TELL CONGRESS WHAT YOU THINK

posted by Laura McKee

As you may have heard, Congress will take a critical vote in the next few days to eliminate all federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and local public television and radio stations.

Just think of what life would be like without NPR’s Morning Edition for your morning commute, or PBS favorites like NOVA or Antiques Roadshow or Masterpiece Theater on TV. Then consider what a loss of award-winning children’s programs like Sesame Street, The Cat in the Hat and Curious George might mean for the youngsters in our community — perhaps affecting your children or grandchildren.

Federal funding provides 14 percent of Arizona Public Media’s operating revenue and helps us to deliver commercial-free educational programming that expands children’s minds. If you have spent time watching children’s programs on Channel 6 or our PBS Kids channel, you know that we do not interrupt programs or present on-air fundraising campaigns in those schedules.

Federal funding also helps us to acquire documentaries that open up new worlds to audiences, provide balanced and responsible reporting in trusted news programs that help to keep you informed, and offer cultural programming which exposes you to the worlds of music, theater, dance and art. Your federal tax dollars also help to finance a large portion of our original local productions from local radio news and Arizona Spotlight to Arizona Illustrated, WaveLengths and our newest public affairs series, Arizona Week, on TV.

Some say that there is no longer a need for federal support of public broadcasting. Others believe it’s one of the best investments of federal tax dollars. For the sixth consecutive year, a GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media poll shows Americans consider PBS the nation’s most trusted institution among nationally known organizations and the best choice in children’s programming for ages 2-8. It also lists public television as the second best use of federal tax dollars, following military defense. The non-partisan, international research company released the comprehensive results from its national opinion survey, which was conducted to gauge the attitudes of Americans towards PBS and other major national institutions, including courts of law and commercial broadcast television networks. You can review that report for yourself, here.

More importantly, though, is what you think.

I hope you will call members of Arizona’s Congressional Delegation and tell them what you think of public broadcasting and the proposed cuts. Congress could take action on these cuts in the next few days, so please act now. You can find a list of Congressional phone numbers here.

You can also visit 170 MillionAmericans.org and register to receive updates on this issue via email. Because the future of Arizona Public Media and public broadcasting is at stake, it is important that elected representatives hear directly from you — about whether or not funding for public broadcasting should be continued.

Thank you for your continued support of Arizona Public Media.

ARIZONA WEEK

posted by Jack Gibson

This month we launch a new series Arizona Week, whose charge is to convene positive and constructive dialogue around the issues that are of greatest importance to all Arizonans, whether you live in Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Yuma, or at points between.

Veteran newsman and former publisher of the Tucson Citizen, Michael Chihak, will interview newsmakers and then host the best journalists in the state, bringing depth and perspective to the top issues of the week and go even deeper with its on-line components. AZweek.com and Michael’s blog, Chihak’s Channel, are up and running with behind the scenes information.

One of the objectives for this series is to engage audiences online, providing opportunities for you, the viewer, to help select topics and eventually to ask a guest or journalist questions on topics of interest to you. We are committed to developing more than a traditional television and radio experience for our audiences, and your input will be critical to the program’s success.

The series will air each Friday evening at 8:30 p.m. on PBS-HD Channel 6, following Washington Week and preceding Need to Know, the new online/broadcast public affairs series from PBS, and webcast on azpm.org. The series will encore at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday morning together with Washington Week (10:00 a.m.), in addition to numerous other broadcasts throughout the weekend on PBS World (Channel 27-3, Cox 83, Comcast 203), the UA Channel (Cox 116, Comcast 76) and VOD online anytime at Play PBS.

The series will also be carried on sister PBS station KAET Channel 8 in Phoenix and soon on the Maricopa Community College Cable Channel, in an effort to convene true statewide dialogue. We expect to produce a radio version of the weekly program for sister NPR stations in the coming months.

Both Michael and I look forward to your comments and suggestions as we build this program to deliver the information you need on the important issues facing our community and state. Please tune-in on Friday’s at 8:30 p.m. on PBS-HD Channel 6 or online and let us know what you think.

On behalf of all of us at AZPM, thank you for your continued support.

ARIZONA WEEK

posted by Laura McKee

This month we launch a new series Arizona Week, whose charge is to convene positive and constructive dialogue around the issues that are of greatest importance to all Arizonans, whether you live in Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Yuma, or at points between.

Veteran newsman and former publisher of the Tucson Citizen, Michael Chihak, will interview newsmakers and then host the best journalists in the state, bringing depth and perspective to the top issues of the week and go even deeper with its on-line components. AZweek.com and Michael’s blog, Chihak’s Channel, are up and running with behind the scenes information.

One of the objectives for this series is to engage audiences online, providing opportunities for you, the viewer, to help select topics and eventually to ask a guest or journalist questions on topics of interest to you. We are committed to developing more than a traditional television and radio experience for our audiences, and your input will be critical to the program’s success.

The series will air each Friday evening at 8:30 p.m. on PBS-HD Channel 6, following Washington Week and preceding Need to Know, the new online/broadcast public affairs series from PBS, and webcast on azpm.org. The series will encore at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday morning together with Washington Week (10:00 a.m.), in addition to numerous other broadcasts throughout the weekend on PBS World (Channel 27-3, Cox 83, Comcast 203), the UA Channel (Cox 116, Comcast 76) and VOD online anytime at Play PBS.

The series will also be carried on sister PBS station KAET Channel 8 in Phoenix and soon on the Maricopa Community College Cable Channel, in an effort to convene true statewide dialogue. We expect to produce a radio version of the weekly program for sister NPR stations in the coming months.

Both Michael and I look forward to your comments and suggestions as we build this program to deliver the information you need on the important issues facing our community and state. Please tune-in on Friday’s at 8:30 p.m. on PBS-HD Channel 6 or online and let us know what you think.

On behalf of all of us at AZPM, thank you for your continued support.

JANUARY 2011

posted by Laura McKee

Arizona Week premieres with in-depth news and analysis from across Arizona

I’m very excited to announce Arizona Week, AZPM’s newest public affairs series, which premieres on Friday, January 14, 2011. The series will air each Friday evening at 8:30 p.m. on PBS-HD6, following Washington Week and preceding Need to Know, the new online/broadcast public affairs series from PBS. The series will encore at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday morning together with Washington Week (10:00 a.m.), on PBS-HD6 in addition to numerous other broadcasts throughout the weekend on PBS World (Channel 27-3, Cox 83, Comcast 203), the UA Channel (Cox 116, Comcast 76) and VOD online anytime at Play PBS.

Veteran newsman Michael Chihak will go one-on-one with newsmakers and then host the best journalists in the state, bringing depth and perspective to the top issues of the week. This program will fill a unique niche of “going deep” on critical topics on the air, and even deeper with its on-line components. AZweek.org and Michael’s blog are up and running with behind the scenes information.

One of the significant challenges for this series will be to engage audiences online, providing opportunities for you, the viewer, to help select topics and perhaps even ask a guest or journalist questions on topics of interest to you. We are committed to developing more than a traditional television experience for our audiences.

Michael Chihak has a distinguished career in journalism and knows the issues facing Arizona residents. For the bulk of the last decade, Michael was the editor and publisher of the Tucson Citizen and held editorial positions at The Californian in Salinas, CA (1992-2000) and USA Today (1984-1992). He began his career at the Tucson Citizen in 1982.

Arizona Week promises to have state-wide appeal. AZPM is in discussions with KAET Channel 8 in Phoenix to air the program, and journalists from across the state will be invited to participate on the panel based on their area of expertise.

I look forward to your comments and suggestions as we build this program to deliver the information you need on the important issues facing our community and state. Please tune-in at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, January 14th to PBS-HD channel 6 and let me know what you think.

On behalf of all of us at AZPM, thank you for your continued support. Please accept our very best wishes for 2011.

**THE YEAR CLOSES, THE WORLD OPENS**

posted by Laura McKee

As 2010 draws to a close, I look back over the year at our many accomplishments as we step ahead into a bold new year. I like to think of these “accomplishments” as the return on your membership investment.

In an election year, AZPM was your trusted source that introduced you to many candidates and profiled the intricacies of every ballet proposition. Whether it was a local “In-Depth” segment on NPR, an interview on Arizona Illustrated, or a live debate — you knew AZPM was the place to turn for a candid exchange – giving you the resources you needed to make informed decisions.

We produced “Teachers’ Voices” on the radio as a part of Arizona Spotlight – highlighting a teacher, student, superintendent, business leader, elected official, or parent to capture the alchemy and professionalism of teaching. Classical KUAT-FM 90.5 brought you more community concerts than ever before, recording live performances around Southern Arizona and delivering them to you with the best seat in the house (or car).

AZPM began the 19th and final season of The Desert Speaks, brought you amazing science with WaveLengths and NOVA, honored veterans with Unforgettable: The Korean War, and delighted you with Great Performances, St. Paul Sunday, Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow and many BritComs.

For youngsters, PBS-HD and PBS Kids premiered Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That, from the literary classics by Dr. Seuss. This series joined a stellar lineup of children’s programs already in our lineup including WordGirl, Curious George and of course, Sesame Street.

In the community, we brought Garrison Keillor and A Prairie Home Companion to Tucson for a live national broadcast, NPR’s Scott Simon to the Tucson Festival of Books (where we also featured Create TV in the Culinary Area), hosted library screenings with “Now Showing @ Your Library” and Independent Lens, and sponsored free children’s storytime at the UA Bookstore.

Our online presence is stronger than ever with a popular page on Facebook, news feeds on Twitter, and full length programs now provided on demand -- anytime and anywhere, with PlayPBS.

Many of these events lay the foundation for 2011 that will provide an increase in original production that work to deliver the best of Southern Arizona to you every day. As we implement our new strategic plan, your input is more important than ever. Please feel free to review our strategic plan here and give us your feedback.

While our accomplishments are gratifying, none of this would have been possible without your continued support. On behalf of all of us at AZPM, thank you. Please accept our very best wishes for the holiday season and in 2011.

Jack Gibson

NOVEMBER GM LETTER

posted by Laura McKee

Thankful for great members like you!

Thanks to all of you who have made a membership contribution over this last year, and especially those who called or clicked on our Website during our Fall Radio Membership Campaign at the end of October. The final tallies are in and I’m happy to report that the station not only met it’s goal of $245,000 but surpassed it. The drive (the first ever with a combined radio goal) wrapped up Oct. 25th at 6:30 p.m. having raised $257,673 from 2,497 pledges. We are tremendously proud of our radio stations, and of the program services that we provide to you and Southern Arizona.

Join us on PBS-HD Channel 6 to take an unforgettable trip with the legendary Big Apple Circus during PBS's new 3-part, six hour series airing Wednesdays at 9 p.m. starting November 3rd. Circus - from the big top to the back lot explores a distinctive world with its own rules, lingo and no fixed address. Meet the cast by clicking here. You'll find yourself involved with the diverse characters that make up the Big Apple family while sharing their fears and frustrations, triumphs and failures and finding out what it really means to live life in the ring.

AZPM’s latest documentary, Secrets of the Divine: The Altarpiece of Ciudad Rodrigo – premieres on November 18 at 8 p.m. on PBS-HD Channel 6. The one-hour special was co-developed with the University of Arizona Museum of Art and is narrated by NPR's Special Correspondent Susan Stamberg. The documentary is part art history, mystery and scientific exploration. Join us as we explore the 26 panels of art to reveal what lies beneath the 500-year-old Spanish altar paintings.

I encourage you to participate in the NPR and StoryCorps Day of Listening November 26, 2010. For the third year in a row, on the day after Thanksgiving, NPR's Morning Edition invites all of us to start a new holiday tradition: take an hour to interview a friend, a loved one, or someone in your community about his or her life. The National Day of Listening was started by StoryCorps in 2008 as a way to provide an alternative to "Black Friday" holiday shopping sprees. StoryCorps has created a free, do-it-yourself interview guide with step-by-step interview instructions, equipment recommendations, and sample questions available online here. You can record your interview using equipment that is readily available in most homes - from cell phones to tape recorders to computers or even pen and paper.

Thank you for your continued support.

Jack Gibson