be airing the documentary on its stations around Oregon on April 14 at 10pm.

Doors to the event will open one hour prior to the first screening. For more information about the event, please visit OPB's Events page or call OPB at 800.241.8123.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Selected as Initiative Manager for CPB's American Archives Pilot Program

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has selected Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) as the Initiative Manager of the American Archives Pilot Program, a project designed to determine the processes needed to restore, digitize, and preserve public broadcasting’s deteriorating collections of local television and radio content.

“The American Archive will preserve important public media content which can be accessed by Americans of all ages for years to come and in ways now made possible through technology,” said Pat Harrison, president and CEO of CPB. “We are pleased to have the talented team at OPB working with us on this important initiative.”

"We know we've already lost precious footage to deterioration and neglect," says Steve Bass, president and CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting. "We at OPB are honored to be at the forefront of this effort to preserve the pictures and sounds that hold the record of our life as a nation."

As Initiative Manager, OPB will administer a Request For Proposals, awarding approximately $3 million to local public radio and television stations selected to participate in the pilot phase of the project. Awards will go to 25–30 public radio and television licensees, large and small, representing all regions of the country. The grants will help stations pay for locating, digitizing and coding their archive footage.

The pilot project will center on content related to the civil rights movement and World War II. OPB and CPB will release the request for proposals in early April, and announce station grants in mid-June. OPB, along with a team of advisors and historians, will select the participating stations.

In the future, CPB hopes to secure additional funding to establish a much larger library of historic media with a goal of making thousands of hours of material available to the public.