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Wisconsin Public Television's 50th Year Is a Successful One

As Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) looks back at its successful 50th anniversary year. The statewide network was filled with celebrations and achievements, both on- and off-air. From the most comprehensive election coverage available to grand birthday celebrations with the stations many viewers, supporters and donors, the year was filled with excitement as WPT looks ahead to its next 50 years of service.

Local Programming

WPT's local programming provides insight and examination of events, personalities and issues affecting the people of Wisconsin and beyond. News and public affairs programming like Here and Now and In Wisconsin laid the groundwork for local productions. Other series and specials, like The Wisconsin Gardener, the award-winning Wisconsin Stories documentaries and Teen Connection, a teenagers' forum for important discussions about issues affecting high school students like AIDS, obesity and bullying, continued WPT's strong tradition of creating important and exciting programming for Wisconsin.

In an important election year, WPT provided a valuable service to Wisconsin's citizens with both local and national programming aimed at informing and motivating the electorate. From Jan. 1 until Election Day, WPT aired 53 programs related to the election and political process. That is in addition to coverage provided by the eight weekly and nightly national news and information programs offered by WPT.

WPT's local news and public affairs programs also offered extra coverage with Here and Now presenting 65 related segments and In Wisconsin devoting 15 segments to political material. Three debates for Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race were also hosted by WPT for this year's election, offering first-hand access to the candidates for people around the state.

A WPT-produced series, Candidate Statements, offered five minutes of airtime to any candidate for statewide office and created a balanced and uniform forum for issues to be presented directly to the voters without the distracting glitz of political advertising.

WPT's award-winning Wisconsin World War II Stories concluded. The final installments, Pacific and Home Front, rounded out the four-part series that featured and celebrated the efforts of Wisconsin's heroes and soldiers in the war through touching first-person interviews and observations.

WPT also used its vast library of locally produced programming to create a stunning new documentary highlighting the University of Wisconsin Varsity Band's 30-year history of spring band concerts. Spring Fever: 30 Years With the UW Varsity Band looked back at multiple generations of band members under the tutelage of Director of UW Bands Michael Leckrone and his elaborate sequin-emblazoned outfits as they filled the Field House and Kohl Center with rousing pep band music.

National Programming

With years of quality educational and entertaining programming, WPT benefits from its partnership with PBS and other public television companies to bring programs from across the country and around the world into Wisconsin homes. The most popular programs on WPT were a diverse mix of news, history, information, culture and entertainment.

The five most popular programs on WPT were:

-The final night of Democratic National Convention coverage from the NewsHour With Jim Lehrer.

-Antiques Roadshow, the increasingly popular PBS antique appraisal program.

-Secrets of the Dead's "D-Day" episode.

-Keeping Up Appearances, a quirky British comedy.

-American Experience's "The Kennedys" episode.

World Wide Web presence

WPT's Web presence doesn't simply accent and promote the programming broadcast on television. It provides insightful information about community involvement, Wisconsin history and the voting process to create an all-encompassing experience for the citizens of Wisconsin.

Wpt.org continued to be an additional outlet for people wanting more information about the programming and services offered by WPT. As a launching point, the comprehensive Web site provides an outlet for schedules, gift-giving and volunteer opportunities, parent and educator information and more.

As part of WPT's extensive election coverage, the Wisconsin Vote Web site, WisconsinVote.org, provided candidate information and statements from all candidates running for statewide offices. With information about voter registration and procedures, candidate listings and platforms, educational classroom materials, collected reports from statewide newspapers and archived video packages, the site was heavily visited and received more than 27,000 unique hits between Sept. 1 and Nov. 8. When people visited the site, they stayed for an average of more than 10 minutes.

As part of the Wisconsin Cultural Coalition of Wisconsin, WPT sponsors and provides content for PortalWisconsin.org, a Web site designed to promote the state's culture, arts, humanities and history. Portal Wisconsin's traffic continued to increase with Web visitors in the month of November staying at the site an average of 23 minutes with each visit. Also, a number of other public television and radio stations across the country have begun the process of launching similar sites, using PortalWisconsin.org as a model. The Portal Wisconsin staff is offering the training and support needed to help these new portals launch successfully.

Community Outreach

As an integral part of WPT's mission, the station stretches beyond the television screen to interact with citizens and provide critical outreach opportunities. Through community events and projects, WPT brings people together to discuss important issues and celebrate the achievements, diversity and goals of the people of Wisconsin.

WPT's Community Forums on Race and Diversity offer community members an important outlet to watch documentaries dealing with issues affecting them and to discuss them with fellow citizens and community leaders.

WPT utilized PBS' award-winning independent documentary series, P.O.V., to provide material for the forums through powerful films like "Every Mother's Son," a film about parents of children who died from interaction with police officers. After viewing the film, citizens had the opportunity to discuss the issues raised in the film with Wisconsin law enforcement officials. After watching "Farmingville," a film about a community struggling after the brutal murder of two Mexican day laborers, forum attendees had a chance to respond to the film s producers through video taped "letters."

Other outreach projects, like WPT's Ready to Learn workshops and the Wisconsin Bookworms project benefited Wisconsin's children. The Ready to Learn program provided workshops for parents and childcare providers to help them understand their children and create important bonds. The Wisconsin Bookworms project provided more than 5,000 books each month to be distributed to children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to cherish books of their own.

Events and Celebrations

Events and celebrations were an important part of WPT's 50th anniversary year.

The annual Garden Expo at the Alliant Energy Center in February brought spring-minded gardeners out of the winter doldrums to learn important tips from informative seminars, meet with garden experts, like The Wisconsin Gardener producer/host Shelley Ryan, and purchase the newest products for residential lawns and gardens.

The on-air Auction gave viewers a chance to purchase fine art, antiques, valuable services and collectibles provided by merchants from around the state while supporting WPT.

A visit from David Newell, who plays Mr. McFeely on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, highlighted the annual WPT Kids Open House. The event offers parents and childcare providers an opportunity to come to WPT's headquarters in Madison for special activities, games and an opportunity to meet their favorite Wisconsin PBS Kids characters.

Jim Lehrer, host of PBS' long running and critically acclaimed NewsHour program, visited Madison to meet viewers and donors during special weekend events and receptions.

Paula Apsell, executive producer of Nova, visited WPT and also toured UW science labs.

Other events WPT sponsored included:

-A childcare provider training conference.

-A trip to Janesville's Rotary gardens with Shelley Ryan.

-Visits to Madison's Oakwood Village retirement home with WPT personalities, including Ralna English from the Lawrence Welk Show.

-A screening of Nature's "Flight School" program in Wausau.

-The filming of Portage's Hometown History Fair for a future WPT Hometown Stories program.

-A visit from American Experience Executive Producer Mark Samels.

Awards and Achievements

WPT's 50th anniversary brought recognition from peers and other organizations. WPT received an Emmy Award from the Chicago chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the audio work on Wisconsin World War II Stories -- Pacific. Also, WPT's Volunteer Coordinator Don Sanford won the Dorothy Kemps Achievement Award in Volunteer Management, a national award for public broadcasters.

Other WPT accolades included:

-Four regional Emmy nominations for Wisconsin World War II Stories -- Pacific and Here and Now

-Four awards from the National Educational Telecommunications Association

-Alchemy Award of Merit from the Madison chapter of the Public Relations Society of America for the station s 50th anniversary event

-A first-place award and two merit awards from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association

-A local Gold ADDY award and regional Silver ADDY award for Wisconsin World War II Stories promotional campaign

-Five awards from the Milwaukee Press Club

-The WPT production, El Derecho al Trabajo, won a national Gabriel Award for Spanish Informational Programming from the Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals

WPT celebrates 50 years of service to Wisconsin individuals and families. WHA-TV, Madison, signed on the air on May 3, 1954.

WPT is a service of the Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Wisconsin Public Television is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV/DT, Madison; WPNE-TV/DT, Green Bay; WHRM-TV/DT, Wausau; WLEF-TV/DT, Park Falls; WHLA-TV/DT, La Crosse; and WHWC-TV/DT, Menomonie-Eau Claire.