WSIU Public Broadcasting Press Releases

Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers is This Saturday at Cedarhurst, Mt. Vernon

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:17:33 -0500

Media Advisory - For Saturday, April 28

Contacts:
Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org
Jennifer Sarver, Education Director, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, (618) 242-1236, jennifer@cedarhurst.org

Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers is This Saturday at Cedarhurst, Mt. Vernon

Carbondale, Ill. – Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers, a free family event coming to Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, 2600 Richview Road in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, on Saturday, April 28 from 1-3pm.

Presented by WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of SIU Carbondale, and Cedarhurst, and sponsored by Old National Bank and a grant from the Jim Henson Company, Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers will feature educational dinosaur-themed activities designed to teach children of all ages how to become good stewards of the environment. Of special interest are a series of Nature Trackers Challenge activities for children, which will be conducted along the half-mile trail circling the pond on the Cedarhurst campus.

Event Itinerary and Interview Opportunities

1pm: Check In
Families are asked to check-in near the gift shop entrance of Mitchell Museum where they will receive their ticket, event overview, list of activities, maps, and materials. Staff will be available to answer questions at three information stations scattered around the Cedarhurst campus.

1-3pm: Activities

A variety of activities will take place simultaneously and will include:

Video Viewing Station – Master of Ceremonies David Lister of WDML Radio in Mt. Vernon will lead families in a sing-along in the Performance Hall of the Mitchell Museum. "Nature Trackers" episodes of the PBS KIDS series Dinosaur Train will be screened in the Performance Hall.

Fossilization Station -- Dr. Scott Ishman, a professor of geology at SIU Carbondale, and Samuel Martin, a geology student at SIU Carbondale, will discuss how fossils are made. Dinosaur models will be on display in the Beck Family Center Gallery of the Mitchell Museum. Dinosaur books will be on display at the storytelling area in the Family Center.

Recycling Region Station – Children will learn to sort recyclable materials into bins at this station.

Nature Nation Station -- There will be a dinosaur mural for families to color and activity sheets to help with outdoor games, such as "I Spy." Families will receive Nature Trackers Guidebooks at the back steps of the Mitchell Museum, where they will launch into a half-mile nature walk to complete four Nature Trackers challenges:

Challenge #1 – Tracking
Challenge #2 – Collecting
Challenge #3 – Conservation
Challenge #4 – Community

Families will learn how to be good environmental stewards, take tree rubbings, watch birds and wildlife, find animal tracks, and enjoy the walk together. Completion of the four challenges entitles children to become members of the Nature Trackers Club.

Buddy Bank Station – Buddy the T. Rex will be available at the patio in back of the Mitchell House. Families can take pictures with the friendly dinosaur. There will be standing images of the train and the dinosaurs for picture taking scattered around the Cedarhurst grounds.

Crafts Crest Station – Nature crafts for children are available at the Shrode Art Center. Children will be able to make a windsock and a decorated recyclable bag for carrying their materials.

Sculpture Station – William and Cornelia Adams of Herrin are bringing lifelike dinosaur sculptures to Cedarhurst. These will be on display, along with information about the creatures. Children can feel the texture and take rubbings.

2:30-3pm: Check Out
Families are asked to check out in the grand corridor of the Mitchell Museum. Each family will receive a dinosaur book and other materials.

Interview Opportunities

Jennifer Sarver, Director of Education, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts
Dr. Scott Ishman, Professor of Geology - SIU Carbondale, and Samuel Martin, Geology student at SIU
Cornelia and William Adams, sculptor
Beth Spezia, Outreach Coordinator, WSIU Public Broadcasting

For more information about WSIU's Dinosaur Train Nature Tracker event and a list of frequently asked questions, visit www.wsiu.org/dinotrain. For details about the Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club, visit www.pbs.org/parents/dinosaurtrain/naturetrackers.

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Next Community Cinema Film Screening is April 28

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:16:15 -0500

For Immediate Release
Friday, April 20, 2012

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Next Community Cinema Film Screening is April 28

Carbondale, Ill. – WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and the Carbondale Public Library will host the fourth of five Community Cinema film screenings on Saturday, April 28 at 2:30pm at the library, 405 West Main in Carbondale. The event is free and open to the public.

Saturday's scheduled film is Hell and Back Again, which explores the long-term physical and psychological impact of war on returning soldiers. Wounded in battle in Afghanistan, 25-year-old U.S. Marine Sergeant Nathan Harris returns to North Carolina and his young wife to fight pain, addiction, and the terrifying normalcy of life at home.

Roxanne Carson, the Marion VA's Nurse Case Manager for veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn, will lead a discussion after the film.

Community Cinema is a public education initiative featuring free monthly films from the PBS series Independent Lens. The project was created to bring communities together to learn about, discuss, and get involved in the key social issues of our time. Carbondale is one of more than 95 cities nationwide participating in Community Cinema.

The final Community Cinema film, Strong!, will be screened on May 26.

For more information about Community Cinema, contact Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org. A website with more details is available at wsiu.org/communitycinema. WSIU encourages participants in the screenings to continue the discussion on WSIU's Facebook page at facebook.com/wsiutv.

Community Cinema is a service of Independent Television Services (ITVS) and is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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Area Families invited to Board the Dinosaur Train

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:14:42 -0500

For Immediate Release
Thursday, April 19, 2012

Contacts: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org
Jennifer Sarver, Education Director, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, (618) 242-1236, jennifer@cedarhurst.org

Area Families invited to Board the Dinosaur Train
WSIU and Local Sponsors to Co-host Public Event on April 28

Carbondale, Ill. – Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Old National Bank, and WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, invite the general public to join them for “Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers,” a free PBS KIDS event to be held on Saturday, April 28 from 1-3pm at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, 2600 Richview Road in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

This fun-filled afternoon will include educational dinosaur-themed activities that will teach children of all ages how to become good stewards of the environment.

Activities include screenings of the PBS KIDS television series Dinosaur Train, a nature walk and other Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers activities, dinosaur storytelling and crafts, dinosaur sculptures and models, fossil explorations, and photo opportunities with costume character Buddy the T-Rex of the Dinosaur Train series. Families are asked to bring their cameras.

Children will have the opportunity to earn a Nature Trackers Club membership by participating in several Nature Tracker Challenge exercises. Families will take home a free children's book.

Families also are invited to stroll through Cedarhurst's Sculpture Park where life-like dinosaur sculptures will be on display courtesy of William and Cornelia Adams of Herrin, Illinois.

Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers has been coordinated in partnership with Cedarhurst Center for the Arts and is made possible by a grant from The Jim Henson Company, with additional funding by event sponsor Old National Bank.

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About the Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club
Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club is a community of young children, their families, and educators committed to learning about nature and doing good things for their environment.

About Dinosaur Train
Dinosaur Train follows Buddy the Tyrannosaurus Rex as he embarks on whimsical voyages through prehistoric jungles, swamps, volcanoes, and oceans. The program encourages basic scientific thinking and teaches children about life science, natural history, and paleontology. Dinosaur Train airs weekdays at 8:30am on the WSIU Television stations.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

About Cedarhurst Center for the Arts
Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, located at 2600 Richview Road in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, celebrates the arts year-round with exciting visual and performing arts programs for the public. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 1-5pm. For more information about Cedarhurst, visit www.cedarhurst.org or call (618) 242-1236. Cedarhurst Center for the Arts is an activity of the John R. and Eleanor R. Mitchell Foundation.

About Old National
Old National Bancorp is the largest financial services holding company headquartered in Indiana and, with $8.6 billion in assets, ranks among the top 100 banking companies in the United States. Since its founding in Evansville in 1834, Old National has focused on community banking by building long-term, highly valued partnerships with clients in its primary footprint of Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. In addition to providing extensive services in retail and commercial banking, wealth management, investments and brokerage, Old National also owns Old National Insurance which is one of the top 100 largest agencies in the US and the 10th largest bank-owned insurance agency. For more information and financial data, please visit Investor Relations at oldnational.com.

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WSIU-TV Program Turns Spotlight on Home Brewing

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:27:56 -0500

For Immediate Release
Monday, April 9, 2012

Contact: David Kidd, WSIU-TV Producer, (618) 453-5887, david.kidd@wsiu.org

WSIU-TV Program Turns Spotlight on Home Brewing

Carbondale, Ill. -- WSIU InFocus, a weekly local public television series produced by WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, will present Home Brewers, a half-hour special on beer-making in southern Illinois this Friday, April 13 from 7:30-8pm on WSIU-TV's primary HD channels, WSIU-TV 8.1 and WUSI-TV 16.1.

Home Brewers will repeat on WSIU's primary HD channels on Sunday, April 15 at 12:30pm and Friday, April 20 at 5pm. It also will repeat on WSIU's WORLD Channels, WSIU-TV 8.2 and WUSI-TV 16.2, on Saturday, April 14 at 4pm, Sunday, April 15 at 9pm, and Monday, April 16 at 8pm. The episode also will be available for viewing online at www.wsiu.org/infocus after this Friday's initial broadcast.

Ryan Tockstein of Benton, Ill., president of the Southern Illinois Brewers (www.sibrewers.com) club and co-owner of Scratch Brewing Company, in Ava, Ill., shows how easy it is to brew beer at home from scratch using a method called "all grain" brewing. WSIU InFocus also visits with several other club members to compare and contrast their operations to those used by Tockstein's.

Home brewing systems can be fairly elaborate, as the WSIU InFocus crew learns when they examine a heat-controlled mash tun (pronounced “tune”) built by Sam Davis of rural Du Quoin, Ill. Davis felt he needed to build this device in order to have complete control over his mash temperature during the process of steeping barley malts into wort (pronounced “wirt,” as in “dirt”). Wort is the starchy essence of barley malts steeped in hot water, to which yeast is then added to cause fermentation.

WSIU InFocus also discovers that brewing can be very simple from Marika Josephson of Carbondale, vice-president of the Southern Illinois Brewers club, co-owner with Tockstein of Scratch Brewing Company, and an SIU graduate student who built her basic brewing system on a college student budget. Josephson uses special ingredients, such as dandelions, to augment the hops she adds to her wort as a bittering and flavoring agent. Both Josephson and Davis make award-winning beers and ales.

WSIU also introduces home brewers Matt McCarroll and his wife, Jen, who are the owners of Windy Hill Hops Farm in rural Murphysboro, Ill., where they grow and sell organic hops for local brewers and offer specialty brewing supplies and ingredients.

As the home brewing trend gains popularity around the country, even non-brewers are jumping on the craft beer bandwagon. Brands never before imported are showing up on store shelves and an explosion of domestic microbreweries and brew pubs is taking place as people develop a thirst to explore hundreds of new styles of beer.

Shawn Connelly of Carbondale, Ill., a local beer expert known as the Beer Philosopher, blogs about this trend on his site at beerphilosopher.blogspot.com. Connelly's expertise about beers and flair for writing about them led to his position as the style writer for the national publication Beer Connoisseur. In order to help develop local appreciation for beer, Connelly conducts regular tastings open to the public at Kindling in Carterville, Ill.

The growing number of home brewers in southern Illinois is one of the reasons why Ryan Tockstein founded the Southern Illinois Brewers beer club. Home brewers are constantly seeking to improve their skills and need feedback about the quality of their handcrafted beers, which many people believe exceeds the quality and originality of commercially-produced beer. Club members sample each other's beers at meetings, prepare for contests, and share the best they have to offer at regional festivals, such as the Big Muddy Monster Brew Fest at Riverside Park in Murphysboro, Ill.

As the excitement for locally-brewed craft beers continues to grow, club members hope to follow in the footsteps of local vintners and open a network of local breweries as an adjunct to the region's successful wine industry. Dubbed the “Beer Path” by Matt McCarroll, this new regional industry hopes to add to the long list of reasons why so many people consider southern Illinois a great place to visit, live, work, and play.

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About WSIU InFocus
WSIU InFocus is a weekly half-hour program on WSIU Public Television that turns the spotlight on the people, places, events, and issues of our region. Co-hosts George Norwood and Roz Rice introduce a combination of field-produced and in-studio segments covering topics such as the arts and education, family and community, regional history, cultural identity, and news and public affairs. The program airs Fridays at 7:30pm on WSIU-TV 8 and WUSI-TV 16. Viewers are invited to ask questions, share comments, and offer programming suggestions at (618) 453-6156 or infocus@wsiu.org.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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WSIU Invites Public to “Share A Story” at the 5th Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:50:04 -0500

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU outreach coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

WSIU Invites Public to “Share A Story” at the 5th Annual
Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival

Carbondale, Ill. – No one can tell a story quite like PBS… and no one can tell your story better than you!

WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is inviting the general public to share their stories, family histories, and funny tales at the WSIU “Share A Story” audio recording booth, at the 5th Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival in the city's historic riverfront district.

WSIU's “Share A Story” booth will be located near Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus and will open to the public Saturday, April 14 from 1-7pm. Visitors should look for WSIU's branded canopy and colorful PBS KIDS Literacy Van.

Storytellers who spin their tales will receive a CD copy of their recording as a keepsake, along with educational materials and other giveaway items. WSIU Public Radio will feature the recorded stories and a photo of each storyteller online at wsiu.org at a later date.

To see photos and listen to stories recorded at the festival in previous years, select the “Radio” tab on WSIU's homepage at wsiu.org, then select “Radio Voices: The Storytellers.”

The Storytelling Festival will be held Friday, April 13 through Sunday, April 15. Festivities begin at 9am on April 13 and end in the afternoon on April 15. This year's master storytellers are Sheila Kay Adams, Dan Keding, Jennifer Munro, Kim Weitkamp, Larry Brown, and Jessica Carleton. For a complete event schedule, visit capestorytelling.com.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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Media Advisory - Screening of “Revenge of the Electric Car” is This Saturday

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:37:25 -0500

Media Advisory
For Saturday, March 31, 2012

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Screening of “Revenge of the Electric Car” is This Saturday

Carbondale, Ill. - Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover the third of five free Community Cinema film screenings this Saturday, March 31 at 2:30pm at the Carbondale Public Library, 405 West Main in Carbondale.

Ralph Tate, director of the SIU School of Information Systems & Applied Technology, will lead a discussion after the film and will display an electric car he and his father built.

This Saturday's film is Revenge of the Electric Car, a one-hour documentary that goes behind the closed doors of Nissan, GM, and Tesla Motors to chronicle the story of the global resurgence of electric cars.

Sponsored and presented by WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and the Carbondale Public Library, Community Cinema is a public education initiative featuring free monthly films from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens. Carbondale is one of more than 95 cities nationwide participating in the project, which is designed to bring communities together to learn about, discuss, and get involved in the key social issues of our time.

Upcoming screenings include: Hell and Back Again (April 28), and Strong! (May 26).

For more information about WSIU's Community Cinema project, contact Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org. A website with more details is available at wsiu.org/communitycinema. Participants in the screenings are invited to continue the discussion on WSIU's Facebook page at facebook.com/wsiutv.

Community Cinema is a service of Independent Television Services (ITVS) and is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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Local Film Screening on March 31 to Explore Rise of Electric Car

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:39:39 -0500

For Immediate Release
Monday, March 26, 2012

Contacts:
Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Local Film Screening on March 31 to Explore Rise of Electric Car
SIU Faculty Member to Display Homebuilt Electric Car

Carbondale, Ill. - WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and the Carbondale Public Library will host the third of five Community Cinema film screenings on Saturday, March 31 at 2:30pm at the library, 405 West Main in Carbondale. The event is free and open to the public.

Saturday's scheduled film is Revenge of the Electric Car, a one-hour documentary by filmmaker Chris Paine who takes his crew behind the closed doors of Nissan, GM, and the Silicon Valley start-up Tesla Motors to chronicle the story of the global resurgence of electric cars. Without using a single drop of foreign oil, this new generation of car is America's future: fast, furious, and cleaner than ever.

A discussion led by Ralph Tate, director of the SIU School of Information Systems & Applied Technology, will follow the film. Tate also will display an electric car he and his father built.

Community Cinema is a public education initiative featuring free monthly films from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens, which brings to light unforgettable stories about unique individuals, underrepresented communities, or pivotal moments in history. Carbondale is one of more than 95 cities nationwide participating in the project, which is designed to bring communities together to learn about, discuss, and get involved in the key social issues of our time.

Additional screenings include: Hell and Back Again (April 28), and Strong! (May 26). Each screening will feature a facilitator and guest speakers who will participate in a discussion with the audience about the topics raised in the films.

For more information about WSIU's Community Cinema screenings, contact Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org and visit the program's website at www3.wsiu.org/television/series/community-cinema.php. WSIU encourages participants in the screenings to continue the discussion on WSIU's Facebook page at facebook.com/wsiutv.

The Community Cinema initiative is a service of Independent Television Services (ITVS) and is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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WSIU Radio's Jennifer Fuller Wins Associated Press Award

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:08:15 -0500

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Contact: Jennifer Fuller, WSIU Public Radio news reporter and morning news anchor, (618) 453-6245, jennifer.fuller@wsiu.org; Jeff Williams, WSIU Public Radio general manager and news & public affairs director, (618) 453-6170, jeff.williams@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill. – [ http://www.wsiu.org/radio ]WSIU Public Radio, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is pleased to announce that reporter and morning news anchor, Jennifer Fuller, host of Morning Conversations, has been named the Best Radio Reporter in downstate Illinois for 2011 by the [ http://illinois.ap.org ]Illinois Associated Press Broadcasters Association. Fuller also won awards from the Illinois AP in 2009 and 2006.

A native of Carterville, Ill., Fuller graduated from SIU Carbondale in 2000 with a Bachelor's degree in Radio-Television and earned a Master's degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois-Springfield in 2001.

As an undergraduate student at SIU from 1996-2000, Fuller worked part-time at WSIU Radio and WSIU-TV. After a nearly three-year stint at Saga Communications and WTAX AM 1240 in Springfield, Ill., she returned to WSIU Radio in 2003 as a reporter and morning news anchor.

[ http://www.wsiu.org/radio ]WSIU Public Radio is a service of SIU Carbondale and operates WSIU 91.9 FM and 91.9 HD in Carbondale, WUSI 90.3 FM in Olney, and WVSI 88.9 FM in Mt. Vernon. To learn more about the stations, visit www.wsiu.org.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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Local Teachers Benefit From New Statewide Education Service

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:49:46 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Contacts: Beth Spezia, WSIU outreach coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org; Vickie Devenport, WSIU outreach coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Local educators available for interview:

Marybeth McCormick, second grade teacher, Sparta Primary Center, (618) 443-5331 - call after 3pm, t_teach4@hotmail.com.

Mary Ann Quivey, curriculum and technology specialist for ROE 45 - Monroe & Randolph counties, (618) 826-5471, mquivey@roe45.org

Dr. Marc Kiehna, superintendent for ROE 45 - Monroe & Randolph counties, (618) 939-5650 in Waterloo office, (618) 826-5471 in Chester office, mkiehan@roe45.org

Local Teachers Benefit From New Statewide Education Service

Springfield, Ill. - Public television and public radio stations in Illinois have entered into an unprecedented partnership to create and launch [ http://illinois.pbslearningmedia.org ]Illinois PBS LearningMedia , a free, on-demand digital media resource designed to help PreK-12 educators integrate technology to teach core subjects in the classroom.

“[ http://illinois.pbslearningmedia.org ]Illinois PBS LearningMedia is a high quality tool teachers can use as they personalize lesson plans for classes and individual students,” said Christopher A. Koch, Illinois State Superintendent of Education. “Having the ability to go to one place and search thousands of electronic resources that can be used immediately helps teachers make connections with their digital students.”

“Public media has been delivering educational content for years, so it's a natural fit to create this resource benefiting both teachers and students,” said Greg Petrowich, chair of IPBC's Education Committee and executive director of WSIU Public Broadcasting in Carbondale, Ill. “Giving teachers direct access to the highest quality content public broadcasting has to offer is certain to spark even greater innovation in our education system.”

[ http://illinois.pbslearningmedia.org ]Illinois PBS LearningMedia allows educators in Illinois access to 22,000 local and national, classroom-ready digital resources from PBS and other public media stations. Resources are aligned with state and national Common Core education standards. These resources include videos, interactive images, audio files, mobile apps, and lesson plans, which teachers can access and sort by grade level and topic to build their own personal libraries.

Last fall, Illinois public media stations commissioned a pilot study of the service with 74 teachers representing 43 public and private schools across the state. The study, created by Dr. Evangeline S. Pianfetti of the University of Illinois College of Education and other researchers, confirmed that digital resources help local teachers strengthen connections with students. Results of the pilot study are available online at [ http://illinois.pbslearningmedia.org ]http://illinois.pbslearningmedia.org.

“We are very pleased to hear teachers finding the value that PBS LearningMedia is providing Illinois students and educators, and talking about it!” said Rob Lippincott, PBS Senior Vice President, PBS Education. “As America's largest classroom, PBS, in partnership with all Illinois member stations, is committed to offering innovative digital tools and resources for every teacher in Illinois and in classrooms nationwide.”

According to the pilot study, participating teachers unanimously recommend Illinois PBS LearningMedia for its ease of use, variety and diversity of resources, high-quality content, connection to curriculum, ability to engage students, and free access.

Says Marybeth McCormick, a second grade teacher at Sparta Primary Center in Sparta, Ill.. “I enjoy being able to find many resources in one place, especially resources that are educationally based."

New content continues to be added to the online service, which includes resources from PBS, public media stations around the state and country, the National Archives, the Library of Congress, National Geographic, NASA, the National Science Foundation, NPR, and the U.S. Department of Education.

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WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

About Illinois Public Broadcasters
The 20 PBS and NPR member stations in Illinois form the largest broadcasting network in the state, reaching nearly 100 percent of households. The stations collaborate to deliver timely news, sports, documentary, arts, and educational programming to citizens.

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Illinois Public Broadcasting Stations Collaborate to Launch New Service for Educators

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:56:33 -0600

For Immediate Release
Friday, March 2, 2012

***Embargoed until March 5, 2012***

Contacts:
Mark Leonard, President, Illinois Public Broadcasting Council and General Manager, Illinois Public Media - WILL (University of Illinois), (217) 333-7300, mleonard@illinois.edu

Greg Petrowich, Chair, Illinois Public Broadcasting Council Education Committee, and Executive Director, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-4344, greg.petrowich@wsiu.org

Educator available for interview:
Elizabeth Slifer, 4th grade teacher, Carrie Busey Elementary, Champaign, sliferel@champaignschools.org

Illinois public media stations: See contact list at end of this press release

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Illinois Public Broadcasting Stations Collaborate to Launch New Service for Educators

Springfield, Ill. - Public television and public radio stations in Illinois have entered into an unprecedented partnership to create and launch Illinois PBS LearningMedia, a free, on-demand media resource designed to help PreK-12 educators integrate technology to teach core subjects in the classroom.

“Illinois PBS LearningMedia is a high quality tool teachers can use as they personalize lesson plans for classes and individual students,” said Christopher A. Koch, Illinois State Superintendent of Education. “Having the ability to go to one place and search thousands of electronic resources that can be used immediately helps teachers make connections with their digital students.”

“We are excited to help introduce 21st century tools to classrooms statewide,” said Mark Leonard, president of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council (IPBC) and general manager of Illinois Public Media-WILL in Urbana. “In conjunction with PBS LearningMedia, teachers around the state can now access the rich libraries of public television and radio content, and integrate these resources into their lesson plans at no cost to the local schools.~Our school-aged children deserve access to the most trustworthy, engaging, educational resources available, which is at the heart of what public broadcasters do.”

Illinois PBS LearningMedia allows educators in Illinois access to 22,000 local and national, classroom-ready digital resources from PBS and other public media stations. Resources are aligned with state and national Common Core education standards. These resources include videos, interactive images, audio files, mobile apps, and lesson plans, which teachers can access and sort by grade level and topic to build their own personal libraries.

“Public media has been delivering educational content for years, so it's a natural fit to create this resource benefiting both teachers and students,” said Greg Petrowich, chair of IPBC's Education Committee and executive director of WSIU Public Broadcasting in Carbondale. “Giving teachers direct access to the highest quality content public broadcasting has to offer is certain to spark even greater innovation in our education system.”

“It's awesome to have thousands of video clips at my fingertips at any given time,” said Michael Carton, who teaches first and second grade at the Center for Math and Science in Rock Island.

Marybeth McCormick, a second grade teacher at Sparta Primary Center in Sparta, Ill., agrees. “I enjoy being able to find many resources in one place, especially resources that are educationally based,” she said.

Heather Beck, a vocal music instructor at Our Lady of Grace Academy in East Moline, found the service easy to use and well-organized. “I was able to navigate (the site) easily and locate all the resources I wanted to use with minimal difficulty.”

KiLee Lidwell-McFerren, who teaches high school art at Gibson City High School in Gibson City, appreciates the variety of resources available to educators. “I liked that the new assets were added as the weeks went by. Knowing that there might be new ones added made me look more frequently, and I will continue to use it to look for new supports/ideas.”

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For local comments and story content, please contact the following Illinois' public media stations:

WEIU FM & TV - Charleston, Ke'an Armstrong, 217-581-7193, ksarmstrong@eiu.edu
WBEZ - Chicago Public Media, Torey Malatia, 312-948-4600, tmalatia@chicagopublicradio.org
WTTW11 - Chicago, Carmen Schmidt, 773-509-5523, cschmidt@wttw.com
Northern Public Radio - DeKalb, Staci Hoste, 815-753-0080, staci.h@niu.edu
WDCB Public Media - Glen Ellyn, Clarise Kavooras, 630-942-3707, nickols@cod.edu
Tri States Public Radio - Macomb, Dorie Valillo, 309-298-1873, d-vallillo@wiu.edu
WQPT - Moline, Ana Kehoe, 309-764-2400, at-kehoe@wiu.edu
WGLT - Normal, Pat Peterson, 309-438-3581, pat@wglt.org or pkpeter@ilstu.edu
WTVP & wtvp.org, Public Media for Central Illinois - Peoria - Linda Miller, 309-495-0591, linda.miller@wtvp.org
WCBU Public Media - Peoria, Tom Hunt, 309-677-2764, thunt@bradley.edu
WQUB-FM - Quincy, Bob Weirather, 217-228-5432, ext. 4003, weiraro@quincy.edu
WVIK-FM - Rock Island, Jay Pearce, 309-794-7554, jaypearce@wvik.org
WSEC/WMEC/WQEC TV 14 - Springfield, Ed Strong, 217-483-7887, estrong@wsec.tv
WUIS-FM - Springfield, Bill Wheelhouse, 217-206-9847, wwhee2@uis.edu
WYCC TV 20 - Chicago, Phyllis Stevens, 773-487-1325, pstevens@ccc.edu
Illinois Public Media, WILL (University of Illinois) - Urbana, Molly Delaney, 217-333-7300, delaney1@illinois.edu
WSIU Public Broadcasting - Carbondale/Olney/Mt. Vernon - Beth Spezia, 618-453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

About PBS
PBS, with its nearly 360 member stations, offers all Americans - from every walk of life - the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches 124 million people through television and 20 million people online. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS' premier children's TV programming and its website,~pbskids.org, are parents' and teachers' most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at~pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following~PBS on Twitter,~Facebook~or through our~apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom~or by following~PBSPressroom on Twitter.

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Media Advisory - Press Conference

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:39:16 -0600

Media Advisory – Press Conference
For Monday, March 5, 2012

Contact: Molly Delaney, Illinois Public Media - WILL (University of Illinois), (217) 714-0856, delaney1@illinois.edu

Illinois Public Media Stations Launch New Statewide Service for Illinois Teachers

Springfield, Ill. - Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to a press conference to be held on Monday, March 5 at 11am at the Illinois Capitol Building Rotunda, 301 South Second Street in Springfield, Illinois.

Presented by the public broadcasting stations of Illinois, the press conference announces the launch of Illinois PBS LearningMedia, a free, on-demand education resource offering 22,000 digital media resources to help educators transform teaching and learning in Illinois classrooms. The results of a statewide research study to evaluate the effectiveness of the new service among Illinois teachers also will be released.

Guest speakers at the press conference include Mark Leonard, president of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council and general manager of Illinois Public Media - WILL at the University of Illinois in Urbana, and Greg Petrowich, chair of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council Education Committee and executive director of WSIU Public Broadcasting at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

A question-and-answer session with media will follow the introduction and presentations.

Free parking is available at the Illinois State Visitors' Center located at Pasfield and Edwards Street in Springfield. Paid parking is available in the Springfield municipal parking lot at Fourth and Capitol Streets.

Interview opportunities:

* Mark Leonard, President, Illinois Public Broadcasting Council and General Manager, Illinois Public Media - WILL (University of Illinois), (217) 333-7300, mleonard@illinois.edu

* Greg Petrowich, Chair, Illinois Public Broadcasting Council Education Committee, and Executive Director, WSIU Public Broadcasting (SIU Carbondale), (618) 453-4344, greg.petrowich@wsiu.org

* Molly Delaney, Educational Outreach Director, Illinois Public Media - WILL (University of Illinois), 217-333-7300, delaney1@illinois.edu

* Beth Spezia, Educational Outreach Coordinator, WSIU Public Broadcasting (SIU Carbondale), (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

* Linda Miller, Vice President of Programming, WTVP & wtvp.org - Public Media for Central Illinois, (309) 495-0591, linda.miller@wtvp.org

* Ke'an Armstrong, Publicity, Promotion & Outreach Manager, WEIU FM & TV (Charleston), (217-581-7193, ksarmstrong@eiu.edu

* Clarise Kavooras, Assistant Coordinator of Operations, WDCB Public Media (Glen Ellyn), (630) 942-3707, nickols@cod.edu

Details about additional guests available for interview are still being finalized.

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Media Advisory - Community Cinema Saturday, February 25 2:30pm

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:36:44 -0600

Media Advisory
For Saturday, February 25, 2:30pm

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill. -- Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to cover the second of five installments of WSIU Public Broadcasting's Community Cinema project, which features free monthly screenings and discussion of films from the PBS series Independent Lens.

The event will be held this Saturday, February 25 at 2:30pm at the Carbondale Public Library, 405 West Main, and will feature a screening of More Than A Month. This film documents filmmaker Shukree Hassan Tilghman's efforts as he campaigns across the country to end Black History Month in favor of a more inclusive history curriculum in American schools.

Pat Mayberry from the NAACP-Carbondale Chapter and the African American Museum of Southern Illinois will lead a discussion after the screening along with Phillip Garcia. Phillip Garcia is a graduate student in Social Work at SIU Carbondale and a member of the Progressive Masculinity Mentors (PMM) group.

All Community Cinema film screenings will be held at the library on the last Saturday of every month at 2:30pm through May 2012. Each screening will feature a facilitator and guest speakers. The remaining Community Cinema schedule is as follows:

Revenge of the Electric Car - Saturday, March 31, 2:30pm
Hell and Back Again - Saturday, April 28, 2:30pm
Strong! - Saturday, May 26, 2:30pm

About Community Cinema
Community Cinema is a public education initiative featuring free monthly films from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens, which brings to light unforgettable stories about unique individuals, underrepresented communities, or pivotal moments in history. Carbondale is one of more than 95 cities nationwide who are participating in the project, which brings together leading organizations, community members, and public television stations to address the key social issues of our time. The Community Cinema initiative is a service of Independent Television Services (ITVS) and is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Interview Opportunities
Pat Mayberry, NAACP-Carbondale Chapter and African American Museum of Southern Illinois

Phillip Garcia, SIUC Graduate Student (Social Work) and member of the Progressive Masculinity Mentors (PMM) group, garcia@siu.edu

Vickie Devenport, Outreach Coordinator, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

# # #

Community Cinema Film Screening is February 25

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:51:27 -0600

For Immediate Release
Friday, February 17, 2012

Contacts:
Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Community Cinema Film Screening is February 25

Carbondale, Ill. – WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and the Carbondale Public Library will host the second of five Community Cinema film screenings on Saturday, February 25 at 2:30pm at the library, 405 West Main in Carbondale. The event is free and open to the public.

Saturday's scheduled film is More Than A Month, a one-hour documentary by 29-year-old African American filmmaker Shukree Hassan Tilghman about his cross-country campaign to end Black History Month. Through his tongue-in-cheek journey, Tilghman investigates what the treatment of history tells us about race and equality in a “post-racial” America.

A discussion led by representatives of the NAACP-Carbondale Chapter and the African American Museum of Southern Illinois will follow the film. Also joining the discussion panel is Philliip Garcia, a graduate student in Social Work at SIUC and a member of the Progressive Masculinity Mentors (PMM) group.

Community Cinema is a public education initiative featuring free monthly films from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens, which brings to light unforgettable stories about unique individuals, underrepresented communities, or pivotal moments in history. Carbondale is joining more than 95 cities nationally who are currently participating in the project, which brings together leading organizations, community members, and public television stations to learn about, discuss, and get involved in the key social issues of our time.

Additional screenings include: Revenge of the Electric Car (March 31), Hell and Back Again (April 28), and Strong! (May 26). Each screening will feature a facilitator and guest speakers who will participate in a discussion with the audience about the topics raised in the films.

For more information about WSIU's Community Cinema screenings, contact Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org. A website with more details will be available soon at wsiu.org/communitycinema. WSIU encourages participants in the screenings to continue the discussion on WSIU's Facebook page at facebook.com/wsiutv.

The Community Cinema initiative is a service of Independent Television Services (ITVS) and is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

WSIU to Broadcast Live Coverage of Governor Quinn's State of the State Address

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:45:27 -0600

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Contact: Jak Tichenor, Senior Producer, WSIU Public Television, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org

WSIU to Broadcast Live Coverage of Governor Quinn's State of the State Address

Carbondale, Ill. -- The public media series Illinois Lawmakers will produce live coverage of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's State of the State Address to the Illinois General Assembly on Wednesday, February 1 from 12-1:30pm.

WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), will broadcast the speech live on their primary HD channels, WSIU-TV 8.1 and WUSI-TV 16.1, with a repeat at 11pm on the same channels. Additional repeats will air on WSIU WORLD, channels 8.2 and 16.2, on February 1 at 7pm and again on Friday, February 3 at 8pm.

WSIU Public Radio also will carry the Governor's address live, with additional coverage provided that same day by the WSIU Radio news team during local breaks on All Things Considered, which airs from 3-6:30pm.

Illinois Lawmakers host Jak Tichenor will anchor the program, which will include bipartisan reaction to the Governor's speech and analysis from veteran Statehouse correspondents.

“Governor Quinn is expected to present his legislative agenda for the spring session during the speech, and has already pledged to make pension reform his top priority for the year,” Tichenor said. With more than $85-million in unfunded pension liabilities, Illinois has the worst funded public pension system in the country.

Illinois Lawmakers is also planning live coverage of the Governor's annual Budget Message on Wednesday, February 22 at 12pm. Stay tuned to WSIU for details.

Since 1985, Illinois Lawmakers has provided in-depth coverage of the Illinois General Assembly for a statewide public television audience, making it the longest-running television series of its kind in the state. Illinois Lawmakers is a joint production of WSIU-TV Carbondale, WTVP-TV Peoria, and Illinois Public Media (WILL) Urbana-Champaign. Learn more online at illinoislawmakers.org.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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Media Advisory - Community Cinema Film Screenings Begin This Saturday at Carbondale Public Library

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:35:55 -0600

Media Advisory
For Tomorrow, Saturday, January 28, 2012

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Community Cinema Film Screenings Begin This Saturday
at Carbondale Public Library

Carbondale, Ill. -- Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to cover the debut of Community Cinema, a civic engagement initiative featuring free monthly screenings of films from the PBS series Independent Lens, beginning this Saturday, January 28 at 2:30pm with the film Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock. The event will be held at the Carbondale Public Library, located at 405 West Main.

Community Cinema is presented locally by WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and the Carbondale Public Library, and is designed to bring communities together to learn about and discuss key social issues of our time.

All film screenings will be held at the library on the last Saturday of every month at 2:30pm from January through May 2012. Each screening will feature a discussion facilitator and special guests who will discuss the topics addressed in each film.

Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock tells the story of the civil rights activist who led the charge to desegregate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. The NAACP-Carbondale chapter and the African American Museum of Southern Illinois will provide a facilitator for the post-screening discussion. Refreshments will be served.

The remaining Community Cinema schedule is as follows:

More Than A Month - Saturday, February 25, 2:30pm
Revenge of the Electric Car -Saturday, March 31, 2:30pm
Hell and Back Again - Saturday, April 28, 2:30pm
Strong! - Saturday, May 26, 2:30pm

For more details about the project, contact Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org. Project web pages will be posted soon to wsiu.org.

# # #

WSIU, Carbondale Public Library Present 'Community Cinema'

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:37:53 -0600

For Immediate Release
Friday, January 27, 2012

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

WSIU, Carbondale Public Library Present 'Community Cinema'
Free Monthly Film Screenings To Begin January 28

Carbondale, Ill. – WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and the Carbondale Public Library have partnered to launch Community Cinema, a series of free film screenings scheduled for the last Saturday of every month at 2:30pm, from January through May 2012.

All screenings will be held at the library, located at 405 West Main in Carbondale, beginning on Saturday, January 28 with Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock. The NAACP-Carbondale Chapter and the African American Museum of Southern Illinois will facilitate the discussion after the film. Refreshments will be served.

Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock tells the story of a seven-year journey by filmmaker Sharon La Cruise to discover the life of a forgotten civil rights activist named Daisy Bates. A black woman who was a feminist before the term was invented, Bates became a household name in 1957 when she fought for the right of nine black students to attend the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her public support culminated in a constitutional crisis – pitting a president against a governor and a community against itself. Unconventional, revolutionary, and egotistical, Bates reaped the rewards of instant fame, but paid dearly for it. Additional details about the film are available at pbs.org/independentlens/daisybates.

Community Cinema is a groundbreaking public education and civic engagement initiative featuring free monthly films from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens, which brings to light unforgettable stories about unique individuals, underrepresented communities, and pivotal moments in history. Carbondale is joining more than 95 cities nationally who are currently participating in the project. Community Cinema brings together leading organizations, community members, and public television stations to learn about, discuss, and get involved in the key social issues of our time.

The remaining schedule is as follows: More Than a Month (February 25), Revenge of the Electric Car (March 31), Hell and Back Again (April 28), and Strong! (May 26). Each screening will feature a facilitator and guest speakers who will participate in a discussion with the audience about the topics raised in the films.

For more information about WSIU's Community Cinema screenings, contact Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org. A website with more details will be available soon at wsiu.org/communitycinema. WSIU encourages participants in the screenings to continue their discussion of the films on WSIU's Facebook page at facebook.com/wsiutv.

The Community Cinema initiative is a service of Independent Television Services (ITVS) and is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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WSIU TV to Debut New Local Arts Series

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:05:12 -0600

For Immediate Release
Friday, January 13, 2011

Contacts:
Darryl Moses, Associate Director for TV & Video Services, (618) 453-6191, darryl.moses @wsiu.org
Tamara John, WSIU Graduate Assistant and Expressions Producer, (618) 453-8096, tamara.john@wsiu.org

WSIU-TV to Debut New Local Arts Series

Carbondale, Ill. - WSIU Public Television, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is pleased to announce the debut of Expressions, a new weekly local series that turns the spotlight on regional artists and their work. Each half-hour episode follows artists on their journey toward creativity and showcases both their inspirations and the various techniques they use to create works of art.

Hosted by Najjar Abdul-Musawwir, an internationally recognized artist and an Associate Professor of Art in SIU Carbondale's School of Art and Design, Expressions will air Thursdays at 9pm beginning January 19, with repeats on Sundays at 6:30pm. Season one will feature 13 episodes and will showcase one to two artists per episode.

Episode one, airing on January 19, will introduce custom motorcycle artist Anthony Spinazola of Cobden, Illinois and ceramicist Chris Scamehorn of Makanda.

Upcoming episodes and their airdates include: nationally-acclaimed sculptor and metalsmith John Medwedeff of Murphysboro and painter Fran Jaffe of Anna, who is known for her use of aboriginal dot art techniques on gourds (January 26); photographer Fern Logan of Carbondale and watercolor artist Mary Pachikara (February 2); painter Robert Ketchens of Grand Chain (February 9); and fiber artist Robin Haller of Carbondale, who is known for non-traditional quilting techniques, and wood artist and craftsman Kyle Kinser of Makanda (February 16).

Expressions was conceived by Darryl Moses, WSIU's Associate Director for TV & Video Services, who had seen a similar production on Mississippi Public Television, and is produced by Chicago-area native Tamara John, a graduate student in SIUC's College of Mass Communication & Media Arts and a Graduate Assistant at WSIU Public Television. Questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome and should be directed to John at (618) 453-8096 or tamara.john@wsiu.org.

A website for the series will be available soon at www.wsiu.org and will include programming information, archival episodes, photos, and more.

Expressions is proudly sponsored by The Glass Haunt of Benton, Illinois and Mark Williams Outdoor Equipment of Murphysboro.

Additional sponsors, who provided materials and furnishings for the colorful Expressions production set, include Ashley Furniture HomeStore of Carbondale (furniture), Calico Country Sew & Vac of West Frankfort and Carbondale, Illinois and Paducah, Kentucky; Lowe's of Carbondale; and Stevens Floral Gifts and Framing of Marion (custom floral arrangements),

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

# # #

WSIU Radio Reading Service Receives Support From Area Service Clubs

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:55:49 -0600

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director and WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

WSIU Radio Reading Service Receives Support From Area Service Clubs

Carbondale, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS), a community outreach service of WSIU Public Broadcasting and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, recently received financial support that will increase the number of free radio receivers available to SIRIS listeners who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise physically unable to read print material.

Operated by WSIU Public Radio and supported in part by the United Way, SIRIS features programming of local and national newspapers, which are read and recorded by University and community volunteers. The broadcasts are delivered on a sideband channel of WSIU Radio.

The Rotary Club of Carbondale – Breakfast awarded a grant of $1,000 to SIRIS for the purchase of radio receivers in response to the SIRIS proposal, “The Radio That Reads.” The receivers will serve individuals in a 45-mile radius of the Carbondale area and a 20-mile radius of Mt. Vernon. Rotary Club members will assist in the distribution of the radios.

The Marion Lions Club also awarded SIRIS a check for $250 to support SIRIS programming in Williamson County. The radio receivers are being placed with individuals, as well as in nursing homes and adult care facilities in Marion and the outlying area.

Learn more about SIRIS online at wsiu.org/siris. Questions about the service may be directed to SIRIS director, Vickie Devenport, at (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

# # #

Veteran Local Broadcaster Erv Coppi Featured on WSIU-TV

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:35:55 -0600

or Immediate Release
Monday, November 21, 2011

Veteran Local Broadcaster Erv Coppi Featured on WSIU-TV

Contact: Jak Tichenor, Senior TV Producer, WSIU Public Television, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org;
Monica Tichenor, Promotions Coordinator, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-6160, monica.tichenor@wsiu.org;
Erv Coppi, former WSIU-TV Public Information Officer and Broadcaster, (618) 984-4425

Carbondale, Ill. -- WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University, will broadcast a special edition of their weekly local series WSIU InFocus featuring veteran WSIU broadcaster and personality Erv Coppi, this Friday, November 25 at 7:30pm on WSIU-TV's primary HD channels, WSIU-TV 8.1 and WUSI-TV 16.1.

The program will repeat on WSIU-TV's main channels on Sunday, November 27 at 12:30pm & 11:30pm and again on Friday, December 2 at 5pm. Additional repeats are scheduled to air WSIU-TV's second digital channel, WSIU WORLD, on Saturday, November 26 at 4pm, Sunday, November 27 at 9pm, and Monday, November 28 at 8pm.

WSIU-TV senior producer Jak Tichenor conducts the interview with Coppi, which is airing as part of WSIU-TV's 50th anniversary celebration. WSIU-TV first signed on the air on November 6, 1961.

Coppi, a native of Royalton, Illinois, was affectionately known to generations of WSIU-TV viewers as "Uncle Erv." He began his broadcasting career at WFRX Radio in West Frankfort in 1951, and was a popular on-air personality on WGGH radio in Marion and WJPF in Herrin before joining WSIU-TV in 1969 as public information officer and program/pledge host.

At WSIU-TV, Coppi, a lifelong movie buff, became a household name throughout the region hosting the station's Movie Night broadcasts of Hollywood comedies, classic films, and the wildly popular horror movie nights. Coppi emceed countless pledge breaks to raise money for WSIU's operations and anchored coverage of the Murphysboro Apple Festival parades and other special events along with his co-host, the late Virginia Marmaduke. Coppi retired in 1993.

The program features excerpts from Coppi's career including a sample of the The Egyptian Ballroom, a big band program on WGGH Radio that cleverly employed sound effects and phonograph records to create an imaginary ballroom for performances by Woody Herman, Les Brown, and other big-name acts of the era. Other clips show Coppi introducing It's a Wonderful Life, The Bride of Frankenstein, pledge breaks, and parade coverage.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

# # #

Download Imiage 1: Longtime WSIU-TV personality Erv Coppi (right) hosts the 1985 WSIU-TV Festival pledge drive with Southern Illinois native Virginia Marmaduke (left), a former journalist for the Chicago Sun and Chicago Tribune and a member of the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame. Photo: WSIU Archives.

Download Image 2: Longtime WSIU-TV personality Erv Coppi (right) hosts the 1983 WSIU-TV Festival pledge drive with Southern Illinois native Virginia Marmaduke (left), a former journalist for the Chicago Sun and Chicago Tribune and a member of the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame. Joining them on the set is an SIU Saluki mascot and its handler (name unknown). Photo: WSIU Archives.

MEDIA ALERT: WSIU-TV 50th Anniversary Event on Sunday, November 6 Postponed

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:44:49 -0500

Media Alert
Thursday, November 3, 2011

WSIU-TV 50th Anniversary Event on Sunday, November 6 Postponed

Carbondale, Ill. -- Due to scheduling issues, as well as current events on the SIU Carbondale campus, WSIU-TV's 50th anniversary celebrating featuring Jeffrey Brown of PBS NewsHour on Sunday, November 6th at SIUC's Morris Library has been postponed. WSIU regrets any inconvenience this change in plans may cause.

While November 6th marks the official anniversary of WSIU-TV, it is only the start of our plans to celebrate 50 years of service to the University and the region. We are planning to host a variety of anniversary events through November of 2012, including at least one children's event. We look forward to these other opportunities to celebrate 50 years of excellence with our viewers and supporters.

WSIU also is planning to launch a 50th Anniversary webpage at wsiu.org in the next few weeks, which will include historical information and photos. Additional photos will be posted to WSIU's Facebook page at facebook.com/wsiutv.

Details about future 50th anniversary events will be shared on the air and online at wsiu.org as they are finalized.

WSIU-TV would like to thank viewers and corporate sponsors for their financial support of public broadcasting over the past 50 years, which has enabled the station to expand its services to include three digital television channels and three radio stations broadcasting around-the-clock; a website offering on-demand listening, podcasts, and videos; a nationally-recognized education and outreach department; an award-winning local production unit; and the Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS), a radio reading service for individuals who are blind or print-impaired.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

# # #

SIRIS, WSIU Radio to Host Film Screening

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:44:33 -0500

For Immediate Release
Monday, October 31, 2011

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director and WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

SIRIS, WSIU Radio to Host Film Screening

Carbondale, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS), a service of WSIU Public Radio and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, will host a film screening and discussion of the Independent Lens documentary Lives Worth Living, which recently aired on PBS stations nationwide. The screening will be held on Tuesday, November 8 at 7pm at the SIRIS building, 1003 Oakland Avenue in Carbondale. It is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

While there are close to 50 million Americans living with disabilities, Lives Worth Living is the first television history of their decades-long struggle for equal rights. Produced and directed by Eric Neudel, the film offers a window into a world inhabited by people with an unwavering determination to live their lives like everyone else, and a look back into a past when millions of Americans lived without access to schools, apartment buildings, and public transportation.

The story features Fred Fay, who suffered a spinal cord injury at age 17 in 1961, and simply refused to be relegated to life's sidelines just because he couldn't walk. He fought tirelessly for decades for equal rights, access, and opportunity for the disabled, including advocating for programs allowing the disabled to live independently. (Fred died August 20, 2011; the film is dedicated to him.) Also featured is Ed Roberts, who founded the independent living movement in Berkeley and is also considered a father of the disability rights movement.

Each fall, the SIRIS Advisory Board hosts an event to raise awareness of the issues facing people with disabilities. This film screening coincides with White Cane Safety Day and the national campaign to employ people with disabilities.

Questions about the screening should be directed to Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

# # #

WSIU-TV to Celebrate 50th Anniversary on November 6 With Special Guest Jeffrey Brown of PBS NewsHour

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:25:51 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, October 25, 2011

WSIU-TV to Celebrate 50th Anniversary on November 6
With Special Guest Jeffrey Brown of PBS NewsHour

Contact: Monica Tichenor, Public Information & Promotions Coordinator, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-6160, monica.tichenor@wsiu.org

Interview Opportunities:

Greg Petrowich, Executive Director, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-4344, greg.petrowich@wsiu.org
Jak Tichenor, Senior TV Producer, WSIU Public Broadcasting (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org
Erv Coppi, former WSIU Public Information Officer and Program / Pledge Host, (618) 984-4425
Bill Meyers, former TV Learning Services Director (started at WSIU in 1963), (803) 238-1946, bmeyers3rt@yahoo.com
Myers Walker, former WSIU Art & Scene Shop Director (started at WSIU in the 1960s), (618) 549-5886
Lane Hudgins, President, WSIU Friends Advisory Board, (618) 457-1027, lane@siu.edu

-----------------

Carbondale, IL – 1961 was a big year in American history. John F. Kennedy became the 35th President of the United States, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old home run record, Alan Shepherd became the first American in space, and Joseph Heller published his classic novel Catch 22.

Closer to home, another significant event took place at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), signaling the start of what has become a 50-year tradition of excellence in education and public service. On November 6, 1961 – just three years after WSIU Public Radio made its debut as WSRV, “Southern's Radio Voice” – the University launched its first public television channel, WSIU-TV 8.

Founded by then-President Delyte Morris, who would transform SIU from a small teacher college into a major research university in just 12 years, and professors Buren C. Robbins and Jacob O. Bach, WSIU-TV signed on the air with 55 hours of programming, nearly half of which were devoted to instructional programs for area K-12 classrooms.

Today, WSIU boasts three digital television channels and three radio stations broadcasting around-the-clock; a website that offers on-demand listening, podcasts, and videos; a nationally-recognized education and outreach department; an award-winning local production unit; and the Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS), a radio reading service for individuals who are blind or physically unable to read for themselves.

“That 50 years ago, our founders had a vision for what WSIU could be and how it could improve the lives of people in this region is an inspiring thought,” says Greg Petrowich, Executive Director of WSIU Public Broadcasting. “Who could have known that 50 years later we'd have a vital service that not only meets the needs of so many residents throughout the region, but also continues to teach hundreds of students each year the art of broadcasting?”

To celebrate its first 50 years of service to the region, WSIU will hold a special celebration on Sunday, November 6 at Morris Library, located at 605 Agriculture Drive on the SIU Carbondale campus.

Jeffrey Brown, a senior correspondent for the acclaimed public television news series PBS NewsHour, is WSIU's special guest for the evening and will give a free public lecture at 7pm in Guyon Auditorium in Morris Library. Although the lecture is free, seating is limited in the auditorium, so reservations are strongly recommended. Those interested in attending the lecture should call (618) 453-4344 or send an email to rsvp@wsiu.org.

Preceding the lecture is a ticketed reception from 5:30-6:45pm in Morris Library's Hall of Presidents and Chancellors featuring cocktails, ample tapas-style hors d'oeuvres, and desserts. Tickets are $50 per person and guarantee a reserved seat at the lecture. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (618) 453-4344.

The evening's festivities also will include a short video and a photo display documenting WSIU-TV's 50-year history.

WSIU plans to host more 50th Anniversary events, including at least one children's event, between November 2011 and November 2012. Details will be shared on the air and online at wsiu.org as they are finalized.

WSIU will launch a 50th Anniversary webpage at wsiu.org in the next few weeks, which will include historical information and photos. Additional photos will be posted to WSIU's Facebook page at facebook.com/wsiutv.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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Photo 1, Early Pioneers: Former SIUC Journalism Professor Harlan Mendenhall (left), SIUC Radio-TV Department Chairman Charles T. Lynch (center), and WSIU-TV News Director Ed Brown (right) pose next to a TV studio camera in the mid-to-late 1960s. Photo: WSIU Archives.

Photo 2, Old TV Master Control: A student monitors WSIU-TV's on-air signal in the station's former TV Studio and Master Control Room in Quigley Hall in the early-to-mid 1960s. In those days, Quigley Hall was commonly referred to as the Home Economics Building. Photo: WSIU Archives.

Photo 3, Old TV News Set: SIU students on the WSIU-TV news set in the early 1970s. Photo: WSIU Archives.

Photo 1

Photo 2

WSIU-TV to Broadcast Live Saluki Football

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:36:01 -0500

For Immediate Release
Monday, October 17, 2011

Contact: Monica Tichenor, Promotions Coordinator, (618) 453-6160, monica.tichenor@wsiu.org

Carbondale Ill. – WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is pleased to announce it will provide live coverage of two SIU Football games this month: the SIU vs. Northern Iowa game on Saturday, October 22 at 3pm CT and the SIU vs. Illinois State game on Saturday, October 29 at 2pm CT.

Both games will air live on WSIU's primary HD channels, WSIU-TV 8.1 and WUSI-TV 16.1, with a repeat broadcast at 7pm on the same day on WSIU's second digital television channel, WORLD, WSIU-TV 8.2 and WUSI-TV 16.2.

"Audience response to our Live Saluki Sports coverage was very favorable last year, so we're pleased to be back for another season," said Greg Petrowich, Executive Director of WSIU Public Broadcasting. "Adding football should be great for SIU fans and our students who get to work on the live telecasts."

WSIU is also planning to broadcast multiple SIU Basketball games during the 2011-12 season, beginning with a Monday, December 19th tilt vs. the SIU Edwardsville Cougars. The game will air live at 7pm on WSIU's main HD channels, 8.1 and WUSI 16.1, with a repeat at 10pm on WSIU WORLD, WSIU 8.2 and WUSI 16.2.

Visit WSIU's Live Saluki Sports page at www.wsiu.org/salukis for the schedule and updates as details become available.

Live Saluki Sports on WSIU Public Television is sponsored regionally by Dr. Michael B. Clay of SI Dentistry in Murphysboro, Ill.; the SIU Foundation; Wells Fargo Advisors LLC of Carbondale and Mt. Vernon, Ill.; Wright Do-It Centers in Murphysboro and Sparta, Ill.; the SIU Alumni Association; and Cook Portable Warehouses.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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MEDIA ADVISORY - Area Children to "Read for the Record" on October 6

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:21:08 -0500

Media Advisory - For Thursday, October 6, 2011

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

Area Children to “Read for the Record” on October 6

Carbondale, Ill. – Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to join WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, at Carruthers Elementary School, 80 Candy Lane in Murphysboro, Illinois on Thursday, October 6 from 1-2:30pm where kindergarten students will participate in the annual global literacy campaign “Read for the Record.”

Presented by Jumpstart, a national early education organization dedicated to preparing young children for success in school, “Read for the Record” invites children, teachers, and families to set a world record for the most people reading the same book on the same day.

This year's “Read for the Record” book is “Llama Llama Red Pajama” by Anna Dewdney. Children will read the book together, answer questions about the story, create rhyming books, “dress” llama and tree posters with fur (cottonballs) and leaves (green construction paper), and meet a real, live llama!

Dayle Russell of Caru Llamas & Alpacas in Herrin, Illinois will lead a live llama demonstration to teach children about llamas and how to approach them. Each child will get a chance to pet the llama. WSIU will present children with certificates for participating in “Read for the Record” and will distribute books.

“Read for the Record” highlights the importance of reading to young children to help them develop crucial early language and literacy skills. Learn more at www.readfortherecord.org.

Itinerary
1-1:20pm Group Reading of Book / Discussion
Children from the kindergarten classes of Mrs. Green, Mrs. Stilley, Mrs. Runge, and Mrs. Graeff will read “Llama Llama Red Pajama” by Anna Dewdney and answer questions about the book.

1:20-2:30pm Llama Llama Red Pajama Activities
Children will split into different groups to create rhyming books, “dress” large llama and tree posters, meet a real llama (outside), and get certificates of participation.

“Read for the Record” is an extension of the WSIU's participation in PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national literacy initiative that uses the power of public media to help improve the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. Raising Readers is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS, and The Ready To Learn Partnership.

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ALERT - WSIU-TV to Rebroadcast 9/11 Program Special

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:38:39 -0500

Media Alert
Thursday, September 15, 2011

Contact: Trina Thomas, TV Programming Coordinator, (618) 453-6169, trina.thomas@wsiu.org

WSIU-TV to Rebroadcast 9/11 Program Special

Carbondale, Ill. – WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, has just announced an encore presentation of the PBS special "Great Performances: Concert For New York." The program will air this Sunday, September 18 at 7:30pm on WSIU-TV 8.1 and WUSI-TV 16.1, WSIU's primary HD channels.

The original broadcast of the concert, which aired last Sunday, September 11 as part of a series of programs commemorating the 10th anniversary of 9/11, was cut short due to a last-minute program length change at the national level.

The concert features a performance of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection," by the New York Philharmonic, with conductor Alan Gilbert, soprano Dorothea Röschmann, mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung, and the New York Choral Artists (Joseph Flummerfelt, director). Taped at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on September 10, 2011, the concert is hosted by NBC News special correspondent and author, Tom Brokaw.

Additional details and a 30-second program preview are available at pbs.org/wnet/gperf.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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ALERT - WVSI 88.9FM Back On The Air

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:52:49 -0500

Media Alert
Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 5:30pm

Contact: Terry Harvey, Associate Director, Technology & Planning, (618) 453-6192, terry.harvey@wsiu.org

WVSI 88.9 FM Back on the Air

Carbondale, Ill. – WVSI 88.9 FM, a public radio service of WSIU Public Broadcasting at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is back on the air after experiencing a loss of power at the station's transmitter in Mt. Vernon last night.

WSIU's engineering staff have temporarily restored the station to full power using an alternate configuration and have ordered parts to complete needed repairs at the transmitter site. Updates about the station's on-air status over the next few days will be posted to wsiu.org or listeners may call (618) 453-6101.

WUSI 90.3 FM in Olney and WSIU 91.9 FM Carbondale were not impacted by the outage.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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ALERT - WVSI 88.9FM Off The Air

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:08:20 -0500

Media Alert - Urgent
Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Contact: Terry Harvey, Associate Director, Technology & Planning, (618) 453-6192, terry.harvey@wsiu.org

WVSI 88.9 FM Off the Air

Carbondale, Ill. – WVSI 88.9 FM, a public radio service of WSIU Public Broadcasting at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is temporarily off the air due to a loss of power at the station's transmitter in Mt. Vernon. WUSI 90.3 FM in Olney and WSIU 91.9 FM in Carbondale are operating normally.

WSIU engineering staff are working to identify and resolve the problem at this time.

Listeners in the Mt. Vernon area may tune in to WSIU Radio online at www.wsiu.org/live and are encouraged to visit the station website at wsiu.org or call the WSIU Radio newsroom at (618) 453-6101 for updates.

WSIU Public Broadcasting regrets this temporary service interruption. We would like to thank our listeners in the WVSI area for their patience as we work to restore service as quickly as possible.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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ADVISORY -- SIRIS Classic Vinyl Sale is This Weekend

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:38:16 -0500

Media Advisory
For Saturday, September 10 & Sunday, September 11

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

SIRIS Classic Vinyl Sale is This Weekend

Carbondale, Ill. – Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover the 4th Annual SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale this Saturday, September 10 from 10am to 9pm and Sunday, September 11 from noon to 6pm. The sale will be held in the storefront next to Hot Topic in the University Mall, located at 1237 East Main in Carbondale.

The Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS) and WSIU Public Radio, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), are hosting the sale, with the support of the University Mall. Additional sponsors include the SIU Credit Union, Wright Do-It Center, Lyn-Nita Winery, and the Du Quoin Public Library.

Collectible albums will be featured in a special section and will be priced accordingly; other albums are priced at $1.00 each. Additional items for sale will include CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, cassettes, electronic games, audio books, and stereo equipment, including turntables, tuners, and speakers. CDs are just $2, and DVDs are priced at $3.00 each. Prices are below $1.00 for other items, and buyers will find excellent deals throughout the event.

All unsold items, except collectibles, will be half-price at on Sunday, September 11.

Interview opportunities include SIRIS Director Vickie Devenport; SIRIS, SIU Carbondale, and community volunteers; and shoppers.

All proceeds from the sale will benefit SIRIS, a radio information service for individuals who are blind or whose physical condition makes reading difficult or impossible. A community service of WSIU Public Radio and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, SIRIS features recordings of regional and national newspapers and magazines, book reviews, and more. Special radios are provided free of charge to qualified users.

SIRIS is supported in part by the United Way.

Find Your Treasure at the SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:42:29 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director and WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Find Your Treasure at the SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale

Carbondale, Ill. – Looking for a turn table? A collectible album? CDs, DVDs, and electronic games to add to your entertainment collection? Find your treasure and more at the 4th Annual SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale, coming to the University Mall, 1237 East Main in Carbondale, on Saturday, September 10 from 10am to 9pm and Sunday, September 11 from noon to 6pm. The sale will be located in the store front next to Hot Topic.

The Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS) and WSIU Public Radio, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), are hosting the sale, with the support of the University Mall. Additional sponsors this year include the SIU Credit Union, Wright Do-It Center, Lyn-Nita Winery, and the Du Quoin Public Library.

From Elvis to ELO, from Benny Goodman to Beyonce, from Pavarotti to Patsy Cline, you'll find popular and little-known gems from every musical genre at this year's sale.

Volunteers are needed to assist with organizing sale items from 6-9pm beginning Monday, August 29 through Friday, September 2 and again from Tuesday, September 6 through Friday, September 9.

Questions about the sale or about volunteering should be directed to Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.

All proceeds from the sale will benefit SIRIS, a radio information service for individuals who are blind or whose physical condition makes reading difficult or impossible. Operated by WSIU Public Radio, SIRIS features recordings of regional and national newspapers and magazines, book reviews, and more. Special radios are provided free of charge to qualified users. SIRIS is supported in part by the United Way.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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Donate Your Records to the SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:32:51 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director and WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Donate Your Records to the SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale

Carbondale, Ill. -- Cleaning out your closets, attic, or garage this summer? Donate your old record albums, CDs, DVDs, eight-track tapes, cassettes, VHS tapes, electronic games, and working stereo equipment for a public sale in September to benefit the Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS), a service of WSIU Public Radio and Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

WSIU, in partnership with the University Mall in Carbondale, will host the 4th Annual SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale on Saturday, September 10 from 10am to 9pm and Sunday, September 11 from noon to 6pm. The sale will be located next to Hot Topic at the University Mall.

Music donations of rock, country western, jazz, and blues would be most welcome, as these genres are very popular at the annual sale. All music and equipment donations must be in good condition and will be accepted now through Friday, August 19 at the following locations:

• University Mall Information Center, 1237 East Main, Carbondale
• SIU Credit Union, 1217 West Main, Carbondale
• SIU Credit Union, 395 North Giant City Road, Carbondale
• SIU Credit Union, 2809 Outer Drive, Marion
• Lyn-Nita Winery, 514 Coal Road, Elkville
• DuQuoin Public Library, 28 S. Washington, DuQuoin
• Wright Do-It Center, 208 South Williams, Murphysboro

All proceeds from the sale will benefit SIRIS, a radio information service for individuals who are blind or whose physical condition makes reading difficult or impossible. Broadcasts include regional and national newspapers and magazines, book reviews, and more. SIRIS is supported in part by the United Way.

Questions about the sale should be directed to Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org or by calling SIRIS at (618) 453-2808 between 1pm to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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WSIU, Eldorado Public Library to Host Summer Reading Event

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:34:52 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org; Brenda Funkhouser, Director, Eldorado Memorial Public Library, (618) 273-7922

WSIU, Eldorado Public Library to Host Summer Reading Event

Carbondale, Ill. -- WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and Eldorado Memorial Public Library are teaming up to present a fun literacy event for families designed to encourage children to read and to help them improve their vocabulary skills. Based on the Illinois Library Association's Summer Reading Program theme “A Midsummer Knight's Read,” the free event will be held on Wednesday, July 6 from 9-10am at Eldorado Memorial Public Library, 1001 Grant Street, in Eldorado, Illinois.

WSIU will present a Raising Readers Theater Performance of “Perfectly Martha” featuring SIUC students, youth from Eldorado, and children at the library. The performance is based on the popular book series and PBS KIDS television series Martha Speaks, which follows the adventures of Martha, a loveable dog whose appetite for alphabet soup gives her the ability to speak.

WSIU staff will also lead children in a word jousting activity modeled after the vocabulary segment “Gawain's Word” from the PBS KIDS television series Between the Lions. Children will line up on opposite sides of the room while holding word "swords" shaped like knights on horseback. Each card will feature part of a vocabulary word. Holding their word swords, children will gallop towards each other until their swords meet to complete the vocabulary words.

WSIU will distribute PBS KIDS print and e-Books to children and will provide the library with educational resources to share with families. WSIU also will show children how to use online learning sites such as PBS KIDS, PBS KIDS Island, and WordQuest.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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Angelina Ballerina™ Coming to Marion, Illinois on Saturday, June 11

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:17:54 -0500

For Immediate Release
Friday, June 3, 2011

Local Contact: Beth Spezia, Educational Outreach Coordinator, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

Angelina Ballerina™ Coming to Marion, Illinois on Saturday, June 11

Carbondale / Marion, Ill. -- The Friends of WSIU and WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), invite families to meet PBS KIDS character Angelina Ballerina™ on Saturday, June 11 from 11am-1pm at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center, 800 Tower Square Plaza, Marion, Illinois. The little star with big dreams will be available for photos during 30-minute intervals. Angelina is appearing prior to the Southern Illinois Music Festival's 2pm matinée performance of "Giselle."

In addition to meeting Angelina Ballerina, children will create fun art projects, practice dance steps with local ballerinas, learn about musical instruments from members of the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and get educational materials to take home.

Guests are encouraged to bring their cameras for photos with Angelina!

Based on the original best-selling children's book series by author Katharine Holabird and illustrator Helen Craig, [ http://www.angelinaballerina.com ]Angelina Ballerina™ The Next Steps follows the now eight-year-old Angelina as she embarks on the next stage in her life at a performing arts school, Camembert Academy. The series finds Angelina making new friends and experiencing various forms of music and dance including ballet, modern, tap, jazz, opera, ballroom, and hip hop, as well as ethnic music and dance from around the world.

Each episode also includes Camembert's Shining Stars, a live-action interstitial featuring talented young performers who demonstrate their love of music and dance. The series introduces young children to the joys of movement, artistic expression, musicality, imagination, and coordination. A team of accredited dance instructors and music education specialists helped develop the show's arts education curriculum. Creative consultants from the American Ballet Theatre helped choreograph the dance movements animated on the program, ensuring that they are age-appropriate for the characters.

Angelina Ballerina™ The Next Steps airs on WSIU-TV 8 and WUSI-TV 16 on Sundays at 8:30am. The series is a production of HIT Entertainment and THIRTEEN for WNET. 2011 HIT Entertainment Limited.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

ADVISORY: WSIU, Giant City School To Host “Martha Speaks Reading Buddies" Celebration

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 17 May 2011 18:10:05 -0500

Media Advisory
For Tomorrow, May 18, 2011 - 8:30-10:30am

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

WSIU, Giant City School To Host “Martha Speaks Reading Buddies" Celebration

Carbondale, Ill. - Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover a special literacy event to be held on Wednesday, May 18 from 8:30-10:30am at Giant City School, located at 1062 Boskydell Road in Carbondale. The celebration marks the conclusion of the school's participation in the “Martha Speaks Reading Buddies Program,” an eight-week, scientifically-based literacy research program designed to strengthen vocabulary and social skills, and to instill a love of reading in young children.

Based on the PBS KIDS series of the same name, the Martha Speaks Reading Buddies Program pairs kindergarten students (little buddies) with third- and fourth-grade readers (big buddies) to share books and participate in word games and other reading-based activities.

WSIU, Giant City School, the Humane Society of Southern Illinois, and the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market (SICCM) Veterinary Technology Program are conducting animal care presentations and reading demonstrations at the May 18 event. Students will present the Raising Readers Theater's premier performance of “Perfectly Martha.”

Students of teachers Kristi Britton, Terry Montgomery, Lori Opp, and Rebecca Apgar will be recognized for their participation in the Martha Speaks Reading Buddies Program. The children also will bring donations for the Humane Society of Southern Illinois.

PBS KIDS character Martha of the popular children's television series also will make a special appearance. "Martha Speaks" airs on WSIU-TV 8/WUSI-TV 16 on weekdays at 6:30am and 2:30pm and on Saturdays at 8:30am.

Itinerary
* Hands-on animal care demonstration by the Humane Society of Southern Illinois
* First aid exercise for kids using stuffed animals - led by veterinary tech students
* Visit from special guest Martha the Dog from the PBS KIDS program Martha Speaks (costume character)
* Presentations by the students about their new vocabulary skills
* Presentation of certificates of completion to Reading Buddies participants
* "Perfectly Martha" Raising Readers Theater Performance

Interview Opportunities
* Teachers Kristi Britton, Terry Montgomery, Lori Opp, and Rebecca Apgar, (618) 457-5391
* Mrs. Sharon Mayes, Superintendent, Giant City School District, (618) 457-5391
* Casey Parker, Board of Directors, Humane Society of Southern Illinois, casey@neondsl.com
* LeeAnn Greenwell, DVM, Director, SICCM Veterinary Technology Program, (618) 942-6902
* Beth Spezia, Educational Outreach Coordinator, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-5595

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Illinois Lawmakers TV Series Tackles Budget Cuts, Pension Reform Statewide Public Affairs Series Celebrating 25 Years on Public Television

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:47:34 -0500

For Immediate Release
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Contact: Jak Tichenor, WSIU-TV Producer, Office: (618) 453-6187, Cell: (618) 201-6887, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org

Illinois Lawmakers TV Series Tackles Budget Cuts, Pension Reform Statewide Public Affairs Series Celebrating 25 Years on Public Television

Carbondale, Ill. -- Illinois Lawmakers, the state's longest-running public affairs television series devoted to the Illinois legislative process, will round out its 25th year with in-depth coverage of the Spring 2011 Session of the Illinois General Assembly.

Shot on location at the State Capitol in Springfield and anchored by WSIU-TV producer and veteran Statehouse reporter Jak Tichenor, the series will present a special two-part report on public television stations statewide this May, including WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). Each broadcast is one hour in length.

Part one of the Spring Session report will air on WSIU-TV 8.1 and WUSI-TV 16.1, WSIU-TV's primary HD channels, on Wednesday, May 11 at 11pm, with repeats on May 13 at 9:30pm and May 15 at 6pm. Part one also will air on WSIU-TV's second digital channel, WSIU WORLD (8.2 and 16.2), on May 11 at 8pm.

Part two of the Spring Session report will air on Wednesday, May 25 at 11pm, with repeats on May 27 at 10pm and May 29 at 6pm. An additional broadcast will air on WSIU WORLD on May 25 at 8pm.

The current spring session could prove especially volatile. “Illinois still owes billions of dollars to vendors and other creditors despite hiking the state income tax 67-percent earlier in the year,” says Tichenor. “The House and Senate are still far part on how much to cut from the current budget to stay below the spending caps that were passed as part of the tax package. There also will be plenty of debate on hot-button issues like workers compensation, pension reform, medical marijuana, and concealed carry legislation.”

From live coverage of midnight-hour budget debates to furious floor battles, cantankerous committee hearings, and literally hundreds of in-depth on-set interviews, Illinois Lawmakers has earned a well-deserved reputation as the television program of record for legislative coverage since its debut in the spring of 1986. “We have developed a great rapport with the members and the legislative over the years,” says Marty McLaughlin, executive producer for the series since its inception. “They trust us to get the story right, and we've earned their respect for being scrupulously balanced in our coverage.”

A production of the public television stations of Illinois, Illinois Lawmakers is broadcast simultaneously on the state's nine PBS member stations via satellite during each Fall and Spring Veto Legislative Session of the Illinois General Assembly. The series also provides live coverage and analysis of the Governor's State of the State and Budget Addresses, as well as statewide election coverage.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Download Image of Jak Tichenor and Marty McLaughlin

Download Image of Capitol Building

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WSIU-TV Program to Spotlight Salem, Illinois Native David Meador, Legalized Gambling in Illinois

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:48:42 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Contact: Jak Tichenor, WSIU-TV Senior Producer, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Illinois - It's hard enough to imagine sinking a hole in one on the golf course if everything is going your way, but imagine doing it if you can't see. Salem, Illinois native David Meador has done just that. Meador, who lost his sight at age 18 and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, went on to earn degrees from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) and Loyola University, climbed the corporate ladder in the insurance industry, raised a loving family, battled and beat cancer twice, and never lost his love of the game of golf.

Meador will share his inspirational story of perseverance, humor, and hope in the first half of an upcoming episode of the local public television series, WSIU InFocus. The half-hour program will air this Friday, April 29 at 9pm on WSIU-TV 8.1 and WUSI-TV 16.1, the public television stations of SIUC. The program will repeat on the same channels on Sunday, May 1 at 12:30pm and Friday, May 6 at 5pm. It also will air on WSIU's second digital channel, WSIU World (WSIU 8.2/WUSI 16.2) at 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, April 30 and May 1, and again on Monday, May 2 at 8pm.

WSIU-TV's Jak Tichenor leads the interview with Meador, who was recently honored by the Greater Salem Area Foundation. The organization recognizes members of the community who have made significant contributions to the betterment of life in the Salem area.

The second half of the program will focus on Illinois lawmakers who are weighing the pluses and minuses of expanding the number of casino licenses in the state in hopes of raising billions of dollars to balance the state budget. The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIUC recently hosted a debate between the state's gaming industry and gambling opponents. WSIU Public Radio morning news anchor Jennifer Fuller talks with Tom Swoik, Executive Director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, and the Reverend Tom Grey of the Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation about the potential benefits and consequences of a major expansion of casino gambling.

WSIU InFocus is a weekly series produced by WSIU Public Television that celebrates the region's history, culture, people, places, and issues. Learn more about the series and watch archived episodes at www.wsiu.org/infocus.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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MEDIA ADVISORY: WSIU Story Booth at 4th Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:20:25 -0500

Media Advisory for Saturday, April 9, 2011

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU outreach coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

WSIU Story Booth at 4th Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival

Carbondale, Ill. - Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to cover the 4th Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival, which will run from Friday, April 8 through Sunday, April 10 in the city's historic riverfront district.

WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, will feature a “Share a Story” recording booth on Saturday, April 9 from 10am until 3pm. Visitors should look for the station's canopy and colorful PBS KIDS Literacy Van near the tent on Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus.

Guests who spin their tales at WSIU's story booth will receive a CD copy of their recording as a keepsake, along with educational materials and other WSIU items. WSIU Radio will feature the recorded stories and a photo of each storyteller online at www.wsiu.org at a later date. To listen to stories recorded at the festival in previous years, select the “Storytelling” feature from the rotating spotlight on WSIU's homepage at wsiu.org.

Festival hours for the 2011 Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival are 9am to 9pm on April 8, 10am to 9pm on April 9, and 9am to 4pm on April 10. This year's master storytellers are Bil Lep, Willy Claflin, Elizabeth Ellis, Rev. Robert Jones, Kathleen Brinkmann, and Linda Dust. For a detailed schedule of this year's festival and more information about the storytellers and other activities planned, visit capestorytelling.com and select the “schedule” tab.

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WSIU to Host Storytelling Booth at the 4th Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:37:47 -0500

For Immediate Release
Monday, April 4, 2011

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU outreach coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

WSIU to Host Storytelling Booth at the 4th Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival

Carbondale, Ill. - Everyone has a story tell, and WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is inviting the general public to share their own stories at the WSIU “Share a Story” booth at the 4th Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival in the city's historic riverfront district.

WSIU's recording booth will be available Saturday, April 9 from 10am-3pm. Visitors should look for the station's canopy and colorful PBS KIDS Literacy Van near the tent on Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus.

Storytellers who spin their tales at WSIU's “Share a Story” booth will receive a CD copy of their recording as a keepsake, along with educational materials and other WSIU items. WSIU Radio will feature the recorded stories and a photo of each storyteller online at www.wsiu.org at a later date. To listen to stories recorded at the festival in previous years, select the Storytelling feature from the rotating spotlight on WSIU's website at wsiu.org.

The Storytelling Festival will run from Friday, April 8 through Sunday, April 10. Festivities begin on Friday, April 8 at 9am and end on Sunday, April 10 at 4pm. This year's master storytellers are Bil Lep, Willy Claflin, Elizabeth Ellis, Rev. Robert Jones, Kathleen Brinkmann, and Linda Dust. See the festival schedule at capestorytelling.com.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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MEDIA ADVISORY - PBS KIDS Host Mr. Steve at Cedarhurst This Saturday, April 2

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:54:46 -0500

Media Advisory - For Saturday, April 2, 2011

Contact: Beth Spezia, Educational Outreach Coordinator, WSIU Public Broadcasting,
(618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

PBS KIDS Host Mr. Steve at Cedarhurst This Saturday, April 2

Carbondale, Ill. - Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover a free sing-along concert featuring PBS KIDS host Mr. Steve this Saturday, April 2 from 1-4pm at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, 2600 Richview Road, Mt. Vernon, Ill.

Mr. Steve's performance will be held in the Mitchell Museum Performance Hall. It will begin at 1:30pm and last approximately one hour.

Cedarmouse and PBS KIDS character SuperWHY will entertain children and families prior to Mr. Steve's performance.

An autograph and photo session with Mr. Steve will follow the concert. Kids also will enjoy family-friendly art activities, such as hat-making and a scavenger hunt in Cedarhurst's Kuenz Sculpture Garden, and storytime sessions.

Mr. Steve is a Parent's Choice Gold award-winning music sensation who performs around the country as SteveSongs. He joined PBS KIDS in 2008 and is seen regularly in between morning children's programming on WSIU-TV 8 and WUSI-TV 16.

PBS KIDS host Mr. Steve! In Concert is co-hosted by WSIU and Cedarhurst.

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MEDIA ADVISORY: Film Screening, Discussion Set for Saturday, April 2 in Carbondale

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:56:54 -0500

Media Advisory - For Saturday, April 2, 2011

Contact: Vickie Devenport, Outreach Coordinator, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

New PBS Film to Feature Local Civil Rights Activist
Film Screening, Discussion Set for Saturday, April 2 in Carbondale

Carbondale, Ill. - Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover a screening of the national PBS film American Experience: Freedom Riders, Saturday, April 2 from 3-6pm at the Varsity Center for the Arts, 418 S. Illinois in Carbondale.

Rev. Rick Jackson of Carbondale will introduce the film and moderate a post-screening discussion with original Freedom Riders Tom Armstrong of Chicago and Genevieve Houghton of Carbondale who will share their experiences and participate in a Q & A with the audience. A reception hosted by the African American Museum of Southern Illinois will follow.

American Experience: Freedom Riders tells the inspirational story of over 400 black and white Americans who in 1961 risked injury, incarceration, and death by traveling together on buses and trains through the Deep South to protest segregation. WSIU-TV 8 and WUSI-TV 16 will broadcast the documentary on Monday, May 16 at 8pm.

This event is co-sponsored by WSIU, the Illinois Humanities Council, the African American Museum of Southern Illinois, and the Varsity Center for the Arts.

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About American Experience: Freedom Riders
In 1961, segregation seemed to have an overwhelming grip on American society. Many states violently enforced the policy, while the federal government, under the Kennedy administration, remained indifferent, preoccupied with matters abroad. That is, until an integrated band of college students - many of whom were the first in their families to attend a university - decided to risk everything and buy a ticket on a Greyhound bus bound for the Deep South. They called themselves the Freedom Riders, and they managed to bring the president and the American public face to face with the challenge of correcting civil-rights inequities that plagued the nation.

Filmmaker Stanley Nelson presents the first feature-length film about this courageous band of civil-rights activists. Gaining impressive access to influential figures on both sides of the issue, Nelson chronicles a chapter of American history that stands as an astonishing testament of what can result from the combination of personal conviction and the courage to organize against all odds.

# # #

Local TV Program Turns Spotlight on Little Toot Railroad Company in Flora

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:10:14 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Contact: David Kidd, WSIU-TV Producer, (618) 453-5887, david.kidd@wsiu.org

Local TV Program Turns Spotlight on Little Toot Railroad Company in Flora

Carbondale, Ill. - The Little Toot Railroad Company in Flora, Illinois will be the subject of a program-length episode of WSIU InFocus, a weekly local public television series produced by WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). The episode Little Toot will air this Friday, April 1 from 9-9:30pm on WSIU-TV's primary HD channels, WSIU-TV 8.1 and WUSI-TV 16.1.

Little Toot will repeat on WSIU's primary HD channels on Sunday, April 3 at 12:30pm, and Friday, April 8 at 5pm. It also will repeat on WSIU-TV 8.2 and WUSI-TV 16.2 (PBS World) on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3 at 4pm and again on Monday, April 4 at 8pm.

Little Toot is a working coal-fired, steam-powered, miniature gauge locomotive that has become a major attraction at Charley Brown Park in Flora. This episode of WSIU InFocus explores the history of the train - from its beginning in 1959 when Gaylon Borders bought the first engine and passenger car from the Crown Metal Products Company and created a track layout for it at Charley Brown Park to its move to Centralia by Jim Adams, who later sold the train, to its return to Flora by Clint Green.

InFocus talks with Green, who manages the Little Toot Railroad Company and now has three engines, about his motivation for bringing Little Toot back to life and the hard work that he and a dedicated group of volunteers put into keeping the trains operational. He also leads the InFocus crew through the process of rebuilding one of the engines and shares the joy of watching it work after the engine's valve assembly is adjusted. Green's nostalgia for Little Toot and his commitment to restoring an important part of Flora's history have turned this tourist attraction into a symbol of community pride.

About WSIU InFocus
WSIU InFocus is a weekly half-hour program on WSIU Public Television that turns the spotlight on the people, places, events, and issues of our region. Co-hosts George Norwood and Roz Rice introduce a combination of field-produced and in-studio segments covering topics such as the arts and education, family and community, regional history, cultural identity, and news and public affairs. The program airs Fridays at 9pm on WSIU-TV 8 and WUSI-TV 16. Viewers are invited to ask questions, share comments, and offer programming suggestions at (618) 453-6156 or infocus@wsiu.org.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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PBS KIDS Host Mr. Steve Coming to Southern Illinois

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:43:31 -0500

For Immediate Release
Monday, March 28, 2011

Contact: Beth Spezia, Educational Outreach Coordinator, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

TO ARRANGE FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. STEVE: Contact Tina Waganer, PBS KIDS talent & station consultant, (410) 552-9323, tina@tinaandfriends.com

Carbondale, Ill. -- WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt. Vernon, Illinois are excited to present a free concert featuring PBS KIDS host, Mr. Steve, this Saturday, April 2. This one-of-a-kind event is open to the public at Cedarhurst, located at 2600 Richview Road in Mt. Vernon, from 1-4pm.

Family-friendly activities planned include a sing-along with Mr. Steve in the Mitchell Museum Performance Hall, an autograph and photo session, plus indoor and outdoor art activities, including a hat-making and a scavenger hunt in Cedarhurst's Kuenz Sculpture Park.

Parent's Choice Gold award-winning music sensation SteveSongs joined PBS KIDS as Mr. Steve in 2008. With his winsome smile, melodic voice, and guitar, Mr. Steve delights kids weekday mornings between children's programming on WSIU-TV 8 and WUSI-TV 16.

For more information about this event, visit www.wsiu.org or call WSIU at (618) 453-5595.
Download our e-Card about PBS KIDS host Mr. Steve's visit to Southern Illinois and share it with friends!

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WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

About Cedarhurst Center for the Arts
Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, located at 2600 Richview Road in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, is open Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 1-5pm. For more information about Cedarhurst, visit www.cedarhurst.org or call (618) 242-1236.

Cedarhurst Center for the Arts is an activity of the John R. and Eleanor R. Mitchell Foundation.

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MEDIA ADVISIORY: Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? Takes SIUC Shryock Stage Tomorrow

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:24:19 -0500

Media Advisory
For Tomorrow - Saturday, March 26, 2011

Contacts: Jeff Williams, General Manager/News & Public Affairs Director, WSIU Radio,
(618) 453-6170, jeff.williams@wsiu.org; Laura Cobin, WSIU Donor Communications Coordinator, (618) 453-4287, laura.cobin@wsiu.org

Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? Takes
SIUC Shryock Stage Tomorrow

Guests to include Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, University Museum Director Dona Bachman, Local Musicians Robert Bowlin and Wil Maring

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Media may arrive any time during the show - between 10am and noon – for video footage or stills of the broadcast. Michael Feldman will be available for interviews after 12pm.

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Carbondale, Ill. – Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover a live broadcast of the national public radio comedy quiz show Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? tomorrow – Saturday, March 26 at Shryock Auditorium, 1050 South Normal Avenue on the Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) campus in Carbondale, Ill.

The live radio broadcast will begin promptly at 10am. Host Michael Feldman will talk with the audience after the show concludes at noon and will be available to media.

Feldman last visited Southern Illinois in 1998 when he presented a live broadcast of the show, also from Shryock Auditorium. Guests featured in the 1998 broadcast included former U.S. Senator Paul Simon of Makanda and Guy Renzaglia of Alto Vineyards in Alto Pass.

Special guests will include Lt. Governor Sheila Simon and Dona Bachman, Director of the University Museum at SIU Carbondale. Musical guests for the show are local performers Robert Bowlin and Wil Maring.

Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? is produced by Wisconsin Public Radio and distributed by Public Radio International (PRI). It airs nationwide, and on the WSIU Radio stations, on Saturdays from 10am-12pm.

# # #

National Documentary to Feature Local Civil Rights Activist -- Local Film Screening, Discussion Set for April 2 in Carbondale

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:49:42 -0500

For Immediate Release
Thursday, March 24, 2011

Contact: Vickie Devenport, Outreach Coordinator, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

National Documentary to Feature Local Civil Rights Activist
Local Film Screening, Discussion Set for April 2 in Carbondale

Carbondale, Ill. – In 1961, over 400 black and white Americans risked injury, incarceration, and death when they traveled together on buses and trains through the Deep South to protest segregation and Jim Crow laws. Freedom Riders, a new two-hour documentary from the PBS series American Experience, will tell the inspirational story of these brave activists, including the experiences of original Freedom Riders Tom Armstrong of Chicago and Genevieve Houghton of Carbondale.

WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), along with co-sponsors the Illinois Humanities Council, the African American Museum of Southern Illinois, and the Varsity Center for the Arts will present a preview screening of the film, followed by a discussion and Q & A with Armstrong and Houghton, on Saturday, April 2 from 3-6pm. The event will be held at the Varsity Center for the Arts, located at 418 South Illinois in Carbondale. A reception hosted by the African American Museum of Southern Illinois will follow.

The Illinois Humanities Council is one of several national partners for the film. The IHC is creating statewide programming around Freedom Riders, including screenings for students and the public, and a festival featuring original performances honoring the Freedom Rides. Visit the IHC website at www.prairie.org for more information.

WSIU-TV 8 and WUSI-TV 16 will broadcast American Experience: Freedom Riders on Monday, May 16 at 8pm.

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About the Film
In 1961, segregation seemed to have an overwhelming grip on American society. Many states violently enforced the policy, while the federal government, under the Kennedy administration, remained indifferent, preoccupied with matters abroad. That is, until an integrated band of college students – many of whom were the first in their families to attend a university – decided, en masse, to risk everything and buy a ticket on a Greyhound bus bound for the Deep South. They called themselves the Freedom Riders, and they managed to bring the president and the entire American public face to face with the challenge of correcting civil-rights inequities that plagued the nation.

American Experience: Freedom Riders from filmmaker Stanley Nelson is the first feature-length film about this courageous band of civil-rights activists. Gaining impressive access to influential figures on both sides of the issue, Nelson chronicles a chapter of American history that stands as an astonishing testament to the accomplishment of youth and what can result from the combination of personal conviction and the courage to organize against all odds.

-----------------

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

# # #

PBS KIDS Host Mr. Steve Coming to Southern Illinois

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:21:13 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Contact: Beth Spezia, Educational Outreach Coordinator, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

PBS KIDS Host Mr. Steve Coming to Southern Illinois

Carbondale, Ill. -- WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt. Vernon, Illinois are excited to present a free concert featuring PBS KIDS host, Mr. Steve, on Saturday, April 2. This one-of-a-kind event is open to the public at Cedarhurst, located at 2600 Richview Road in Mt. Vernon, from 1-4pm.

Family-friendly activities planned include a sing-along with Mr. Steve in the Mitchell Museum Performance Hall, an autograph and photo session, plus indoor and outdoor art activities.

For more information about this event, visit www.wsiu.org or call WSIU at (618) 453-5595.

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WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Cedarhurst Center for the Arts is an activity of the John R. and Eleanor R. Mitchell Foundation.

# # #

Tickets Still Available for Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? on March 26

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:46:41 -0500

For Immediate Release
Friday, March 18, 2011

Local Contacts: Jeff Williams, General Manager/News & Public Affairs Director, WSIU Radio, (618) 453-6170, jeff.williams@wsiu.org; Laura Cobin, Donor Communications Coordinator, (618) 453-4287, laura.cobin@wsiu.org

Tickets Still Available for Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? on March 26
Guests to Include Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, Musicians Robert Bowlin and Wil Maring

Carbondale, Ill. -- Tickets are still available for the live broadcast of Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? on Saturday, March 26 at Shryock Auditorium, 1050 South Normal Avenue on the Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) campus. Doors open at 9am, with seating requested by 9:30; the two-hour show will begin promptly at 10am.

Produced by Wisconsin Public Radio and distributed by Public Radio International (PRI), Whad'Ya Know? airs on WSIU 91.9 FM/91.9 HD, WUSI 90.3 FM, and WVSI 88.9 FM, the public media stations of SIUC, on Saturdays from 10am until noon.

This year's show will include special guests Lt. Governor Sheila Simon and musicians Robert Bowlin and Wil Maring, among others.

Tickets can be purchased online at SouthernTicketsOnline.com, a service of SIU Event Services, or by calling (618) 453-6000 weekdays between noon and 5pm. Prices are $50 for seating in the Director's Circle, $40 for Orchestra seating, $32 for Side/Rear Orchestra/Lower Balcony seating, and $26 for the Upper Balcony.

Visit wsiu.org and click on the Whad'Ya Know? web feature on the WSIU homepage to learn more and for a link to SouthernTicketsOnline.com. Questions should be directed to Laura Cobin at (618) 453-4287.About WSIU

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know Coming to Carbondale March 26

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:37:19 -0600

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 1, 2011

LOCAL CONTACTS: Jeff Williams, General Manager/News & Public Affairs Director, WSIU Radio, (618) 453-6170, jeff.williams@wsiu.org; Laura Cobin, Donor Communications Coordinator, (618) 453-4287, laura.cobin@wsiu.org; Susan Patrick, Customer Service Representative, (618) 453-6184, susan.patrick@wsiu.org

TO ARRANGE INTERVIEWS WITH MICHAEL FELDMAN: Contact Judith Heise Kovalic, Marketing Director, Whad'Ya Know?, (608) 263-9525, judith.kovalic@wpr.org

Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know Coming to Carbondale March 26

Carbondale, Ill. -- Whad'Ya Know? Michael Feldman enjoyed his 1998 visit to Southern Illinois so much that he's bringing his popular comedy quiz show back to Carbondale!

WSIU Radio, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), will present a live broadcast of Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? on Saturday, March 26 at Shryock Auditorium,1050 S. Normal Avenue, on the SIU campus in Carbondale. Doors open at 9am, with seating requested by 9:30; the two-hour show will begin promptly at 10am.

Produced by Wisconsin Public Radio and distributed by Public Radio International (PRI), Whad'Ya Know? airs on WSIU 91.9 FM/91.9 HD, WUSI 90.3 FM, and WVSI 88.9 FM on Saturdays from 10am until noon.

Tickets are available for purchase at SouthernTicketsOnline.com, a service of SIU Event Services, or by calling (618) 453-6000 weekdays between noon and 5pm. Prices are $50 for seating in the Director's Circle, $40 for Orchestra seating, $32 for Side/Rear Orchestra/Lower Balcony seating, and $26 for the Upper Balcony.

Visit wsiu.org and click on the Whad'Ya Know? web feature on the WSIU homepage to learn more about the show and for a link to SouthernTicketsOnline.com.

Feldman last visited Southern Illinois in 1998 when he presented a live broadcast of the show from Shryock Auditorium. Guests featured in that broadcast included former U.S. Senator Paul Simon of Makanda, Ill.; then-teenage violin prodigy Liesl Schoenberger of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Cobden (Ill.) Museum curator Patrick Brumleve; and Paul and the late Guy Renzaglia of Alto Vineyards in Alto Pass, Ill.

Joining Feldman for the March 26th broadcast are cast and crew members Jim Packard, Lyle Anderson, John Thulin, Jeff Hamman, Clyde Stubblefield, Todd Witter, Tom Blain, Aubrey Ralph, Brad Kolberg, and Michele Gerard Good. Although they will not be in attendance, staff members Maggie Karpinen, Kelley Osborne, Diana Cook, and Judith Heise Kovalic round out the support team who contribute to the success of Whad'Ya Know?

The live broadcast will feature Feldman's take on “All The Southern Illinois News That Isn't,” interviews with local and special guests, performances by area musicians, and more. Details about guests and musicians who will be featured during the live show are still in process. Stay tuned to WSIU Radio and wsiu.org for updates as they become available.

About Michael Feldman
Host Michael Feldman is a self-described “20-year overnight sensation” in the world of public radio. He made his radio debut in 1965 when his winning entry in an essay contest earned him an appearance on a radio program in Milwaukee. After working as a high school English teacher for eight years, he drove a cab and became a volunteer DJ on Madison's WORT-FM, hosting Thanks for Calling and later producing his own show, The Breakfast Special. Feldman moved to Wisconsin Public Radio in 1985 and launched Whad'Ya Know?, which immediately attracted both critical acclaim and a loyal coast-to-coast audience.

In the early 1990s Feldman released a CD series with Nimbus Records entitled Whad'Ya Know? About the Classics. Feldman released a best-of compilation, Why Not The Best of Whad'Ya Know? in 1999, followed in 2001 by the best-of compilation Road Kill featuring selected material from the more than 80 shows Whad'Ya Know? has produced “on the road.” In 2003, Feldman released a music CD with long-time collaborator, John Sieger. Her Country: The Songs of Michael Feldman feature Feldman's lyrics and Sieger's music as performed by Sieger and The Skeletons.

Book titles include Whad'Ya Know?, published in 1991; Whad'Ya Knowledge?, published in 1993; Thanks for the Memos, published in 1995, a compilation of actual memos sent in by his listeners; Something I Said? Innuendo and Out the Other, released in 2004 by the University of Wisconsin Press; Glad You Asked, released in 2006 by Triumph Books; and Whad'Ya Know? A Bathroom Reader released in 2009 by Sourcebooks.

In 2010, Feldman celebrated his Silver Jubilee -- 25 years of hosting Whad'Ya Know? -- and marked the milestone with the release of the compilation CD The First 25 Are The Hardest.

About WSIU

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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WSIU's Celtic Connections Turns 20

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:10:41 -0600

For Immediate Release
Monday, February 7, 2011

Contact: Bryan Kelso Crow, Celtic Connections host and Associate Professor, Speech Communication, SIUC, (618) 453-1884, [ mailto:bcrow@siu.edu ]bcrow@siu.edu; Jeff Williams, WSIU Radio General Manager and News & Public Affairs Director, (618) 453-6170, [ mailto:jeff.williams@wsiu.org ]jeff.williams@wsiu.org

WSIU's Celtic Connections Turns 20

Carbondale, IL – Bryan Kelso Crow has an enduring passion for Celtic music. In fact, he loves it so much that he decided to launch a public radio program devoted to the musical genre on WSIU Public Radio, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC).

Twenty years later, Celtic Connections – the program Crow created and has hosted as a volunteer since February of 1991 – continues to entertain audiences of all ages with the best in traditional and contemporary Celtic music from around the world. The program airs on WSIU Radio on Saturdays at 7pm, with a repeat broadcast on Sundays at 6pm.

“I've been happy to serve as a volunteer at WSIU Radio hosting this program for the past 20 years,” says Crow, an Associate Professor in Speech Communication at SIUC and founding member of the local Celtic band, The Dorians. “As excellent new CDs continue to be released on both side of the Atlantic, I'm as excited as ever to keep sharing the music with enthusiastic listeners.”

Produced in WSIU Public Radio's studios on the SIUC campus and distributed nationally by the station, Celtic Connections features a wide variety of music derived from Celtic culture wherever it has been transplanted. Regular features include interviews, commercial recordings, and concert performances by musical groups such as the Brock McGuire Band, The David Munnelly Band, The Heatons, and Old Blind Dogs.

“Celtic Connections debuted in 1991 as a local program,” says Jeff Williams, WSIU Radio General Manager and News & Public Affairs Director. “Taking a local show national is a major undertaking; it's a testament to the knowledge, passion, and dedication that Bryan has for the program and for music in the Celtic tradition. Celtic Connections has been a fixture on the national scene for nearly 15 years. Radio is such a personal medium. The fact that the program has enjoyed such longevity underscores how well Bryan connects with listeners across the country.”

Originally broadcast across southern and east-central Illinois, and northwestern Kentucky, Celtic Connections is now heard on nearly 150 public radio stations in 30 states. Still, Crow is quick to praise the pivotal role that others have played in the program's development over the years.

“Much of the credit for the success of Celtic Connections goes to our production engineer for the first 19 years, Mike Zelten, who retired from WSIU in the spring of 2010,” says Crow. “He trained our current student producer, Jun Kim, who is doing a great job. I couldn't do the series without them.”

In addition to teaching in SIUC's Speech Communication department, Crow is a guest lecturer in the university's Irish Studies program. He is an accomplished musician who plays the concert flute, tin whistle, and keyboards. Crow also has taught whistle classes in Carbondale, at the Mississippi River Celtic Music Festival in St. Louis, Missouri, and at the Saline Celtic Festival in Saline, Michigan. When he isn't teaching or performing with The Dorians, Crow is busy helping to organize the annual Southern Illinois Irish Festival, and – of course – sharing his passion for Celtic music with an appreciative local and national audience on Celtic Connections.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

# # #Download an Image of Bryan Kelso Crow

Public Invited to Help WSIU “Caption the Past”

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:01:59 -0600

For Immediate Release
Friday, February 4, 2011

Contact: Monica Tichenor, Public Information & Promotions Coordinator, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-6160, monica.tichenor@wsiu.org; Lane Hudgins, President, Friends of WSIU Advisory Board, (618) 534-0099, lane@siu.edu

Public Invited to Help WSIU “Caption the Past”

Carbondale, IL – It's 2011 – and WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is having a birthday. Later this year, on November 6, 2011, WSIU-TV will mark 50 years of service to the region.

WSIU will be celebrating this milestone throughout the year with 50th Anniversary messaging and events, beginning with a casual event this month that will take guests on a trip down memory lane.

The Friends of WSIU Advisory Board are inviting the general public to join them for “Captioning the Past: WSIU-TV at 50,” on Sunday, February 13 from 2-5pm. The event will be held in WSIU-TV Studio A, Room 1065 of the Communications Building, located at 1100 Lincoln Drive on the SIUC campus.

Over the years, WSIU-TV has accumulated many photos that depict the station's growth since first signing on the air. Since many people in the area have grown up with WSIU, the station is seeking the public's help in identifying people, events, and the year in old photos. WSIU will use the information shared to help properly archive the photos as part of the station's history.

Beverages and desserts will be served. Guests also will enjoy a wide variety of music from the past 50 years.

Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to Chester Hood by Friday, February 11 at (618) 453-6178 or chester.hood@wsiu.org.

Plans for other WSIU 50th Anniversary events throughout the year, including a culminating event in November, will be shared as details are finalized.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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WSIU to Broadcast Live Coverage of Governor Quinn's Budget Message

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:22:29 -0600

For Immediate Release
Monday, January 31, 2011

Contact: Jak Tichenor, WSIU Public Television, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org

WSIU to Broadcast Live Coverage of Governor Quinn's Budget Message

Carbondale, Ill. -- WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), will provide live coverage of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's Budget Message to the Illinois General Assembly on Wednesday, February 16 from 12-1:30pm.

WSIU-TV 8/WUSI TV 16 (channels 8.1 and 16.1) will present the Governor's speech live as a special edition of the statewide public television series Illinois Lawmakers, a production of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council. A repeat of the program will air at 10:30pm. Additional repeat broadcasts will air on WSIU's second digital channel, WSIU WORLD (channels 8.2 and 16.2) on Thursday, February 17 at 7pm and Saturday, February 19 at 8:30pm. WSIU-TV's veteran Statehouse reporter, Jak Tichenor, will anchor coverage of the speech with analysis from Rich Miller, editor and publisher of the influential Capitolfax newsletter on state politics. Following the speech, Illinois Lawmakers will offer reaction from legislative leaders and budget experts from both sides of the aisle in the Illinois House and Senate.

WSIU 91.9 FM/91.9 HD, WUSI 90.3 FM, and WVSI 88.9 FM also will carry the Governor's address and subsequent analysis live at noon via Illinois Public Radio.

“Illinois' budget outlook is still uncertain at best,” says WSIU-TV producer Jak Tichenor, despite Governor Quinn's recent signature of legislation hiking the state's personal income rate by 67-percent and raising the corporate tax rate by 46-percent. The tax increase only partially closes the state's estimated $15-billion budget gap and lawmakers have thus far rejected the Governor's efforts to borrow billions more to pay the state's creditors. The issue is further complicated by a recent appellate court decision that declared the state's $31-billion capital program unconstitutional. “If the ruling is upheld," said Tichenor, "lawmakers are going to have a tough time finding money to pay for construction bonds because of the public outcry over the income tax hike, much less rack up more debt to pay back bills."

WSIU's weekly television series WSIU InFocus will offer reaction to the Governor's budget speech by local Democratic and Republican state lawmakers in a special edition airing on Friday, February 18 at 9pm. The program will repeat on Sunday, February 20 at 12:30pm.

A production of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council, Illinois Lawmakers is broadcast from the State Capitol in Springfield in the fall and spring and is carried simultaneously on public broadcasting stations throughout the state. The series is in its 25th year.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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WSIU to Present Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know on March 26 Public Radio Quiz Show to Record Live at Shryock Auditorium

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:39:06 -0600

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Contacts: Jeff Williams, General Manager/News & Public Affairs Director, WSIU Radio, (618) 453-6170, jeff.williams@wsiu.org; Laura Cobin, Donor Communications Coordinator, (618) 453-4287, laura.cobin@wsiu.org; Susan Patrick, Customer Service Representative, (618) 453-6184, susan.patrick@wsiu.org.

WSIU to Present Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know on March 26
Public Radio Quiz Show to Record Live at Shryock Auditorium

Carbondale, Ill. – WSIU Public Radio, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), will present a live broadcast of Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? on Saturday, March 26 at 9:30am at Shryock Auditorium, located at 1050 S. Normal Avenue on the SIU campus in Carbondale. Produced by Wisconsin Public Radio and distributed by Public Radio International, the weekly, comedy quiz show airs on WSIU Radio on Saturdays from 10am-noon.

Host Michael Feldman will lead the live March 26th taping of the show, along with cast and crew members Jim Packard, Lyle Anderson, John Thulin, Jeff Hamman, Clyde Stubblefield, Todd Witter, Tom Blain, Aubrey Ralph, Brad Kolbert, and Michele Gerard Good.

Tickets are available for purchase at SouthernTicketsOnline.com, a service of SIU Event Services. Prices are $50 for seating in the Director's Circle, $40 for Orchestra seating, $32 for Side/Rear Orchestra/Lower Balcony seating, and $26 for Upper Balcony seating.

“WSIU is honored to host the return of Michael Feldman and Whad'Ya Know to Southern Illinois,” said Jeff Williams, General Manager and News & Public Affairs Director of WSIU Public Radio, “This is the show's second visit to Carbondale and to Shryock Auditorium, having hosted a live performance here in 1998. Whad'Ya Know is a long time favorite with our listeners, and I couldn't be more excited about the show's return. It's a wonderful opportunity for people to see and participate in live radio at its best!”

In keeping with the Whad'Ya Know? road show tradition, the live show will take on a local flair, featuring Feldman's take on “All The Southern Illinois News That Isn't,” along with Feldman's interviews of Southern Illinoisans and special guests, performances by local musicians, and more.

Host Michael Feldman is a self-described “20-year overnight sensation” in the world of public radio. He made his radio debut in 1965 when his winning entry in an essay contest earned him an appearance on a radio program in Milwaukee. After working as a high school English teacher for eight years, he drove a cab and became a volunteer DJ on Madison's WORT-FM, hosting Thanks for Calling and later producing his own show, The Breakfast Special.

Feldman moved to Wisconsin Public Radio in 1985 and began Whad'Ya Know?, which immediately attracted both critical acclaim and a loyal coast-to-coast audience. Subsequently, he wrote three "highly praised and widely ignored" books: the autobiographical Whad'Ya Know?, published in 1991; Whad'Ya Knowledge?, published in 1993; Thanks for the Memos in 1995, a compilation of actual memos sent in by his listeners; and most recently Glad You Asked. He has also released six compact discs, in cooperation with Nimbus Records, titled Whad'Ya Know? About the Classics.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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Love is on the Air at WSIU Public Radio

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:46:42 -0600

For Immediate Release
Monday, January 24, 2011

Contact: Jeff Williams, FM General Manager and News/Public Affairs Director, (618) 453-6170, jeff.williams@wsiu.org; Susan Patrick, WSIU Customer Service Specialist, (618) 453-6184, susan.patrick@wsiu.org

Love is on the Air at WSIU Public Radio

Carbondale, IL – WSIU Public Radio, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is inviting listeners to make Valentine's Day a little sweeter for family and friends by surprising them with locally-made gourmet chocolates – all for the love of public radio.

Public radio fans who make a donation during WSIU's 15th Annual “Love is on the Air” fundraiser can send boxes of regular or sugar-free gourmet chocolates made by The Chocolate Factory in Golconda, Illinois anywhere in the continental U.S., courtesy of Mail Boxes Etc. of Carbondale.

Chocolates are available in half-pound boxes for a donation of $45, one-pound boxes for a donation of $60, and two-pound boxes for a donation of $100. Each box includes a gift card with the sender's personalized Valentine message.

Secure pledges can be made online at wsiu.org/love or by calling 1-800-745-9748. Orders must be received by 1pm on Thursday, February 10 for delivery by Valentine's Day. Supplies go quickly, so those interested in participating are encouraged to make their gifts as soon as possible.

For more information about "Love is on the Air," visit www.wsiu.org/love.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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WSIU to Broadcast Live Coverage of 2011 Illinois Inaugural

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:56:09 -0600

For Immediate Release
Thursday, January 6, 2011

Contacts: Jak Tichenor, Senior Producer, WSIU-TV, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org; Jeff Williams, General Manager/News & Public Affairs Director, WSIU Radio, (618) 453-6101, jeff.williams@wsiu.org

WSIU to Broadcast Live Coverage of 2011 Illinois Inaugural

Carbondale, Illinois - WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), will present live coverage of the ceremonies inaugurating the six Illinois Constitutional officers on Monday, January 10 from 11am-1pm on WSIU Television's primary HD channels, WSIU-TV 8.1 and WUSI-TV 16.1.

WSIU Public Radio - WSIU 91.9 FM/91.9 HD, WUSI 90.3 FM, and WVSI 88.9 FM - will provide live coverage through Illinois Public Radio from 11:30am-1pm.

Governor Patrick Quinn, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Secretary of State Jesse White, Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, and Treasurer Dan Rutherford will be sworn in during ceremonies held at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield.

Broadcast coverage of the event is being produced by the Illinois Information Service of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services.

The event will be rebroadcast on WSIU World, WSIU-TV 8.2 and WUSI-TV 16.2, on Monday, January 10 at 7pm and Sunday, January 16 at 4:30pm.

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WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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WSIU-TV Announces New PBS KIDS Schedule, New Series

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:29:07 -0600

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Contacts: Beth Spezia, Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

WSIU-TV Announces New PBS KIDS Schedule, New Series

Carbondale Ill. -- WSIU TV 8 and WUSI TV 16, the public television stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), have announced a new PBS KIDS television programming schedule, effective Monday, January 3, 2011. The revised schedule includes the addition of a new science series, Wild Kratts, to the children's programming lineup.

Created by animal adventurers Chris and Martin Kratt, Wild Kratts takes six-to-eight-year olds and their families on animal-powered adventures around the world, emphasizing basic science concepts along the way.

“One important aspect of Wild Kratts is that we are harnessing the huge appeal of animals in this age group as a launch pad into science by introducing key concepts of chemistry, physics, geology, biology, and natural history through the actions and behaviors of the animals within our stories,” says Chris Kratt, co-creator of Wild Kratts.

Each episode features Chris and Martin in a live-action segment starring actual animals as the brothers wonder what it would be like to experience a never-before-seen wildlife moment. Then the brothers transform into animated versions of themselves and the adventure begins, giving kids a glimpse into the secret lives of extraordinary creatures inhabiting some of the world's most exotic locales, such as tiger quolls from Australia, draco lizards from Indonesia, mambas of Africa, and the elusive colossal squid from the depths of the ocean.

With a diverse cast of male and female characters, including two young role models for girls, Wild Kratts helps promote the message that science can be fun.

To see a video preview of Wild Kratts and to download PDF copies of Wild Kratts episode descriptions and WSIU-TV's Spring 2011 PBS KIDS schedule, visit wsiu.org and select the corresponding web feature in the rotating spotlight section on the homepage.

WSIU's Spring 2011 PBS KIDS children's programming schedule is as follows:

WEEKDAYS
6am A Place of Our Own
6:30 Martha Speaks
7am Curious George
7:30 The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!
8am SuperWHY!
8:30 Dinosaur Train
9am Sesame Street
10am Clifford the Big Red Dog
10:30 WordWorld
11am Curious George; Bob the Builder (Friday)
11:30 Barney & Friends; Thomas & Friends (Friday)
12pm Peep and the Big Wide World
12:30 Sid the Science Kid
1pm Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman
1:30 Cyberchase
2pm Between the Lions
2:30 Martha Speaks
3pm Arthur
3:30 WordGirl; SciGirls (Fri)
4pm Wild Kratts (NEW SERIES)
4:30 The Electric Company

SATURDAY
5am Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
5:30 Bob the Builder
6am Curious George
6:30 The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!
7am Super WHY!
7:30 Dinosaur Train
8am Thomas & Friends
8:30 Martha Speaks
9am The Electric Company
9:30 DragonFly TV
10am SciGirls

SUNDAY
5am Sesame Street
6am Curious George
6:30 The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!
7am Super WHY!
7:30 Dinosaur Train
8am Clifford the Big Red Dog
8:30 Angelina Ballerina
9am Biz Kid$

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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WSIU-TV to Broadcast Seven SIU Basketball Games

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 08:51:42 -0600

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Contacts: Greg Petrowich, Executive Director, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-4344, greg.petrowich@wsiu.org; Trina Thomas, TV Programming Coordinator, (618) 453-6169, trina.thomas@wsiu.org

WSIU-TV to Broadcast Seven SIU Basketball Games

Carbondale Ill. -- Saluki Basketball will return to WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, beginning in January as the stations present an exclusive multi-game broadcast package featuring six SIU Men's Basketball games and one SIU Women's basketball game. The games will air live on WSIU's main channels of TV 8.1 and TV 16.1. Each game will be rebroadcast on WSIU's second digital television channel, WSIU World, on 8.2 and 16.2.

“This is a great opportunity for us to fill another local programming need,” said Greg Petrowich, Executive Director of WSIU Public Broadcasting.”Interest in the Salukis is always high, and WSIU's reach into five states means 3-million people will get a chance to watch and hopefully become Saluki fans.”

The broadcast schedule is as follows:

Tue., Jan. 4, 7pm: SIU Men at Bradley (repeats 10pm on WSIU World 8.2/16.2)
Sun., Jan. 9, 2pm: SIU Men vs. Illinois State, at Carbondale (repeats 7pm on WSIU World 8.2/16.2)
Sat., Jan. 15, 7pm: SIU Men at Northern Iowa (repeats 10pm on WSIU World 8.2/16.2)
Sat., Jan. 29, 7pm: SIU Men at Evansville (repeats 10pm on WSIU World 8.2/16.2)
Sat., Feb. 5, 2pm: SIU Men vs. Bradley, at Carbondale (repeats 7pm on WSIU World 8.2/16.2)
Tue., Feb. 8, 7pm: SIU Men at Wichita State (repeats 10pm on WSIU World 8.2/16.2)
Sat., Mar. 5, 2pm: SIU Women vs. Missouri State, at Carbondale (repeats 7pm on WSIU World 8.2/16.2)

Saluki Basketball on WSIU Public Television is sponsored regionally by Dr. Michael B. Clay, SI Dentistry, Murphysboro, Ill.; Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Carbondale & Mt. Vernon, Ill. branches; the SIU Alumni Association, Carbondale, Ill.; Wright Do-It Center in Murphysboro & Sparta, Ill.; Cook Portable Warehouses, the 12-State Region; and Anheuser Busch Distributors - B & G Venegoni, Christopher, Ill. and Gold Eagle Distributing, Marion, Ill.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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ADVISORY - Native Storyteller Robert Lewis to Perform at SIU Carbondale This Friday

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:15:15 -0600

Media Advisory
For Friday, November 19, 2010 • 7-9pm

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Native Storyteller Robert Lewis to Perform at SIU Carbondale This Friday

Carbondale, Ill. -- Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to cover a public storytelling performance in Carbondale, Illinois by Cherokee Education Specialist and Native American master storyteller Robert Lewis (Cherokee / Navajo / Apache) of the Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

The free performance, entitled “Phoenix Rising, Cherokee Voices: Lifeways and Culture,” will take place this Friday, November 19 at 7pm at the SIU Carbondale Student Center, Ballroom D, 1255 Lincoln Drive. It is sponsored by WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public broadcasting stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and the Shawnee National Forest.

Lewis, who is on his third visit to the region, will share enlightening and humorous stories about Cherokee art, culture, and ways of life. Lewis is a charismatic performer and is known for engaging his audiences by inviting people of all ages on stage to perform as characters from traditional Cherokee stories. Accompanying Lewis this year is artisan and storyteller Gina Burnett, Outreach Coordinator for the Cherokee Heritage Center. Burnett will share the histories of Native artwork and artifacts.

Lewis and Burnett also will perform on Thursday, November 18 at 7pm at the Harris-Pruett Community Building, located at 107 E. Church Street in Harrisburg. The duo performed on Wednesday, November 17 at 7pm at Glenn Auditorium - Dempster Hall on the Southeast Missouri State University campus in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Lewis specializes in conducting outreach classes and services in Art and Storytelling for the Cherokee Nation's Education Department. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art from Northeastern State University where he teaches evening classes in art and Native crafts.

Lewis and Gina Burnett's visit to the region is funded through a partnership between WSIU Public Broadcasting and the Shawnee National Forest.

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ADVISORY -- Native Storyteller Robert Lewis to Perform in Cape Wednesday Night

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 08:29:25 -0600

Media Advisory
For Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 7-9pm

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Native Storyteller Robert Lewis to Perform in Cape Wednesday Night

Carbondale, Ill. - Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to cover a public storytelling performance in Cape Girardeau, Missouri by Cherokee Education Specialist and Native American storyteller Robert Lewis (Cherokee / Navajo / Apache) of the Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

The performance, entitled “Phoenix Rising, Cherokee Voices: Lifeways and Culture,” is free and open to the public and will take place this Wednesday, November 17 at 7pm in Glenn Auditorium, located in Dempster Hall on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. It is sponsored by WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public broadcasting stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and the Shawnee National Forest.

Lewis, who is on his third visit to the region (this is his first storytelling performance in Cape Girardeau), will share enlightening and humorous stories about Cherokee art, culture, and ways of life. Lewis is a charismatic performer and is known for engaging his audiences by inviting people of all ages on stage to perform scenes from traditional Cherokee stories.

Accompanying Lewis this year is artisan and storyteller Gina Burnett, Outreach Coordinator for the Cherokee Heritage Center. Burnett will share the histories of Native artwork and artifacts.

Lewis and Burnett will give two additional performances: on Thursday, November 18 at 7pm at the Harris-Pruett Community Building, 107 East Church Street, in Harrisburg, Illinois and on Friday, November 19 at 7pm at the Student Center, Ballroom D on the SIUC campus in Carbondale, Illinois.

Lewis and Burnett's visit to the region is funded through a partnership between WSIU Public Broadcasting and the Shawnee National Forest.

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ADVISORY -- Cat in the Hat Raising Readers Theater Performance at Herrin City LibraryThis Wednesday

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 08:28:29 -0600

Media Advisory
For Wednesday, November 17, 2010 • 5:30pm

Contact: Beth Spezia, Educational Outreach Coordinator, WSIU, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org
Irena Just, Children's Librarian, Herrin City Library, (618) 942-6109, biloxime2000@yahoo.com
Lori Longueville, Child Care Resource & Referral, John A. Logan College, lorilongueville@jalc.edu, (618) 985-5980, ext. 241

Cat in the Hat Raising Readers Theater Performance at Herrin City Library
This Wednesday, November 17

Carbondale, Ill. - Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to cover a PBS KIDS Cat in the Hat Readers Theater Performance on Wednesday, November 17 beginning at 5:30pm at Herrin City Library, 120 North 13th Street in Herrin, Illinois. This family event celebrating the joy of reading is co-sponsored by Child Care Resource and Referral at John A. Logan College and WSIU Public Broadcasting.

Headlining the evening's activities is a Raising Readers Theater performance featuring The Cat in the Hat from the beloved Dr. Seuss children's book of the same name. Using props created by WSIU, the Cat in the Hat and children at the library will read and act out the story. Following the performance, WSIU will provide certificates and eBooks to actors. New reading materials will be available for everyone who attends.

Families also will enjoy the library's new PBS KIDS Library Corner, which features PBS KIDS banners, a PBS KIDS rug, and dedicated shelving units, as well as PBS KIDS program-related books, activity guides, and DVDs, and hands-on learning opportunities at the online sites PBS KIDS Island and The Great World Quest.

This special event is being held as part of Family Reading Night, a statewide event sponsored by Jesse White, Secretary of State and State Librarian. Celebrated annually in Illinois during the third week of November, Family Reading Night encourages families to spend quality time reading together. This year's theme is "Fall into Reading.”

A second "Cat in the Hat Raising Readers Theater Performance" will be held on Thursday, November 18 at 6:30pm at Benton Public Library, 502 South Main Street in Benton, Illinois.

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Benton Public Library, WSIU to Host Cat in the Hat Readers' Theater Performance

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:13:36 -0600

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Contact: Beth Spezia, Educational Outreach Coordinator, WSIU, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org; Erin Steinsultz, Director, Benton Public Library District, (618) 438-7511, erins@shawls.lib.il.us

Benton Public Library, WSIU to Host Cat in the Hat Readers' Theater Performance

Benton, Ill. – The general public is invited to join WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media service of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), for a celebration of the joy of reading at a Cat in the Hat Readers Theater Performance on Thursday, November 18 beginning at 6:30pm at Benton Public Library, 502 South Main Street in Benton, Illinois.

The event will be held as a part of Family Reading Night, a statewide event sponsored by Jesse White, Secretary of State and State Librarian. Celebrated annually in Illinois during the third week of November, Family Reading Night encourages families to spend quality time reading together. This year's theme is "Fall into Reading.”

Headlining the evening's activities is a PBS KIDS Raising Readers Theater performance featuring The Cat in the Hat from the beloved Dr. Seuss children's book of the same name. The performance is provided courtesy of John A. Logan College Child Care Resource & Referral. Using props created by WSIU, the Cat in the Hat and children at the library will act out the story. Children will help read the story during the readers theater. Following the performance, WSIU will provide certificates and eBooks to actors. New reading materials will be available for everyone who attends.

WSIU-TV 8/WUSI-TV 16 recently added the PBS KIDS television series The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! to its programming schedule on weekdays at 7:30am and weekends at 6:30am. Voiced by award-winning actor Martin Short, the Cat guides friends Sally and Nick – with a little help from the Fish, Thing 1, and Thing 2 – on fun adventures where they make natural-science discoveries, from how bees make honey to why owls sleep during the day.

About PBS KIDS Raising Readers
PBS KIDS Raising Readers is a national initiative that uses the power of public media to help improve the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS, and The ReadyTo Learn Partnership. WSIU is a Raising Readers station.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

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WSIU, Local Libraries to Host Cat in the Hat Readers' Theater Performances

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:14:25 -0600

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Contact: Beth Spezia, Educational Outreach Coordinator, WSIU, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org;
Irena Just, Children's Librarian, Herrin City Library, (618) 942-6109, biloxime2000@yahoo.com;
Erin Steinsultz, Director, Benton Public Library District, (618) 438-7511, erins@shawls.lib.il.us

WSIU, Local Libraries to Host Cat in the Hat Readers' Theater Performances

Herrin, Ill. – The general public is invited to join WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media service of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), for a celebration of the joy of reading at Cat in the Hat Readers Theater Performances to be held at two area libraries on November 17 and November 18.

The events will be held as a part of Family Reading Night, a statewide event sponsored by Jesse White, Secretary of State and State Librarian. Celebrated annually in Illinois during the third week of November, Family Reading Night encourages families to spend quality time reading together. This year's theme is "Fall into Reading.”

The first Cat in the Hat Readers Theater Performance will be held on Wednesday, November 17 beginning at 5:30pm at Herrin City Library, 120 North 13th Street in Herrin, Illinois.

The second performance will be held on Thursday, November 18 beginning at 6:30pm at Benton Public Library, 502 South Main Street in Benton, Illinois.

Headlining each event's activities is a PBS KIDS Raising Readers Theater performance featuring The Cat in the Hat from the beloved Dr. Seuss children's book of the same name. The performance is provided courtesy of John A. Logan College Child Care Resource & Referral. Using props created by WSIU, the Cat in the Hat and children at the library will act out the story. Children will help read the story during the readers theater. Following the performance, WSIU will provide certificates and eBooks to actors. New reading materials will be available for everyone who attends.

Families at Herrin City Library also will enjoy the library's new PBS KIDS Library Corner, which features PBS KIDS banners, a PBS KIDS rug, and dedicated shelving units, as well as PBS KIDS program-related books, activity guides, and DVDs, and hands-on learning opportunities at the online sites PBS KIDS Island and The Great World Quest. Herrin City Library was the site of children's media research during 2009 and has played a significant role in helping to develop new public media for libraries at the national level. It was the first library in the state to implement a PBS KIDS Library Corner in partnership with WSIU-TV and PBS KIDS Raising Readers.

About PBS KIDS Library Corners
PBS KIDS Library Corners are provided through PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to help improve the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS, and The Ready To Learn Partnership. WSIU is a Raising Readers station.

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Native American Storyteller and Native Artifact Expert to Visit Region

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:15:54 -0600

For Immediate Release
Thursday, November 5, 2010

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org
(NOTE: Devenport can provide contact information for Robert Lewis and Gina Burnett of the Cherokee Heritage Center)

Native American Storyteller and Native Artifact Expert to Visit Region

Carbondale, Ill. -- In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, WSIU Public Broadcasting and the Shawnee National Forest are proud to present “Phoenix Rising, Cherokee Voices: Lifeways and Culture,” three regional public performances coming November 17-November 19, that will highlight the spirit and rich history of Native American culture. All performances are free and open to the public.

Cherokee Education Specialist and Native Storyteller Robert Lewis of the Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and Gina Burnett, Outreach Coordinator for the Center, will share enlightening and often humorous stories about Cherokee art, culture, and ways of life. Lewis, who is on his third visit to the region, makes his performances an interactive experience by inviting audience members on stage to perform scenes from traditional Cherokee stories. Burnett, an artisan and a storyteller, will share the histories of Native artwork and artifacts.

Lewis and Burnett's first performance will be held on Wednesday, November 17 at 7pm in Glenn Auditorium, located in Dempster Hall on the Southeast Missouri State University campus in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

On Thursday, November 18 at 7pm, the duo will perform at the Harris-Pruett Community Building, 107 East Church Street, in Harrisburg, Illinois.

A final performance will take place on Friday, November 19 at 7pm at the SIUC Student Center, Ballroom D in Carbondale, Illinois.

Robert Lewis specializes in conducting outreach classes and services in Art and Storytelling for the Cherokee Nation's Education Department. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art from Northeastern State University where he teaches evening classes in art and Native crafts.

Lewis and Gina Burnett's visit to the region is funded through a partnership between WSIU Public Broadcasting and the Shawnee National Forest.

About WSIU
Since 1958, WSIU Public Broadcasting has inspired personal growth, community engagement, and a love for learning in people of all ages. Licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, WSIU is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, local production units, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. WSIU partners with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Herrin Public Library, WSIU to Host Cat in the Hat Readers' Theater Performance

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:11:12 -0600

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Contact: Beth Spezia, Educational Outreach Coordinator, WSIU, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org; Irena Just, Children's Librarian, Herrin City Library, (618) 942-6109, biloxime2000@yahoo.com

Herrin Public Library, WSIU to Host Cat in the Hat Readers' Theater Performance
Families and Friends Invited to PBS KIDS Corner at Herrin City Library

Herrin, Ill. – The general public is invited to join WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media service of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), for a celebration of the joy of reading at a Cat in the Hat Readers Theater Performance on Wednesday, November 17 beginning at 5:30pm at Herrin City Library, 120 North 13th Street in Herrin, Illinois.

Headlining the evening's activities is a Raising Readers Theater performance featuring The Cat in the Hat from the beloved Dr. Seuss children's book of the same name. The performance is provided courtesy of John A. Logan College Child Care Resource & Referral. Using props created by WSIU, the Cat in the Hat and children at the library will act out the story. Children will help read the story during the readers theater. Following the performance, WSIU will provide certificates and eBooks to actors. New reading materials will be available for everyone who attends.

Families also will enjoy the library's PBS KIDS Library Corner, which features PBS KIDS banners, a PBS KIDS rug, and dedicated shelving units, as well as PBS KIDS program-related books, activity guides, and DVDs, and hands-on learning opportunities at the online sites PBS KIDS Island and The Great World Quest.

Herrin City Library was the site of children's media research during 2009 and has played a significant role in helping to develop new public media for libraries at the national level. It was the first library in the state to implement a PBS KIDS Library Corner in partnership with WSIU-TV and PBS KIDS Raising Readers. Using PBS KIDS media resources, Library Corners help to strengthen the literacy skills of children ages two through eight through free, fun activities at their local public or school library. WSIU and the national Raising Readers team are grateful to the staff of Herrin City Library for their work in helping to develop outstanding public media services and activities for children.

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Local Screening, Discussion to Explore the World of Quad Rugby Athletes

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 09:13:58 -0500

For Immediate Release
Monday, October 25, 2010
(original press release sent: 10/21/10)

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Local Screening, Discussion to Explore the World of Quad Rugby Athletes

Carbondale, Ill. -- Murderball. The name alone sounds menacing. But the story behind the full-contact sport of wheelchair rugby is more fascinating than frightening - and two SIUC students who are quadriplegic will share their personal experiences of playing the game at an upcoming film screening and discussion of the 2005 independent film, Murderball. The free event will be held on Thursday, October 28 at 7pm in the Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) Recreation Center Alumni Lounge, located at 300 East Grand Avenue in Carbondale.

The screening will feature video excerpts from Murderball, which captures two years in the lives of athletes with quadriplegia as they play rugby and compete in the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece. SIUC students Chuck Melton and Mike Hasler, who are both players for the St. Louis Rams Quad Rugby Team and the U.S. Quad Rugby Association, will introduce the film. Chuck and Mike will participate in a “Q & A” session and discussion after the film. Refreshments will be served.

The screening and discussion are presented by the Southern Illinois Radio Information Service, a public service of WSIU Radio and SIUC, as well as the SIUC Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation Program and the Illinois Bureau of Blind Services in recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and White Cane Safety Day.

For more information, contact Vickie Devenport at WSIU, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.

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Credit: Chris Lee, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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Credit: Anita Krell

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Media Advisory - Saturday - Soundwalk on SIUC Campus

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:57:07 -0500

Media Advisory
For Saturday, October 23

Contact: Dave Armstrong, host of Sounds Like Radio, (618) 912-4751, malty1@gmail.com; Jeff Williams, WSIU Public Radio General Manager and News & Public Affairs Director, (618) 453-6170, jeff.williams@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill. -- Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover a Fall Campus Soundwalk led by Dave Armstrong, host of the experimental music program Sounds Like Radio on WSIU Public Radio, this Saturday, October 23 at 10:30am. The soundwalk will begin outdoors at the north entrance of the Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) Student Center, located at 1255 Lincoln Drive in Carbondale.

The soundwalk will last approximately one hour and will take participants both indoors and outdoors on the SIUC campus.

Soundwalks celebrate the practice of listening as it relates to the world around us, environmental awareness, and acoustic ecology. They can include audio tours, sound performances, and sound art installations.

Sounds Like Radio is a two-hour program on WSIU Public Radio featuring experimental music, avant-garde works, sound art, and field recordings. Listen on Sundays from 3-5am and again from 10pm-12am. Send music suggestions and questions to soundslikeradio@wsiu.org.

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Sesser-Valier High School Students on Local TV Quiz Show

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:19:44 -0500

For Immediate Release
Friday, October 15, 2010

Contacts: David Kidd, Senior Producer, WSIU-TV, (618) 453-5887, [ mailto:david.kidd@wsiu.org ]david.kidd@wsiu.org; Amber Polczynski, Student Producer, (618) 453-6144, amber.polczynski@wsiu.org

Photo credit: Monica Tichenor, WSIU

Sesser-Valier High School Students on Local TV Quiz Show

Carbondale, Ill. -- Top students from Sesser-Valier High School in Waterloo take on Gibault High School in Waterloo on the next episode of Scholastic Hi-Q, WSIU Public Television's quiz show featuring regional high school scholar bowl teams. The half-hour episode will air on WSIU-TV 8/WUSI-TV 16, the public television stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), on Sunday, October 24 at 5:30pm, with a repeat on Sunday, October 31 at 9:30am.

Produced and hosted by SIUC students, Scholastic Hi-Q is a competitive game show series featuring scholar bowl teams from over 30 area high schools. Team members answer questions from a variety of disciplines, including art, geography, history, literature, math, music and science. The winning school of each game advances to subsequent rounds until they are either eliminated by another team or advance to the championship match. Season champions receive a large plaque for their school and recognition on WSIU-TV's airwaves and website.

In addition to providing participating teams with an opportunity to enhance their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, Scholastic Hi-Q also helps students to develop poise and self-confidence while reinforcing life lessons in responsibility and teamwork.

Ryan Dosier, a sophomore in Cinema & Photography from Carbondale, Illinois, is this year's host of Scholastic Hi-Q. Dosier is a recognized expert on Jim Henson's Muppets and the PBS series Sesame Street. He created and maintains a public blog, The Muppet Mindset, on which he shares program trivia, character bios, stories, reviews, and more. To learn more, visit Dosier's blog at http://themuppetmindset.blogspot.com.

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Fall Campus Soundwalk is Saturday, October 23

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:11:37 -0500

For Immediate Release
Monday, October 18, 2010

Fall Campus Soundwalk is Saturday, October 23

Contact: Dave Armstrong, host of Sounds Like Radio, 618-912-4751, malty1@gmail.com;
Jeff Williams, WSIU Public Radio General Manager and News & Public Affairs Director, 618-453-6170, jeff.williams@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill. -- See and hear the Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) campus in a different light by joining Dave Armstrong, host of the local experimental music program Sounds Like Radio on WSIU Public Radio, for a Fall Campus Soundwalk on Saturday, October 23 at 10:30am. Participants should meet Armstrong outdoors at the North End of the SIUC Student Center. The soundwalk will take participants both indoors and outdoors, and should last a little over one hour.

Sounds Like Radio is a two-hour program on WSIU Radio featuring experimental music, avant-garde works, sound art, and field recordings. Listen on Sundays from 3-5am and again from 10pm-12am. Send your music suggestions and questions to soundslikeradio@wsiu.org.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a web site, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Local Radio Host to Lead Campus Soundwalk on October 23

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:32:31 -0500

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Local Radio Host to Lead Campus Soundwalk on October 23

Carbondale, Ill. -- Close your eyes. Can you identify where you are based only on the sounds you hear?

See and hear the Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) campus in a different light by joining Dave Armstrong, host of the experimental music program Sounds Like Radio on WSIU Public Radio, for a Fall Campus Soundwalk on Saturday, October 23 at 10:30am. Participants should plan to meet Armstrong outdoors at the North End of the SIUC Student Center. The soundwalk will take participants both indoors and outdoors, and should last approximately one hour.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a web site, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Media Advisory -- God in America Screening, Discussion is Monday

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:31:06 -0500

Media Advisory
For Monday, October 11, 2010

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

God in America Screening, Discussion is Monday

Carbondale, Ill. -- Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover a film preview screening and discussion of the upcoming PBS series God in America on Monday, October 11 at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 303 South Poplar in Carbondale.

WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and the Carbondale Interfaith Council are hosting the event. The preview screening should last approximately 40 minutes, followed by discussion of the issues raised in the program. Refreshments will be served. The evening will conclude at approximately 7:30pm.

God in America, a presentation of American Experience and Frontline, is a six-part TV series that examines the potent and complex interaction between religion and democracy, the origins of the America concept of religious liberty, and the controversial evolution of that idea in the nation's courts and political arena. The series will air on WSIU-TV 8/WUSI-TV 16 on Monday, October 11 through Wednesday, October 13 from 8-10pm.

WSIU will launch a corresponding website at www.wsiu.org during the week of Monday, October 11. The site will include updates on local activities associated with the series, as well as links to the national program website and Faithbook, an online site for religious discourse at www.pbs.org/godinamerica/faithbook.

WSIU and the Carbondale Interfaith Council also are hoping to schedule a series of tours of sacred spaces in Carbondale and possibly other locations. Details have not been finalized.

For more information, contact Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, at (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.

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Media Advisory -- Update -- WSIU TV to Host Live Gubernatorial Debate

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:44:12 -0500

Media Advisory
For Thursday, October 14

Contact: Jak Tichenor, WSIU-TV, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org

WSIU-TV to Host Live Gubernatorial Debate

Carbondale, Ill. -- Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to cover a live gubernatorial debate between Democratic incumbent Governor Patrick Quinn of Chicago, Republican State Senator Bill Brady of Bloomington, and Green Party candidate Rich Whitney of Carbondale on Thursday, October 14 at 8pm in WSIU-TV's Studio A, located in Room 1065 of the Communications Building, 1100 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale.

The one-hour debate will air live on WSIU-TV and WSIU Radio, stream live from our website at wsiu.org/elections and will also be available for viewing online at wsiu.org after the broadcast.

WSIU-TV's Jak Tichenor will moderate the debate, with questioning from Robert Rich, Director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana, Rob Crow of the Southern Illinoisan newspaper, and Jennifer Fuller of WSIU Public Radio.

WSIU will offer the debate to PBS and NPR stations state-wide on a live basis; stations may time-shift up to 48-hours after the initial live debate. Commercial TV and radio stations will be allowed to time-shift the debates under the same conditions, but will not be permitted to air the debates live.

Credentialed members of the news media will be allowed in the studio before the debate for set-up shots, group shots, etc., but must leave the studio ten minutes prior to the debate start time. News media will be provided with working space in WSIU-TV's Studio B, which is adjacent to Studio A. WSIU will provide a mult. box with video and audio feeds for broadcast reporters in Studio B, along with tables and chairs. Reporters can return to Studio A after the debate to talk to the candidates.

Internet access: A wifi hotspot will be active in Studio B during the evening of the broadcast. WSIU's Information Technology staff will provide the appropriate access information upon your arrival.

Please contact Jak Tichenor at (618) 453-6187 or jak.tichenor@wsiu.org if you are planning to be at the debate.

Directions: Come to the west door of the Communications Building (Daily Egyptian entrance) and follow the signs to the studios. A check-in table will be set up in the hallway outside the studios so that you may receive the necessary credentials to enter the studio facilities.

Satellite information: For commercial stations who may want to take the feed to excerpt the debate for news coverage:

The debate will refeed at 9pm CST using the same parameters below.

AMC-3 at 87 W
Xponder K24-C 9 MHz
U/L 14493.500 MHz Horizontal
D/L 12193.500 MHz Vertical
Sym. Rate: 6.250
FEC: 3/4
The SD MPEG2 flag is 16:9.
No AFD will be sent.
Test begins at 20:30 ET (19:30 Local and Central)
Live Debate at 21:00 ET (20:00 Local and Central)
Trouble: (618) 525-0787

Note: The SD MPEG2 16:9 flag means that the receiving decoder must be set to 16:9 output if 16:9 is desired. The Bitlink or Sencore IRD will facilitate receiving the SD 16:9 and upconverting to HD. If the decoder is set to 4:3 output, the receiving decoder (Bitlink, Sencore, etc.) will either letterbox or center cut as per setting. Some decoders default setting is fixed center cut only.

Audio is Musicam encoded.

Closed Captioning is DVB.

Film Screening, Discussion to Explore "God in America"

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:29:04 -0500

For Immediate Release
Monday, October 4, 2010

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Film Screening, Discussion to Explore "God in America"

Carbondale, Ill. -- How has religious belief shaped the social, political, and cultural life of the world's most religiously diverse nation?

WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and the Carbondale Interfaith Council invite the University community and general public to explore answers to this question by attending a preview screening of the upcoming PBS film God in America on Monday, October 11 at 6pm in the fellowship hall of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 303 South Poplar in Carbondale. Discussion will follow the approximately 40-minute screening. Refreshments will be provided.

God in America, a presentation of American Experience and Frontline, is a six-part TV series that will examine the potent and complex interaction between religion and democracy, the origins of the America concept of religious liberty, and the controversial evolution of that idea in the nation's courts and political arena. The series will air on WSIU-TV 8/WUSI-TV 16 on Monday, October 11 through Wednesday, October 13 from 8-10pm.

WSIU will launch a corresponding website at www.wsiu.org by Monday, October 11, which will include updates on local activities associated with the series, as well as links to the national program website and Faithbook, an online site for religious discourse at www.pbs.org/godinamerica/faithbook.

WSIU and the Carbondale Interfaith Council also are hoping to schedule a series of tours of sacred spaces in Carbondale and possibly other locations. Details have not been finalized.

God in America TV Broadcast Details

Parts 1 & 2: A New Adam / A New Eden • Monday, October 11, 8-10pm
The first hour explores the origins of America's unique religious landscape, while hour two considers the origins of America's experiment in religious liberty.

Parts 3 & 4: A Nation Reborn / A New Light • Tuesday, October 12, 8-10pm
These hours examine how religious belief plays a role in the Civil War while the forces of modernity drive a wedge between liberal and conservative believers.

Parts 5 & 6: Soul of a Nation / Of God and Caesar • Wednesday, October 13, 8-10pm
The final two hours explore the post-World War II era and bring the series into the present day.

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About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, local production units, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Area Libraries, Schools, Families Invited to Break World Reading Record

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:01:03 -0500

For Immediate Release
Friday, October 1, 2010

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

Area Libraries, Schools, Families Invited to Break World Reading Record

Carbondale, Ill. – Area libraries, schools, child care centers, and families are invited to support literacy efforts in our region while breaking the world record for reading the same book on the same day by joining WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), for “Read for the Record” on Thursday, October 7, 2010.

Presented by Jumpstart, a national early education organization dedicated to preparing young children for success in school, “Read for the Record” is a global campaign designed to promote literacy and empower people to read together as a community. Since 2006, “Read for the Record” has helped more than three million participants share in the power of reading – all while setting a world record for the most children reading the same book on the same day. This annual global celebration of reading and community service highlights the importance of reading to young children to help them develop crucial early language and literacy skills.

Carbondale Public Library, located at 405 West Main in Carbondale, is one of several groups that have pledged to participate on October 7. Pat Luebke, Children's Librarian, will lead participants at 6pm in a reading of this year’s "Read for the Record" book selection, The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats. A 1963 Caldecott Medal winner, The Snowy Day is the simple tale of a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night. The little boy celebrates with a day of humble adventures – experimenting with footprints, knocking snow from a tree, creating snow angels, and trying to save a snowball for the next day.

Those interested in participating can sign up online at www.readfortherecord.org and are encouraged to host their own “Read for the Record” event and activities. Area child care providers and families who pledge to participate are eligible for free children’s books to be distributed at Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) at John A. Logan College after October 7. After participants read this year's "Read for the Record" book, they should call CCR&R at 800-548-5563 and ask for Nina to reserve books for their children. Reserved books will be available for pick-up at CCR&R between October 11-22. Participants must print a copy of their online pledge acknowledgement from "Read for the Record" and be prepared to present it when they pick up their books.

In 2009, Jumpstart’s “Read for the Record” Campaign broke its own record for the world’s largest shared reading experience. More than two million children were read Eric Carle’s classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar at organized events across the U.S. and around the world. Hundreds of thousands of books were donated to children in need, and more than $1.4 million was raised through donations and book sales to support Jumpstart’s work with preschoolers.

About Jumpstart
To combat the crisis in early education, Jumpstart brings college students and community volunteers together with preschool children in low-income communities for year-long, individualized tutoring and mentoring. Jumpstart’s volunteers work with children on language and literacy skills to help prepare them for school and for life. During the 2008-2009 school year, Jumpstart children improved their school readiness skills by 29%.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus.The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, local production units, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

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WSIU Radio, TV To Explore Baseball's Past and Present

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:11:50 -0500

For Immediate Release
Friday, September 24, 2010

Contact: Jeff Williams, WSIU Radio General Manager and News & Public Affairs Director, (618) 453-6170, jeff.williams@wsiu.org; Monica Tichenor, Public Information & Promotions Coordinator, (618) 453-6160, monica.tichenor@wsiu.org

WSIU Radio, TV To Explore Baseball's Past and Present

Carbondale IL -- WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is pleased to announce a special edition of Reading Baseball airing on WSIU 91.9 FM/HD, WUSI 90.3 FM, and WVSI 88.9 FM this Sunday, September 26 at 3pm, with a repeat broadcast on Monday, September 27 at 6pm. The program will serve as a local compliment to The Tenth Inning, the concluding chapter of Ken Burns' landmark PBS series, Baseball. The Tenth Inning will air on WSIU-TV 8 and WUSI-TV 16 next Tuesday, September 28 and Wednesday, September 29 at 7pm, with repeats both nights at 9pm.

The special radio broadcast of Reading Baseball, hosted by Richard “Pete” Peterson, will feature past Reading Baseball pieces that relate to some of the topics Ken Burns will address in the TV documentary series, including the1994 baseball season and the cancelation of the World Series. Peterson also will explain how cheating and steroid scandals impacted the league over time.

In the TV series The Tenth Inning, producer Burns tells the tumultuous story of America's national pastime from the early 1990s to the present day. Part one of the series examines the prolonged baseball strike of 1994 and efforts to rebuild the sport, from new stadiums to new players from Latin America. The second part of the series turns the spotlight on a new generation of pitchers and international players who now dominate the game. It also examines the steroid scandals that have damaged the sport over the past decade.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, local production units, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

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WSIU and Regional Partners to Present Live Debates for Illinois Governor and U.S. Senate

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:42:57 -0500

For Immediate Release
Friday, September 24, 2010

Contact: Jak Tichenor, Senior Producer, WSIU-TV, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org

WSIU and Regional Partners to Present Live Debates for Illinois Governor and U.S. Senate
Interviews with Candidates for Illinois General Assembly and U.S. House of Representatives also Scheduled

[NOTE TO STATIONS: The gubernatorial and U.S. Senate debates to be held at WSIU-TV will be offered to PBS and NPR stations state-wide on a live basis and may be time-shifted up to 48-hours after the initial live debate. Commercial TV and radio stations will be allowed to time-shift the debates under the same conditions, but will not be permitted to air the debates live. Provisions will be made for credentialed members of the news media to cover the debates. Due to space limitations, there will not be studio audiences for these events. Satellite downlink coordinates will be provided in a later news release.]

Carbondale Ill. -- WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is teaming up with media and public policy partners to present special programming to public broadcasting stations statewide during the fall election season, along with extensive coverage of the candidates and issues.

WSIU's Decision 2010 Election Series will include live debates between the leading candidates for Governor of Illinois and the U.S. Senate, as well as interviews with candidates for the Illinois General Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives. All broadcasts will originate from WSIU-TV's studios.

WSIU is producing the gubernatorial debate in partnership with the Southern Illinoisan, Illinois Public Media (WILL TV/AM/FM Champaign-Urbana), and the Institute for Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. WSIU, the Southern Illinoisan, the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIUC, and Illinois Public Media are partnering to produce the U.S. Senate debate, which is tentative at this time. Both debates will air live on WSIU-TV and WSIU Radio, and will be made available to public broadcasting stations statewide.

WSIU and its regional partners also will present interviews with candidates for the Illinois General Assembly and U.S. House of Representatives on Friday nights in October as part of the weekly WSIU-TV series WSIU InFocus. The half-hour, unscripted interviews will feature questions from Jak Tichenor of WSIU-TV, Jennifer Fuller of WSIU Radio, and Rob Crow of the Southern Illinoisan newspaper. WSIU Radio will broadcast excerpts from the candidate interviews during local news breaks in late October.

WSIU's Decision 2010 Election Series broadcast schedule is as follows:

Friday, October 1, 9pm • WSIU InFocus Election Special
Decision 2010: 58th Illinois Senate District
Sen. David Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) and Jeremy Walker (D-Redbud)
WSIU Radio will air excerpts from this interview on Friday, October 22 at 8:30am & 5:29pm

Friday, October 8, 9pm • WSIU InFocus Election Special
Decision 2010: 107th Illinois House District
Rep. John Cavaletto (R-Salem) and Joshua Qualls (D-Centralia)
WSIU Radio will air excerpts from this interview on Thursday, October 28 at 8:30am & 5:29pm

Thursday, October 14, 8pm • Decision 2010: Illinois Gubernatorial Debate - LIVE
Also carried live by WSIU Radio
Incumbent Governor Pat Quinn (D-Chicago), Rich Whitney (G-Carbondale), and State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington)

Friday, October 15, 9pm • WSIU InFocus Election Special
Decision 2010: 115th Illinois House District
Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) and Charlie Howe (G-Carbondale)
WSIU Radio will air excerpts from this interview on Wednesday, October 27 at 8:30am & 5:29pm

TENTATIVE - Thursday, October 21, 8pm • Decision 2010: U.S. Senate Debate - LIVE
Also carried live by WSIU Radio
U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park), Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D-Chicago), and LeAlan Jones (G-Chicago)

Friday, October 22, 9pm • WSIU InFocus Election Special
Decision 2010: 116th Illinois House District
Rep. Dan Reitz (D-Steeleville) and Glenn Farley (R-Waterloo)
WSIU Radio will air excerpts from this interview on Friday, October 29 at 8:30am & 5:29pm

Friday, October 29, 9pm • WSIU InFocus Election Special
Decision 2010: 12th District, U.S. Congress
U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Belleville), Teri Newman (R-Highland) and Rodger Jennings
(G-Alton)
WSIU Radio will air excerpts from this interview on Wednesday, October 20 at 8:30am & 5:29pm

Friday, October 29, 9:30pm • WSIU InFocus Election Special
Decision 2010: 19th District, U.S. Congress
U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-Collinsville) and Tim Bagwell (D-Olney)
WSIU Radio will air excerpts from this interview on Thursday, October 21 at 8:30am & 5:29pm

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Media Alert - WUSI Off the Air for Routine Maintenance Late Monday

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:55:20 -0500

Media Alert - Urgent
Thursday, September 9, 2010

Contact: Terry Harvey, Associate Director, Technology & Planning, (618) 453-6192, terry.harvey@wsiu.org; Darryl Moses, Associate Director, Television & Video Services, (618) 453-6191, darryl.moses@wsiu.org

WUSI Off the Air for Routine Maintenance Late Monday

Carbondale, IL – WUSI-TV 16 and WUSI 90.3 FM, two of Southern Illinois University Carbondale's public media stations, will be temporarily off the air from Monday, September 13 at 11pm through Tuesday, September 14 at 2am for routine maintenance at the stations' Dundas transmitter site..

Check WSIU online at wsiu.org or call the WSIU Radio newsroom at (618) 453-6101 for updates or additional details.

WSIU Public Broadcasting regrets this temporary service interruption to viewers and listeners in their southeast central service area.

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Media Advisory - SIRIS Classic Vinyl Sale is This Saturday

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:50:38 -0500

Media Advisory
For Saturday, September 11

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

SIRIS Classic Vinyl Sale is This Saturday

Carbondale, Ill. -- Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover the 3rd Annual SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale this Saturday, September 11 from 10am to 9pm in the storefront next to Hot Topic in the University Mall, located at 1237 East Main in Carbondale.

Shoppers are encouraged to arrive early on Saturday for the best selection of items. All unsold items will be available for purchase at half-price on Sunday, September 12 from noon to 6pm.

Sponsors include the Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS), WSIU Public Radio, the University Mall, Wright Do-It Center, and the SIU Credit Union.

From world music to classical, rock to R & B, country to soul, reggae to folk, and children's music to comedy, shoppers can expect to find record albums from a broad range of genres. Collectible albums will be featured in a special section and will be priced accordingly; other albums are priced at $1.00 each. Additional items for sale include CDs; DVDs; VHS tapes; cassettes; 8-tracks, 78s, and 45s; audio books; stereo equipment, including turntables, tuners, and speakers; VCRs; and more. CDs are just $2.00, and DVDs are priced at $3.00 each. Prices are below $1.00 for other items, and buyers will find excellent deals throughout the event.

Interview opportunities include SIRIS Director Vickie Devenport; SIRIS, SIU Carbondale, and community volunteers; and shoppers.

All proceeds from the sale benefit SIRIS, a radio information service for individuals who are blind, visually-impaired, or otherwise unable to read for themselves. SIRIS programming is delivered to over 1,000 residents across Southern Illinois via a closed-circuit sideband channel of WSIU Public Radio's main signal. Special receivers are provided free of charge to qualified users. Broadcasts feature regional and national newspapers, book reviews, and more, all read by volunteers. SIRIS volunteers are University students, including fraternity and sorority members; WSIU staff and student employees; and community members.

SIRIS is a service of WSIU Public Radio and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and is also supported by the United Way.

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WSIU Public Radio Adds Three New Programs

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:18:22 -0500

For Immediate Release
Thursday, September 2, 2010

Contact: Jeff Williams, WSIU Radio General Manager and News & Public Affairs Director, (618) 453-6170, jeff.williams@wsiu.org

WSIU Public Radio Adds Three New Programs

Carbondale IL – WSIU Public Radio, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is pleased to announce the addition of three new programs to its regular schedule starting Saturday, September 11: This American Life, European Jazz, and Hear the World.

WSIU is excited to announce that This American Life will debut on Saturdays at 3pm and Sundays at 5pm. Produced by Chicago Public Radio and hosted by Ira Glass, This American Life documents contemporary American life through everyday experiences. Each program explores a particular theme through a mindful mix of radio monologues, mini-documentaries, “found tape,” short fiction, and unusual music.

European Jazz, airing Sundays at 1am and 9pm, is an exploration of European jazz, with performances from the continent's hottest clubs, concert halls, and festivals, including the North Sea Jazz Festival.

Hear the World, airing at 2am on Sundays, is a brand new world music series where you get a front row experience at exciting world music venues, featuring among others, DJ Dolores and Trio Mocoto from Brazil, Fanfare Ciocarlia from Romania, and Savina Yannatou from Greece.

In other changes, Speaking of Faith, which airs Sundays at 1pm, has been renamed Being. Hosted by Krista Tippett, the Peabody award-winning series features conversations with theologians, authors, musicians, scientists, economists, sociologists, and many other intellectual leaders about religion, spirituality, and the quest for meaning in life.

Weekend Schedule Changes
Saturday
1-3pm and 10pm-12am American Routes
3-4pm This American Life
7-8pm Celtic Connections

Sunday
12-1am & 8-9pm Rhythm in Bloom (local jazz/blues series)
1-2am & 9-10pm European Jazz
2-3am Hear the World
5-6pm This American Life
7-8pm Putumayo World Music Hour
3-5am & 10pm-12am Sounds Like Radio (local sound art series)

WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, local production units, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

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WSIU-TV Presents Interviews With Candidates for Illinois Governor Interviews featured on WSIU InFocus This Friday Night

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:49:43 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 - revised 7:30pm

Contacts: Jak Tichenor, WSIU-TV, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org

WSIU-TV Talks With Candidates for Illinois Governor
Interviews featured on WSIU InFocus This Friday Night

Carbondale, Illinois -- WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), will kick off its extended coverage of the general election campaign with in-depth interviews of the leading candidates for Governor of Illinois in a special half-hour episode of the weekly WSIU-TV series WSIU InFocus. The program will air on WSIU-TV 8 and WUSI-TV 16 on Friday, September 3 at 9pm, with repeat broadcasts on Sunday, September 5 at 12:30pm and 11:33pm; Wednesday, September 8 at 11:30pm; and Friday, September 10 at 5pm.

WSIU Radio also will air the interviews this Friday, September 3 from 8:30-9am and again from 5:30-6pm.

In a series of interviews taped at the Du Quoin State Fair, WSIU Radio's Jennifer Fuller talked with incumbent Democratic Governor Pat Quinn of Chicago, Green Party candidate Rich Whitney of Carbondale, and Republican nominee State Senator Bill Brady of Bloomington about how they plan to manage the state's $13 billion budget deficit, create jobs and grow the Illinois economy, and restore voter confidence in the wake of the Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan scandals.

Quinn, a former state Treasurer and Lieutenant Governor, became the state's chief executive in January, 2009 after former Governor Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office by the Illinois General Assembly. Whitney, a civil rights attorney, earned the Greens a place on the ballot as an official party after his showing in the 2006 Governor's race. Brady, a real estate developer and former member of the Illinois House of Representatives, has served in the Illinois Senate since 2002.

This WSIU InFocus broadcast is part of WSIU's Decision 2010 Election Series, which also will include interviews with candidates for U.S. Congress and the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives, as well as plans for live debates with candidates for Governor of Illinois and the U.S. Senate. WSIU is partnering with the [ http://www.thesouthern.com ]Southern Illinoisan newspaper for extensive coverage of the candidates and the issues during the fall election season. Other partners include the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, the Institute for Government and Public Affairs, and Illinois Public Media (WILL-TV/AM/FM).

Additional details about WSIU's extensive election programming and coverage will be provided in a special Web feature, coming soon at www.wsiu.org.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, local production units, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Local Story Contest Winners to Read Stories on WSIU Radio

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:59:30 -0500

For Immediate Release
Monday, August 30, 2010

Contacts: Vickie Devenport, Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Local Story Contest Winners to Read Stories on WSIU Radio

Carbondale, Ill. -- Six of the eight children who earned first place and honorable mentions in WSIU's 2010 PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest this past spring will be featured reading their stories on WSIU Radio, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC).

The children's recordings will air on WSIU 91.9 FM, WUSI 90.3 FM, and WVSI 88.9 FM on Thursdays, September 2 through September 16, at 6:33am, 8:33am, and 5:29pm. The schedule is as follows:

September 2 - First grade winner Kelsey Jurich of Herrin, Illinois reading Animal Adventures and Second Grade honorable mention honoree Austin Reyling of Smithton, Illinois reading Sunday's Ball.

September 9 - Kindergarten winner Amanda Beuth of St. Jacob, Illinois reading The Elephant Runs Away and First Grade honorable mention honoree Josie Woodrome of Texico, Illinois reading Wacky and the Winter Olympics.

September 16 - Second grade winner Camryn Parker of McLeansboro, Illinois reading Monica the Monarch and Third Grade winner Macy Sanchez of Benton, Illinois reading Please Don't Laugh at My Family…I Love Them.

The recordings also will be featured on WSIU's Learning pages at www.wsiu.org/learning after they air on WSIU Radio.

All eight winning stories in WSIU's local PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest also are on display at a public exhibit at the University Mall in Carbondale, Illinois through September 27. The exhibit is located in the lobby in front of JC Penney and is sponsored by My Favorite Toys in Carbondale. Included in the exhibit are the stories of the two students who were unable to record their stories for WSIU Radio: Elaina Montgomery of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, an honorable mention honoree in the kindergarten category for her story I Like, and third grade honorable mention honoree Shannon Price of Carbondale, Illinois for her story The Tree.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, local production units, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook pages.

WSIU Launches New Kids' Program, Fall Schedule on Labor Day

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:27:12 -0500

For Immediate Release
Monday, August 30, 2010

Contacts: Beth Spezia, Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org; Jennifer Marcus, Goodman Media International (for Random House), (212) 576-2700, ext. 239, jmarcus@goodmanmedia.com; Jake Landis, PBS KIDS, (703) 739-5788, jwlandis@pbs.org.

Carbondale Ill. -- Beginning on Monday, September 6, 2010, WSIU TV 8 and WUSI TV 16, the public television stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), will welcome The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!, a brand new children's TV program from PBS KIDS based on the popular Dr. Seuss book series. The WSIU stations also are launching a new PBS KIDS fall children's programming schedule.

Voiced by award-winning actor Martin Short, The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!, airing weekdays at 7:30am and Saturday and Sunday at 6:30am, was created in response to recent findings that children graduating from kindergarten are less prepared to learn about science than other subjects. In each episode, the Cat in the Hat and his pals the Fish, Thing 1, and Thing 2 guide human characters Sally and Nick on adventures where they make natural-science discoveries, from how bees make honey to why owls sleep during the day. The kids learn by observing, collecting and managing clues, making connections, constructing and evaluating theories, and having discussions - all in a preschool-appropriate manner.

WSIU's outreach department will incorporate educational activities and resources, including a traveling Reader's Theatre with The Cat in the Hat costume character and child participants, at area child care centers, libraries, and schools. For more details about WSIU's outreach plans for The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!, contact Beth Spezia at (618) 453-5595 or beth.spezia@wsiu.org.

WSIU is also launching a new fall children's programming schedule on September 6. The new schedule is as follows:

WEEKDAYS
6am A Place of Our Own
6:30 Martha Speaks
7am Curious George
7:30 The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!
8am SuperWHY!
8:30 Dinosaur Train
9am Sesame Street
10am Clifford the Big Red Dog
10:30 WordWorld
11am SuperWhy!; Bob the Builder (Friday)
11:30 Barney & Friends; Thomas & Friends (Friday)
12pm Peep and the Big Wide World
12:30 Sid the Science Kid
1pm Curious George
1:30 Between the Lions
2pm Cyberchase
2:30 Martha Speaks
3pm Arthur
3:30 WordGirl; SciGirls (Fri)
4pm The Electric Company
4:30 Fetch!; Biz Kid$ (Fri)

SUNDAY
5am Sesame Street
6am Curious George
6:30 The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!
7am Super WHY!
7:30 Dinosaur Train
8am Clifford the Big Red Dog
8:30 Angelina Ballerina
9am Kids Health series

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Local Story Contest Exhibit on Display at University Mall

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:03:24 -0500

For Immediate Release
Friday, August 27, 2010

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Local Story Contest Exhibit on Display at University Mall

Carbondale, IL - WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), has teamed up with My Favorite Toys of Carbondale and the University Mall in Carbondale to present a public exhibit of winning stories by area children who participated in WSIU's 2010 PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest.

Sponsored by My Favorite Toys, the story exhibit is on display now through Monday, September 27 in the public area in front of JC Penney inside the University Mall, 1237 East Main in Carbondale.

Winning stories on display include the following:

Kindergarten:
1st - Amanda B., The Elephant Runs Away, St. Jacob, IL
Honorable Mention - Elaina M., I Like, Mt. Vernon, IL

First Grade:
1st - Kelsey J., Animal Adventures, Herrin, IL
Honorable Mention - Josie W., Wacky and the Winter Olympics, Texico, IL

Second Grade:
1st - Camryn P., Monica the Monarch, McLeansboro, IL
Honorable Mention - Austin R., Sunday's Ball, Smithton, IL

Third Grade:
1st - Macy S., Please Don't Laugh at My Family…I Love Them, Benton, IL
Honorable Mention - Shannon P., The Tree, Carbondale, IL

WSIU's 2010 PBS KIDS KIDS GO! Story Contest was sponsored regionally this year by Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt. Vernon and My Favorite Toys at Carbondale's University Mall. The annual writing contest helps children in grades K-3 to develop their literacy skills while creating their own storybooks. WSIU was one of 87 public television stations across the country who participated in this year's contest. Over 250 children across the region submitted stories.

Produced by WNED-TV Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from at-risk families. WSIU is a Raising Readers station.

Mark Your Calendars for the SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:12:22 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director and WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Mark Your Calendars for the SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale

Carbondale, Ill. -- Looking for a turn table or eight-track tape player - or a vintage copy of your favorite record album?

Find your treasure at the 3rd Annual SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale on Saturday, September 11 from 10am until 9pm in the storefront next to Hot Topic in the University Mall, 1237 East Main in Carbondale. Items that do not sell on Saturday will be sold at half-price on Sunday, September 12 from noon to 6pm. The Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS) and WSIU Public Radio, a public broadcasting arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), are hosting the sale, with the support of the University Mall.

From world music to classical, rock to R & B, country to soul, reggae to folk, and children's music to comedy, shoppers can expect to find record albums from a broad range of musical genres. Collectible albums will be featured in a special section and will be priced accordingly; other albums are priced at $1.00 each. Additional items for sale include CDs; DVDs; VHS and cassettes; 8-tracks, 78s, and 45s; audio books; and stereo equipment, including turntables, tuners, and speakers. CDs are just $2, and DVDs are priced at $3.00 each. Prices are below $1.00 for other items, and buyers will find excellent deals throughout the event.

Volunteers are needed! If you'd like to volunteer to sort records, assist on sale day, or help to clean up, please join us at the sale location in University Mall on the following dates:

Sort records: Monday, August 30 to Friday, September 3, 5-8pm; Monday, September 6 to Thursday, September 9, 5-8pm; and Friday, September 10, 5-10pm

Assist at the sale: Saturday, September 11, 10am-9pm; Sunday, September 12, noon to 6pm

Clean up: Monday, September 13 to Wednesday, September 15, 5-8pm

Volunteers who work for at least four hours will be invited to a sneak preview event on Friday, September 10 when they can purchase items.

All proceeds from the sale will benefit SIRIS, a community service of WSIU Public Radio and SIUC for individuals who are blind or whose physical condition makes reading difficult or impossible. Broadcasts include regional and national newspapers and magazines, book reviews, and more. SIRIS is supported in part by the United Way.

Questions about the sale and volunteering should be directed to Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org or by calling SIRIS at 453-2808.

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Media Alert - Urgent - WVSI 88.9 FM Still Off the Air

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:57:27 -0500

Media Alert - Urgent
Thursday, July 29, 2010

Contact: WSIU Radio Newsroom, (618) 453-6101, wsiuradio@wsiu.org

WVSI 88.9 FM Still Off the Air

Carbondale, Ill. - WVSI 88.9 FM in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, a public radio service of WSIU Public Broadcasting at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, remains off the air due to technical difficulties. WSIU 91.9 FM Carbondale and WUSI 90.3 FM Olney have not been affected.

Efforts are underway by WSIU's engineering staff to identify and resolve the problem. Check WSIU online at wsiu.org or call the WSIU Radio newsroom at (618) 453-6101 for further updates and information. Listeners can always tune in to WSIU Radio via our live program stream online at wsiu.org/live.

WSIU Public Broadcasting regrets this temporary service interruption and would like to thank our listeners in the WVSI area for their patience as we work to restore service.

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WSIU Invites Area Families to Vote for Their Favorite PBS KIDS Show

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:09:55 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Educational Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

WSIU Invites Area Families to Vote for Their Favorite PBS KIDS Show

Carbondale, Ill. -- WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is inviting area parents and kids to participate in an interactive activity to gain their input about PBS KIDS programming.

Parents and kids are invited to vote for their favorite PBS KIDS program by calling (618) 494-6092 from any phone or use a cell phone to text the word "FAVORITE" to 30644. Participants will then receive a message with instructions on the next step to take. Call or text your vote by Sunday, August 1. The PBS KIDS program that receives the most votes will be featured in a one-hour special on WSIU-TV on Friday, August 6 at 10am. Standard phone charges will apply.

This educational messaging activity is sponsored by PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national literacy initiative that uses the power of public media to help improve the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. Raising Readers is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. WSIU is a Raising Readers station.

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Donate Your Records to the Classic Vinyl & Media Sale

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:59:35 -0500

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director and WSIU Outreach Coordinator,
(618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill. -- Cleaning out your closets? Donate your old record albums, CDs, DVDs, eight-track tapes, cassettes, VHS tapes, and working stereo equipment for a public sale in September to benefit the Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS), a service of WSIU Public Radio and Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The 3rd Annual SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale will be held on Saturday, September 11 from 10am to 9pm, next to Hot Topic at the University Mall in Carbondale.

Music donations of rock, country western, jazz, and blues would be most welcome, as these genres are very popular at the annual sale. All music and equipment donations must be in good condition and will be accepted through Friday, August 20 at the following locations:

• University Mall Information Center, 1237 East Main, Carbondale
• SIU Credit Union, 2809 Outer Drive, Marion
• Wright Do-It Center, 208 South Williams, Murphysboro

Questions about the sale should be directed to Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org or by calling SIRIS at 453-2808 between 1pm to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

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Media Alert - WUSI 90.3 FM Off the Air Temporarily

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:11:36 -0500

Media Alert - Urgent
Tuesday, July 15, 2010

Contact: Terry Harvey, Associate Director, Technology & Planning, (618) 453-6192, terry.harvey@wsiu.org

WUSI 90.3 FM Off the Air Temporarily

Carbondale, IL – WUSI 90.3 FM, a public radio service of WSIU Public Broadcasting at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is temporarily off the air so station crews can complete necessary repairs to the FM transmitter in Dundas.

It is not clear now long the repairs will take, but listeners can tune in online at wsiu.org/live. WSIU 91.9 FM in Carbondale and WVSI 88.9 FM in Mt. Vernon are unaffected by this outage.

Check WSIU online at wsiu.org or call the WSIU Radio newsroom at (618) 453-6101 for updates.

WSIU Public Broadcasting regrets this temporary service interruption. We would like to thank our listeners in the WUSI area for their patience as we work to restore service as quickly as possible.

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Media Advisory - Soundwalk on SIUC Campus

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:54:39 -0500

Media Advisory
For Sunday, July 18, 2010

Contact: Dave Armstrong, host of Sounds Like Radio, malty1@gmail.com

Carbondale, Ill. -- Media are welcome to cover a unique community event on the SIU Carbondale campus on Sunday, July 18 from 10:30-11:30am, as Dave Armstrong, host of the experimental music program Sounds Like Radio on WSIU Radio, will lead a “soundwalk” of the University campus. Armstrong also hosts the experimental sound art and noise music program It's Too Damn Early on WDBX-FM Carbondale.

Participants should meet Armstrong outdoors at the north entrance of the Student Center, 1255 Lincoln Drive in Carbondale to start the soundwalk.

During a soundwalk, participants are asked to pay close attention to the environmental sounds they hear as a way to develop a sound print or audio guide of a specific geographic area.

The Sounds Like Radio Soundwalk coincides with World Listening Day, a special day set aside by the [ http://www.worldlisteningproject.org ]World Listening Project designed to celebrate the practice of listening as it relates to the world around us, environmental awareness, and acoustic ecology. World Listening Day is also meant to raise awareness about the World Soundscape and Listening Projects, the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology, and group efforts to explore phonography, as well as to design and implement educational initiatives that explore these concepts and practices.

Sounds Like Radio is a two-hour program for active listeners that brings a unique perspective to the sounds around us every day. The program features experimental music, avant-garde works, sound art, and field recordings. It airs Sundays from 3-5am on WSIU Public Radio,

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WSIU to Launch PBS KIDS Library Corner at Carbondale Library

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:14:26 -0500

For Immediate Release
Thursday, July 15, 2010

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org; Pat Luebke, Librarian, (618) 457-0354, pluebke2001@yahoo.com

WSIU to Launch PBS KIDS Library Corner at Carbondale Library

Carbondale, Ill. – WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is launching a PBS KIDS Raising Readers Library Corner on Tuesday, July 20 from 1-3pm at Carbondale Public Library, 405 W. Main in Carbondale.

The free event is being held in conjunction with the library's ongoing Summer Reading Program, “Scare Up a Good Book.” It is the 5th PBS KIDS Library Corner installed by WSIU this summer. Library Corners have already been installed Herrin, DuQuoin, Marion, and Eldorado.

The general public is invited to attend.

Kids will enjoy special appearances by PBS KIDS character SuperWHY!, vocabulary games, reading together, creating books, and hands-on learning at the online destinations of PBS KIDS Island (ages 3-6) and The Great Word Quest (ages 6-8) at pbskids.org/read. Both sites are designed to help kids master literacy skills at eight different levels in a fun, interactive way, while parents can get progress reports on how well their children are doing.

Lia Mira of Today's Hit Music CIL-FM will present a live radio remote, so kids will have an opportunity to share the fun on the air.

WSIU is one of 20 PBS stations expanding the PBS KIDS Library Corners program in libraries across the country this summer. The Library Corners are designed to give children ages two through eight the opportunity to strengthen their literacy skills through free, fun activities at their local public or school library. They are provided through PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a federally-funded national initiative that uses the power of media to help improve the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. WSIU is a Raising Readers station.

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WSIU, Herrin Schools to Host Summer Reading Program Celebration

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:10:05 -0500

Media Advisory
For Saturday, July 17, 2010

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU educational outreach coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

WSIU, Herrin Schools to Host Summer Reading Program Celebration

Carbondale, Ill. – Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to a special event this weekend celebrating the conclusion of Herrin, Illinois School District's Summer Reading Program. The celebration will be held this Saturday, July 17 beginning at 11am at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, 316 West Monroe in Herrin.

It is free and open to the public

Kids will celebrate their accomplishments during the summer reading program with word games, PBS KIDS giveaways, and a special visit by PBS KIDS character Leona from Between the Lions. Each child will receive a certificate of achievement for his or her participation. WSIU's colorful PBS KIDS Literacy Van, made possible by John A. Logan College Child Care Resource & Referral, also will be on site.

Approximately 40 students from Herrin schools in kindergarten through the 8th grade participated in Herrin School District's Summer Reading Program, which featured eight weeks of scientifically-based literacy activities for children using three PBS KIDS children's television programs: Martha Speaks, Between the Lions, and The Electric Company.

Lead teacher Jenny Martin used the Martha Speaks Reading Buddy system, which pairs young students (little buddies) with older kids (big buddies) to share books and participate in word games and other reading-based activities designed to strengthen their literacy and social skills. Teachers also used activities from the Between the Lions Designated Reader program and The Electric Company's literacy outreach toolkits.

“The Martha Speaks Reading Buddy Program pairs younger elementary students with older elementary students to explore and improve their vocabulary and, more importantly, cultivates their love of books and reading,” says Cheryl Patterson-Dryer, Principal of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School. “This reading program has created a level of support among the students, excitement, and enthusiasm, not only within the program itself, but also within their home environments.”

WSIU's participation in the Summer Reading Program is an extension of their role as a PBS KIDS Raising Readers station. PBS KIDS Raising Readers is a national initiative using the power of media to help improve the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership.

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Local FM Program Host to Lead Soundwalk of SIUC Campus

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:11:00 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Contact: Dave Armstrong, host of Sounds Like Radio, malty1@gmail.com; Jeff Williams, WSIU Public Radio General Manager and News & Public Affairs Director, 618-453-6170, jeff.williams@wsiu.org; Monica Tichenor, WSIU Promotions Coordinator, 618-453-6160, monica.tichenor@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill. – What does a college campus sound like? When you close your eyes, can you identify your location based on the different sounds you hear?

Discover the unique sounds that surround you by joining Dave Armstrong, host of Sounds Like Radio, an experimental music program on WSIU Public Radio, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), for a soundwalk of campus this Sunday, July 18 from 10:30-11:30am. Participants should meet Armstrong outdoors at the north end of the SIUC Student Center.

The soundwalk coincides with World Listening Day, a special day set aside by the [ http://www.worldlisteningproject.org ]World Listening Project designed to celebrate the practice of listening as it relates to the world around us, environmental awareness, and acoustic ecology. World Listening Day is also meant to raise awareness about the World Soundscape and Listening Projects, the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology, and group efforts to explore phonography, as well as to design and implement educational initiatives that explore these concepts and practices.

Sounds Like Radio, which airs Sundays from 3-5am on WSIU 91.9 FM, 91.9 HD, 90.3 FM, and 88.9 FM, is a two-hour program for active listeners that brings a unique perspective to the sounds around us. The program features experimental music, avant-garde works, sound art, and field recordings.

About WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a web site, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.'

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WSIU to Launch PBS KIDS Raising Readers Library Corner at Carbondale Public Library

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:01:52 -0500

Media Advisory
For Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org;
Pat Luebke, Librarian, Carbondale Public Library, (618) 457-0354, pluebke2001@yahoo.com

WSIU to Launch PBS KIDS Raising Readers Library Corner at
Carbondale Public Library

Carbondale, Ill. -- Reporters, photographers, and video crews are invited to cover a family-oriented summer reading celebration featuring the installation of a WSIU/PBS KIDS Raising Readers Library Corner on Tuesday, July 20 from 1-3pm at Carbondale Public Library, 405 W. Main in Carbondale.

The free event is being held in conjunction with the library's Summer Reading Program, “Scare Up a Good Book.” It is the 5th PBS KIDS Raising Readers Library Corner installed by WSIU this summer. Other library locations WSIU has visited include Herrin, DuQuoin, Marion, and Eldorado.

Kids will enjoy special appearances by PBS KIDS characters SuperWHY! and Leona the Lion, vocabulary games, reading together, creating books, giveaways, and hands-on learning at the online destinations of PBS KIDS Island (ages 3-6) and The Great Word Quest (ages 6-8).

Lia Mira of Today's Hit Music CIL-FM will present a live radio remote, so kids will have an opportunity to share the fun on the air.
WSIU is one of 20 PBS stations expanding the PBS KIDS Library Corners program in libraries across the country this summer. The Library Corners are designed to give children ages two through eight the opportunity to strengthen their literacy skills through free, fun activities at their local public or school library. They are provided through PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a federally-funded national initiative that uses the power of media to help improve the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. WSIU is a Raising Readers station.

For more information about WSIU's PBS KIDS Library Corner events or PBS KIDS Raising Readers, contact Beth Spezia at (618) 453-5595 or beth.spezia@wsiu.org.

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PBS KIDS Library Corner Events at Marion, Eldorado Public Libraries

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:10:34 -0500

Media Advisory
For Wednesday, June 30, 3:30-4:30pm
AND
For Thursday, July 1, 2-3pm

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

PBS KIDS Library Corner Events at Marion, Eldorado Public Libraries

Carbondale, Ill. – Reporters, photographers, and video crews are invited to cover a WSIU-TV family-oriented event featuring the installation of a PBS KIDS Library Corner on Wednesday, June 30 from 3:30 to 4:30pm at Marion Carnegie Library, 206 S. Market Street in Marion.

Hosted by WSIU-TV, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), the event is being held in conjunction with the kickoff of Marion Carnegie Library's summer reading program, "Scare Up a Good Book." Lia Mira of Today's Hit Music CIL-FM will present a live radio remote, so kids will have an opportunity to share the fun on the air.

A second WSIU Library Corner will be held Thursday, July 1 from 2 to 3pm at Eldorado Public Library, 1001 Grant Street in Eldorado. Tracy McSherry-McKown of New Country Z100-FM will present the live radio remote. Beth Spezia of WSIU also will lead a public media resources workshop for parents and educators from 10-11:30am.

Kids will enjoy special appearances by PBS KIDS character SuperWHY!, vocabulary games, reading together, creating books, and hands-on learning at the online sites PBS KIDS Island (ages 3-6) and The Great Word Quest (ages 6-8) at pbskids.org/read. Both online destinations are designed to help kids master literacy skills at eight different levels in a fun, interactive way, while parents can get progress reports on how well their children are doing.

WSIU is one of 20 PBS stations expanding the PBS KIDS Library Corners program in local libraries across the country this summer. The Library Corners are designed to give children ages two through eight the opportunity to strengthen their literacy skills through free, fun activities at their local public or school library. They are provided through PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a federally-funded national initiative that uses the power of media to help improve the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. WSIU is a Raising Readers station.

WSIU-TV is scheduled to help more area libraries kick off their summer reading programs through the installation of PBS KIDS Library Corners, including the Carbondale Public Library, as follows:

July 20, 1-3pm
Carbondale Public Library, 405 W. Main Street, www.carbondale.lib.il.us
Librarian Pat Luebke, 457-0354, pluebke2001@yahoo.com
Live radio remote: Lia Mira of Today's Hit Music CIL-FM (1-3pm)

For more information about WSIU's PBS KIDS Library Corner events or PBS KIDS Raising Readers, contact Beth Spezia at (618) 453-5595 or beth.spezia@wsiu.org.

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PBS KIDS Library Corner Event at DuQuoin Public Library

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:55:45 -0500

Media Advisory
For Thursday, June 17, 2010, 1pm - 3pm

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

PBS KIDS Library Corner Event at DuQuoin Public Library

Carbondale, Ill. – Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover a WSIU-TV family-oriented event featuring the installation of a PBS KIDS Library Corner on Thursday, June 17 from 1pm to 3pm at DuQuoin Public Library, 28 S. Washington Street in DuQuoin. Hosted by WSIU-TV, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), the event is being held in conjunction with the kickoff of DuQuoin Public Library's summer reading program, "Scare Up a Good Book."

Tracy McSherry-McKown of New Country Z100-FM, a Mississippi River Radio station, will present a live radio remote, so kids will have an opportunity to share the fun on the air.

Kids also will enjoy special appearances by PBS KIDS character SuperWHY!, vocabulary games, reading together, creating books, and hands-on learning at the online sites PBS KIDS Island (ages 3-6) and The Great Word Quest (ages 6-8) at pbskids.org/read. Both online destinations are designed to help kids master literacy skills at eight different levels in a fun, interactive way, while parents can get progress reports on how well their children are doing.

WSIU-TV is scheduled to help more area libraries kick off their summer reading programs through the installation of PBS KIDS Library Corners, including Marion Carnegie Library, Eldorado Public Library, and the Carbondale Public Library. Event dates for those libraries are as follows:

June 30, 3:30-4:30pm
Marion Carnegie Library, 206 S. Market Street, www.marioncarnegielibrary.org
Librarian Amy Gilkey, 993-5935, agilkey@shawls.lib.il.us
Live radio remote: Lia Mira of Today's Hit Music CIL-FM (2:30-4:30pm)

July 1, 2-3pm (plus, morning workshop for parents)
Adult workshop: public media resources from 10-11:30am
Children's activities: 2-3pm
Eldorado Public Library, 1001 Grant Street, www.eldorado.lib.il.us
Librarian Brenda Funkhouser, 273-7922, brendaf@shawls.lib.il.us
Live radio remote: Tracy McSherry-McKown of New Country Z100-FM (1-3pm)

For more information about WSIU's PBS KIDS Library Corner events or PBS KIDS Raising Readers, contact Beth Spezia at (618) 453-5595 or beth.spezia@wsiu.org.

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PBS KIDS Library Corner Event at Herrin City Library

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:25:18 -0500

Media Advisory
For Thursday, June 10, 2010, 10am - 12pm

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

PBS KIDS Library Corner Event at Herrin City Library

Carbondale, Ill. – Reporters, photographers, and video crews are invited to cover a WSIU-TV family-oriented event featuring the installation of a PBS KIDS Library Corner tomorrow – Thursday, June 10 from 10am to 12pm – at Herrin City Library, 120 North 13th Street in Herrin. Hosted by WSIU-TV, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), the event is being held in conjunction with the kickoff of Herrin City Library's summer reading program, "Scare Up a Good Book."

Tracy McSherry-McKown of New Country Z100-FM, a Mississippi River Radio station, will present a live radio remote, so kids will have an opportunity to share the fun on the air.

WSIU is one of over 30 PBS stations expanding the PBS KIDS Library Corners program in local libraries across the country this summer. The Library Corners are designed to give children ages two through eight the opportunity to strengthen their literacy skills through free, fun activities at their local public or school library. They are provided through PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a federally-funded national initiative that uses the power of media to help improve the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. WSIU is a Raising Readers station.

WSIU-TV is scheduled to help more area libraries kick off their summer reading programs through the installation of PBS KIDS Library Corners, including DuQuoin Public Library, Marion Carnegie Library, Eldorado Public Library, and the Carbondale Public Library. Event dates for those libraries are as follows:

June 17, 1-3pm
DuQuoin Public Library, 28 S. Washington Street, www.dpl.lib.il.us
Librarian Pam Urban, (618) 542-5045, purban@shawls.lib.il.us
Live radio remote: Tracy McSherry-McKown of New Country Z100-FM (1-3pm)

For more information about WSIU's PBS KIDS Library Corner events or PBS KIDS Raising Readers, contact Beth Spezia at (618) 453-5595 or beth.spezia@wsiu.org.

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Angelina Ballerina™, the Little Star With Big Dreams, Takes Center Stage at Marion Cultural and Civic Center On Saturday, June 12, 2010

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:14:00 -0500

For Immediate Release
Thursday, June 3, 2010

WSIU Public Broadcasting Contact:
Monica Tichenor
Public Information & Promotions/Graphics Coordinator
Phone: 618-453-6160
Email: monica.tichenor@wsiu.org

HIT Entertainment Contact:
Noelle Dong
HIT Entertainment PR
Phone: 646-467-5336
Email: [ mailto:ndong@hitentertainment.com ]ndong@hitentertainment.com

Angelina Ballerina™, the Little Star With Big Dreams, Takes Center Stage at
Marion Cultural and Civic Center On Saturday, June 12, 2010

Marion, IL / New York, NY -- HIT Entertainment, a leading provider of quality children's entertainment, the Friends of WSIU, and WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), invite area children to meet Angelina Ballerina™ on Saturday, June 12 at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center, 800 Tower Square Plaza, Marion, Illinois. The little mouseling will be at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center for 30-minute intervals between 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Angelina is appearing prior to the Southern Illinois Music Festival's 2:00 pm matinée performance of "Romeo & Juliet."

As Angelina Ballerina dances her way through the Marion Cultural and Civic Center, she will be available to pose with kids and families for photos at 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. Parents are encourage to bring their cameras for their children's photo op with Angelina!

Kids also will enjoy watching videos, making cool stuff at activity stations, and fun and educational items to take home.

Angelina Ballerina is an imaginative, clever, determined little mouseling who is passionate about dancing and life. Both on and off stage, Angelina is a feisty spirit bursting with energy. She is constantly plié-ing, pirouetting, and jeté-ing with exuberance! This little star with big dreams works hard to reach her goals and along the way, always learns from her mistakes.

With determination, tremendous natural ability, and enormous passion, Angelina Ballerina always steals the show. She is a devoted ballet student, good friend, and loving daughter. She is also clever and highly imaginative, and no matter what obstacles lay in her path, she will find a solution to the problem and in a comical and creative way, set things right again. When little girls share in Angelina's experiences, they're inspired to go after their big dreams too!

Angelina Ballerina™ The Next Steps is a production of HIT Entertainment and THIRTEEN in association with Nick Jr. UK and WNET.ORG. Inspired by the original best-selling children's book series by author Katharine Holabird and illustrator Helen Craig, Angelina Ballerina™The Next Steps follows the now 8-year-old Angelina as she embarks on the next stage in her life at a performing arts school, Camembert Academy. This new series finds Angelina making new friends and experiencing various forms of music and dance including ballet, modern, tap, jazz, ballroom, and hip hop, as well as ethnic dances from around the world.

Angelina Ballerina™ The Next Steps airs on PBS KIDS® nationwide and on WSIU-TV on Saturdays at 5:30am and Sundays at 8:30am.

For more information about Angelina Ballerina and all her friends, please visit [ http://www.angelinaballerina.com ]www.angelinaballerina.com

About HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment is one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Chapman Entertainment's Fifi and the Flowertots™ and Roary the Racing Car™ in North America, as well as Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™ and Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations. HIT also acts as representative for The Wiggles® in the UK. Launched in 1989, HIT's lines of business span television and video production, content distribution, publishing, consumer products licensing and live events and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. HIT is a part-owner of US-based preschool channel, PBS KIDS SproutSM, and international preschool channel JimJam, (outside of the US, UK and China). For more information, visit [ http://www.hitentertainment.com ]www.hitentertainment.com.

About WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a web site, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at [ fcp://@wsiu.org,%231004707/Mailbox/_blank/www.wsiu.org ]www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

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WSIU Expands PBS KIDS Library Corner to New Locations This Summer

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:13:24 -0500

For Immediate Release
Saturday, July 5, 2010

WSIU Expands PBS KIDS Library Corner to New Locations This Summer

Library Corners part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers National Early Childhood Literacy Initiative;
Over 200 Libraries Participating Nationwide

Carbondale, Ill. – WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is one of over 30 PBS stations expanding the PBS KIDS Raising Readers Library Corners program in local libraries across the country this summer. The Library Corners are designed to give children ages two through eight the opportunity to strengthen their literacy skills through free, fun activities at their local public or school library.

This summer, WSIU is partnering with Herrin City Library, DuQuoin Public Library, Marion Carnegie Library, Eldorado Public Library, and the Carbondale Public Library to launch this initiative, with the goal of reaching hundreds of children in Southern Illinois.

“Research shows that providing PBS KIDS Raising Readers high-quality, media-rich educational materials to young children can play a key role in their development of important literacy skills,” said Greg Petrowich, executive director of WSIU Public Broadcasting. “By expanding the number of PBS KIDS Raising Readers Library Corners in our community, we're able to also expand the reach and impact of these invaluable resources.”

Mississippi River Radio station Z-100 will present live radio remotes at each of WSIU's Library Corner events this summer, so kids will have an opportunity to share the fun on the air.

Activities will include special appearances by PBS KIDS character SuperWHY!, vocabulary games, reading togther, creating books, and hands-on learning at the online sites PBS KIDS Island (ages 3-6) and The Great Word Quest (ages 6-8) at pbskids.org/read. Both online destinations are designed to help kids master literacy skills at eight different levels in a fun, interactive way, while parents can get progress reports on how well their children are doing.

WSIU's PBS KIDS Library Corner schedule is as follows:

June 10, 10am-12pm
Herrin City Library, 120 N. 13th Street, www.herrin.lib.il.us
Librarian Irena Just, 942-6109, biloxieme2000@yahoo.com
Live radio remote: Tracy McSherry-McKown of New Country Z100-FM (9-11am)

As part of the initiative, each Library Corner is equipped with an array of multimedia resources including 26 interactive reading activities and a corresponding DVD. The activities and clips were developed and taken from research-based PBS KIDS Raising Readers early childhood literacy television programming, including Sesame Street, WordWorld, SuperWHY!, Between the Lions, Martha Speaks, and The Electric Company.

The Library Corners also are equipped with flexible visual materials that feature friendly and beloved PBS characters and also offer a welcoming setting where children can play literacy games on a computer, read a book or watch an educational and interactive DVD. Additionally, libraries receive ongoing implementation and support from WSIU throughout the summer.

Other resources include media-rich activities that range from librarian-led activities to self-directed games and content for kids. All of these materials were created using a literacy framework based on National Reading Panel of 2000 recommendations and encompass skills such as letter recognition, print awareness, and vocabulary instruction.

“At a time when funding for all types of community programs remains scarce, we are especially grateful to receive these additional Library Corners from our partner WSIU,” said Irena Just, Assistant Librarian and Children's Librarian at Herrin City Library. “Both WSIU and our region's libraries are dedicated to helping young children develop the skills they need to become life-long readers and a partnership like this provides tangible benefits to our very youngest library patrons.”

Twenty markets across the country, including Southern Illinois, piloted the PBS KIDS Raising Readers Library Corners project last year. This year's expansion of the project broadens its reach to over 30 stations and over 200 libraries nationwide, including elementary school libraries.

The PBS KIDS Raising Readers Library Corners are provided to communities through PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative using the power of media to help improve the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership.

About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO!
PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child's total well-being, family and educator resources – including PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, PBSKIDS.org, PBSKIDSGO.org, PBSParents.org, and PBSTeachers.org – PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's nearly 360 public television stations, serving more than 124 million people on-air and online each month. For more information on specific shows supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom.

About CPB
CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1000 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related on-line services.

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Freeburg, Nashville Students on Local TV Quiz Show

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:22:13 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Contacts: David Kidd, Senior TV Producer, WSIU, (618) 453-5887, [ mailto:david.kidd@wsiu.org ]david.kidd@wsiu.org

Freeburg, Nashville Students on Local TV Quiz Show

Carbondale, Ill. – Scholar bowl students from Freeburg High School will take on top students from Nashville High School in a semi-final round of Scholastic Hi-Q, the only televised quiz show for Southern Illinois teens. The half-hour episode will air on WSIU-TV 8/WUSI-TV 16, the public television stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), on Sunday, May 23 at 5:30pm and again on Sunday, May 30 at 9:30am.

Now in its 24th season, Scholastic Hi-Q is a competitive game show series featuring scholar bowl teams from 32 area high schools. Produced and hosted by SIUC students, the program provides high schoolers with an opportunity to enhance their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. It also teaches students life-lessons in responsibility and teamwork, while enhancing their poise and self-confidence.

Using a quiz show format, team members answer questions from a variety of disciplines, including art, geography, history, literature, math, music and science. The winning school of each game advances to subsequent rounds until they are either eliminated by another team or advance to the championship match. Season champions receive a large plaque for their school and recognition on WSIU-TV's airwaves and Web site.

Learn more and get the latest station news online at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook pages.

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WSIU Public Broadcasting Salutes Our Veterans

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:27:36 -0500

For Immediate Release
May 13, 2010

Contact: Monica Tichenor, Public Information & Promotions Coordinator, (618) 453-6160, monica.tichenor@wsiu.org

WSIU Public Broadcasting Salutes Our Veterans

Carbondale, Ill. – WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), pays tribute to veterans this May and June with special programming honoring our service men and women, their families at home, and all those who have given their lives for our country.

From nationally produced documentaries such as the Voices of a Neverending Dawn, which tells the story of the young Americans who fought in Northern Russia during World War I, to local programs such as Quiet Acres: Mound City Cemetery and WSIU's local World War II features on WSIU InFocus, WSIU-TV is proud to salute the men and women in uniform who serve and protect America.

Learn more about WSIU's veterans programming schedule online at [ http://www.wsiu.org ]www.wsiu.org.

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WSIU-TV Veterans Programming Schedule
May 18, 8pm • Frontline: The Wounded Platoon
(repeats 5/19, 12am; 5/20, 3am; 5/23, 1am)
Frontline tells the dark tale of the men of Third Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion of the 506th Infantry and how the Iraq War has followed them home. It is a story of heroism, grief, vicious combat, depression, drugs, alcohol, and brutal murder; an investigation into the Army's mental health services; and a powerful portrait of what multiple tours and post-traumatic stress are doing to a generation of young American soldiers.

May 19, 7pm • Secrets of the Dead: Deadliest Battle
(repeats 5/21, 3am)
This is the story of the Battle of Stalingrad, which not only changed the course of World War II, but established the Soviet Union as a superpower to be reckoned with in the long Cold War that lay ahead. More than a half-century later, the full impact of this horrific battle is revealed.

May 19, 8pm • Ground War: Warrior Weapons
(repeats 5/20, 12am; 5/21, 1am; 5/24, 1:30am)
This episode traces the evolution of soldiers and their gear, from the phalanx formations of Alexander the Great to the development of wearable exoskeletons that will one day soon make human soldiers stronger and faster. Part 1/4.

May 19, 9pm • Ground War: Battlefield Mobility
(repeats 5/20, 1am; 5/21, 2am; 5/24, 2:30am)
Part 2 of the Ground War series explores mobility on the battlefield and the never-ending challenge to maximize effectiveness and find the right balance of protective armor, speed, mobility and firepower.

May 20, 8pm • Voices of a Neverending Dawn, Part 1
(repeats 6/29, 9pm)
Told in the haunting words of first-person accounts, this program tells the moving story of a 5,500 American soldiers selected by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson to fight an unknown enemy called “Bolsheviks” (an early name for Communists) in northern Russia during World War I. Stripped of everything American and placed under British command, the young men find themselves quartered in sixty-degree below-zero weather not knowing that WWI ended just sixty days after they arrive. Part 1/2.

May 20, 9pm • Voices of a Neverending Dawn, Part 2
(repeats 7/6 9pm)
As WWI ends and America celebrates its son's home from war, a group of young American soldiers, sent to fight the Bolsheviks in Northern Russia, find that their call to return home never comes. As the Arctic winter closes in, morale plummets in the face of below-zero blizzards and a confusing midnight sun. One of the most decorated units in all of WWI, these soldiers became known as The Polar Bears. Part 2/2.

May 23, 1pm • America's Veterans: A Musical Tribute 2009
(repeats 5/27, 8pm; 5/30, 8pm)
America's Veterans: A Musical Tribute 2009 is a star-studded tribute to the Armed Forces. Recorded live at the Music Center at Strathmore, in Bethesda, Md., the special features Michael Feinstein, one of the premier interpreters of American popular song, renowned Irish tenor Ronan Tynan, and blues dynamo Shemekia Copeland - all led by The United States Air Force Band and accompanied by The Singing Sergeants chorus.

May 25, 9pm • Passing Poston: An American Story
Between 1942 and 1945, the Poston Relocation Center in Arizona housed more than 18,000 Japanese and Japanese-Americans, who worked as laborers to construct schools, farm the land, and construct an irrigation system. Passing Poston: An American Story recounts the moving and haunting stories of four former detainees about their life in an internment camp.

May 26, 7pm • Secrets of the Dead: The Airmen and the Headhunters
Secrets of the Dead investigates the extraordinary survival story of a crew of airmen shot down over the jungles of Japanese-occupied Borneo during World War II. The documentary features an exclusive interview with the sole surviving member of the U.S. crew, as well as interviews with a number of the Dayak tribespeople and Japanese and Australian veterans.

May 26, 8pm • Ground War: Firepower
(repeats 5/27, 12am; 5/28, 2am; 5/31, 2am)
Part three of the series tracks the development of artillery from the ancient Greeks through the invention of gunpowder in China, to the very latest generation of big guns and directed-energy weapons.

May 26, 9pm • Ground War: Command and Control
(repeats 5/27, 1am; 5/28, 3am; 5/31, 3am)
The final episode of the Ground War series considers the ways in which armies have used or modified the terrain of the battlefield to their advantage for both defense and attack.

May 28, 1am • Most Honorable Son
(repeats 5/29, 2am; 6/7, 4am)
After the Pearl Harbor attack, Nebraska farmer Ben Kuroki volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps later to become the first Japanese-American war hero. Between tours of duty, he found himself at the center of controversy - a lone spokesman against the racism faced by the thousands of Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps. Most Honorable Son recounts one man's remarkable journey through World War II, providing context to two seemingly disparate histories - the U.S. air war and the Japanese-American experience.

May 28, 9:30pm • The Tragedy of Bataan
(repeats 5/30, 1pm)
Through personal accounts of 15 survivors, The Tragedy of Bataan tells the story of the fall of the Philippines and the Bataan Death March during the early months of World War II.

May 30, 1:30pm • WSIU InFocus: Quiet Acres: Mound City National Cemetery
(repeats 9:30pm)
During the American Civil War, a stretch of the Ohio River from Cairo to Mound City on the Illinois shore served a strategic importance second only to the nation's capitol. From there, union land and naval forces launched campaigns to clear the Mississippi River of Confederate strongholds. Quiet Acres recounts how this tranquil burial site offers a visual testament of Southern Illinois' Civil War heritage. Produced by Richard Kuenneke of Oakview Road Media.

May 30, 7pm • National Memorial Day Concert
(repeats at 11pm same night; 5/31, 12:30am; 6/1, 2am)
For more than 20 years, PBS has been proud to honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform and their families with the annual broadcast of The National Memorial Day Concert. Hosted by actors Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna, who have dedicated themselves to veterans' causes and supported our troops in active service, the concert will feature Gen. Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.), music legend Lionel Richie, country music artist Brad Paisley, actor Dennis Haysbert, classical crossover artist Katherine Jenkins, Broadway star Kelli O'Hara, and gospel superstar Yolande Adams with The National Symphony Orchestra.

May 30, 10pm • Hallowed Grounds
Hallowed Grounds provides a rare glimpse of America's extraordinary overseas military cemeteries. The program weaves historical elements with contemporary scenes of the cemeteries and powerful stories about the men and women who are buried in them. It contains interviews with formal and informal historians and witnesses to the wars and the creation of the cemeteries.

June 4, 5pm • WSIU InFocus: Honor & Sacrifice: Larry Breeze; Walt & Juanita Ramsey
Larry Breeze recounts the horror of his wartime experiences during the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest and the Allied invasion of Nazi Germany during the final months of World War II. Also, Walt and Juanita Ramsey of Herrin reflect on their experience as husband and wife during two terrible months of the war. In 1944, while on a bombing mission to Munich, Walt was shot down over the former Yugoslavia, barely escaping the plane as it blew up around him. Listed as missing in action, his wife and family waited anxiously for news for nearly two months until Juanita received a telegram reporting that Walt was alive.

June 21, 9pm • Unforgettable: The Korean War
(repeats 6/23, 3am)
Korean War veterans from different branches of U.S. armed forces recount their memories of America in the late 1940s and early '50s, when young men from all over the country were being shipped off to defend South Korea against the advancing Red Army in the north. The program recounts the soldiers' stories in their own words, from their own homes…sharing moments of heartbreak, fear, and victory, and times of camaraderie with fellow soldiers. The film also examines how U.S. citizens socially grappled with the “conflict in Korea,” which eventually became known as the Forgotten War.

June 27, 10:30pm • SS United States: Lady in Waiting
Shot in high-definition, this program follows the journey of America's only superliner, from a mid-20th century maritime marvel to a largely forgotten relic. Previously unseen footage and compelling interviews tell the fascinating story of the SS United States' construction, record-breaking maiden voyage in 1952, its heyday during the 1950s and '60s, its retirement in 1969, and its gradual decline. Cameras aboard the ship, now moored at a Philadelphia pier, reveal its top-secret design and technological capabilities.

June 28, 8pm • History Detectives: Iwo Jima Map; Copperhead Cane; Theremin
(repeats 6/29, 12am; 6/30, 2am & 11pm)
In the first segment, detective Eduardo Pagán investigates the history of a hand-drawn map taken from the body of a Japanese soldier during the World War II battle of Iwo Jima. Then, Wes Cowan follows the story of a cane topped with a coiled snake with ties to the anti-Abraham Lincoln group the “Peace Democrats.”

June 28, 9pm • The Wall - A World Divided
(repeats 6/30, 3am)
The Wall tells that story from the unique perspectives of three world leaders - Helmut Kohl, then Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mikhail Gorbachev, then General Secretary of the Soviet Union, and George H.W. Bush, then President of the United States, and the remarkable events that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Illinois Lawmakers investigates State Budget Crisis

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 12 May 2010 11:22:11 -0500

For Immediate Release
May 11, 2010

Contact: Jak Tichenor, WSIU Producer and Program Host, (618) 201-6887 or (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org

Illinois Lawmakers investigates State Budget Crisis

Carbondale, Ill. - Illinois Lawmakers, WSIU Public Television's award-winning coverage of the state General Assembly, returns with a special edition focusing on the budget stalemate that extended the spring session of the General Assembly beyond the legislature's self-imposed May 7 adjournment date. The program airs on WSIU-TV 8/WUSI-TV 16, the public television stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), on Wednesday, May 12 at 11pm.

“It's back to the drawing board,” said WSIU-TV's Jak Tichenor, host of the Illinois Lawmakers series. “In the end, lawmakers could not agree on raising taxes, cutting state programs, or borrowing money to keep the state government operating.” House and Senate leaders sent their members home on May 7 and will recall them to the Capitol when they believe they've worked out a solution to close the state's historic $13-billion budget gap. Although it is not immediately clear when they will return, a vote is expected before June 1 when the Illinois constitution would require a three-fifths majority would to pass legislation.

The TV program will include in-depth interviews with legislative leaders, including House Democratic leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D) Chicago, Senate Appropriations I Committee Chairman Donne Trotter (D) Chicago, Deputy Senate Republican leader Dale Righter (R) Mattoon, and Assistant House Republican Leader David Leitch of Peoria.

Illinois Lawmakers also went on the road for this episode to talk with members back in their districts, including Senator Gary Forby (D) Benton and Representative Mike Bost (R) Murphysboro, Senator David Luechtefeld (R) Okawville, Senator David Koehler (D) Peoria, and Senator Dale Risinger (R) Peoria.

About Illinois Lawmakers
Recognized as television's only ongoing, in-depth coverage of Illinois' “no holds-barred” brand of hardball legislative politics, Illinois Lawmakers features exclusive newsmaker interviews with legislative leaders, lively on-set debates between leading lawmakers from both parties, and expert analysis from some of the state's top journalists.

Learn more and get the latest station news online at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook pages.

WSIU-TV to Feature Encore Presentation of Award-Winning Local Documentary and Masterpiece Classic Special

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:39:41 -0500

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, April 28, 2010

WSIU-TV to Feature Encore Presentation of Award-Winning Local Documentary and Masterpiece Classic Special

Carbondale, Ill. – WSIU-TV 8 and WUSI-TV 16, the public television stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), will feature special encore presentations of the SIUC student-produced documentary, Silent Monster, and part two of Masterpiece Classic: Small Island on Sunday, May 2 at 9:30pm and 10:30pm, respectively.

The two programs did not air on Sunday, April 25, as previously scheduled, due to an area-wide electrical power outage that impacted WSIU-TV's transmitter site in Tamaroa, Ill.

Silent Monster (5/2, 9:30pm), explores the serious effects of lead on the community of Herculaneum, Missouri, which is located in the Missouri Lead Belt, a region in southeastern Missouri that contains the highest concentration of lead metal on the planet. The documentary recently won an honorable mention in the student documentary competition at the 2010 Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival. It was produced by SIUC students Melissa Coleman, Devin Miller, Eric Robinson, Lauren Roberts, Will Roberts, Victoria Carter, Nadia Samie, Zubedah Nanfuka, and Dawn Stricklin.

Masterpiece Classic: Small Island (5/2, 10:30pm), which was adapted from Andrea Levy's award-winning novel of the same name, tells the moving saga of two couples – one Jamaican, one English – whose lives intertwine in both friendship and tragic misunderstanding in post-World War II Britain. In part two, Hortense (Naomie Harris) travels from Jamaica to join her new husband, Gilbert (David Oyelowo), at the London home of landlord Queenie Bligh (Ruth Wilson), but quickly learns that England is not the golden land she hoped it would be. Hortense and Gilbert experience racism and ignorance, yet in adversity they discover new qualities in each other that deepen the bonds of their marriage.

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WSIU Announces Local Story Contest Winners

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:58:59 -0500

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator and SIRIS Director, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

WSIU Announces Local Story Contest Winners

Carbondale, IL - WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is pleased to announce local winners in the PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest, which encourages children grades K-3 to celebrate the power of writing and illustrating by submitting their own original storybooks. First place and honorable mention honorees were chosen from among 252 local entrants.

WSIU, with support from regional contest sponsors Cedarhurst Center for the Arts and My Favorite Toys at University Mall in Carbondale, was one of 87 public television stations across the country participating in this year's Contest. Stories are first judged at the local level, after which local winners advance to the national competition. National winners will be announced this summer.

Local honorees will be recognized at a special awards ceremony this Saturday, April 24 at 1pm at the Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt. Vernon, IL. Honorees will receive prizes and their creative work will be featured in a public exhibit at Cedarhurst. Other stories will be chosen for a special exhibit at My Favorite Toys at the University Mall this summer. First place winners also will be invited to record their stories for broadcast on WSIU Radio in late spring or early summer. All children who entered the contest will receive a special Certificate of Achievement.

This year's local winners are:

Kindergarten:
1st - Amanda Beuth, The Elephant Runs Away, St. Jacob, IL
Honorable Mention - Elaina Montgomery, I Like, McClellan Grade School, Mrs. Diane Porter- Teacher, Mt. Vernon, IL

First Grade:
1st - Kelsey Jurich, Animal Adventures, Herrin, IL
Honorable Mention - Josie Woodrome, Wacky and the Winter Olympics, Texico, IL

Second Grade:
1st - Camryn Parker, Monica the Monarch, McLeansboro, IL
Honorable Mention - Austin Reyling, Sunday's Ball, St. John the Baptist, Smithton, IL

Third Grade:
1st - Macy Sanchez, Please Don't Laugh at My Family…I Love Them, Benton, IL
Honorable Mention - Shannon Price, The Tree, Carbondale, IL

WSIU would also like to thank this year's judges for their time and participation: Irene Just of Herrin; Lane Hudgins of Murphysboro; Jean Pulliam of Makanda; Linda Davis and Pam Urban of DuQuoin; and Lisa Belville, Christine Gilbert, Joan Listen, Kim Mahoney, Linda Rohling, Edie Spees, and Kristy Strusz of Carbondale.

The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a national-local contest designed to promote the advancement of children's reading skills through hands-on, active learning. The Contest extends the powerful tradition and annual success of the 15-year national “Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest,” which was discontinued after the Reading Rainbow series ceased production. Produced by WNED-TV Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from at-risk families. WSIU is one of 20 stations across the nation participating in the PBS KIDS Raising Readers initiative at the local level.

Families Invited to Día de los Niños Celebration

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:48:48 -0500

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU outreach coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org or Renee Juarez, Union County Family Resource Center, (618) 967-7756, amigas02@hotmail.com

Families Invited to Día de los Niños Celebration

Carbondale, Ill. – WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), along with Stinson Memorial Library in Anna, and Union County and Sunrise Preschools, invite families to join them for a special celebration of Día de los Niños, or "Children's Day," on Wednesday, April 14 beginning at 10am. The event will be held at Stinson Memorial Library, 409 South Main in downtown Anna.

Día de los Niños is an annual celebration of children, families, and reading that emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. It is held in conjunction with Week of the Young Child, which is April 11-17 this year. The theme for the Week of the Young Child 2010 is Early Years are Learning Years®. Week of the Young Child is organized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children as an opportunity for early childhood programs, related organizations, communities, and states to focus on the needs of young children and their families.

WSIU's colorful Raising Readers Literacy Van, made possible by John A. Logan Childcare Resource & Referral, will be at this year's Día de los Niños event at Stinson Memorial Library in Anna. Kids will be invited to watch PBS KIDS videos, make tambourines, sing, and march in an outdoor parade. Children also will greet PBS KIDS character SuperWHY and enjoy ice cream from the Sweetreats truck. Each child will receive educational materials and a new book from the PBS KIDS series Maya & Miguel.

WSIU is a participating station in PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a multi-year, grant-funded initiative. Raising Readers uses research-based, innovative television programs and related multimedia content to help children ages 2-8 from low-income families to strengthen their reading and literacy skills.

Questions about WSIU's Día de los Niños celebration should be directed to Beth Spezia at (618) 453-5595 or beth.spezia@wsiu.org.

Spin Your Tales at the 3rd Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:59:52 -0500

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU outreach coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill. – Everyone has a story tell, and WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is inviting the general public to tell their own stories at the WSIU “Share a Story” recording booth at the 3rd Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival.

WSIU's recording booth will be available on Saturday, April 10 from 10am until 3pm. Festival attendees should look for WSIU's booth and colorful PBS KIDS Literacy Van at the foot of the old Cape bridge, adjacent to the second Storytelling Festival tent near Southeast Missouri State University's River campus.

All visitors who share their stories will get a CD copy of their recording as a keepsake. WSIU will feature the recorded stories and a photo of each storyteller on their Web site at www.wsiu.org at a later date. To listen to stories recorded at the festival in previous years, select the Storytelling feature from the rotating spotlight on WSIU's Web site. WSIU also will distribute a variety of educational materials for people of all ages.

The Storytelling Festival will run from Friday, April 9 through Sunday, April 11. Festival hours are 9am to 9pm on April 9-10 and 9am to 3:30pm on April 11. Master storytellers spinning tales this year include Donald Davis, Syd Lieberman, Kevin Kling, Minton Sparks, Priscilla Howe, and Marilyn Kinsella.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, local production units, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Learn more and get the latest station news online at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook pages.

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WSIU to Host Storytelling Booth at the 3rd Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:04:03 -0500

For Immediate Release
Friday, April 2, 2010

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU outreach coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

WSIU to Host Storytelling Booth at the 3rd Annual Cape Girardeau
Storytelling Festival

Carbondale, Ill. – Everyone has a story tell, and WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), is inviting the general public to share their own stories at the WSIU “Share a Story” booth at the 3rd Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival.

WSIU's booth will be available on Saturday, April 10 from 10am until 3pm. Festival attendees should look for WSIU's colorful PBS KIDS Literacy Van to locate the booth.

WSIU will distribute educational materials and all visitors who share their stories will get a CD copy of their recording as a keepsake. WSIU will feature the recorded stories and a photo of each storyteller on their Web site at www.wsiu.org at a later date. To listen to stories recorded at the festival in previous years, select the Storytelling feature from the rotating spotlight on WSIU's Web site.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, local production units, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Learn more and get the latest station news online at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook pages.

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WSIU Public Broadcasting Receives National Award from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:15:50 -0500

For Immediate Release
March 25, 2010

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org; Greg Petrowich, WSIU Executive Director, (618) 453-4344, greg.petrowich@wsiu.org
WSIU Public Broadcasting Receives National Award from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Carbondale, Illinois – WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, received a My Source Education Innovation Award from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) on Saturday, March 20 in Washington, D.C.

This honor marks the second consecutive national award that WSIU has received for its implementation of My Source, a national campaign developed by CPB to engage people in a dialogue about the power of public broadcasting to inform, enlighten, and enrich public life. The My Source Education Innovation Awards recognize and showcase how public broadcasting stations use pioneering approaches and emerging digital technologies to serve the educational needs of their communities on the air, online, and in the classroom.

“Stations across the country are using technology in creative and innovative ways to deliver educational tools and resources that are making a real difference to teachers, parents and children,” says Pat Harrison, president and CEO of CPB. “Public media is the definitive education partner for a new generation of learners, and CPB congratulates WSIU for its outstanding contribution to the community.”

WSIU received the award in recognition of their innovative approach in using public media resources to improve teacher instruction and student outcomes. WSIU's two winning TV testimonials feature early childhood teachers Keely Gelso and Dimitra Palaskonis of the Alice Wright Early Childhood Center in Carbondale. Gelso shares why she values WSIU's PBS TeacherLine courses as a professional development resource, while Palaskonis tells a moving personal story about the positive impact of WSIU and PBS programming on her life as the child of Greek immigrants.

“The stories of these local educators share a powerful message of their trust in WSIU’s educational resources,” says Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator.

The award was presented to Devenport by Pat Harrison at the Council of Chief State School Officers/Public Media Executive Summit. WSIU will receive a $3,000 grant to continue their innovative work using public media as an integral part of their educational outreach efforts across the region.

To view WSIU’s award-winning My Education Innovation testimonials, go online at www.wsiu.org/teacherline.

Caption: WSIU outreach coordinator, Vickie Devenport (right), accepts WSIU's 2010 My Source Education Innovation Award from Pat Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, at the Council of Chief State School Officers/Public Media Executive Summit in Washington, DC. WSIU was honored for our innovative approach in using public media resources and new and emerging digital technologies to improve teacher instruction and student outcomes. Photo: CPB.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, local production units, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at www.wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook pages.

About CPB
CPB is a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967 and is steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,100 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.

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Deadline Approaches for Local Kids Story Contest

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:32:42 -0500

For Immediate Release
March 17, 2010

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator and SIRIS Director, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.

Deadline Approaches for Local Kids Story Contest

Carbondale, IL - Hey, kids! Don't let the first few days of spring distract you from creating your own stories and entering them in WSIU Public Broadcasting's PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest. Sponsored regionally by Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt. Vernon and My Favorite Toys at University Mall in Carbondale, the contest invites children in kindergarten through the third grade to write and illustrate their own stories.

Although it's not too late to submit entries, the clock is ticking, so now is the time for children to enter their stories. Entries must be postmarked no later than March 24 and should be mailed to: WSIU TV PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest, 910 S. Forest, SIUC Mailcode 6527, Carbondale, IL 62901. Entry forms and contest rules are available online at wsiu.org/writerscontest or call (618) 453-4344.

WSIU-TV will announce the names of local honorees on the air and will post their stories online at www.wsiu.org. Local honorees also will be invited to an awards ceremony at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts this spring, where their work will be featured in a public exhibit. First place winners will be invited to record their stories to be broadcast on WSIU Radio later this spring or early summer. Other stories also will be chosen for a special exhibit at My Favorite Toys at the University Mall this summer. All children who enter the contest will receive a special Certificate of Achievement.

The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a national-local contest designed to promote the advancement of children's reading skills through hands-on, active learning. It extends the powerful tradition and success of the 15-year national “Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest,” which was discontinued after the Reading Rainbow series ceased production. Produced by WNED-TV Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, the Contest is part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from at-risk families.

WSIU is one of 20 stations across the nation participating in the PBS KIDS Raising Readers initiative at the local level.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

WSIU to Feature Live Coverage of Governor Quinn's Budget Message

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:34:40 -0600

Friday, March 5, 2010

Contact: Jak Tichenor, WSIU Public Television, (618) 453-6187 or (618) 201-6887, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org; Jeff Williams, WSIU Public Radio, (618) 453-6101, jeff.williams@wsiu.org

WSIU to Feature Live Coverage of Governor Quinn's Budget Message

Carbondale, Ill. - WSIU Public Television and WSIU Public Radio, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, will offer complete coverage of Governor Patrick Quinn's annual Budget Message before a joint session of the General Assembly on Wednesday, March 10 at noon.

WSIU TV 8 and WUSI TV 16 will carry the Governor's speech live as a special edition of the statewide public television series Illinois Lawmakers, with a repeat broadcast at 10:30pm. WSIU-TV's veteran Statehouse reporter, Jak Tichenor, will anchor coverage of the speech with analysis from Rich Miller, editor and publisher of the influential Capitolfax newsletter on state politics. Following the speech, Illinois Lawmakers will offer reaction from legislative leaders and budget experts from both sides of the aisle in the Illinois House and Senate.

WSIU 91.9 FM and 91.9 FM HD, WUSI 90.3 FM, and WVSI 88.9 FM also will carry the address and subsequent analysis live at noon via Illinois Public Radio.

“Illinois' fiscal crisis is second only to California's in its severity,” says WSIU-TV producer Jak Tichenor, “and there are no easy ways of digging our way out of a $12.8-billion budget hole projected for Fiscal year 2011." Governor Quinn has already proposed $2-billion in spending cuts for public education, social services, and public safety sectors of state government, but that's only a fraction of the amount needed to close the gap between spending and revenues. “The Governor has made it clear that he intends to propose higher taxes to help solve the crisis, but fellow Democrats in the House and Senate are reluctant to consider raising taxes in an election year while Republicans at the Capitol have said they won't support any calls for tax hikes,” Tichenor says.

WSIU's weekly television series WSIU InFocus will offer reaction to the Governor's budget speech by local Democratic and Republican state lawmakers, as well as Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard, in a special edition airing on Friday, March 12 at 9pm. The program will repeat on Sunday, March 14 at 12:30pm.

Now in its 24th year, Illinois Lawmakers, a production of the public television stations of Illinois, is broadcast from the State Capitol in Springfield in the fall and spring and is carried simultaneously on 10 PBS stations throughout the state.

Local Kids Story Contest Seeks Entries

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:48:42 -0600

For Immediate Release
March 1, 2010

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator and SIRIS Director, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.

PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest

Carbondale, IL- Hey, kids! Do you have a cool idea for a story? WSIU Public Broadcasting is inviting area children in kindergarten through the third grade to create their own stories and enter them in our PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, sponsored regionally by Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt. Vernon and My Favorite Toys at University Mall in Carbondale.

Entry forms and contest rules are available online at wsiu.org/writerscontest or call (618) 453-4344. Entries must be postmarked by March 24 and should be mailed to: WSIU TV PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest, 910 S. Forest, SIUC Mailcode 6527, Carbondale, IL 62901.

The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a national-local contest designed to promote the advancement of children's reading skills through hands-on, active learning. “Kids naturally have a keen sense of curiosity and incredible imaginations,” says Greg Petrowich, Executive Director of WSIU Public Broadcasting. "WSIU's PBS KIDS GO! Writers contest provides the opportunity for children to express their ideas while building key literacy skills such as storytelling."

Judges will choose a first place winner and honorable mention for each grade level at the local level. First place winning stories will advance to the national contest, where they will compete for prizes such as laptops, digital cameras, and MP3 players. WSIU-TV will announce the names of local honorees on the air and will post their stories online at www.wsiu.org. Local honorees also will be invited to an awards ceremony at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts later this spring, where their work will be featured in a public exhibit. WSIU Radio will invite honorees to record their stories for broadcast this summer. All children who enter the contest will receive a special Certificate of Achievement.

The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest extends the powerful tradition and annual success of the 15-year national “Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest,” which was discontinued after the Reading Rainbow series ceased production. The Contest is produced by WNED-TV Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, and is part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of young children, with an emphasis on children from at-risk families. WSIU is one of 20 stations across the nation participating in the PBS KIDS Raising Readers initiative at the local level.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

Local Artist To Appear on National PBS Series

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:43:42 -0600

For Immediate Release
February 22, 2010

Contact: Monica Tichenor, WSIU Public Information & Promotions Coordinator, (618) 453-6160, monica.tichenor@wsiu.org

Local Artist To Appear on National PBS Series

Carbondale, IL - Carbondale fiber artist and SIUC alumna Karen Linduska will demonstrate her unique decorative stitch thread painting technique in a two-part episode of the popular nationally-distributed public television series, Sewing with Nancy, which airs Saturdays at 11am on WSIU-TV 8 and WUSI-TV 16, the public television stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC).

In part one, airing on Saturday, February 27, Linduska teaches the basics of decorative stitch thread painting, a fun, funky, and free-form process that combines decorative stitches found on most sewing machines with painting and other art mediums.

In part two, airing on Saturday, March 27, Linduska uses decorative stitches to create outline and filler stitches, weaving techniques, and images of flowers, ferns, grasses, and trees. She then demonstrates how to paint with thread to produce botanical images.

In addition to her appearance on Sewing With Nancy, Linduska will showcase her decorative stitch thread painting "Fantasy Garden" in an upcoming episode of the public television how-to series, Quilting Arts TV, airing on Saturday, March 27 at 10:30am on WSIU-TV. Joining Linduska for the episode is program host and Quilting Arts magazine editor-in-chief Pokey Bolton, who featured Linduska's art on the front cover of the June/July 2009 issue of the magazine.

A student of M. Joan Lintault, an internationally renowned quilter and professor emeritus of Fiber Art at SIUC, Linduska is highly-regarded in the quilting arts community. Her most recent work includes a new series that pays tribute to old growth trees and the need to protect them. Linduska is a freelance teacher for Calico Country Sew & Vac in Carbondale, Illinois, the Baby-Lock Sewing Machine Company, and quilting stores and guilds. To learn more about Karen Linduska and to view samples of her work, visit her Web site at www.karenlinduska.com.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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Local TV Program To Explore LV homes in Perryville, Missouri, Shotgun Home Restoration in Cairo, Illinois

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:10:38 -0600

Contact: David Kidd, (618) 453-5887, Jak Tichenor (618) 453-6187

Carbondale, Ill. - An upcoming episode of WSIU InFocus, a weekly television series produced by WSIU TV, the public television stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, will feature the environmentally friendly LV home series, manufactured in Perryville, Missouri, as well as recent efforts to remodel a shotgun style home in Cairo, Illinois. The half-hour episode will air on Friday, February 12 at 9pm, with repeat broadcasts on Sunday, February 14 at 12:30pm and Friday, February 19 at 5pm.

In the first segment of this two-part episode, Debbie Whitlatch meets with LV home designer, Rocio Romero, in Perryville, Missouri who explains how this modern construction incorporates eco-friendly design principles that embrace simplicity and reflect a style connected to nature. The homes, which come in kits that include the outer shell of the home and can be delivered anywhere in the world, employ conventional construction methods, so any general contractor can build them.

WSIU InFocus then travels to Cairo, Illinois to capture efforts of the SIU School of Architecture to save and restore a shotgun-style home located on Sycamore Avenue. SIU students and faculty worked diligently over the course of 11 weeks in the summer of 2009 to replace the house's rotten siding, rebuild its 100-year-old wooden windows, and complete a host of other home improvement projects. When completely renovated, the remodeled home will be used as the new location of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce. Organizers of the project hope that the successful renovation will pave the way for similar homes in Cairo, and across the country, to be renovated for low-income housing at a fraction of the cost of new construction.

Viewers who miss the program can watch online at wsiu.org/infocus, then select either the "Watch Now" button for recently broadcast episodes or the "episode archive" link.

WSIU InFocusis a weekly magazine-style series that turns the spotlight on our region's people, places, events, and issues. Co-hosted by George Norwood and Roz Rice, the series includes a combination of field-produced and in-studio segments covering topics in news and public affairs, regional history and cultural identity, the arts and education, and family and community.

Love is on the Air at WSIU Public Radio

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:57:45 -0600

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Contact: Susan Patrick, WSIU Customer Service Specialist, (618) 453-6184

Love is on the Air at WSIU Public Radio

Carbondale, IL - Valentine's Day is just around the corner, but there's still time to send a sweet treat to friends and family! WSIU 91.9 FM, WUSI 90.3 FM and WVSI 88.9 FM, the public radio stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), are inviting public radio fans to surprise the special people in their lives this Valentine's Day with boxes of locally-made gourmet chocolates during the "Love is on the Air" event.

Launched in 1997, this annual on-air fundraiser has become a popular Valentine's Day tradition, all for the love of public radio! Regular or sugar-free hand-made gourmet chocolates provided by The Chocolate Factory in Golconda, Illinois are available in half-pound boxes for a donation of $45, one-pound boxes for a donation of $60, and two-pound boxes for a donation of $100. Each box includes a gift card with the sender's personalized Valentine message. Chocolates can be shipped anywhere in the continental United States on or before February 14, courtesy of Mail Boxes Etc. of Carbondale.

Supplies go quickly, so those interested in participating are advised to place their orders soon either online at www.wsiu.org or by calling WSIU Radio at (618) 453-6184 or 1-800-745-9748. Orders must be received by 1pm on Wednesday, February 10 for delivery on or before February 14.

For more information about "Love is on the Air," visit www.wsiu.org.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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Love is On the Air at WSIU Public Radio

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:22:28 -0600

For Immediate Release
January 27, 2010

Contact: Susan Patrick, WSIU Customer Service Specialist, (618) 453-6184

Love is On the Air at WSIU Public Radio

Carbondale, IL - WSIU 91.9 FM, WUSI 90.3 FM and WVSI 88.9 FM, the public radio stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), are pleased to offer a sweet thank you to public radio fans who make a financial contribution during their 14th Annual “Love is on the Air” Valentine's Day event, sponsored regionally by The Chocolate Factory in Golconda, Ill. and Mail Boxes Etc. in Carbondale.

Launched in 1997, this special event has become a popular Valentine's Day tradition, all for the love of public radio. Supporters are invited to surprise the special people in their lives with regular or sugar-free hand-made gourmet chocolates courtesy of The Chocolate Factory. Both varieties are available in half-pound boxes for a donation of $45, one-pound boxes for a donation of $60, and two-pound boxes for a donation of $100. Each box includes a gift card with the sender's personalized Valentine message. Chocolates can be shipped anywhere in the continental United States on or before February 14, courtesy of Mail Boxes Etc. of Carbondale.

Supplies go quickly, so those interested in participating are advised to submit their orders securely online at www.wsiu.org or by calling WSIU Radio at (618) 453-6184 or 1-800-745-9748. Orders must be received by 1:00PM on Wednesday, February 10 for Valentine's Day delivery.

Supermarket Explorer Teaches Literacy, Healthy Living

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:14:45 -0600

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org or Danielle Farley, WSIU Outreach assistant, dfarley@siu.edu

Supermarket Explorer Teaches Literacy, Healthy Living

Carbondale, Ill. - WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and Save-a-Lot Grocery Store of Carbondale believe that learning can happen anytime, anywhere. That's why they have come together to create Supermarket Explorer, a new PBS KIDS Raising Readers project that offers children fun ways to improve their reading and vocabulary skills. Families are invited to attend the first of this year’s Supermarket Explorer activities this Saturday, January 30 from 10am until 2pm at Save-A-Lot, located at 301 East Walnut in Carbondale.

Based on popular PBS Kids programming such as SuperWhy and WordWorld, WSIU's Supermarket Explorer activities are designed to strengthen children's skills with letters and words, while also encouraging families to make healthy food choices. Participants in this Saturday's Supermarket Explorer activities at Save-A-Lot can earn coupons to discount their grocery purchase; each child will receive a free children's book, courtesy of WSIU.

Other partners for this Supermarket Explorer activity include the SIUC Student Nutrition Academic Council (SNAC), SIUC Head Start, and Women With Infants and Children (WIC).

Additional in-store learning opportunities for families are being planned throughout February.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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WSIU TV to Host Live Democratic Gubernatorial Debate

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:02:50 -0600

Contact: Jak Tichenor, WSIU TV, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org

WSIU TV to Host Live Democratic Gubernatorial Debate

Carbondale, Ill. - Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to cover a live gubernatorial debate between Democratic candidates Governor Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes on Thursday, January 21 at 8pm in WSIU-TV's Studio A, located in Room 1065 of the Communications Building, 1100 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale.

The debate will air live on WSIU-TV, WSIU Radio, and wsiu.org, but other public television and radio stations around the state may time shift for later broadcast.

WSIU-TV's Jak Tichenor will moderate the debate, with questioning from David Yepsen, Director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIUC, and Jennifer Fuller of WSIU Public Radio.

Photographers and video cameras will be allowed in the studio before the debate for set-up shots, candidates mingling, group shots, etc.

News media must leave the studio ten minutes before the debate starts at 8pm, but can cover the debate from WSIU TV's Studio B, which is adjacent to Studio A. WSIU will provide a mult. box with video and audio feeds for broadcast reporters in Studio B, as well as tables and chairs for workspace. Reporters can return to Studio A after the debate to talk to the candidates.

Internet access: A wifi hotspot will be active in Studio B during the evening of the broadcast. WSIU's Information Technology staff will provide the appropriate access information upon your arrival.

Please contact WSIU if you are planning to be at the debate. Contact Jak Tichenor at (618) 453-6187 or jak.tichenor@wsiu.org.

Directions: Come to the west door of the Communications Building (Daily Egyptian entrance) and follow the signs to the Studios. A check-in table will be set up in the hallway outside the studios so that you may receive the necessary credentials to enter the studio facilities.

Satellite information:
For commercial stations who may want to take the feed to excerpt the debate for news coverage:

AMC-3 @ 87W
Transponder K22-B (9 MHz)
U/L 14444.50 Horizontal
D/L 12144.50 Vertical
Symbol Rate 6.250
FEC 3/4
QPSK
Test begins at 20:30 ET (19:30 Local and Central)
Live Debate at 21:00 ET (20:00 Local and Central)
Trouble - 618-525-0787

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WSIU To Feature Governor's State of the State Address, Gubernatorial Debates

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:58:59 -0600

Contacts: Jak Tichenor, WSIU-TV, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Illinois - WSIU Television, a public broadcasting arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), will present Governor Pat Quinn's State-of-the-State Address live on Wednesday, January 13 at noon. The speech will be rebroadcast at 10:30pm. WSIU Radio also will carry the broadcasts live on FM 91.9, 90.3, and 88.9 and online at wsiu.org via streaming. A podcast of the speech also will be available on WSIU's website.

WSIU-TV and WSIU Radio also plan to carry Governor Quinn's Budget Address live on February 17 at noon.

The WSIU Stations are also teaming up with Illinois Public Media/WILL-TV, to present coverage of Republican and Democratic debates for candidates in the February 2 Illinois gubernatorial primary.

Republican candidates will meet in the WILL-TV studio in Champaign-Urbana at 8pm on Thursday, January 14, while Democrats face off at WSIU-TV in Carbondale on Thursday, January 21, also at 8pm. The debates will be distributed to public television and public radio stations statewide by the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council.

WSIU-TV and WILL-TV will carry both debates live, as will WSIU Radio and WILL-AM. WSIU Radio and WILL-AM also will stream the debates live at wsiu.org and will.illinois.edu, respectively. WSIU-TV will feature repeat broadcasts of the debates, with the Republican gubernatorial debate airing a second time on Sunday, January 17 at 6pm and the Democratic debate repeating on Sunday, January 24, also at 6pm.

All the candidates have agreed or tentatively agreed to participate. Republican candidates are Adam Andrzejewski, State Senator Bill Brady, State Senator Kirk Dillard, Dan Proft, Jim Ryan, and Bob Schillerstrom. Candidate Andy McKenna was invited, but declined to appear due to a scheduling conflict. WILL-TV's John Paul will moderate the Republican debate.

The Democratic candidates are Governor Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes. WSIU's Jak Tichenor will moderate the Carbondale debate. David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, and Jennifer Fuller of WSIU Public Radio will question the candidates.

WSIU and WILL are producing the debates in collaboration with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIUC and the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs.

WSIU TV Program Highlights Holiday Traditions in Southern Illinois

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:44:50 -0600

Contact: Jak Tichenor, WSIU TV Producer, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org

WSIU TV Program Highlights Holiday Traditions in Southern Illinois

Carbondale, Ill. - WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), will present a WSIU InFocus special on Friday, December 25 at 9pm featuring fun ways that Southern Illinoisans make the holiday season merry and bright. The half-hour program will repeat on Sunday, December 27 at 12:30pm and again on Friday, January 1 at 5pm.

In segment one, host Debbie Whitlatch goes behind the scenes of Candy Cane Lane in West Frankfort, Illinois, the site of an annual holiday display that has drawn thousands of visitors for nearly 20 years. With the help of neighbors and students, the neighborhood boasts five blocks of extraordinary scenes of glowing Christmas lights. The brainchild of the tradition is Tim Murphy, an art teacher at West Frankfort High School who demonstrates his passion for Christmas rituals by decorating his home and yard in a spectacular way.

The program also features a visit to the home of Rachel Malcolm Ensor of Murphysboro, Illinois, who leads a tour of her lavishly decorated Victorian home and shares why certain displays invoke special memories. InFocus also travels to Tom's Place in De Soto, Illinois where Chef Lasse Sorenson demonstrates how to prepare Strawberries Romanov. Sorenson's wife, Mary Jane Sorenson, also shares tips on setting a festive holiday table.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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WSIU, Illinois Public Media to Host Gubernatorial Debates

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:05:35 -0600

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Contacts: Jak Tichenor, WSIU-TV, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org; John Paul, WILL-TV/Illinois Public Media, (217) 333-7300, johnpaul@illinois.edu

WSIU, Illinois Public Media to Host Gubernatorial Debates

Carbondale, Illinois - WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and WILL-TV/Illinois Public Media, Champaign-Urbana, are teaming up to present Republican and Democratic debates for candidates in the February 2 Illinois gubernatorial primary.

Republican candidates will meet in the WILL-TV studio at 8pm on Thursday, January 14, while Democrats face off at WSIU-TV in Carbondale on Thursday, January 21, also at 8pm. The debates will be distributed to public television and public radio stations statewide by the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council.

All the candidates have agreed or tentatively agreed to participate. Republican candidates are Adam Andrzejewski, state Senator Bill Brady, State Senator Kirk Dillard, Andy McKenna, Dan Proft, Jim Ryan, and Bob Schillerstrom. WILL-TV's John Paul will moderate the Republican debate.

Democratic candidates include Governor Pat Quinn, Comptroller Dan Hynes, Ed Scanlan (pending ballot objections), and William "Dock" Walls (pending ballot objections). WSIU-TV's Jak Tichenor will serve as the debate moderator.

WSIU and WILL are producing the debates in collaboration with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIUC and the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs.

Paul said the overriding issue for the debates is likely to be the state's budget situation. "I'm sure many of the questions will deal with the state's fiscal crisis, how it can be resolved, and whether tax increases are necessary," he said.

Tichenor said, "No leader in state history will be tested like the next governor of Illinois in the next four years. These debates are critically important for Illinois voters to make an informed decision when they go to the polls.

WSIU Participates in Raising Readers Program

WSIU Public Broadcasting — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:24:02 -0600

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Field Representative, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

Research Study Shows PBS KIDS Raising Readers Prepares Children for Kindergarten
-WSIU and local early child education groups participating in multi-year initiative to increase literacy skills

Carbondale, Ill. - WSIU-TV, local educators, libraries, and families are partners in the national PBS KIDS Raising Readers initiative to increase literacy among at-risk children and prepare them for success in school.

According to a new study conducted by Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), a global nonprofit organization that designs, delivers, and evaluates programs that address education and health challenges, and SRI International, an independent, non-profit research institute, low-income children were better prepared for success in kindergarten when their preschool teachers utilized a media-rich literacy curriculum integrating public media video content and educational games. The study was commissioned by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to evaluate video and interactive games that are part of the PBS KIDS Raising Readers initiative, which uses multiplatform content and targeted, local community engagement activities to help increase literacy skills for children ages 2-to-8, especially those from low-income families.

The study examined whether young children's literacy skills - the ability to name letters, know the sounds associated with those letters, and understand basic concepts about stories and printed words - increased when preschool classrooms incorporated video and games. Children with the most to learn in the study gained the most, learning an average of 7.5 more letters than children in a comparison group during the brief, intensive curriculum.

In the study, 398 children from low-income families in 80 preschool classes were taught with a special curriculum that included active video viewing and hands-on play with letters, sounds, and books. Teachers were given coaching and support to help them deliver the curriculum successfully. The research, conducted from January through June 2009, found that early literacy skills all increased significantly compared to children who did not participate in the curriculum.

“The fact that the curriculum studied proved effective in a randomized controlled trial with this population makes it among the few preschool curricula with strong evidence of a positive impact,” said William Penuel, Ph.D., director of evaluation research for SRI's Center for Technology and Learning. He noted that a recent U.S. Dept. of Education review last year of 15 randomized controlled studies of preschool curricula found that only two of the 15 curricula had a positive effect on the literacy skills targeted in this study.

“We know public media can improve literacy skills when kids watch at home; what we didn't know is that content from multiple PBS KIDS shows could be effectively integrated into a curriculum and implemented by teachers,” Penuel added. “If media can be harnessed to help close this literacy gap, as this study has shown, it's a powerful new tool for preschool teachers.”

“This research reinforces what we've learned through other studies related to PBS KIDS Raising Readers," said Greg Petrowich, Executive Director of WSIU Public Broadcasting. "Our programming and online resources can play an essential role in helping to close the early literacy gap for children in our community."

Four other studies released this year concluded that content from three award-winning PBS KIDS Raising Readers series, Super WHY!, Between the Lions and Wordworld, is effective in developing critical reading skills among three-to-six-year-olds.

The study was commissioned by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to evaluate video and interactive games that are part of the PBS KIDS Raising Readers initiative. Raising Readers is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Ready To Learn grant, administered in part through CPB, in partnership with PBS. To access the full study, sample content from the curriculum, and a video interview with a teacher who participated in the study, go to: http://cct.edc.org/rtl.

WSIU TV and local partners also have implemented a variety of literacy building programs and activities, including:
• Workshops for area educators and parenting groups to share PBS KIDS resources that boost children's reading and vocabulary skills.
• Utilizing the Raising Readers Literacy Van, in partnership with Child Care Resource and Referral at John A. Logan College, for media presentations and literacy activities at community events across the region.
• Community based research towards the development of new children's television programming at the national level.
• Reading camps designed to boost the literacy skills of preschool children. Based on the PBS KIDS literacy series, SuperWHY, the camps include targeted instruction and games, visits by SuperWHY, and education resources.
• Martha Speaks Reading Buddies, an eight-week reading program pairing students in kindergarten and fourth grades at local schools to develop their reading, vocabulary, and social skills.
• Establishing PBS KIDS Library Corners in several local libraries, which includes area rugs, banners, and dedicated shelving units, books, DVDs, and computer stations with direct access to PBS KIDS Island, an online literacy game for families.
• The Electric Company Circuit Tour, a public event at Rent One Ballpark with a live performance by beatbox performer and Electric Company cast member Chris Sullivan, who used hip-hop, spoken word, and storytelling to teach reading fundamentals to over 300 kids. WSIU is distributing more than 500 copies of The Electric Company toolkits to schools, church youth groups, and after school program partners, and providing specialized technical support for the literacy activates in the toolkits.
• An in-store family literacy game, Supermarket Explorer, at Save-A-Lot of Carbondale, that provides incentives to learn about words, letters, and healthy foods together while shopping.

For more information, go to www.wsiu.org or www.readytolearnreading.org. To participate in WSIU's Raising Readers research and education program, contact Beth Spezia at 618-453-5595 or beth.spezia@wsiu.org.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

Native American Storyteller Robert Lewis to Perform at SIUC

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:09:49 -0600

Thursday, November 19

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Native American Storyteller Robert Lewis to Perform at SIUC

Carbondale, IL - Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to cover the performance of Native American storyteller Robert Lewis this Thursday, November 19 at 7pm in Ballroom B of the SIUC Student Center. The performance is sponsored by WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and the Shawnee National Forest. This event is presented in celebration of Native American Heritage Month.

Lewis has been delighting audiences with his colorful Native stories and folklore since 2003. He makes his performances an interactive experience by inviting audience members onstage to appear as characters from traditional Cherokee stories. Children, college students, and seniors act out specific parts of the performances, with Lewis's instruction. Currently, Lewis serves as a School and Community specialist from the Cherokee Nation, headquartered in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and specializes in conducting outreach classes and services in Art and Storytelling for the Nation's Education Department.

Robert Lewis will be available for media interviews from 6-6:30pm on November 19 at the location of the performance. To arrange a time for an interview with Lewis, please contact Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.

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WSIU Hosts Native American Storyteller Robert Lewis

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:59:52 -0600

November 12, 2009

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill- In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, WSIU Public Broadcasting and the Shawnee National Forest are proud to present a special performance by Native American storyteller Robert Lewis on Thursday, November 19 at 7pm in Ballroom B of the SIUC Student Center. The show is free and open to the public. Lewis also will perform on Friday, November 20 at 7pm at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt. Vernon.

Lewis has been delighting audiences with his colorful Native stories and folklore since 2003. He makes his performances an interactive experience by inviting audience members onstage to appear as characters from traditional Cherokee stories. Currently, Lewis serves as a School and Community Specialist from the Cherokee Nation, headquartered in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and specializes in conducting outreach classes and services in Art and Storytelling for the Nation's Education Department. He has a BA in Fine Art from Northeastern State University (NSU) and teaches evening classes in art and native crafts at NSU.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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Petrowich Appointed to NPR Board

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:07:55 -0600

Courtesy University Communications, SIUC

Carbondale, Ill. - Greg Petrowich, executive director of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s WSIU Public Broadcasting, is now a member of the National Public Radio Board of Directors.

Petrowich came to WSIU Public Broadcasting earlier this year from KUAC-FM/TV/DT - the public broadcasting stations at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

“It’s truly an honor to serve on the Board of Directors of National Public Radio,” Petrowich said. “I look forward to helping this vital organization during a challenging period for all media organizations.”

Petrowich hopes his experience “managing three stations that serve smaller, mostly rural areas will help maintain the diversity of perspectives that are the foundation of everything NPR does.

“SIUC has an established history of shaping all aspects of media through both its students and professional involvement at every level,” he said.

The NPR board is responsible for governing the corporation. According to its Web site, the 17-member board “sets the policies and overall priorities of NPR management, monitors its performance, and provides financial oversight.” Ten directors are managers of NPR member stations and elected to the board by fellow member stations. The remaining directors include the NPR president, the NPR Foundation chair, and five prominent members of the public chosen by the board, and confirmed by NPR member stations, according to the Web site.

“We are very proud to have Greg Petrowich on the NPR National Board,” said Gary P. Kolb, dean of the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts. “This is a terrific professional honor and a testimony to Greg’s qualities as a leader in his field. We are fortunate to have someone of his talent to direct our PBS/NPR stations here in Southern Illinois. The College of Mass Communication and Media Arts salute him.”

Petrowich’s formal appointment is today (Nov. 12) at the NPR board meeting in Washington, D.C.

A Red Bud native who grew up in New Athens, Petrowich, has more than 18 years experience in public broadcasting, receiving his start as a volunteer coordinator at WSIU-FM from August 1989 to August 1990. He served as assistant operations manager at WSIU-FM from August 1990 to August 1991.

Petrowich earned his bachelor’s degree in radio-television from SIUC in 1991.

Prior to working in Alaska beginning in April 2002, Petrowich managed KRCU-FM, the public radio service at Southeast Missouri State University and served as operations director at KRCU-FM.

The University has another connection with the NPR Board. Joyce Slocum, who earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from SIU in 1978, is NPR’s senior vice president of legal affairs, and general counsel. She also serves as the organization’s chief ethics officer and as secretary to the board of directors. Slocum earned her law degree from St. Louis University School of Law.

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WSIU Celebrates Native American Heritage Month

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:12:44 -0600

November 4, 2009

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill - During the month of November, WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is sponsoring special events and programming in connection with Native American Heritage Month (NAHM). Events are conjointly sponsored with other local organizations that support WSIU's outreach and education mission.

From November 15 to November 21, the Mapping the Trail of Tears Through Southern Illinois exhibit will be on display in the window gallery near Starbucks in the SIUC Student Center. The Trail of Tears is the path taken by the Cherokee during their forced migration west in the1830s. The exhibit is sponsored by WSIU, the Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association, and the Shawnee National Forest in conjunction with a WETA award.

On Thursday, November 19 at 7pm in Ballroom B of the SIUC Student Center, Native American storyteller Robert Lewis returns to Carbondale to share Native stories and folklore. Lewis is a School and Community Specialist from the Cherokee Nation, specializing in conducting outreach classes and services in Art and Storytelling for the Education Department of the Cherokee Nation. He has been delighting audiences with his colorful tales since 2003. Sponsors for Lewis's return visit are the Shawnee National Forest and WSIU Public Broadcasting.

On Monday, November 30, WSIU will sponsor a free screening of the film, Summer Sun, Winter Moon at 7pm in the Illinois Room of the SIUC Student Center. The film features a symphonic collaboration between Rob Kapilow, a celebrated classical composer, and Darrell Robes Kipp, a Blackfeet Indian poet. The symphony they created tells the story of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery from the Native perspective. Following the screening, Dr. Anthony Webster of the SIUC Department of Anthropology will lead a discussion of the film.

In addition to the month's events, WSIU will feature special programming that reflect the Native perspective. Some of the programs featured are Frontier Visionary: George Catlin and the Plains Indians, which explores the artistic and historical legacy of the first major artist to travel beyond the Mississippi to live with American Indians; Unconquered Seminoles, an award-winning documentary that traces the history and cultural identity of Florida's resilient Seminole tribe; and many more.

A full listing of WSIU's NAHM programs is available online at wsiu.org.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

Thursday, November 5
8pm Waila! Making the People Happy

Saturday, November 7
4pm Seasoned With Spirit: Cuisine of the Desert Southwest

Tuesday, November 10
9pm True Whispers: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers

Saturday, November 14
4pm Seasoned With Spirit: Return of the Buffalo

Sunday, November 15
2pm Independent Lens: March Point

Monday, November 16
9:30pm Frontier Visionary: George Catlin and the Plains Indians
11pm Chevron + Sierra Club: Debating America's Energy Future

Wednesday, November 18
9:30pm Gallery: The National Museum of the American Indian

Thursday, November 19
8pm Summer Sun, Winter Moon

Saturday, November 21
4pm Seasoned With Spirit: Bounty of the River's Edge

Sunday, November 22
9:30pm Unconquered Seminoles

Monday, November 23
5pm WSIU InFocus: Buffalo Robe (Segment 1)

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Seats Still Available for The Electric Company Live Show

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:47:22 -0500

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill - Looking for something fun - and free - to do with the family on the Columbus Day school holiday next Monday, October 12?

Bring the kids and join WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media outlet of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and Sesame Workshop, for The Electric Company Circuit Tour, a live, nationally-touring stage show coming to Rent One Ballpark in Marion, Illinois on Monday from 1-3:30pm. The rain date location is Williamson County Pavilion, also in Marion.

General seats in the stands are still available. Registration is not required for stadium seating. Food will be available for purchase in the concessions area of the concourse.

Based on the PBS children's series The Electric Company, an updated version of the 1970s children's program of the same name, this free 90-minute multimedia literacy experience invites youngsters ages six through nine into a world where reading and learning are hip. The Electric Company airs on WSIU TV on weekdays at 4pm and Saturdays at 9am.

WSIU is excited to announce that beatbox artist Chris Sullivan, also known as "Shock" on The Electric Company TV series, will be performing live at this event. Shock works with Beatboxer Entertainment and has performed at venues such as Madison Square Garden with Doug E. Fresh, Rahzel, Biz Markie, and other nationally-known beatboxers. Shock also performs with the hip-hop comedy group Freestyle Love Supreme.

Approximately 475 pre-registered area children ages six through nine will be on the field at Rent One Ballpark to participate in hands-on activities during and after the show, and also will receive a variety of educational materials to take home.

Families in the stands are invited to join the fun by pumping up the volume throughout the show. Children of all ages are invited to participate in additional activities, such as coloring a giant Electric Company mural, and playing two games, including Transformer H Dash, an educational spelling game, and Silhouette Shout Out, which focuses on memory retention.

We look forward to seeing you at Rent One Ballpark in Marion for The Electric Company Circuit Tour Show!

WSIU Public Broadcasting's licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department – reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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Film Screening, Discussion to Focus on Active Lifestyles for People With Disabilities

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:16:58 -0500

October 28, 2009

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director and WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148,
vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS), a service of WSIU Public Radio, is partnering with SIUC Disability Support Services, SIUC Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation (AIR), and the Bureau of Blind Services- Illinois Department of Rehabilitation to host a screening and forum of the film, The Right to Risk.The event will be held on Wednesday, November 4 at 7pm in the Alumni Lounge at the SIUC Recreation Center.

Filmed in May 2005, The Right to Risk follows eight individuals with significant physical disabilities as they participate in a 15-day whitewater-rafting trip down 225 miles of the Colorado River. The film captures the group's trials and triumphs as they traverse the most inaccessible and awe-inspiring sections of Arizona's Grand Canyon. As the individuals managed the hot sun, cold water, and windstorms, they proved that people with disabilities can be active participants in our society and independent in their own lives.

Following the screening, a discussion will be led by SIUC students from AIR who will share their personal experiences and insights gained from a similar whitewater raft trip on the Ocoee River in Tennessee.

Parking for the event is available in the Brush Towers lot across from the Recreation Center on Grand Avenue or in the lot behind the center. Accessible entrance to the center is available through the Grand Avenue entry, or by the elevator in the rear entrance.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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WSIU to Host Trail of Tears Bus Tour

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:19:48 -0500

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director and WSIU Outreach Coordinator,
(618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Carbondale, IL - Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to cover all or a portion of the Trail of Tears one-day bus tour this Saturday, October 17 from 9am to 5pm. The tour is sponsored by WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale; the Shawnee National Forest; and the Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association. This event is one of two community engagement activities that raise awareness of the National Historic Trail of Tears, the path taken by the Cherokee during their forced migration west in the 1830s.

The bus will depart from the Arena Parking lot at Southern Illinois University Carbondale at 9am and return to the lot by 5pm. The tour begins on the western side of the Trail of Tears route in southern Illinois and ends at the Trail of Tears State Park in Jackson, Missouri. Board members and docents from the Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association will provide interpretation of the sites that are visited, including the Camp Ground Church Cemetery in Union County and the final encampment in Union County near Jonesboro.

Lunch will be provided for participants at the Trail of Tears Lodge in Jonesboro, Illinois. Media are welcomed to meet participants around 11:30am at the Lodge, which is located at 1575 Fair City Road in Jonesboro.

Following lunch, the buses will continue to the Trail of Tears State Park in Jackson, Missouri for a guided tour of the visitors' center and the grounds overlooking the location where the detachments crossed the Mississippi River. Media can arrange to meet participants and interpreters at the visitors' center of the Trail of Tears State Park at approximately 1:30pm. The park is located at 429 Moccasin Springs Road in Jackson.

The Trail of Tears bus tour is made possible by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in association with the release of the Ken Burns documentary, The National Parks: America's Best Idea.

Reception Highlights Traveling Museum Exhibit

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:21:53 -0500

October 15, 2009

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator and SIRIS Director,
(618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Carbondale, IL - WSIU and the Centralia Area Historical Museum will host a reception for the traveling exhibit, Mapping the Trail of Tears through Southern Illinois, on Monday, October 19 at 7pm at the museum, located at 240 South Locust in Centralia, Illinois. The event is sponsored by WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm for Southern Illinois University Carbondale; the Shawnee National Forest; and the Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association in conjunction with a grant from WETA.

Gary Hacker, board member of the Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association, will speak about his research to uncover the original trail and historic structures located in Johnson County.

The reception is one of several community events sponsored by WSIU and partners to raise awareness of the National Historic Trail of Tears, the path taken by the Cherokee during their forced migration west in the 1830s. WSIU's local initiative, “Touch the Trail,” focuses on the regional connection to the National Park Service through the National Historic Trails System and the National Historic Trail of Tears. These events are held in association with the release of the Ken Burns' documentary series, The National Parks: America's Best Idea.

For more information, call (618) 545-0657 on Wednesday, Friday or Saturday from 10am to 4pm. You may also contact WSIU Outreach Coordinator Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

Local TV Program Captures Trail of Tears Bicyclists

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:36:49 -0500

Carbondale, Ill. - The Cherokee called it Nu-No-Du-Na-Tlo-Hi-Lu, "The Trail Where They Cried." In 1838, federal troops forced thousands of Cherokee from their homes in the Southeastern United States, driving them towards Indian Territory in Eastern Oklahoma. Along the way, more than 4,000 men, women, and children died of exposure, disease, and starvation, hundreds of them along a portion of the Trail of Tears that crosses Southern Illinois.

This summer, a team of eight young Cherokee bicyclists, their chaperones, and the Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Chad Corntassel Smith, retraced the 900-mile Trail of Tears as part of the Remember the Removal Project (www.remembertheremoval.org) to learn more about their tribe's history and to share that history with others. The group's journey, which began in Georgia, took them through Southern Illinois in early July en route to their final destination in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the capitol of the Cherokee Nation.

WSIU Television, a public broadcasting arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), tagged along with the bicycling team and will tell the group's story in the next episode of the weekly TV series, WSIU InFocus. "Trail of Tears: Remember the Removal" will air on Friday, October 16 at 9pm, with repeats on Sunday, October 18 at 12:30pm and Friday, October 23 at 5pm.

Teaching the young riders about their tribe's history and helping them to understand their role as future leaders of the Cherokee Nation were key lessons of the trip, said Chief Chad Corntassel Smith. "We believe leadership is a simple mathematical process," he said. "Point A is where you are and Point B is where you want to go. Our students are taking themselves... to a time and a place and an understanding (where)... they understand their history, they understand their connection to that history, and they understand the lessons from that history."

In the program, producers Jak Tichenor and David Kidd also talk with Joe Crabb of rural Grantsburg, who hosted dinner for the team when they stopped at his farm to view an original portion of the trail on the Crabb/Abbott Farm, now a certified site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. "Same road, pretty much the same trees, the landscape's the same. I'm seeing the same things they did," said Wyatt Collins, one of the young Cherokee riders as he stood with Crabb on the very spot where Collins's ancestors had forded Sugar Creek. "It's a tragedy," Crabb said. "There's nothing I can do today...to atone for that. All we can do is learn from it."

After a little over a week into the journey, rider Sarah Holcomb, the only female in the group, said the grueling pace and unpredictable weather were taking their toll. "I was hurting really bad, and I wanted to quit. I think that's the part when it really hit me," she said. "I want to quit, but I can't because our people didn't have a choice to sit down and rest. That's what really kept me going, knowing that (my ancestors) suffered. So what if I suffered?"

To learn more about the Trail of Tears Remember the Removal project and the team's journey, visit www.remembertheremoval.com.

Photo credit: Monica Tichenor, WSIU.

Photo caption: Todd Enlow (front, left), group leader of the Cherokee biking team for the Trail of Tears Remember the Removal Project, guides Jerrad Dry (second from left) and his fellow teammates along Illinois Route 146, west of Golconda, en route to Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The group, who passed through Southern Illinois in early July, retraced the path taken by the Cherokee during their forced migration west in the late 1830s. The bicyclists began their journey on June 27 in Georgia and wrapped up on July 15 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the capitol of the Cherokee Nation.

Live Electric Company Circuit Tour Show is Monday, October 12

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:47:59 -0500

For Monday, October 12, 2009

Live Electric Company Circuit Tour Show is Monday, October 12

Media Contact: Donna Dickman, Electric Company publicist, (917) 328-7332, (212) 875-6352, dgdickman@gmail.com
Project Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

Carbondale, IL - Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to cover an electrifying live performance of the national Electric Company Circuit Tour, coming to Rent One Ballpark in Marion, Illinois on Monday, October 12 from 1-3:30pm. Williamson County Pavilion, also in Marion, will serve as the alternate rain location for this event.

The Circuit Tour is a free, 90-minute multimedia literacy experience for youngsters ages 6 through 9 based on The Electric Company TV series on PBS. The TV series is a revamped version of the old 1970s children's program of the same name, updated with a fresh new cast and music that invites youngsters into a world where reading and learning are hip.

This live event opens at 1pm with a parade around the stadium, then will move to a stage show at 1:15pm headed by beat box artist Chris Sullivan, also known as Shock on The Electric Company TV series. Shock works with Beatboxer Entertainment and has performed at venues such as Madison Square Garden with Doug E. Fresh, Rahzel, Biz Markie, and many other nationally-known beatboxers. Shock also performs with the hip-hop comedy group Freestyle Love Supreme.

Approximately 475 pre-registered area children ages 6 through 9 will be on the field at Rent One Ballpark to participate in hands-on activities during and after the show, and also will receive a variety of educational materials to take home. Additional guests have been invited to join the fun in the stadium stands.

Other activities planned for include having children color a giant Electric Company mural, and two games, including the Transformer H Dash, an educational spelling game, and Silhouette Shout Out, which focuses on memory retention.

Students from schools in Cairo, Carbondale, DuQuoin, Eldorado, Marion, Murphysboro, Harrisburg, Herrin, Johnston City, and West Frankfort are already registered to be in attendance. Youth organizations sending children include Attucks Community Service Board in Carbondale, the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale, NAACP Youth Group, Carbondale Park District, I Can Read of Southern Illinois, Cub Scout Packs #37, 60, and 77, and several groups from private after-school centers in various communities.

NOTE: It is important that media arrive a half an hour before the show begins to avoid disrupting the performance once it is underway. Media also are invited to remain after the show to capture footage of children engaging in post-show activities.

Itinerary:
12pm: Registration, engage children in Monster Mural coloring activity
12:40pm: Event preparation, get parade participants ready for start of show, get emcee on stage, secure talent
1pm: Opening Ceremony, parade around stadium, Boys & Girls Club sing song
1:15-1:45pm: Live performance begins, with Shock on stage. SIUC students will do a dance and teach kids dance steps
1:45-2:15pm: Post-show activity 1: Transformer H Dash
2:15-2:45pm: Post-show activity 2: Silhouette Shout Out
2:45-3:30pm: Media interviews with Shock (schedule with Donna Dickman, publicist, at 917-328-7332 or 212-875-6352

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Trail of Tears Workday is October 10

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:50:57 -0500

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator and SIRIS Director,
(618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Trail of Tears Workday is October 10

Carbondale, IL- Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to cover the Trail of Tears Workday, which will be held Saturday, October 10 from 8am to 3pm on the Crabb/Abbott Farm in Pope County. WSIU Public Broadcasting, the Shawnee National Forest, and the Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears are co-sponsoring the event.

Participants will help restore a segment of the original trail bed of the Trail of Tears and enjoy hands-on experiences while learning about our region's history and Native American heritage. This event is one of two community engagement activities that raise awareness of the National Historic Trail of Tears, the path taken by the Cherokee during their forced migration west in the 1830s.

For more information, contact Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.

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WSIU Radio Launches New Jazz Program

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:51:27 -0500

We're thrilled to announce the launch of the new music series, Rhythm in Bloom, coming to WSIU Radio on Sundays from 7-8pm beginning October 11. Hosted by Dr. John Hochheimer, a professor in SIUC's Department of Radio and Television, this recorded program will feature a variety of jazz and blues tunes that have helped to shape America's musical landscape.

The title of the show interestingly stands as a double pun. It combines the musical genre of "rhythm and blues" with a tribute to a special collection of records presented to Hochheimer by his late friend and jazz enthusiast, Augie Blume.

"I received this big collection of records, and I wondered what would I do with it," states Hochheimer. "The nature of my relationship with Augie was such that I couldn't imagine anything pleasing him more than to fi nd an outlet to share this wonderful music with listeners."

Blume's collection includes a variety of artists and musical genres. "Augie had a very eclectic taste," says Hochheimer. "He was in to jazz, swing, bebop, and Mongolia Tuva, which is known as throat singing." However, on Rhythm in Bloom, listeners can expect to hear exclusively jazz and blues music.

Hochheimer's love for music, specifi cally jazz, is not something that arbitrarily happened. "I've always been interested in where music comes from," he says. "When I was a kid, I went to the local public library, expressed my interest in jazz music, and checked out three records – one by Nat King Cole, one by Count Basie, and one by Duke Ellington. Those were three great places to start." Hochheimer's list of favorite jazz artists goes beyond these three musicians to include John Coltrane, Fats Waller, Lee Morgan, Ray Charles, and more.

Hochheimer has been affi liated with the radio business for over 40 years. He got his start in the radio industry at WBAI in New York, working with the Saturday evening news. After moving from New York to Boston, Hochheimer hosted his fi rst radio music show in 1969. For two years, he entertained listeners with a variety of music for approximately 7 hours each night, 5 nights per week.

Rhythm in Bloom gives Hochheimer the opportunity to return to his roots as a radio DJ while paying tribute to his dear friend and the world of jazz music. "I always loved doing radio, and there is really nothing locally produced for this genre of music." Hochheimer feels that WSIU Radio is the ideal outlet to broadcast the new show. "Most of my career has been in community and public radio, and I have always supported it one way or the other," he states. "I believe in WSIU's mission, and I feel it is also a great opportunity to bridge the mission of the stations and the mission of the Department of Radio and Television."

Hochheimer hopes that the sounds listeners will hear during Rhythm in Bloom will inspire a greater appreciation of music. "One of the things that I take great pleasure in doing is juxtaposing diff erent kinds of music to see how they work with each other and crafting appropriate segues to provide a seamless transition between songs."

Be sure to tune in and to let us know what you think of the show!

The Electric Company Circuit Tour Invites Youth Group Participation

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:59:24 -0500

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The Electric Company Circuit Tour Invites Youth Group Participation

Carbondale, IL- WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media division of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is thrilled to bring The Electric Company Circuit Tour to the Rent One Ballpark in Marion, Illinois on Monday, October 12. The Circuit Tour is a free, 90-minute multimedia experience for children ages 6 through 9. This live show invites kids into a world where reading is hip and where play and respect are hard-wired into their vocabulary and self-expression. Children will spend the day with The Electric Company's very own beat box artist, Chris Sullivan, also known as Shock.

As a part of its unique experience, The Circuit Tour uses the freshest pop culture -- particularly hip-hop, spoken word, and celebrity appearances -- to engage children with fun activities, educational materials, and free giveaways focused on literacy. The educational curriculum incorporates words connected to topics that kids are interested in -- be it sports, music, or outer space. Children attending The Circuit Tour will find themselves in a special place where they feel like VIPs.

The primary audience for WSIU's presentation of The Circuit Tour is six to nine year old children and their families. The tour is open to the public, and other children, families, and educators are encouraged to attend. Our partners include after school programs, first through third grade classrooms, youth groups, faith groups, libraries, and others who participated with Sesame Workshop and WSIU in the production research for The Electric Company show.

Monday, October 12, Columbus Day, is a school holiday. Up to 475 reserved seats near the stage will be available free of charge to students ages 6 through 9 who pre-register through their schools and youth group leaders. These 475 students will participate in hands-on activities during the show and receive a variety of exciting materials to take home. Additional stadium seating, also free of charge, will be available to families, siblings, and students of other ages. WSIU is seeking responses from youth groups serving children ages 6 through 9 who wish to participate in The Electric Company Circuit Tour. Groups that partake in the event's activities will find The Circuit Tour to be a fun-filled and educational experience for participating children.

To schedule a personalized planning discussion and to arrange pre-registration for your group, you must call Beth Spezia at 618-453-5595 by Friday, October 2.

The Electric Company Circuit Tour is another special event brought to Southern Illinois communities through WSIU's Raising Readers campaign. The PBS KIDS Raising Readers campaign is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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WSIU DTV Reception Issues in West Carbondale

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:54:27 -0500

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Contact: Chester Hood, Customer Service Representative, (618) 453-4343

WSIU DTV Reception Issues in West Carbondale

Carbondale, IL - Some television viewers may be experiencing difficulty receiving WSIU TV 8's over-the-air digital signal, reports WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). On February 3, 2009 WSIU-TV moved its over-the-air DTV signal from UHF channel 40 to VHF channel 8. The WSIU Radio transmitter is located on SIUC's campus and may interfere with over-the-air reception for up to a two-mile radius from the transmitter. The area mainly affected includes homes located north of Chautauqua Road from Oakland Avenue to the east and Tower Road to the west.

Viewers located in west Carbondale only are affected by this issue. For more information regarding solutions, contact Chester Hood at WSIU-TV calling (618) 453-4343.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

Local Events to Launch TV series The National Parks: America's Best Idea

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:07:09 -0500

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator and SIRIS Director,
(618) 453-6148, [ mailto:vickie.devenport@wsiu.org ]vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Local Events to Launch TV series The National Parks: America's Best Idea

Carbondale, IL- Ken Burns' new documentary, The National Parks: America's Best Idea will premier on Sunday, September 27 at 7pm on WSIU Television. The six-part series will continue each evening at 7pm through Friday, October 2. The narrative traces the birth of the national park idea in the mid-1800s and follows its evolution for nearly 150 years. The series chronicles the steady addition of new parks through the stories of the people who helped create them and save them from destruction. It is simultaneously a biography of compelling characters and of the American landscape. The National Parks is sponsored regionally on WSIU TV8 and WUSI TV16 by Walgreens and by the Department of Forestry in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

As part of WSIU's local community engagement activities associated with The National Parks series, WSIU TV's weekly magazine-style news series, WSIU InFocus, will feature members of the Cherokee bicycle team for the Trail of Tears Remember the Removal Project. The cyclists passed through Southern Illinois in early July while retracing the path taken by the Cherokee during their forced migration west in the 1830s. The broadcast will air Friday, October 16 at 9pm.

With support of a grant from WETA in Washington, D.C., WSIU Public Broadcasting, the Shawnee National Forest, and the Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears are co-sponsoring two special events in October in conjunction with the launch of The National Parks TV series. WSIU's local initiative, “Touch the Trail,” focuses on our regional connection to the National Park Service through the National Historic Trails System and the National Historic Trail of Tears. The community activities raise awareness of the National Historic Trail of Tears and the beautiful public lands in the Shawnee National Forest. Together, WSIU and our partners, will host the Trail of Tears Volunteer Work Day on Saturday, October 10 from 8am to 3pm on the Crabb/Abbott Farm in Pope County. Participants will help restore a segment of the original trail bed of the Trail of Tears and enjoy hands-on experiences while learning about our region's history and Native American heritage.

Transportation is available but limited. Anyone interested in participating must pre-register by Thursday, October 8 by calling the Volunteer Hotline at (618) 687-1731, extension 125. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old to participate and an adult must accompany all children. Lunch and drinks will be provided.

On Saturday, October 17, WSIU will host a special one-day tour beginning on the western side of the Trail of Tears route in southern Illinois and ending at the Trail of Tears State Park in Jackson, Missouri. Board members from the Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association will provide interpretation of the sites that are visited. The tour will begin at 9am in the Arena Parking lot at Southern Illinois University and return to the lot by 5pm. The Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association will provide docents for the tour who will share information about the Camp Ground Church Cemetery in Union County and the final encampment in Union County near Jonesboro. Lunch will be provided for the participants at the Trail of Tears Lodge. Following lunch, the buses will continue to the Trail of Tears State Park for a guided tour of the visitors' center and the grounds overlooking the location where the detachments crossed the Mississippi.

Anyone interested in participating in the one-day tour must pre-register by October 8. Space is limited and seats will be available on a first-come, first served basis. To make a reservation or for more information, contact Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.

Funding for The National Parks: America's Best Idea is provided by General Motors; Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund; Corporation for Public Broadcasting; The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; Park Foundation, Inc.; Public Broadcasting Service; National Park Foundation; The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation; The Pew Charitable Trusts; and Bank of America.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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Move to the Groove with Latin Music USA

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:10:56 -0500

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Move to the Groove with Latin Music USA

Carbondale, IL - WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media division of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and Carbondale Community Arts (CCA) are proud to host a screening of Latin Music USA on Friday, September 25 from 5pm-7pm at the Varsity Center for the Arts. In addition to the screening of the documentary series, attendees will enjoy a reception and music provided by Latin Folk musician, Colleen Springer Lopez. This event is part of CCA's Cultural Tapestries Project.

Latin Music USA is a documentary series about American music that reaches across time and musical genres to embrace the exciting hybrid sounds created by Latinos. Fittingly, the series launches during Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to recognize the contributions of Latinos to the United States and to celebrate Latino heritage and culture. Latin Music USA premieres on WSIU-TV on October 12 and October 19 from 8pm-10pm.

Episode 1, Bridges, traces the rise of Latin jazz and the explosion of the mambo and the cha cha chá. The episode also demonstrates how Latin music infiltrates R&B and rock and roll through the 1960s. In episode 2, The Salsa Revolution, Puerto Ricans and other Latinos in New York reinvent the Cuban son and the Puerto Rican plena, adding elements from soul and jazz to create salsa, which becomes a defining rhythm for Latinos throughout the world.

Episode 3, The Chicano Wave, and episode 4, Divas and Superstars, cover recent waves of music produced by the Latino community. During the second half of the 20th century, Mexican Americans in California, Texas, and across the Southwest create a distinct musical voice that eventually plays an important role in the struggle for Chicano civil rights. In the late 1990s, the Latin pop explosion leads to the success of artists like Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, and Shakira in the English-language market. Learn more online at www.pbs.org/latinmusicusa.

For additional details, contact Vickie Devenport at 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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Classic Vinyl Sale is This Saturday

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 10:15:50 -0500

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director and WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148,vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Classic Vinyl Sale is This Saturday

Carbondale, Ill. – Reporters, camera crews, and photographers are invited to cover the Classic Vinyl & Media Sale, which will be held this Saturday, September 12 from 8am to 7pm at the University Mall, next to Hot Topic, at 1237 East Main in Carbondale. Sponsors are the Southern Illinois Radio Information Service(SIRIS), WSIU Public Radio, and the University Mall in Carbondale.

Items for sale include record albums, including lps, 45s, and 78s; CDs; cassette tapes; DVDs; books on tape; and stereo equipment, including turntables, tuners,and speakers. Collectible albums will be featured in a special section and priced accordingly. CDs are just $2, and DVDs are priced at $3.00 each. Prices are below $1.00 for other items, and buyers will find excellent deals throughout the event.

Music genres represented include classical, rock, R & B, soul, reggae, folk, country, world music, children's music, comedy, and easy listening.

Interview opportunities include SIRIS Director Vickie Devenport, SIRIS and community volunteers, and shoppers.

All proceeds from the sale will benefit SIRIS, a radio information service for individuals who are blind or whose physical condition prevents them from reading. SIRIS programming is delivered to nearly 1,000 residents across Southern Illinois via a closed-circuit sideband channel of WSIU Public Radio's main signal. Special receivers are provided free of charge to qualified users. Broadcasts feature regional and national newspapers, book reviews, and more, all read by volunteers. SIRIS volunteers are SIUC students, including fraternity and sorority members; WSIU staff and student employees; and community members from the surrounding area.

SIRIS is a service of WSIU Public Radio and Southern Illinois University Carbondale and is also supported by the United Way.

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WSIU Launches New Kids' Program, Fall Schedule

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:18:02 -0500

Friday, September 4, 2009

Contacts: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, [ mailto:beth.spezia@wsiu.org ]beth.spezia@wsiu.org

WSIU Launches New Kids' Program, Fall Schedule

Carbondale Ill. - Beginning Monday, September 7, 2009, WSIU TV 8 and WUSI TV 16, the public television stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), will launch a new daytime children's programming schedule, which includes a new PBS KIDS series, Dinosaur Train.

Dinosaur Train, airing weekdays at 8:30am and Saturday and Sunday at 7:30am, offers preschoolers a fun way to learn about natural science, natural history, and paleontology. Buddy, a preschool-aged Tyrannosaurus Rex, and his adoptive family of Petranodons take the Dinosaur Train to explore prehistoric jungles, swamps, volcanoes, and oceans. Their adventures take them through the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods while the train's conductor, a Troodon, supplies the family with “cool Dino facts” along the way.

WSIU is also launching a new fall PBS KIDS television programming schedule, beginning on Labor Day, as follows:

WEEKDAYS
6am Place of Our Own
6:30 Maya & Miguel
7am Curious George
7:30 Sid the Science Kid
8am Super WHY!
8:30 Dinosaur Train
9am Sesame Street
10am Clifford the Big Red Dog
10:30 WordWorld
11am Super WHY! / Bob the Builder (Fri)
11:30 Dragon Tales / Thomas & Friends (Fri)
12pm It's a Big Big World
12:30 Barney and Friends
1pm Curious George
1:30 Between the Lions
2pm Cyberchase
2:30 Martha Speaks
3pm Arthur
3:30 WordGirl / Wishbone (Fri)
4pm The Electric Company
4:30 Fetch! / Biz Kid$ (Thu-Fri)

SATURDAY
5am Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
5:30 Angelina Ballerina
6am Curious George
6:30 Sid the Science Kid
7am Super WHY!
7:30 Dinosaur Train
8am Thomas & Friends
8:30 Bob the Builder
9am The Electric Company
9:30 DragonFly TV
10am Design Squad

SUNDAY
5am Sesame Street
6am Curious George
6:30 Sid the Science Kid
7am Super WHY!
7:30 Dinosaur Train
8am Clifford the Big Red Dog
8:30 Martha Speaks
9am Kids Health series

WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond.

WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. In addition to nurturing young minds with over 80 hours per week of PBS KIDS programming, WSIU offers workshops and other resources to help teachers and caregivers enhance the learning experiences of children. For more information about WSIU's education services, contact Beth Spezia at (618) 453-5595 or beth.spezia@wsiu.org. To learn more about WSIU, visit wsiu.org.

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Vintage Vinyl up for Grabs at the SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:23:14 -0500

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director and WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Vintage Vinyl up for Grabs at the SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale

Carbondale, IL - Have you been searching for a few timeless vinyl records, classic movies, or even a vintage turntable? If so, mark your calendar to attend the Classic Vinyl & Media Sale on Saturday, September 12 from 8am to 7pm at the University Mall, next to Hot Topic, at 1237 East Main in Carbondale. The Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS) and WSIU Public Radio, a public broadcasting division of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, are hosting the sale, with the support of the University Mall.

From world music to classical, rock to R & B, country to soul, reggae to folk, children's music to comedy, shoppers can expect to find record albums from a broad range of musical genres. Collectible albums will be featured in a special section and will be priced accordingly; other albums are priced at $1.00 each. Additional items for sale include CDs, DVDs, tapes, 78s and novelty albums, books on tape, and stereo equipment, including turntables, tuners, and speakers. CDs are just $2, and DVDs are priced at $3.00 each. Prices are below $1.00 for other items, and buyers will find excellent deals throughout the event.

Volunteers are needed to sort records from 1pm-4pm on Saturday, September 5 and 5pm to 7pm from Monday, September 7 through Friday, September 11.Volunteers are also needed on September 13 to clean up and box leftover merchandise. Volunteers who work 4 hours are invited to a sneak preview on Friday, September 11 at 7pm to make early bird purchases!

The sale is in support of SIRIS, WSIU Radio's broadcast service for individuals who are blind, visually impaired or are physically unable to read print material. SIRIS programming is broadcast to nearly 1,000 residents across Southern Illinois via a closed-circuit sideband channel of WSIU Public Radio's main signal. Special radio receivers are provided free of charge to qualified users. Broadcasts feature regional and national newspapers and magazines, book reviews, art news, and more, all read by volunteers. Anyone interested in learning how to apply should call SIRIS at 453-2808. SIRIS is a service of WSIU Public Radio and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and is also supported by the United Way.

WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching more than three million people across five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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Exclusive Interview With Governor Quinn to air on WSIU TV, Radio

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:42:13 -0500

Monday, August 31, 2009

Contacts: Jak Tichenor, WSIU TV Producer, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org; Jennifer Fuller, WSIU Radio Producer and Morning News Anchor, (618) 453-6245, jennifer.fuller@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Illinois - Illinois Governor Pat Quinn discussed a variety of issues facing the state in an exclusive interview with WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, at the historic Hayes Home at the DuQuoin State Fair.

WSIU TV producer Jak Tichenor and and WSIU Radio reporter and morning news anchor Jennifer Fuller interviewed Governor Quinn in the latest in a series of Fair-time programs for WSIU involving the state's chief executives, beginning in 1986 with former Governor Jim Thompson.

The interview will air on WSIU TV's weekly magazine-style news series, WSIU InFocus, this Friday, September 4 at 9pm, with repeat broadcasts on Sunday, September 6 at 12:30pm and Friday, September 11 at 5pm. WSIU Radio will air an extended excerpt from the interview this Thursday, September 3 at 6:30am, 8:30am, and 5:29pm.

The interview covers a wide range of topics, including campaign finance reform, the admissions controversy at the University of Illinois, restoring financial aid to Illinois college students, ongoing efforts to balance the state budget, and the new capital budget.

WSIU TV senior producer David Kidd, television production coordinator Mark Wetstein, promotions coordinator Monica Tichenor, and SIUC students Lauren Preston and Gianco Sheridan assisted during the remote production.

About WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching over three million people in five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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WSIU Radio, TV to Broadcast State of the University Address

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:41:40 -0500

Monday, August 31, 2009

Contacts: Jak Tichenor, WSIU TV Producer, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org; Jennifer Fuller, WSIU Radio Producer and Morning News Anchor, (618) 453-6245, jennifer.fuller@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill. - WSIU Public Broadcasting, the public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), will tape SIUC Chancellor Sam Goldman's "State of the University Address" on Monday, September 14 for broadcast on WSIU Television and WSIU Radio. The WSIU Radio stations of 91.9 FM, 91.9 HD FM, 90.3 FM, and 88.9 FM will air the address at 7pm on September 14. WSIU TV 8 and WUSI TV 16 will broadcast Goldman's address on Sunday, September 20 at 1pm.

About WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching over three million people in five states and beyond. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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Biz Kid$ Bash at Illinois Centre Mall - Saturday, August 1, 2009

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:39:49 -0500

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill. - Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover WSIU's Biz Kid$ Bash on Saturday, August 1 from 11am to 3pm in the Center Court area of the Illinois Centre Mall, 3000 West DeYoung Street in Marion, Illinois.
MEDIA: The best time to arrive is between 2:00 and 3:00pm, during the team presentations and awards ceremony.

Sponsored by WSIU, the SIU Credit Union, and the Illinois Centre Mall, this free public event based on the PBS television series Biz Kid$ is designed to teach money management skills and social responsibility to children in grades four through nine.

Participants will enjoy video clips from the PBS television series Biz Kid$, then form teams to create a business, formulate a business plan, develop price lists, create a company logo, design business cards, and more. Volunteers from the SIU Credit Union and Kemper CPA, WSIU Public Broadcasting, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) will coach teams through each step of the business-planning process.

Each group will present their plan to a team of judges, with the winning team receiving gift certificates donated by the SIU Credit Union, SIU logo items donated by 710 Bookstore/Saluki Connections, and other prizes. All participants will receive a certificate of achievement and a bag of goodies to take home.

Jim Halpin's Great American Chop House will provide lunch for kids' teams and volunteers.

SIUC graduate student Katrina Stackhouse will serve as emcee for the event. Judges are Dennis Schaefer, president of the SIU Credit Union; Adam Jackson, general manager of Jim Halpin's Great American Chop House in Marion, Illinois and Scott McClatchey, financial advisor for the Alliance Investment Planning Group and president of the Friends of WSIU advisory board.

The Biz Kids$ television series airs on WSIU TV on Thursdays and Fridays at 2:30pm and is sponsored locally by the SIU Credit Union. Visit wsiu.org/bizkids to learn more.

------------------------------

Itinerary
* Lunch provided between 12-1:15pm.

10:30: Contest sign-in and registration
11am: Welcome, introduction, Biz Kid$ video clip, and discussion
11:30: Team assignments and directions for completing tasks
11:45: Teams develop business concept and mission statement
12pm: Teams identify product/service, business location, and customer base,
and develop company logo and business cards
12:30: Teams conduct product/service overview
1:30: Teams conduct financial overview of business
1:45: Teams prepare for presentation
2pm: Teams present their business ideas to judges
2:45: Awards ceremony

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Biz Kid$ Bash Coming to Illinois Centre Mall on August 1

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:39:29 -0500

Monday, July 27, 2009

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill. - Calling all kids! Would you like to learn how to make money - and take home some great prizes? Sign up to participate in WSIU's Biz Kid$ Bash on Saturday, August 1 from 11am to 3pm at Center Court at the Illinois Centre Mall, 3000 West DeYoung Street in Marion, Illinois.

Sponsored by WSIU, in partnership with the SIU Credit Union and the Illinois Centre Mall, this free public event is designed to teach money management skills to children in grades four through nine.

Participants will enjoy video clips from the PBS television series Biz Kid$, then form teams and compete for prizes as they learn how to create and manage their own businesses. From formulating a business plan to creating company logos and developing price lists, children will gain money management skills while learning social responsibility. The winning team will receive gift cards and other prizes. All participants will receive a certificate of achievement and a bag of goodies to take home. Lunch and beverages will be provided.

Space is still available, but filling up fast. To register, contact Beth Spezia at (618) 453-5595 or beth.spezia@wsiu.org by Friday, July 31 at noon.

Biz Kid$ airs on WSIU TV 8/WUSI TV 16 on Thursdays and Fridays at 4:30pm. The series features real-life kid entrepreneurs who demonstrate the importance of budgeting, saving, and giving back to the community. Visit wsiu.org/bizkids to learn more about the weekly TV series and the Biz Kid$ Bash event.

Biz Kid$ is produced in association with WXXI Public Broadcasting in Rochester, New York, and is distributed by American Public Television. Major funding for Biz Kid$ is provided by a coalition of America's Credit Unions. Biz Kids$ on WSIU TV is sponsored locally by the SIU Credit Union.

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WSIU InFocus Features Lawmaker Reaction to State Budget

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:47:17 -0500

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Contact: Jak Tichenor, producer, WSIU TV, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org

Streaming video of this episode is available at this link.

Carbondale, Ill. - On the next episode of the WSIU TV series WSIU In Focus, State Senators Gary Forby and John O. Jones and State Representatives John Bradley and Mike Bost react to a controversial 26-million dollar budget passed by Illinois lawmakers ahead of their summer adjournment. The program airs on WSIU TV 8/WUSI TV 16, the public television stations of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), this Friday night at 9pm, with repeats on Sunday, July 26 at 12:30pm and Friday, July 31 at 5pm.

The Illinois General Assembly has gone home for the summer after passing a controversial operating budget, but Illinois' fiscal crisis is far from being resolved. Lawmakers balked at Governor Pat Quinn's proposed income tax hike to help balance the state budget at the end of May, and the state went without a budget until the middle of July when a last minute agreement was reached on a spending plan that relies on 3.5 billion dollars in borrowing, plus delaying payments on three billion dollars worth of bills owed to state contractors and vendors.

The agreement also gives the Governor sweeping authority to cut and hold back another two billion dollars in state spending. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say the budget agreement is not a permanent solution to the state's fiscal problems and only postpones politically unpopular decisions about raising taxes and cutting state programs until early 2010.

In this special episode of WSIU InFocus, producer Jak Tichenor moderates discussion about the budget decision with Senators Forby and Jones and Representatives Bradley and Bost.

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Sign Up for the Biz Kid$ Bash on August 1

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:49:54 -0500

Friday, July 17, 2009

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

Carbondale, Ill. - Calling all kids, parents, grandparents, teachers, and youth leaders!

Area youth in grades 4 through 9 are invited to get busy with business at WSIU Public Broadcasting's Biz Kid$ Bash on Saturday, August 1 from 11am to 3pm at the Illinois Centre Mall, 3000 West DeYoung Street in Marion, Illinois.

Sponsored by WSIU, in partnership with the SIU Credit Union and the Illinois Centre Mall, the free public event is designed to teach kids financial literacy skills.

Participants will watch video clips from the popular PBS television series Biz Kid$, then form teams and compete for prizes as they learn how to create and market their own businesses to enhance their communities. From formulating a business plan to creating company logos and developing price lists, kids will gain money management skills while learning social responsibility. Lunch and beverages will be provided at no cost.

Area groups such as the 4-H, park districts, church youth groups, Boys & Girls Clubs, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and others are encouraged to attend.

Preregistration is required. To register, contact Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, at (618) 453-5595 or beth.spezia@wsiu.org by Friday, July 31 at noon.

Biz Kid$ airs on WSIU TV 8/WUSI TV 16 on Thursdays and Fridays at 4:30pm. The series features compelling stories from real-life kid entrepreneurs and reinforces the importance of budgeting, saving, and giving back to the community. Visit wsiu.org/bizkids to learn more about the weekly TV series and the Biz Kid$ Bash event.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates eight digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching over one million households. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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Library Event to Feature PBS KIDS, SuperWhy

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:54:24 -0500

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org; Irene Just, Librarian, Herrin City Library, (618) 942-6109

Library Event to Feature PBS KIDS, SuperWhy

Carbondale, Ill. - Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover Herrin City Library's Summer Reading program, "Read on the Wild Side" tomorrow, Thursday, July 16, at the library, 120 North 13th Street in Herrin, Illinois. WSIU and Herrin City Library are pleased to introduce a Raising Readers Library Corner featuring PBS KIDS-branded items, including banners and a rug, as well as dedicated shelving units, activity books, DVDs, books, and related components.

The event is free and open to the public.

Etha Anderson of the University of Illinois Extension office will conduct a series of WOW Adventures from 10 am to 10:45 am, followed by photo opportunities with the popular PBS KIDS character, Super Why! from 10:45 to 11:30 am. Children and families also will be able to participate in hands-on literacy activities based on the PBS KIDS programs Sesame Street, WordWorld, SuperWhy!, Between the Lions, Martha Speaks, and The Electric Company.

WCIL-FM and local radio personality Tracy McSherry McKown of New Country Z100 FM will conduct a live remote program from Herrin City Library from 1 to 3 pm, with PBS KIDS character SuperWhy! making appearances throughout the afternoon.

While at the library, kids and families also will be able to use computers and headphones to visit the online destination PBS KIDS Island at readytolearnreading.org, where they can play games designed to help them master literacy skills. The website measures and tracks each child's progress and provides reports to parents and caregivers.

WSIU's PBS KIDS Library Corner is part of the national Raising Readers initiative, a multi-year, grant-funded project that aims to help children, ages 2-8, to strengthen their reading and literacy skills. WSIU is a participating station in Raising Readers. Plans are underway to expand the PBS KIDS Library Corner to more libraries later this summer. Contact Beth Spezia at (618) 453-5595 or beth.spezia@wsiu.org to learn more.

Also coming up at Herrin City Library: Educator Donna Cole will host special PBS KIDS Raising Readers activities using the PBS KIDS series Martha Speaks (on July 21), SuperWhy! (on July 28), and WordWorld (on August 4). Families of young children are encouraged to take advantage of these special sessions.

Itinerary
10am: WOW Adventures with Etha Anderson of the University of Illinois Extension Office
10:45-11:30am: WSIU presents the Raising Readers Literacy Van, distributes books and activities,
hosts photo opportunities with PBS KIDS character, SuperWhy!
1-3pm: SuperWhy! Appearance, Live Remote with Tracy McSherry KcKown of New Country Z100 FM

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Donations Needed For Classic Vinyl & Media Sale

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:52:11 -0500

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director and WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Donations Needed For Classic Vinyl & Media Sale

Carbondale, Ill. - Cleaning out your closets this summer? Donate your old record albums, CDs, DVDs, VHS and cassette tapes, and working stereo equipment for a public sale to benefit the Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS).
The second annual SIRIS Classic Vinyl & Media Sale will be held Saturday, September 12 from 8am-7pm, next to Hot Topic in the University Mall,1237 East Main in Carbondale, Illinois.

Individuals who wish to donate items for the sale may drop off their donated media and equipment at the University Mall Information Center and the SIU Credit Union's Marion branch at 2809 Outer Drive in Marion, Illinois. Materials must be in good condition.

Items will be accepted through Friday, August 28.

All proceeds from the sale will benefit SIRIS, a free radio information service for individuals who are blind or visually-impaired, or whose physical condition makes it difficult or impossible to read. Broadcasts include regional and national newspapers and magazines, book reviews, and more. SIRIS is a service of WSIU Public Radio and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and is also supported by the United Way.

Questions about the sale should be directed to SIRIS director, Vickie Devenport, at (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org or by calling 453-2808 between 1pm to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates eight digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching over one million households. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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Trail of Tears Work Day is Saturday, July 11

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:58:30 -0500

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Trail of Tears Work Day is Saturday, July 11

Carbondale, Ill. - Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are invited to cover WSIU's first Trail of Tears Volunteer Work Day on Saturday, July 11 from 8am to 3pm on the Crabb/Abbott Farm in Pope County, Illinois.

[Media: The farm is located approximately 1.5 miles south on Hound Ridge Road in Grantsburg, Illinois. Hound Ridge Road is just off Illinois Route 146, west of the entrance to Dixon Springs State Park.]

Sponsored by WSIU, the Shawnee National Forest, and the Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association, the work day event is one of several local activities planned to highlight the fall premiere of the new Ken Burns documentary series, The National Parks: America's Best Idea. WSIU's local initiative, Touch the Trail, focuses on our region's connection to the National Park Service, the National Trails System, and the National Historic Trail of Tears.

In 2008, the National Park Service officially designated the Crabb/Abbott farm as a certified site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. It is one of two certified sites in Illinois; the other site is the Campground Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Union County.

Shawnee National Forest Volunteer Coordinators Jennifer Sublett of the Mississippi Bluffs District and Justin Dodson of the Hidden Springs District will coordinate the volunteer crews and provide guidance throughout the day.

Transportation is available, but limited. Anyone interested in participating must pre-register by Thursday, July 9 by calling the Volunteer Hotline at (618) 687-1731, extension 125. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old to participate and an adult must accompany all children. Volunteers also should plan to bring a sack lunch; drinks will be provided.

Interview Opportunities
* Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org
* Jennifer Sublett, Shawnee Forest Volunteer Coordinator, Mississippi Bluffs District, (618) 687-1731
* Justin Dodson, Shawnee Forest Volunteer Coordinator, Hidden Springs District, 618-658-2111

About The National Parks Film
The National Parks: America's Best Idea is a 12-hour, six-part documentary series directed by Ken Burns and co-produced by Dayton Duncan. Using archival photographs, first-person accounts of historical characters, and personal memories, the film traces the birth of the national park idea in the mid-1800s and follows its evolution for nearly 150 years. The series will air on WSIU TV 8/WUSI TV 16 from September 27-October 2.

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Donate Your Records to the Classic Vinyl & Media Sale

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:00:54 -0500

July 8, 2009

Contact: Vickie Devenport, SIRIS Director and WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Donate Your Records to the Classic Vinyl & Media Sale

Questions about the sale should be directed to Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org or by calling SIRIS at 453-2808 between 1pm to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates eight digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching over one million households. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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Area Kids Invited to Biz Kid$ Bash on August 1

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:03:25 -0500

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org

Area Kids Invited to Biz Kid$ Bash on August 1

Carbondale, Ill. - Calling all parents, grandparents, teachers, youth leaders, and especially kids!

Sponsored by WSIU, in partnership with the SIU Credit Union and the Illinois Centre Mall, the free public event is designed to teach kids financial literacy skills.

Area groups such as the 4-H, park districts, church youth groups, Boys & Girls Clubs, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and others are encouraged to attend. To register, contact Beth Spezia, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, at (618) 453-5595 or beth.spezia@wsiu.org.

Participants should register by Friday, July 31 at noon.

Visit wsiu.org/bizkids to learn more about the Biz Kid$ Bash event and the weekly TV series.

About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates eight digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department - reaching over one million households. WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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Volunteers Needed for Trail of Tears Volunteer Work Day

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:06:32 -0500

Friday, July 3, 2009

Contact: Vickie Devenport, WSIU Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-6148, vickie.devenport@wsiu.org

Volunteers Needed for Trail of Tears Volunteer Work Day

Carbondale, Ill. - WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), invites the general public to participate in the first Trail of Tears Volunteer Work Day on Saturday, July 11 from 8am to 3pm on the Crabb/Abbott Farm in Pope County. Participants will help restore a segment of the original trail bed of the Trail of Tears and enjoy hands-on experiences learning about our region’s history and Native American heritage.

Sponsored by WSIU, the Shawnee National Forest, and the Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association, the work day is one of several local activities planned to highlight the fall premiere of the new Ken Burns documentary series, The National Parks: America's Best Idea. WSIU's local initiative, Touch the Trail, focuses on our region's connection to the National Park Service, the National Trails System, and the National Historic Trail of Tears.

Shawnee Forest Volunteer Coordinators Jennifer Sublett of the Mississippi Bluffs District and Justin Dodson of the Hidden Springs District will coordinate the volunteer crews and provide guidance throughout the day.

About WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communications and Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. It operates eight digital television stations, three public radio stations, a website, local TV and FM production units, and an education and community outreach department. WSIU’s mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. Through programs, services and outreach, WSIU partners with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois university Carbondale. Visit wsiu.org for more information.

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