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Media Releases

1/13/11 1/13/11

Jeremy Hobson Named Marketplace Morning Report Host

Contact: Jacqueline Cartier
(651) 290-1113

Jeremy Hobson Named Marketplace Morning Report Host

Former Marketplace Reporter Officially Steps Into Hosting Role Today

(Los Angeles, CA) - January 13, 2011 - Jeremy Hobson has been named a host of American Public Media's signature morning business newscast, Marketplace Morning Report. The Morning Report airs across the nation on over 400 public radio stations, offering listeners a fresh look at business news from a global perspective. Hobson will now officially join Steve Chiotakis as a Marketplace Morning Report host. He had been serving as an interim host since October 2010, when former host Bill Radke returned to his hometown of Seattle.

Hobson has been with American Public Media since 2007, reporting for Marketplace from its New York and Washington D.C. bureaus and filing daily stories, features and interviews on the financial markets and on Wall Street's impact on ordinary Americans.

"I'm thrilled at the opportunity to host the Marketplace Morning Report", says Hobson. "The show's mission - breaking down the complex business stories of the day so we can actually understand them - is more important now than it has ever been." Hobson continues, "I've been in public radio since I was nine years old, and Marketplace is everything I've always loved about this unique medium. It's timely, insightful, educational, and most importantly, fun to listen to. It's an honor to help make it what it is each morning.î

Rod Abid, senior producer of Marketplace Morning Report, says Hobson has flourished despite his short time with the show. "Jeremy has really found his voice and has truly taken ownership of the interim host position," says Abid. "He's done an outstanding job, and we're looking forward to the new energy that Hobson will bring to listeners nationwide."

Before joining Marketplace, Hobson frequently found himself in locations where news was happening: calling Florida precincts for NPR's 2000 election coverage; working for Boston's WBUR during the Boston Catholic Church Sex Abuse scandal; and interning for NPR's Guy Raz in Turkey at the start of the Iraq War. In addition, Hobson has worked as producer for NPR's All Things Considered, Day to Day and Wait WaitÖDonít Tell Me! He has also worked as a host and reporter for public radio stations WILL Urbana, WCAI Cape Cod and WRNI Providence.

Produced by American Public Media, Marketplace, Marketplace Morning Report, Marketplace Money and Marketplace Tech Report cover everything business from the stock market to the supermarket. Marketplace Morning Report reaches more than 5 million listeners weekly.

1/7/11 1/7/11

KNOCK, KNOCK … THE PRAIRIE HOME JOKE SHOW IS BACK!

Contact: David O'Neill
(651) 999-1095

KNOCK, KNOCK … THE PRAIRIE HOME JOKE SHOW IS BACK!

Garrison Keillor and the Prairie Home bunch throw a midwinter laugh-a-thon.

(ST. PAUL, Minn.)—Talk about a January thaw! Get ready to laugh yourself into a sweat when A Prairie Home Companion's Joke Show returns to St. Paul's Fitzgerald Theater on Saturday, January 22. It'll be a blizzard of penguin jokes, lightbulb jokes, knock-knocks, political, tasteless, and more. And Philip Brunelle and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers will add their comical twist too.

Listeners can add their favorite knee-slappers to the mix. Notes Keillor:
"People say that the joke is a dead item, that nobody tells them anymore, and for that reason, if for no other, we decided we MUST have a Joke Show ASAP. On January 22nd, in fact. If you've heard a good joke lately, one not found in our Pretty Good Joke Book, we'd love to hear it. We don't want Cute Stories, or stand-up stuff, or long-winded stories, just joke jokes. Clean, but maybe just barely. If you send us a joke that we use on the show, we'll send you our 2011 Joke a Day Calendar."

The address is: www.prairiehome.org/jokes

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or in person at the Fitzgerald Theater. Minnesota Public Radio members may also order tickets by phone at 651.290.1200.

A Prairie Home Companion is heard on close to 600 public radio stations across the U.S., with a weekly audience that tops 4.3 million listeners. The program can also be heard on the Armed Forces Network Europe, the Far East Network, and in dozens of European cities via the Astra satellite network.

Garrison Keillor is the recipient of Grammy, ACE, and George Foster Peabody awards, and he has been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His many books include Lake Wobegon Days, The Book of Guys, 77 Love Sonnets, Pilgrims: A Wobegon Romance,and A Christmas Blizzard.

A Prairie Home Companion is produced by Prairie Home Productions and presented by American Public Media. The show is sponsored nationally by General Mills, Inc. and by Ford. Audio clips, scripts, and more information on A Prairie Home Companion can be found online at www.prairiehome.org.

WHAT: A Prairie Home Companion Joke Show

WHO: Garrison Keillor, with actors Tim Russell and Sue Scott, sound-effects ace Tom Keith, and the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, led by Richard Dworsky. Plus Philip Brunelle and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers.

WHEN: Saturday, January 22, 2011, 4:45 p.m. CT.

WHERE: The Fitzgerald Theater, 10 East Exchange St. (at Wabasha), downtown St. Paul.

SUBMIT A JOKE: Send us a joke. If we use it on the Joke Show, we'll send you the 2011 Prairie Home Joke a Day Calendar. Address: www.prairiehome.org/jokes

TICKETS: $32, $38, $48 (Minnesota Public Radio members receive a $2 discount). Order online through Ticketmaster.com, call 800.982.2787, or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. The general public may purchase tickets in person at the Fitzgerald box office. MPR members may also order tickets by phone at 651.290.1200. A limited number of rush tickets are sold at 4:15 p.m. on day of show ($15 each, limit of two, cash only).

TUNE IN: Tune in Saturdays to any of hundreds of public radio stations coast to coast (many rebroadcast the show on Sunday). Or listen to a live audio Web stream. Check local listings or go to www.prairiehome.org for specifics.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Go to www.prairiehome.org or contact David O'Neill at 651.999.1095.

# # #

1/6/11 1/6/11

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION KICKS OFF 2011 WITH FIVE FUN-PACKED SHOWS AT ST. PAUL'S FITZGERALD THEATER

Contact: David O'Neill
(651) 999-1095

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION KICKS OFF 2011 WITH FIVEFUN-PACKED SHOWS AT ST. PAUL'S FITZGERALD THEATER

Garrison Keillor welcomes Nellie McKay, Sara Watkins, Sam Bush,and the return of the APHC Joke Show!

(ST. PAUL, Minn.)—After taking A Prairie Home Companion on the road for a few months, Garrison Keillor and the cast and crew return home to the beautiful Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul for five shows sure to kick off 2011 in style.

The upcoming Saturday broadcasts from the Fitz are January 8, 15, 22, 29, and February 5 — five shows packed with great music, wonderful guests, and wry humor. All the fun you expect — and maybe some you don't.

January 8: The incomparable Nellie McKay. And a group of young local fiddle players — Catie Jo Pidel and sisters Deena and Sedra Bistodeau — join Guy's All-Star Shoe Band fiddler Richard Kriehn in a stupendous rendition of the old favorite (and fitting) tune "The Eighth of January."

January 15: Nickel Creek alum Sara Watkins; clawhammer banjo player Abigail Washburn; singer-songwriter Tom Brosseau
The audience at the January 15 show will get to see a historic first — a guest host singing "O hear that old piano from down the avenue." Singer and fiddler Sara Watkins, who did a 25-city tour with Garrison, Fred Newman and the Shoe Band last summer, will take over the host duties and Garrison will be a featured guest, appearing as Guy Noir, Lefty, and of course doing the News from Lake Wobegon.

Says Garrison: "I've never gotten to see the show myself; I've always been standing in the wings and thinking about what I'm supposed to do next. For once in my life, I want to stand in the back of the hall and watch for a few minutes. And Sara is a smart and funny and hugely gifted young woman. And the Shoe Band and the Royal Academy of Radio Acting will be there, so she'll have all the support she needs. It'll be fun. And at long last, one person in the world will understand WHAT I GO THROUGH WEEK AFTER WEEK. (Just kidding.)"

ATTENTION JOKE LOVERS: Send us a joke. If we use it on the Joke Show, we'll send you the 2011 Prairie Home Joke a Day Calendar. Address: www.prairiehome.org/jokes

January 29: Songbird Heather Masse

February 5: Grammy Award-winning bluegrass multi-instrumentalist Sam Bush

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or in person at the Fitzgerald Theater. Minnesota Public Radio members may also order tickets by phone at 651.290.1200.

WHAT: A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor

WHO: Garrison Keillor, with actors Tim Russell and Sue Scott, sound-effects ace Tom Keith, and the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, led by Richard Dworsky. Plus many special guests, including Nellie McKay, Sara Watkins, Heather Masse, Sam Bush, Philip Brunelle and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, and lots more.

WHEN: Saturdays, January 8, 15, 22 (Joke Show), 29, and February 5, 2011, 4:45 p.m. CT.

WHERE: The Fitzgerald Theater, 10 East Exchange St. (at Wabasha), downtown St. Paul.

SUBMIT A JOKE: Send us a joke. If we use it on the Joke Show, we'll send you the 2011 Prairie Home Joke a Day Calendar. Address: www.prairiehome.org/jokes

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Go to www.prairiehome.org or contact David O'Neill at 651.999.1095.

# # #

1/6/11 1/6/11

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION KICKS OFF 2011 WITH FIVE FUN-PACKED SHOWS AT ST. PAUL'S FITZGERALD THEATER

Contact: David O'Neill
(651) 999-1095

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION KICKS OFF 2011 WITH FIVEFUN-PACKED SHOWS AT ST. PAUL'S FITZGERALD THEATER

Garrison Keillor welcomes Nellie McKay, Sara Watkins, Sam Bush,and the return of the APHC Joke Show!

January 22: The ever-popular Joke Show returns — penguin jokes, lightbulb jokes, knock-knocks, political, tasteless, and more. Philip Brunelle and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers add their comical twist. ATTENTION JOKE LOVERS: Send us a joke. If we use it on the Joke Show, we'll send you the 2011 Prairie Home Joke a Day Calendar. Address: www.prairiehome.org/jokes

January 29: Songbird Heather Masse

February 5: Grammy Award-winning bluegrass multi-instrumentalist Sam Bush

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or in person at the Fitzgerald Theater. Minnesota Public Radio members may also order tickets by phone at 651.290.1200.

WHAT: A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor

WHEN: Saturdays, January 8, 15, 22 (Joke Show), 29, and February 5, 2011, 4:45 p.m. CT.

WHERE: The Fitzgerald Theater, 10 East Exchange St. (at Wabasha), downtown St. Paul.

SUBMIT A JOKE: Send us a joke. If we use it on the Joke Show, we'll send you the 2011 Prairie Home Joke a Day Calendar. Address: www.prairiehome.org/jokes

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Go to www.prairiehome.org or contact David O'Neill at 651.999.1095.

# # #

1/4/11 1/4/11

KCET'S SoCal Connected and American Public Media's Marketplace Team Up to Explore America's Real Estate Meltdown Through the Story of One Los Angeles Home

Contact: Jacqueline Cartier
(651) 290-1113

KCET'S SoCal Connected and American Public Media's Marketplace Team Up to Explore America's Real Estate Meltdown Through the Story of One Los Angeles Home

Los Angeles - January 4, 2011 - SoCal Connected, KCET's hard-hitting weekly news program, and Marketplace, American Public Media's acclaimed public radio business show, are teaming up to take a tough look at the housing market crisis through one Los Angeles home. The special report ñ "Lot 354: A Tale of Americaís Housing Meltdown" ñ will premiere on KCET's SoCal Connected and on public radio stations across the nation on Marketplace on Thursday, January 13, 2011.

Reported by Marketplace's Kai Ryssdal, "Lot 354" will trace the property from savvy investment boom to foreclosure bust and back again. Participants in the piece will include the couple who bought the home low in 2002, improved it, and sold it 4 years later at almost triple the price; the couple who bought high and lost the home to foreclosure; and the couple who bought it this year at a fraction of the price it sold for in 2006. The story also will include Lot 354's real estate broker, an auctioneer, and a housing banker who will discuss why the home's life on the Los Angeles real estate market reflects the true story of the lending practices that contributed to the crisis in America's housing market. SoCal Connected's Val Zavala and Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal will anchor the program, and will look at how economic forces led to the housing crisis and what the future may hold for both buyers and sellers.

"Lot 354: A Tale of America's Housing Meltdown" will include an online component at KCET.org/SoCalConnected. Content will include a guide for home buyers and sellers as well as advice on what to look out for in any real estate transaction. Marketplace.org will feature additional interviews with the key figures in the Lot 354 story as well as the latest housing market research and statistics.

ìLot 354: A Tale of Americaís Housing Meltdownî is produced by SoCal Connectedís Rick Wilkinson and Marketplaceís Nancy Farghalli, Megan Larson and Jonathan Karp. SoCal Connectedís anchor is Val Zavala, and the executive producer is Bret Marcus. Kai Ryssdal is the host and senior editor of Marketplace.

In Los Angeles, Marketplace airs on 89.3 KPCC at 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m and on KCRW 89.9 FM at 2:00 p.m. Visit marketplace.org to find local station listings. SoCal Connected airs Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. on KCET and is available on-demand at www.kcet.org/socalconnected.

About Marketplace

Marketplace is public radio's award-winning daily magazine on business and economics news. The 30-minute program airs weekday evenings on nearly 350 public radio stations nationwide and boasts the largest audience for any business program in the United States reaching more than 5 million listeners weekly. Produced by American Public Media, Marketplace, Marketplace Morning Report, Marketplace Money and Marketplace Tech Report cover everything business from the stock market to the supermarket.

About SoCal Connected

SoCal Connected, winner of the Peabody Award, the duPont-Columbia Award, 11 Emmys, eight Golden Mikes, including Best News Public Affairs Show, 18 LA Press Club awards for journalism, recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award for Best News Documentary, and Los Angeles Magazineís ìBest New Local TV Programî of 2009, airs Thursdays (9:00 ñ 9:30 p.m.), Fridays (8:30 ñ 9:00 p.m.), Saturdays (6:00 ñ 6:30 p.m.) and Sundays (6:30 ñ 7:00 p.m.), exclusively on KCET. For more information, to view episodes online or to post comments, please visit www.kcet.org/socalconnected.

SoCal Connected is made possible through the generous support of The Ahmanson Foundation, serving the Los Angeles community since 1952; Jim and Anne Rothenberg; Maddocks-Brown Foundation; The Elizabeth Hofert-Dailey Trust; The John Randolph Haynes & Dora Haynes Foundation; Akaloa Resource Foundation; The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, UCLA and U.S. Bank.

12/21/10 12/21/10

KQED Joins American Public Media's Public Insight Network

Contact: Jacqueline Cartier
(651) 290-1113

KQED Joins American Public Media's Public Insight Network

Initiative Facilitates Expanded News Coverage through Active Audience Engagement

(San Francisco, CA & St. Paul, Minn.) - December 21, 2010 - American Public Media's (APM) Public Insight Network (PIN) is pleased to welcome San Francisco's KQED News. The combination of KQED's strong journalism reputation and the country's most powerful platform for journalistic audience engagement will yield significant dividends for both parties.

"KQED's journalistic excellence embodies the promise of the Public Insight Network," says Joaquin Alvarado, APM's Digital Innovation SVP. "We're thrilled to welcome them to the network and look forward to helping them reach new levels of audience engagement."

"Offering KQED News listeners the opportunity to easily contribute their individual expertise to our news reporting efforts is a win-win situation," said Jo Anne Wallace, vice-president and general manager of KQED Public Radio.

Alvarado and Amanda Stupi, KQED's News Public Insight Network Editor will be discussing the partnership on KQED Public Radio's Forum this morning at 10am PT. Audio of the program can be heard streaming at KQEDnews.org. In San Francisco, Forum can be heard on KQED 88.5FM. In Sacramento, it will air on KQEI 89.3FM.

KQED News is the latest in a growing number of leading news organizations that are building and engaging the Public Insight Network to improve the depth and breadth of news coverage - from ProPublica, the Center for Investigative Reporting and The Miami Herald to Oregon Public Broadcasting and the St. Louis Beacon.

Founded in 2003, American Public Media's Public Insight Network has nearly 100,000 sources around the country who have signed up through websites, social networking, blogs, surveys, virtual and in-person forums, serious games and face-to-face interactions. Demographic information and insights are stored in a secure, searchable database. Participating journalists search the database for knowledgeable sources, or query the sources in the Network to test hunches, identify trends and support production of major projects. In the last year alone, Public Insight Network sources informed or unearthed more than 700 stories for Minnesota Public Radio News and American Public Media programs such as Marketplace.

KQED Public Media (kqed.org) has served Northern California for more than 50 years. KQED owns and operates public television stations KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area), KTEH 54 (San Jose/Bay Area), and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); KQED Public Radio (88.5FM San Francisco and 89.3FM Sacramento); the interactive platforms kqed.org, kteh.org, and KQEDnews.org; and Education Network. KQED Public Television, one of the nation's most-watched public television stations, is the producer of local and national series such as QUEST; Check, Please! Bay Area; This Week in Northern California; Truly CA; and Essential Pepin. KQED's digital television channels include 9HD, Life, World, Kids, and V-me, and are available 24/7 on Comcast. KQED Public Radio, home of Forum with Michael Krasny and The California Report, is one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service delivering more than eighteen local newscasts daily. KQED Interactive hosts KQED's cross-platform news service, KQED News, as well as offers video and audio podcasts and a live radio stream at kqed.org. The Education Network brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents, and the general public through workshops, community screenings, and multimedia resources.

12/9/10 12/9/10

GARRISON KEILLOR AT MERKIN CONCERT HALL FOR A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS DAY EDITION OF A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION

Media Contact: David O'Neill
Prairie Home Productions
Phone: 651.999.1095
E-mail: davido@prairiehome.us

December 09, 2010

GARRISON KEILLOR AT MERKIN CONCERT HALL FOR A SPECIAL
CHRISTMAS DAY EDITION OF A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION

Tickets for the December 25 broadcast go on sale at noon Friday, December 10.

(NEW YORK) Spend Christmas Day evening with Garrison Keillor and his guests when A Prairie Home Companion comes to the intimate, 449-seat Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center on December 25.

Keillor welcomes poet Sharon Olds (One Secret Thing; Strike Sparks: Selected Poems, 1980-2002); author Ian Frazier (Great Plains, Travels in Siberia), and playwright and author Paul Rudnick (Jeffrey; The New Century; I Shudder: And Other Reactions to Life, Death, and New Jersey).

Also on hand, pianist Rob Fisher, who spent four seasons leading the Coffee Club Orchestra on Keillor's show. Fisher is creator and artistic director of the Lyrics and Lyricist series at the 92nd Street Y, and music director for Broadway shows including Chicago and Anything Goes (opening April 2011).

Tickets for the Christmas Day APHC go on sale at noon Friday, December 10, available at Merkin Concert Hall Box Office, in person, by phone, or on the Web at merkinconcerthall.org.

Keillor says:

"We thought of taking the day off, and then thought better of it. Why should cops and bus drivers and waitresses have to work Christmas and radio close up shop? So I and some writers I especially admire will talk about Christmas when we were kids and read some writing about our respective families.

Twilight on the 25th is when the conversation starts to turn toward Christmases past and the people we used to spend the day with, and that's what this show is about. Sweet reminiscence."

Garrison Keillor is the recipient of Grammy, ACE, and George Foster Peabody awards, and he has been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His many books include Lake Wobegon Days, The Book of Guys, 77 Love Sonnets, Pilgrims: A Wobegon Romance, and A Christmas Blizzard.

A Prairie Home Companion is produced by Prairie Home Productions and presented by American Public Media. The show is sponsored nationally by General Mills, Inc. and by Ford. Audio clips, scripts and more information on A Prairie Home Companion can be found online at www.prairiehome.org.

WHAT: A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor
WHO: Garrison Keillor and special guests: author Ian Frazier, poet Sharon Olds, playwright Paul Rudnick, and pianist Rob Fisher
WHEN: December 25, 2010 at 5:45 p.m. ET
WHERE: Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center
129 West 67th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam avenues)
New York, NY 10023
TICKETS: Go on sale Friday, December 10, at noon
$20 plus handling fees
Purchase in person at Merkin Concert Hall Box Office, by phone at 212.501.3330,
or on the Web at merkinconcerthall.org
TUNE IN: Tune in Saturdays to any of hundreds of public radio stations coast to coast (many rebroadcast the show on Sunday). Or listen to a live audio Web stream. Check local listings or go to www.prairiehome.org for specifics.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: go to www.prairiehome.org or contact David O'Neill at 651.999.1095 or davido@prairiehome.us

# # #

12/8/10 12/8/10

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION HEADS NORTH TO THE MINNESOTA CITIES OF BEMIDJI AND MORRIS FOR TWO FEBRUARY BROADCASTS

Media Contact: David O'Neill
Prairie Home Productions
Phone: 651.999.1095
E-mail: davido@prairiehome.us

December 08, 2010

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION HEADS NORTH TO THE MINNESOTA CITIES OF BEMIDJI AND MORRIS FOR TWO FEBRUARY BROADCASTS

Tickets go on sale December 10 and 14.

(ST. PAUL, Minn.) A lot of Minnesotans will tell you: When it's February in the North Star State, head north (and a little west)! That's just what Garrison Keillor and the cast of A Prairie Home Companion plan to do.

On Saturday, February 12, 2011, the show leaves its St. Paul home base and sets up at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse at Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minnesota. Tickets for this show go on sale December 14, 2010, at noon CT.

And on Saturday, February 19, APHC moves on to Morris, Minnesota, broadcasting live from the Physical Education Center Gym at the University of Minnesota-Morris. Tickets for this show go on sale Friday, December 10, at 10:00 a.m. CT.

Actress Sue Scott, Tim Russell (the man of many voices), and sound-effects wizard Tom Keith will be on hand, along with the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, led by pianist Richard Dworsky. As always, there will be special guests; we'll hear from Private Eye Guy Noir and the Cowboys, Dusty and Lefty; and everyone will catch up on the news from Lake Wobegon during Keillor's signature monologue.

A Prairie Home Companion is heard on close to 600 public radio stations across the U.S., with a weekly audience that tops 4.3 million listeners. The program can also be heard on the Armed Forces Network Europe, the Far East Network, and in dozens of European cities via the Astra satellite network.

Garrison Keillor is the recipient of Grammy, ACE, and George Foster Peabody awards, and he has been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His many books include Lake Wobegon Days, The Book of Guys, 77 Love Sonnets, Pilgrims: A Wobegon Romance, and A Christmas Blizzard.

A Prairie Home Companion is produced by Prairie Home Productions and presented by American Public Media. The show is sponsored nationally by General Mills, Inc. and by Ford. Audio clips, scripts and more information on A Prairie Home Companion can be found online at www.prairiehome.org.

WHAT: A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor
WHO: Garrison Keillor, with actors Tim Russell and Sue Scott, sound-effects ace Tom Keith, the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, led by Richard Dworsky, and special guests
WHEN: Saturday, February 12, 2011
WHERE: Bemidji, Minnesota (John S. Glas Fieldhouse at Bemidji State University)
TICKETS:Tickets for the Bemidji show ($40, $35, $25) go on sale Tuesday, December 14, 2010, at noon CT. Order online through Ticketmaster.com, call 800.982.2787, or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Bemidji State Campus information at www.bemidjistate.edu/admissions/undergrad/visit/maps
WHEN: Saturday, February 19, 2011
WHERE: Morris, Minnesota (Physical Education Center Gym at University of Minnesota-Morris)
TICKETS:Tickets for the Morris show go on sale Friday, December 10, 2010, at 10 a.m. CT ($35, general admission; $10 for UMM students with student ID, one ticket per student). Tickets available at www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/aphc. Additional information at www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/aphc.
TUNE IN: Tune in Saturdays to any of hundreds of public radio stations coast to coast (many rebroadcast the show on Sunday). Or listen to a live audio Web stream. Check local listings or go to www.prairiehome.org for specifics.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: go to www.prairiehome.org or contact David O'Neill at 651.999.1095 or davido@prairiehome.us

# # #

11/29/10 11/29/10

Marketplace Launches Interactive Tool to Share Tips on Saving Energy In Everyday Life

Contact: Jacqueline Cartier
(651) 290-1113

Marketplace Launches Interactive Tool to Share Tips on Saving Energy In Everyday Life

"The Green Tip & Trade" on marketplace.org features insights from NRDC, Dwell Magazine, Make Magazine, Sierra Club, your neighbors and more

Los Angeles, CA - (November 29, 2010) - Public radio's Marketplace is helping listeners improve their own environmental routines as the United Nations Climate Change Conference gathers in Cancun this week. The program's Sustainability Desk has created "The Green Tip & Trade" - a wealth of simple tips from national experts, radio listeners and you on how to reduce energy and water use and our overall personal environmental impacts on the world we live in.

The tips are focused on energy use in the home, in schools, in the workplace, in food production, and in recreational and travel activities. Users can search each category, add their own conservation tips, and participate in discussions on what measures are most effective and why.

"The Green Tip & Trade" has already garnered the participation of environmental leadership organizations and DIY publications. Tips include, "Don't pay to heat the outdoors. Seal and insulate your home to keep warm air inside," from the Natural Resource Defense Council. Dwell magazine says, "Build walls with dirt. The walls absorb heat slowly during the day, and release it incrementally in the evening which cuts down on energy consumption." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers tips on growing green grass "the right way," and American Wasteland author Jonathan Bloom simply says, "Donít Stuff Your Fridge." To learn more about these tips, discover others, and contribute your own, visit www.marketplace.org.

In association with "The Green Tip & Trade", Marketplace will be airing periodic stories about solutions that small businesses and corporations are pursuing to lessen their environmental impacts. Individual submissions to "The Green Tip & Trade" may also be included in Marketplace radio broadcasts.

11/15/10 11/15/10

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION BACK HOME IN ST. PAUL FOR FIVE WINTER SHOWS

Media Contact: David O'Neill
Prairie Home Productions
Phone: 651.999.1095
E-mail: davido@prairiehome.us

November 15, 2010

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION BACK HOME IN ST. PAUL
FOR FIVE WINTER SHOWS

Tickets go on sale Tuesday November 16 for five fun-filled broadcasts from the Fitz!

(ST. PAUL, Minn.) There's no place like home base, and for A Prairie Home Companion, that's the historic Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul.

After taking the show on the road for a couple of months, Garrison Keillor and the cast and crew return home for five Saturday broadcasts from the Fitz: January 8, 15, 22, 29, and February 5, 2011. The shows begin at 4:45 p.m. CT.

Actress Sue Scott, Tim Russell (the man of many voices), and sound-effects wizard Tom Keith will be on hand, along with the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, led by pianist Richard Dworsky. As always, there will be a variety of special guests from near and far; we'll hear from Guy Noir, Private Eye; the Cowboys, Dusty and Lefty; the folks from Rhubarb, Catchup and P.O.E.M (Professional Organization of English Majors); and everyone will catch up on all the latest news from Lake Wobegon during Keillor's signature monologue.

Tickets go on sale at noon on Tuesday, November 16, available through Ticketmaster or in person at the Fitzgerald Theater. Minnesota Public Radio members may also order tickets by phone at 651.290.1200.

A Prairie Home Companion is heard on close to 600 public radio stations across the U.S., with a weekly audience that tops 4 million listeners. The program can also be heard on the Armed Forces Network Europe, the Far East Network, and in dozens of European cities via the Astra satellite network.

WHAT: A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor
WHO: Garrison Keillor, with actors Tim Russell and Sue Scott, sound-effects ace Tom Keith, and the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, led by Richard Dworsky. Plus a variety of special guests.
WHEN: Saturdays, January 8, 15, 22, 29, and February 5, 2011, 4:45 p.m. CT.
WHERE: The Fitzgerald Theater, 10 East Exchange St. (at Wabasha), downtown St. Paul
TICKETS: $32, $38, $48 (Minnesota Public Radio members receive a $2 discount). Order online through Ticketmaster.com, call 800.982.2787, or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. The general public may purchase tickets in person at the Fitzgerald box office. MPR members may also order tickets by phone at 651.290.1200. A limited number of rush tickets are sold at 4:15 p.m. on day of show ($15 each, limit of two, cash only).
TUNE IN: Tune in Saturdays to any of hundreds of public radio stations coast to coast (many rebroadcast the show on Sunday). Or listen to a live audio Web stream. Check local listings or go to www.prairiehome.org for specifics.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: go to www.prairiehome.org or contact David O'Neill at 651.999.1095 or davido@prairiehome.us

# # #

11/3/10 11/3/10

WALTER MONDALE IN CONVERSATION WITH GARRISON KEILLOR AT THE FITZGERALD THEATER

Media Contact: David O'Neill
Prairie Home Productions
Phone: 651.999.1095
E-mail: davido@prairiehome.us

November 3, 2010

WALTER MONDALE IN CONVERSATION WITH GARRISON KEILLOR AT THE FITZGERALD THEATER

A new memoir from the former vice president chronicles
a life spent fighting “The Good Fight”

(ST. PAUL, MINN.) — On Monday, November 22, 2010, Garrison Keillor welcomes Walter F. Mondale, former vice president and Minnesota state senator, to the stage of the historic Fitzgerald Theater for an evening of conversation and in-depth discussion on the occasion of Mr. Mondale's new memoir, The Good Fight: A Life In Liberal Politics (written with David Hage). Tickets are on sale now.

In The Good Fight, Mondale traces his evolution from a young Minnesota attorney general, whose mentor was Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, into a U.S. senator himself. He was instrumental in pushing President Johnson's Great Society legislation through Congress and battled for housing equality, against poverty and discrimination, and for more oversight of the FBI and CIA. Mondale's years as a senator spanned the national turmoil of the Nixon administration; its ultimate self-destruction in the Watergate scandal would change the course of his own political fortunes.

Chosen as running mate for Jimmy Carter's successful 1976 campaign, Mondale served as vice president for four years. With an office in the White House, he invented the modern vice presidency; his inside look at the Carter administration will fascinate students of American history as he recalls how he and Carter confronted the energy crisis, the Iran hostage crisis, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and other crucial events, many of which reverberate to the present day. His intriguing memoir ends with his frank assessment of the Bush-Cheney administration and the first two years of the presidency of Barack Obama.

Eloquent and engaging, The Good Fight illuminates Mondale's philosophies on opportunity, governmental accountability, decency in politics, and constitutional democracy, while chronicling the evolution of a man and the country in which he is lucky enough to live.

Garrison Keillor is the recipient of Grammy, ACE and George Foster Peabody awards, and he has been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His books include Lake Wobegon Days, The Book of Guys, Lake Wobegon Summer 1956, 77 Love Sonnets, Pilgrims: A Wobegon Romance, and A Christmas Blizzard.

WHAT: Former Vice President Walter Mondale Walter Mondale in Conversation with Garrison Keillor
WHEN: Monday, November 22, at 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Fitzgerald Theater, 10 East Exchange Street, St. Paul, MN 55101
TICKETS: $20.00. Minnesota Public Radio members receive a $2 discount. With purchase of each $20 ticket, you will receive $10.00 off the price of a copy of The Good Fight: A Life In Liberal Politics from Common Good Books. Just bring your ticket stub to the gift shop counter at the Fitz on the night of the performance to receive your discount. For those not purchasing a book, there are $10 tickets available as well.

OUTLETS:
- Ticketmaster — Tickets are available for the general public through Ticketmaster. Order online through Ticketmaster.com, call (800) 982-2787, or visit any Ticketmaster outlet.
- Fitzgerald Theater — The general public can purchase tickets at the Fitzgerald Theater by phone at 651-290-1200 or in person. Box office hours: Tuesday–Friday, noon–5 p.m. http://fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org/
- Common Good Books — Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Common Good Books, 165 Western Ave. N., St. Paul. Phone: 651-225-8989. Store hours: Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.info@commongoodbooks.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Go to:http://commongoodbooks.com/ or to:http://fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org/

# # #

11/1/10 11/1/10

Thanksgiving Cooking Questions & Emergencies Answered LIVE on Turkey Confidential

Contact: Jacqueline Cartier
(651) 290-1113

Thanksgiving Cooking Questions & Emergencies Answered LIVE on Turkey Confidential

11AM - 1PM ET THANKSGIVING DAY - CALL 1.800.537.5252 OR GO TO SPLENDIDTABLE.ORG

St. Paul, Minn. -(November 1, 2010) - Unanimously anticipated, and unanimously feared, Thanksgiving Day is a time when cooks unite - and "Turkey Confidential" is here to help. Now in its sixth year, "Turkey Confidential", from American Public Media's The Splendid Table, offers cooks an open line to food expert and host Lynne Rossetto Kasper to answer their calls, questions and occasional cries for help. A tradition in kitchen's across the nation, Kasper plays "culinary turkey triage nurse" LIVE on Thanksgiving morning from 11am ET - 1pm ET.

Joining the program this year are international chef and food advocate Jamie Oliver, chef Jose Andres, wine entrepreneur Joshua Wesson, and regular Splendid Table sleeves-up eating guides Jane and Michael Stern. Don't miss Lynne answering listener calls that, if the past is any indication, will range from the hilarious (turkey locked in the oven on self-clean cycle) to the naively hopeful (turkey still frozen solid). With a little luck, and some good advice, Lynne and guests will strive to lead all to a delicious meal and a happy ending.

Listeners can call 1.800.537.5252 for intervention assistance with their impending disasters. Join the fun online at www.splendidtable.org for advice, success stories and menu recipes, and browse or show the nation your own Thanksgiving feats or faux pas photos with the Splendid Table's Flickr photo stream.

Produced and distributed by American Public Media in St. Paul, Minn., The Splendid Table is a culinary, culture and lifestyle program that celebrates the intersection of food and life. The Splendid Table's Lynne Rossetto Kasper takes public radio audiences on a journey of the senses and leads discussions with a variety of writers and personalities who share their passion for culinary delights.

For more information or to interview Lynne or the team, email Jackie Cartier at jcartier@americanpublicmedia.org or call 651.290.1113.

10/29/10 10/29/10

Top Investigative Newsrooms Join Public Insight Network to Strengthen Audience Engagement

Contact: Jacqueline Cartier
(651) 290-1113

Top Investigative Newsrooms Join Public Insight Network to Strengthen Audience Engagement

Platform Facilitates Watchdog Journalism

October 29, 2010 - (St. Paul, Minnesota) - American Public Media's (APM) Public Insight Network has expanded with the addition of three of the nation's premier investigative newsrooms; ProPublica, Center for Investigative Reporting and The Center for Public Integrity. The combination of the country's most powerful platform for journalistic audience engagement and the three partners will yield unprecedented efforts in watchdog reporting efforts.

ProPublica will launch Public Insight on Saturday, October 30, followed by the Center for Investigative Reporting and The Center for Public Integrity later this year. The partnerships, announced today at the 2010 Online News Association conference in Washington, D.C., mark a major milestone for the Public Insight Network initiative founded seven years ago by APM. "The addition of these top-tier news organizations will expand opportunities for citizen sources all over the country to participate in newsgathering, to strengthen their own capacity to hold individuals and institutions accountable, and to affect change in their communities," says Linda Fantin, APMís director of network journalism and innovation.

The Public Insight Network is funded in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and provides individuals a direct channel for sharing their knowledge, experience and insights with reporters around the country. This collaborative model in turn helps newsrooms improve journalistic context, depth and quality while forging deeper connections with the communities they cover.

Bill Buzenberg, executive director of The Center for Public Integrity, helped conceive the Public Insight model while working at APM and says it will help inform the investigative process, pointing reporters in directions they may not have known to go. "As a founder of Public Insight at MPR, I'm thrilled that the Center can now be a part of this incredible resource and help grow the possibilities it holds on journalism's newest digital frontier."

Robert Rosenthal, executive director, Center for Investigative Reporting, adds,"We realize that newsrooms today must have a culture where innovation around technology is central and married to quality journalism. This network is another arrow in our quiver of information gathering and interactivity. The platform will enable us to expand our ability to collaborate, gather information and reach growing and diverse audiences with high quality, trusted information."

Amanda Michel, ProPublica's director of engagement, says that her organization is excited to join the Public Insight Network. "APM's integrated technology and experience will be an asset in our newsroom. But more importantly, joining opens up new opportunities for ProPublica to collaborate with newsrooms around the country and to further evolve our crowdsourcing methodologies."

The investigative news outlets join a growing number of leading news organizations building and engaging the Public Insight Network, from WNYC in New York and The Miami Herald, to Oregon Public Broadcasting and the St. Louis Beacon. Joaquin Alvarado, APM's vice president of digital innovation notes, "Collaboration is the driving force of the Public Insight Network. The addition of these new partners, each a major innovator in the field, will allow us to invest further in supporting investigative journalism in new and unprecedented ways."

The Public Insight Network was founded in 2003, and to date has over 95,000 sources from across the country. Source demographic information and insights are stored in a secure, searchable database where participating journalists can search for knowledgeable sources, test hunches, identify trends and support production of major projects. In the last year alone, Network sources informed or unearthed more than 700 stories for Minnesota Public Radio News and American Public Media shows like Marketplace, and powered watchdog projects like KPCC's coverage of a 2009 riot at California's Chino State Prison. The KPCC investigative series relied on knowledge from Network sources to expose substandard conditions at the prison and fuel a state investigation.

To learn more about American Public Media's Public Insight Network, visit PublicInsightNetwork.org.

10/29/10 10/29/10

Mike Reszler Promoted to Managing Director, Digital Strategies and Content

Contact: Jacqueline Cartier
(651) 290-1113

American Public Media Names Nancy Cassutt Managing Director, National Digital and Emerging Markets

Mike Reszler Promoted to Managing Director, Digital Strategies and Content

St. Paul, Minn. - (October 29, 2010) - American Public Media/Minnesota Public Radio (APM/MPR) announced today that Nancy Cassutt has been named Managing Director, National Digital and Emerging Markets, and that Mike Reszler, current director of digital media, has been promoted to managing director for digital strategy and content.

Cassutt will lead the APM digital team and report to Joaquin Alvarado, APM's SVP of digital innovation. Reszler, who has been with MPR since 2007, will continue to lead MPR's digital initiatives in his expanded role and assume broader responsibilities for developing and managing digital priorities.

"Nancy is the ideal fit to lead our digital team, with her instinct for the digital world that is changing daily," says Alvarado. "Her experience adds to our devoted efforts to be where our listeners are, and where they are going." Alvarado adds, "I've been impressed with Mike's digital deliverables in my time here at APM and I'm excited to get the opportunity to also add him to the national team."

Cassutt says "I am thrilled for the opportunity to join APM for many reasons but one key reason is because of the great content. APM has what so many companies want: excellent content. Excellence in content brings endless opportunities." Cassutt comes to APM as SVP of news and content solutions at Internet Broadcasting, a Twin Cities company that creates and manages web sites for local television stations across the country. She will start on November 15.

MPR/APM is the parent company of Minnesota Public Radio, a 40-station radio network serving virtually all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states and home to the largest and most experienced radio newsroom in the Upper Midwest, and American Public Media, one of the largest producers of public radio programming in the world with a portfolio including A Prairie Home CompanionÆ, MarketplaceÆ, Performance TodayÆ, The Splendid TableÆ, Beingô, and American RadioWorksÆ. MPR/APM programming is listened to by 16 million people each week, including more than 900,000 in and around Minnesota, and is broadcast over 800 radio stations with a total weekly listening audience of 32 million. MPR/APM's nearly 100,000 member-strong Public Insight Network promotes deep connections between journalists across the country and the communities they serve. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services can be found at www.minnesotapublicradio.org and www.americanpublicmedia.org.

10/27/10 10/27/10

Give Future-Jobs-O-Matic! A Whirl to Discover Your Job Forecast

Contact: Jacqueline Cartier
(651) 290-1113

Give Future-Jobs-O-Matic! A Whirl to Discover Your Job Forecast

Interactive Tool Crunches U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Data to Identify Prospects for Over 250 Careers

Visit www.marketplace.org to See How Your Current, and Dream, Career Stacks Up

October 27, 2010 - (Los Angeles, CA) - In an effort to understand, and translate, the ever changing economy, American Public Media's Marketplace dug into the numbers from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics to create the interactive web tool Future-Jobs-O-Matic! Designed to identify which jobs are, and aren't, viable in the future, users are invited to choose their current or goal career path to see how they might do.

The Future-Jobs-O-Matic tackles in a fun way the biggest topic of the upcoming midterm elections; jobs, what jobs are in demand, and why. By clicking on each career, ranging from air-traffic controller to health educator to woodworker, users can identify exactly what the profession entails, the job outlook for the next decade, median income, an informative synopsis of future prospects, and a humorous and insightful "fortune".

The Future-Jobs-O-Matic! also runs down quick top ten lists to uncover the fastest growing, shrinking, highest and lowest paid jobs in the market. Hint: registered nurse and truck driver are featured in the same list. Some interesting facts: both home health aides and elevator repair professionals have great job prospects ahead; while jobs in data entry and printmaking are on the decline.

Along with the Future-Jobs-O-Matic!, Marketplace is running stories all this week about the sustainability of the US jobs market: how this recession is different than those of the past, what skills will be needed by tomorrow's workforce, and specific careers that are on the rise and fall ñ like fisherman and children's fitness instructors.

The Future-Jobs-O-Matic! is the key to your career of the future ñ try it out! Find the job you have ó or the job you want ó and the Future-Jobs-O-Matic! will give you the facts.

10/12/10 10/12/10

Society of Professional Journalists Recognizes Public Insight Network Source

Contact: Jacqueline Cartier
(651) 290-1113

Society of Professional Journalists Recognizes Public Insight Network Source

Sunshine Award Honors Important Contributions in Pursuit of Open Government

October 12, 2010 (St. Paul, Minnesota) - The Society of Professional Journalists has bestowed its coveted Sunshine Award on California resident Charlene Padilla for contributions to Southern California Public Radio KPCC's coverage of a 2009 riot at Chino State Prison. Padilla made her contributions to KPCC's coverage through American Public Media's Public Insight Network, a resource for journalists with more than 96,000 individual sources participating around the country.

The Public Insight Network, funded in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is the industry leading platform for journalistic audience engagement, giving individuals a direct channel for sharing their knowledge, experience and insights with reporters around the country.

KPCC reporter Steven Cuevas says that Padilla is an example of the valuable information the Public Insight Network can bring to journalistic efforts to cover the news, calling her a "true citizen journalist." In announcing the award, the Society of Professional Journalists noted that, although not a trained journalist, "Padilla's qualities of true investigative journalism showed dogged determination, exhaustive documentation and research. As a mother and concerned Californian, she worked to expose and correct substandard conditions in a state prison."

Shortly after the riot, Padilla received a letter from her son, incarcerated at Chino, which described conditions that the media was not reporting on. After learning her son's story she began corresponding with inmates to understand more, and volunteered her information to KPCC reporter Cuevas and Sharon McNary, public insight analyst for KPCC. Padilla was a primary source in KPCC's resulting three-part series, providing dozens of hand-written letters from inmates describing substandard conditions that were posted on kpcc.org. McNary recalls Padilla's perseverance in finding witnesses to the Chino riot, saying, "She had already been writing to people inside the prison to get more details, and she began also sending our questions and asking correspondents if she could share their words with KPCC."

KPCC has been a Public Insight Network partner since mid-2009, using the tool to improve the depth and breadth of its news coverage. The Chino story is among dozens of stories aired by KPCC in the past year - including several award-winning reports - that have used the Public Insight Network.

Founded in 2003, American Public Media's Public Insight Network has more than 96,000 sources around the country who have signed up through websites, social networking, blogs, serious games, email surveys, virtual forums and face-to-face interactions. Demographic information and insights are stored in a secure, searchable database. Participating journalists search the database for knowledgeable sources, or use it to test hunches, identify trends and support production of major projects. In the last year alone, Public Insight Network sources informed or unearthed more than 700 stories for Minnesota Public Radio News and American Public Media programs such as Marketplace.

To learn more about the Public Insight Network, visit PublicInsightNetwork.org.

9/15/10 9/15/10

A Prairie Home Companion Is Cooking Up Plenty Of Excitement As It Kicks Off It's 37th Season

Contact: David O'Neill
(651) 999-1095

A Prairie Home Companion Is Cooking Up Plenty Of Excitement As It Kicks Off It's 37th Season

Season-opening show is Saturday, September 25, at the Fitzgerald Theater,followed by the annual street dance and meatloaf supper

Saint Paul, MN (September 15, 2010) There's a whirlwind of activity in the Prairie Home Companion camp these days. Garrison Keillor is set to kick off the program's 37th season: The opening show and street dance will be held on Saturday, September 25 the live broadcast from the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul, followed by the annual street dance and meatloaf supper on Exchange Street, right in front of the Fitz.

Actress Sue Scott, Tim Russell (the man of many voices), and sound-effects wizard Tom Keith will be on hand, along with the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, led by pianist Richard Dworsky. Special guests include The Derailers, a hard-driving, roots-country band from Austin, Texas, and Rob Fisher leading the White Bear Yacht Club Orchestra, featuring vocalist Christine DiGiallonardo. And of course, everyone can catch up on the news from Lake Wobegon during Keillor's signature monologue.

Following the broadcast, head outside for the Prairie Home Street Dance. Enjoy the music, food (the famous $5 meatloaf dinner!), and fun (contests, prizes, and more), with Garrison leading the festivities. This event is open to the public and free ó save a small charge for refreshments.

And with September 24th marking the 114th anniversary of the birth of F. Scott Fitzgerald, and this year marking the 100th anniversary of the Fitzgerald Theater, APHC is giving a special nod to St. Paul's own. A special F. Scott Fitzgerald Birthday Bash Weekend will draw 250 fans from across the country, many who have never before visited the Twin Cities, to enjoy tours and other Fitzgerald-related events, in addition to the APHC season opener and street dance.

A Prairie Home Companion buffs, nearby and nationwide, will want to tune in (or attend in person) this fall. In the coming weeks, there will be four more live APHC broadcasts at the Fitzgerald Theater: October 2, 9, 16 and 30. And on Thursday, October 21, there is a special Cinecast performance of A Prairie Home Companion ó live on stage at the Fitzgerald Theater and simultaneously broadcast in high definition to movie theaters across the U.S. and Canada. (Details at www.prairiehome.org.) A limited number of tickets to all shows are still available.

A Prairie Home Companion is heard on close to 600 public radio stations across the U.S., with a weekly audience that tops 4.3 million listeners. The program can also be heard on the Armed Forces Network Europe, the Far East Network, and in dozens of European cities via the Astra satellite network.

A Prairie Home Companion is produced by Prairie Home Productions and presented by American Public Media. The show is sponsored nationally by General Mills, Inc. and by Ford. Audio clips, scripts and more information on A Prairie Home Companion can be found online at www.prairiehome.org.

9/14/10 9/14/10

The Charlotte Observer Joins American Public Media's Public Insight Network

Contact: Jacqueline Cartier
(651) 290-1113
jcartier@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

The Charlotte Observer Joins American Public Media's Public Insight Network

Initiative Facilitates Expanded News Coverage through Active Audience Engagement

Saint Paul, MN(September 14, 2010) American Public Media (APM) today announced the addition of The Charlotte Observer as the latest newsroom partner in APM's Public Insight Network.

The Public Insight Network, funded in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is the industry leading platform for journalistic audience engagement, giving individuals a direct channel for sharing their knowledge, experience and insights with reporters around the country. This collaborative model in turn helps newsrooms improve journalistic context, depth and quality while forging deeper connections with the communities they cover.

"We are very excited to have this new way to draw from the vast knowledge base of our community," says Rick Thames, editor of The Charlotte Observer. "We have a wise and engaged public, and the input will add tremendously to the quality of our journalism."

Also, in a first for the Public Insight Network, the Observer has agreed to help create a regional insight hub, and to recruit other Carolina news outlets to collaborate. The first partner in that venture is CharlotteViewpoint.org, a local North Carolina web site that seeks to enrich the intellectual and artistic capital of the region with essays, stories and visual presentations.

The Observer is just the latest in a growing number of leading news organizations, from WNYC in New York and The Miami Herald, to Oregon Public Broadcasting and the St. Louis Beacon, that are building and engaging the Public Insight Network to improve the depth and breadth of news coverage.

The Public Insight Network was founded in 2003, and to date nearly 95,000 people around the country have signed up through websites, social networking, blogs, serious games, email surveys, virtual forums and face-to-face interactions. Demographic information and insights are stored in a secure, searchable database. Participating journalists search the database for knowledgeable sources, or use it to test hunches, identify trends and support production of major projects. In the last year alone, Network sources informed or unearthed more than 700 stories for Minnesota Public Radio News and American Public Media shows like Marketplace. Branching into newspaper newsrooms has long been a goal of APM's Public Insight Network initiative.

"We spend a lot of time researching newsrooms around the country and courting those that value community engagement, embrace collaboration, create opportunity and, above all, pursue remarkable journalism," says Linda Fantin, director of Network Journalism and Innovation at American Public Media. "We're thrilled to partner with The Charlotte Observer, a paper known for innovation and leadership and a perfect match for the Public Insight Network." Joaquin Alvarado, senior vice president of APM, adds, "The new generation of partners like The Charlotte Observer are taking the Public Insight Network project to a whole new level."

To learn more about American Public Media's Public Insight Network, visit PublicInsightNetwork.org.

9/10/10 9/10/10

American Public Media Group Launches Search for New CEO

Contact: Jacqueline Cartier
(651) 290-1113
jcartier@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

American Public Media Group Launches Search for New CEO

Bill Kling to Focus on Public Media's Future

Saint Paul, MN — (September 10, 2010) — American Public Media Group, parent company of Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media, announced today that Bill Kling, the company's founder and its only CEO since 1966, will leave his position with the company in June, 2011. Today's announcement is an important milestone in a succession planning process that has been underway for more than a year and that positions the company for a smooth leadership transition.

Kling, who intends to develop fundraising initiatives outside of APMG to strengthen public media and demonstrate its ability to gather and distribute regional news, has led MPR, APMG and its related companies for more than forty years. His work has helped build APMG into the largest network of public radio stations in the United States and one of the largest producers of public radio programming in the world including A Prairie Home Companion and Marketplace .

"Bill Kling is unique in terms of his ability to sustain an amazing level of energy, vision and creativity over a remarkable and storied career," said Randall Hogan, Board Chair of MPR and APMG, and CEO of Minnesota-based Pentair, Inc. "Most CEOs count their years in office on the fingers of one hand; Bill has twice run out of fingers and toes to mark his years of service but is nowhere near out of ideas, commitment or passion. We're delighted that he intends to continue to lend himself to the cause of public media after APMG. The board, the staff, our members and millions of listeners around the world are grateful for his many contributions, including preparing the organization so well for this inevitable transition."

"This wonderful company exists and has prospered — beyond what any of us imagined back in 1966 — because of a tremendously talented and innovative leadership team, a remarkable group of employees who feel a calling and a passion for what they do and because 161,000 generous supporters value this work," said Kling. "It is this collective belief in the importance of what we do that makes every day a pleasure, and it provides the energy that will lift the company to its next stages of growth and success. It's a privilege to be a part of this team. I look forward to welcoming my successor and — after the transition — to watching this group's achievements for years to come."

Throughout his career, Kling has been a thought leader in new ways to strengthen the financial footing of public media and in ways to make public media more relevant and impactful at the individual and community levels. Kling said he is looking forward to the next phase of his work in this area:

"Journalism is at a crossroads and it's clearer every day that public media has a bigger role to play," Kling said. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with public broadcasting leaders across the country on ideas to strengthen public media's regional newsgathering capacity. This is a great time for a new endeavor, particularly with the surety that APMG and its properties are — and will remain — well managed by a great team and well-led by an exceptional board."

The APMG board of directors has been engaged in executive succession planning across the entire management team on an on-going basis, and has appointed a special committee to direct the CEO succession and candidate search process. As part of its efforts, the succession committee has retained an executive search firm to identify both internal and external candidates for the CEO position.

"Bill and his colleagues have done an excellent job of positioning APMG to be successful in the midst of a rapidly changing media industry," said Ian Friendly, Chair of the APMG Board's Succession Committee and U.S. Retail COO for General Mills, Inc. "APMG is a remarkable media property that is succeeding in a time when many media organizations are failing and other business models are under attack. We expect our search will attract a range of exceptional candidates — from within the company and elsewhere — who understand the landscape, who see the opportunities and who appreciate the special culture and team that has made 44 years of success possible and that is also the key to our future."

Kling started Minnesota Public Radio as an idea at St. John's University in Collegeville , MN , with University President Colman J. Barry, OSB. The first programming on January 22, 1967, was a concert by the Cleveland Orchestra. Today, APMG has grown to be the largest public radio organization in the United States with a network of 44 stations across the country including Southern California Public Radio in Los Angeles and Classical South Florida in Miami. In 1970, Kling was one of the founding trustees of National Public Radio, and he later served as the founding Chairman and CEO of Public Radio International.

For media inquiries, contact Bill Gray, MPR / APM communications director, at 651-734-8239.

###

American Public Media Group is the parent company of Minnesota Public Radio, a 40-station radio network serving virtually all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states and home to the largest and most experienced radio newsroom in the Upper Midwest, and American Public Media, one of the largest producers of public radio programming in the world with a portfolio including A Prairie Home Companion®, Marketplace®, Performance Today®, The Splendid Table®, Being™, and American RadioWorks®. APMG is also the parent company of Southern California Public Radio in Los Angeles, Classical South Florida in Miami, the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul and the Greenspring Company in Minneapolis. APMG programming is heard by more than 16 million listeners on nearly 800 radio stations nationwide each week, and is supported financially by contributions from over 161,000 members. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services can be found at www.minnesotapublicradio.org and www.americanpublicmedia.org.

9/8/10 9/8/10

American Public Media and New York Public Radio Announce Production Deal with Freakonomics Co-Author Stephen J. Dubner

Contact: Jacqueline Cartier
(651) 290-1113
jcartier@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

American Public Media and New York Public Radio Announce Production Deal with Freakonomics Co-Author Stephen J. Dubner

FREAKONOMICS RADIO to Launch This Fall

Will include regular features on Marketplace from APM, a weekly podcast, radio specials, and live events around the country

All content to be co-produced by NYPR's WNYC Productions and APM

( New York and Minneapolis , September 8, 2010) — Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner has entered into a production deal with American Public Media (APM) and New York Public Radio (NYPR) to launch FREAKONOMICS RADIO, announced Dean Cappello, Chief Content Officer and SVP, NYPR, and Judy McAlpine, SVP of APM's National Content Division.

FREAKONOMICS RADIO will include radio, podcast, web and live event programming imbued with the best-selling book's iconoclastic approach to everyday economics — an approach that has found new ways to catch terrorists ( hint : they don't buy life insurance), and found the answers to questions such as, "Which is more dangerous: a gun or a swimming pool?"

Launching this fall, the project will include exclusive biweekly features for APM's weekday business program, Marketplace, and a new podcast exploring "what the hidden side of everything sounds like," released initially as a biweekly offering, then as a weekly offering in early 2011. The audio content will be available on-demand at the project's website, www.freakonomicsradio.com, and on iTunes. Mr. Dubner will continue to maintain, with co-author Steven Levitt, the Freakonomics blog on NYT.com, and Mr. Levitt will appear as an occasional guest on the FREAKONOMICS RADIO podcast.

Additionally, APM and NYPR will work with Mr. Dubner to produce and distribute five hour-long radio specials over the next year and present special live events in markets across the country.

The Marketplace features, the podcast, and the radio shows will be co-produced by WNYC and APM at WNYC's studios in New York. Marketplace programming airs on nearly 400 public radio stations around the country, including NYPR's WNYC Radio in New York.

"My favorite part of writing has always been interviewing people," said Stephen J. Dubner, "And now I get to do a lot more of it. I've loved radio ever since I was a kid, and I particularly love public radio for its smarts and reach. APM and WNYC represent the very best of public radio, and I'm thrilled to be working with them."

"FREAKONOMICS RADIO is a great addition to the portfolio of WNYC productions," said Dean Cappello. "Stephen's approach to such a timely and urgent topic joins Radiolab, On the Media, Studio 360, and The Takeaway in bringing audiences smart and provocative ideas in a high-personality form. We're thrilled to be collaborating with him and the Marketplace team to extend his work to public radio and podcast audiences."

"Stephen's engaging take on the surprising truths behind everyday economic issues is a natural fit with the insightful approach Marketplace takes with business news," said Judy McAlpine . "Nine million listeners turn to Marketplace programming each week for its practical perspective on what the news means for them. We're very excited to add FREAKONOMICS RADIO to the Marketplace/APM franchise, and look forward to a fruitful partnership with WNYC."

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Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, by Stephen Dubner and Steven D. Levitt, is an international best-seller that won the inaugural Quill Award for best business book; was short-listed for the inaugural Financial Times /Goldman Sachs Business Book Award; received a Visionary Award from the National Council on Economic Education; was a BookSense Book of the Year; and was named a Notable Book of 2005 by The New York Times. In 2009, the authors published a follow-up, SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriot Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Health Insurance, which has also been an instant international best-seller. Together, Dubner and Levitt maintain the Freakonomics blog on the website of The New York Times , which has been hailed as "the most readable economics blog in the universe.”

American Public Media Group is the parent company of Minnesota Public Radio, a 39-station radio network serving virtually all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states and home to the largest and most experienced radio newsroom in the Upper Midwest, and American Public Media, one of the largest producers of public radio programming in the world with a portfolio including A Prairie Home Companion ®, Marketplace ®, Performance Today ®, The Splendid Table ®, Being ™, and American RadioWorks®. APMG is also the parent company of Southern California Public Radio in Los Angeles , Classical South Florida in Miami , the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul and the Greenspring Company in Minneapolis. APMG programming is heard by more than 16 million listeners on nearly 800 radio stations nationwide each week, and is supported financially by contributions from over 160,000 members. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services can be found at www.minnesotapublicradio.org and www.americanpublicmedia.org .

New York Public Radio is New York's premier public radio franchise, comprising WNYC-FM , WNYC-AM , WQXR , and The Jerome L. Greene Performances Space , as well as www.wnyc.org, www.wqxr.org and www.thegreenespaceorg . As America's most listened-to AM/FM news and talk public radio stations, reaching 1.1 million listeners every week, WNYC extends New York City's cultural riches to the entire country on-air and online, and presents the best national offerings from networks National Public Radio, Public Radio International, American Public Media, and the British Broadcasting Company. WNYC 93.9 FM broadcasts a wide range of daily news, talk, cultural and music programming, while WNYC AM 820 maintains a stronger focus on breaking news and international news reporting. Classical 105.9 WQXR is New York City's sole 24-hour classical music station, presenting new and landmark classical recordings as well as live concerts from the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, among other New York City venues, immersing listeners in the city's rich musical life. In addition to its audio content, WNYC produces content for live, radio and web audiences from The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, the station's street-level multipurpose, multiplatform broadcast studio and performance space. For more information about New York Public Radio, visit www.wnyc.org , www.wqxr.org , and www.thegreenespace.org.