Awards
TO PEOPLE IN PUBLIC MEDIA
Association of Public Television Stations awards, presented January 2009
Kentucky congressman and Massachusetts advocate for kids among APTS honorees
Rep. John Yarmuth, a Democrat from Kentucky — and former pubcaster — received one of the year's Champion of Public Broadcasting awards, an honor presented annually by the Association of Public Television Stations.
Yarmuth received the trophy at the lobbying group's Capitol Hill Day last week.
In September 2008 Yarmuth introduced the Ready to Compete Act, a pubcasting initiative. Two components of that legislation, Ready to Learn and Ready to Teach, have received more than $145 million in funding since fiscal 2003.
"You've got a workhorse in me in Congress," he told the audience.
Yarmuth served on the board of WKPC in Louisville from 1987 to '97. Also, from 1984 to '91, he was co-host of Dawn at the Downs, a daily interview show featuring people working behind the scenes at the track during the week leading up to the Kentucky Derby.
Local TV stations took note of the program's growing popularity and began their own versions. "Now all four commercial stations do the show and public broadcasting doesn't anymore," he said.
"We did much better–and more importantly, commercial-free," he quipped.
Other awards presented during APTS Capitol Hill Day meetings, Feb. 8-11, 2009:
Peggy Charren, founder of Action for Children's Television, received the David J. Brugger Grassroots Advocacy Award. The group cited her "ceaseless efforts toward more and better television for younger audiences." Her group was active from 1968 to '92. APTS said Charren remains "the grande dame of children's TV."
Two more longtime pubTV supporters were honored with the National Advocacy Award, Wick Rowland, president of KBDI in Denver, and Moss Bresnahan, former head of South Carolina ETV and now president of KCTS in Seattle. APTS cited Rowland's work on satellite carriage of local pubTV, and editorial independence. Bresnahan played an "integral role," APTS said, in advising Congressional staff on the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program.
The EDGE Award (Excellence in Digital Transition, Groundbreaking Partnerships and Educational Technologies) went to Wisconsin Public Television in Madison for its WisconsinVote.org, and WYES in New Orleans for its "Reshaping New Orleans: Criminal Justice" project.
Another Champion of Public Broadcasting Award when to Sesame Workshop, for its "Talk, Listen, Connect" program to help military families cope with deployments. It sparked an upcoming primetime special set for April 1, "Coming Home: Military Families Cope with Change," featuring singers Queen Latifah and John Mayer.
Compiled by Dru Sefton
Posted March 2, 2009
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