The Splendid Table's national Locavore study participants subtract pounds and waste from sustainable eating habits

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

The Splendid Table's national Locavore study participants subtract pounds and waste from sustainable eating habits

(St. Paul, Minn.) October 13, 2008—Third-quarter results for The Splendid Table Locavore Nation, a one-year qualitative research study on eating sustainably, noted natural weight-loss trends and drastic reduction of waste, especially among those newer to practicing the concept.

Reasons given by the newly slimmer participants were the exercise involved in gardening, eating more conscientiously and walking more as a sustainable choice. The garbage reduction was due to more composting and less packaging.

Meanwhile, as a whole, the group reported eating local organic foods 82.25 percent of the time. The actual range was 52 to 95 percent with all but two recording below 80 percent. Participant Tim Baird of Carrboro, S.C., stressed that the group consciously makes the decision to eat locally where they may have unconsciously chosen packaged and non-local foods previously.

Of 15 initially selected participants, 12 remain as active bloggers and participants of the year-long qualitative study initiated by The Splendid Table in December 2007.

Nine out of the 12 participants said their grocery bills are lower or the same as last year due to gardening, conscious food choices, lack of wastefulness, buying in bulk and preserving food. A majority also reported driving less than usual.

Those who were new to prioritizing local/seasonal food-buying were more likely to report additional lifestyle and personal benefits. Scott Swendsen of Boise, ID said his blood pressure dropped and muscle mass increased. Donna McClurkan of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Gina Keenan Klages of Eau Claire, Wis., both said they will continue making local choices after the year of eating Locavore project is over because of how they now look at food.

"The thing about eating locally is one becomes intensely aware of everything that affects where our food comes from. It is part of who I am now," said McClurkan.

Paulette Thompson, a former Peace Corps member and teacher from Seattle, Wash., offered a lighter view. "I decided to take a Salsa dance class, because I have more energy," said Thompson.

Because of newly noticed quality taste differences, most said they would no longer eat tomatoes and many fruits and vegetables either out of season or delivered long-distance.

About Locavore Nation
The Locavore Nation participants represent a regional geographic and demographic mix and write about their experiences on The Splendid Table Web site at www.splendidtable.org.

When Locavore Nation began, the group agreed to buy or obtain 80 percent of food items from organic local/regional and seasonal sources within 500 miles of their homes. Spices are exempt. All keep food journals to measure progress and note difficulties, resources and local trends. Most are adhering to a 100-mile distance for purchases.

The group was selected from more than 5,000 applicants to explore the obstacles or ease of maintaining a local/regional diet. States represented are California, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. Massachusetts and Oklahoma were represented by two who no longer participate in the blog or the formal survey.

Produced and distributed by American Public Media, The Splendid Table is public radio's only national program exploring the many dimensions of food.

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

Marketplace On-Air Staff Available to Speak about Nation's Financial Crisis

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

Marketplace On-Air Staff Available to Speak about Nation's Financial Crisis

(Los Angeles, Calif.) October 6, 2008—Members of American Public Media's Marketplace news team, providing the program's comprehensive coverage of "Fallout: America's Financial Crisis," are available for interviews on the current financial crisis and other stories you may be developing on business, economics and personal finance news. Please contact Brad Robideau at 651-290-1113 or brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org to schedule interviews.

Marketplace is an award-winning portfolio of business programs (Marketplace, Marketplace Money and Marketplace Morning Report) that provides public radio audiences a smart, witty take on the state of the global economy and how it relates to them. The "business show for the rest of us" breaks down the impact of the week's major national and international stories on our world and on our wallets. The only national business news programs that originate from the West Coast, the Marketplace portfolio is heard by more than 8 million listeners each week, more than any other business program on radio or television. Marketplace is on the Web at www.marketplace.org.

The Marketplace team

Kai Ryssdal has been covering the U.S. and global economies for Marketplace for more than seven years. He has hosted all three programs in the Marketplace portfolio (Marketplace, Marketplace Money and Marketplace Morning Report) and has led their coverage during live broadcasts from Wall Street, China and the Middle East. His keen ear and experienced insights are critical in helping listeners understand the often confusing—but always critical—business and economic stories that happen every day.

Tess Vigeland is a familiar voice to Marketplace listeners and a longtime public radio veteran, both as a reporter and host. In her role hosting Marketplace Money, Vigeland specializes in taking high finance down to the very personal level. It's all about how Wall Street and the economy affect your wallet and your bank account. As the financial crisis of 2008 unfolded, she has profiled homeowners walking away from foreclosed homes and white-collar workers who found themselves at a food pantry for the first time. Vigeland has also helped guide listeners through a forest of financial gobbledygook to understand why the meltdown has landed on their doorsteps. As the show's call-in portion promises, Tess "gets personal."

Chris Farrell brings more than 25 years of experience in economics and personal finance journalism to Marketplace Money. In addition to his central role on the show, he serves as the personal finance expert on Marketplace Morning Report. He's also contributing editor at BusinessWeek magazine. Farrell's latest book, Deflation: What Happens When Prices Fall, was just published by HarperBusiness. He is writing a new book tentatively titled The New Frugality. Farrell's expertise is grasping the macro links between the capital markets and the economy, then translating that understanding into everyone's personal finance concerns.

Amy Scott is Marketplace's New York bureau chief. Her reporting focuses on the financial markets, with an emphasis on the culture of Wall Street. She is available to speak about the roots of the current financial crisis and the impact on Wall Street. In the coming days, Scott will join Marketplace Money host Tess Vigeland on a nationwide tour to cover the impact of the financial crisis on Main Street USA. Scott joined Marketplace in 2001 and has reported on everything from the post-Enron corporate reforms to the national political conventions in 2004 to the subprime mortgage meltdown and current financial crisis.

John Dimsdale is Marketplace's Washington, D.C. bureau chief. A veteran Washington journalist, he covers the intersection of money and politics. Dimsdale reports on the current financial crisis from Congress, the White House, the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Board. With 18 years of experience at Marketplace, he has reported on many of Washington's major issues, including trade, energy, accounting scandals, interest rates and regulatory policy.

Stephen Beard reports on financial and economic policy from Marketplace's London bureau. With his deep expertise in European affairs, Beard covers the international repercussions of America's current financial crisis from the world's other top financial center. A radio journalist for more than 30 years, Beard has worked with several international media organizations, including the BBC and Germany's Deutsche Welle radio network, and his assignments have included reporting from throughout Europe, as well as the Middle East, China, Australia, Malaysia and India.

American RadioWorks Announces Documentaries for Fall 2008

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

American RadioWorks Announces Documentaries for Fall 2008

Lineup Connects Listeners to Issues Important to Upcoming Presidential Election

(St. Paul, Minn.) September 22, 2008—American RadioWorks,^® the award-winning documentary unit of American Public Media,^™ today announced its fall lineup of documentaries. The four new innovative documentaries will provide audiences a deeper understanding of some of the important issues facing the 2008 presidential election.

Fall 2008 Schedule:

September 25—"Pueblo, USA" (Part of "The Real Face of Poverty," American RadioWorks' sustained coverage on issues of poverty and opportunity)

The wave of immigrants from south of the border has forever changed America. Big, coastal cities have absorbed immigrants for decades. But today, immigrants are changing the culture and the economics of cities and small towns nationwide. In the South, a small town adjusts to its deepest cultural change since the Civil Rights movement. And in a Midwestern city, a neighborhood is reborn when immigrants move in—but the rebirth comes at a price. "Pueblo, USA" shows how the immigrants are both a boon and a burden to their new communities.

October 2—"What Killed Sergeant Gray"

American RadioWorks investigates the mysterious death of an Iraq War veteran and uncovers new allegations of detainee abuse. This powerful documentary follows members of a U.S. Army unit and their struggle to come to terms with what they did, and didn't do, in Iraq.

October 9—"After the Projects" (Part of "The Real Face of Poverty")

Around the country, public housing projects are crashing down. Once, the projects were a symbol of hope. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt wanted them to be places for workers and immigrants, people he called "the deserving poor." Starting in the 1970s, neglect turned public housing projects into ghettos of concentrated poverty and violent crime. Now, in the next public housing "experiment," Chicago is replacing the projects and moving residents to mixed-income neighborhoods. But there won't be room for everyone. And a new home may not mean an escape from poverty.

October 16—"Campaign '68"

The dramatic 1968 presidential election was a watershed in American politics. For half a century, the Democratic Party had dominated the political landscape. But in 1968, it crumbled. Richard Nixon was elected president and a new era of Republican conservatism was born. Some say 2008 may be the end of that era. "Campaign '68" will reveal to contemporary listeners the remarkable resonances between these two landmark political years, and how the events and consequences of 1968 help us better understand the 2008 race.

TUNE IN: The documentaries will broadcast on public radio stations nationwide. Check local listings for availability.

WEB SITES: The documentaries will have companion Web sites at www.americanradioworks.org, which include audio, transcripts and links to additional resources.

American RadioWorks
Based in St. Paul, Minn., American RadioWorks is public radio's largest documentary production unit. American RadioWorks creates documentaries, series projects and investigative reports for the public radio system and the Internet. Its hour-long specials provide in-depth reporting on public affairs, social and cultural subjects and the 20th-century experience. Major funding for American RadioWorks is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. American RadioWorks is on the Web at www.americanradioworks.org.

American RadioWorks on iTunes U
In partnership with Apple,^® American Public Media has created a rich archive of journalism from American RadioWorks and other signature radio programs available on the popular iTunes U platform. Get free, easy access to in-depth audio journalism that spans the globe and expands your mind with downloadable programs and interviews, searchable by subject; printable transcripts; discussion questions; and links to online resources: annotated program notes, primary source information, reading lists and interactive timelines.

American Public Media and V-me Offer Select A Candidate in Spanish

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

American Public Media and V-me Offer Select A Candidate in Spanish

Popular Online Survey Tool to Engage Spanish-speaking Audiences

(St. Paul, Minn. & New York) September 22, 2008—With the Hispanic vote expected to play a significant role in this year's presidential election, American Public Media^™ has teamed with V-me, American's fastest growing Spanish TV network, to create and distribute a Spanish version of American Public Media's widely popular Select A Candidate^® online election survey tool (http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/engage08/selectacandidate/sp/).V-me has provided the translation and distribution support for Select A Candidate as part of its PARTICIPA 2008 initiative.

With the Spanish application of Select A Candidate, American Public Media andV-me will engage Latino voters through a series of online questions about major issues so that they can quickly learn which 2008 presidential candidates are most closely aligned with their views. Latino voters will also learn more about the candidates' positions on many issues and find out how their results compare with those of others who take the survey. Select A Candidate is regularly updated during the course of the election to reflect candidates' issues as they emerge in greater detail.

For free HTML code to put the Select A Candidate widget on a Web site, visit http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/engage08/selectacandidate/sp/widget/.

"American Public Media appreciates V-me working with us to engage Spanish-speakers with Select A Candidate," said Sarah Lutman, American Public Media's senior vice president of Content and Media. "By many indications, including from those of the presidential candidates, Latino voters will be a major force in this year's historic election. American Public Media hopes Select A Candidate will be a useful tool to help these voters make informed decisions."

"V-me's PARTICIPA 2008 initiative has raised the bar for informing and empowering Latinos in the electoral process," said John Begert, V-me's chief marketing and branding officer. "Bringing a Spanish version of Select A Candidate online in time for our special Presidential Debate, Interactive Forum and Election Eve coverage creates a new and significant voter education resource."

Select A Candidate is an interactive audience engagement tool created by American Public Media as part of Engage 08, American Public Media's collection of 2008 election coverage resources. These resources include interactive tools that provide unique ways in which to educate, inform and entertain the electorate. Since its fall 2007 launch, nearly 700,000 people have played Select A Candidate.

PARTICIPA 2008, V-me's year-long commitment to quality multi-platform political coverage and voter education in Spanish, is made possible in part by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

About V-me
V-me, the new Hispanic Television option, entertains and informs America's Latino families in Spanish with primetime drama, music, sports, current affairs and Latin cinema, along with world class kids, food, lifestyle and nature. Currently available in over 6 million US Hispanic homes and 40 million total homes, the 24-hour network, partnered with public television, is America's largest Spanish digital channel. V-me is the first venture of the media production and distribution company, V-me Media Inc. To find out more, visit www.VmeTV.com.

Play Budget Hero and Learn How Your Fiscal Priorities Match Up with Senator John McCain's and Senator Barack Obama's

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

Play Budget Hero and Learn How Your Fiscal Priorities Match Up with Senator John McCain's and Senator Barack Obama's

(St. Paul, Minn.) September 17, 2008—If elected president, Senator John McCain promises to restore the Republican Party's reputation for fiscal restraint. Senator Barack Obama says he'll go through the federal budget line by line. But you don't have to wait until after Inauguration Day to see how their policies would affect the country's finances or how they align with your priorities.

American Public Media today announced an updated version of its highly popular Budget Hero (www.budgethero.org), an online game that allows ordinary citizens to see how their priorities and values would cost or save the country. Players can now compare their fiscal choices with those of presidential nominees Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama.

American Public Media created Budget Hero in consultation with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Public Agenda and The Concord Coalition. Budget Hero relies primarily on the budget model and forecasts provided the Congressional Budget Office, as well as numbers from independent think tanks such as the Tax Policy Center.

Budget Hero players work to achieve a variety of financial and policy goals in the game. Financial goals might include balancing the federal budget by a certain year, eliminating the national debt or limiting the size of government by keeping it at a certain percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (or GDP, which measures the size of the economy). Policy goals might include providing universal health coverage, fully funding No Child Left Behind or raising or lowering income taxes.

Since its launch in May, nearly 130,000 people have played Budget Hero. Many have said Budget Hero has changed their thinking about the federal budget.

The recently updated Budget Hero allows players to now see how their fiscal priorities match up with Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama. To earn a candidate "badge," players must select at least two-thirds of that candidate's policies.

Senator John McCain's policies by budget category:

• Keep Bush tax cuts (Taxes)
• Cut corporate taxes (Taxes)
• Link AMT to inflation (Taxes)
• Give credits for health insurance (Taxes)
• Lower estate taxes (Taxes)
• Increase tax exemptions for kids (Taxes)
• Make research tax credit permanent (Taxes
• Expand tax write-offs for business (Taxes)
• Give prize for cheaper car battery (Science & Nature)
• Increase funding for cleaner coal (Science & Nature)
• Eliminate pork-barrel spending (Misc.)

Note: Senator McCain declined to provide American Public Media with descriptions and cost estimates for his policies. As a result, there are fewer policy options for Senator McCain than Senator Barack Obama in the areas of health care, education and infrastructure. The McCain options contained in Budget Hero were derived from publicly available campaign literature and independent think tanks and are therefore limited in detail and scope.

Senator Barack Obama's policies by budget category:

• Keep Bush tax cuts for all but the rich (Taxes)
• Cap and limit greenhouse gases (Taxes)
• Giver workers a tax credit (Taxes)
• End income taxes for seniors (Taxes)
• Make research tax credit permanent (Taxes)
• Increase tax credits for college (Taxes)
• Give mortgage credit to all filers (Taxes)
• Freeze estate tax rates (Taxes)
• Expand funds and testing in K-12 (Schools & Kids)
• More for after-school learning (Schools & Kids)
• Fund research on clean energy (Science & Nature)
• Provide relief for states (Infrastructure)
• Offer government health plan for all (Health Care)

Note: The cost estimates and descriptions of the above policies were developed with the help of independent think tanks and Senator Obama's economic advisors.

To learn about how to embed the Budget Hero widget to a Web site, visit http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/engage08/budgethero/widget/.

Additional support for Budget Hero has been provided by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Richard Lounsbery Foundation.

Farewell, Beaux Arts

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

Farewell, Beaux Arts

American Public Media's Performance Today Presents an Exclusive Podcast of the Legendary Piano Trio's Final American Concert

(St. Paul, Minn.) August 27, 2008—Capping a 53-year career, one of the world's best-loved chamber ensembles, the renowned Beaux Arts Trio, played its final American concert on Thursday, August 21. American Public Media's Performance Today is offering an exclusive podcast of this historic concert. Beginning on Wednesday, August 27, the concert at Massachusetts' Tanglewood Music Festival will be available in its entirety, in two segments, by visiting www.performancetoday.org.

Led for more than half a century by pianist Menahem Pressler, the legendary Beaux Arts Trio will disband after a series of European concerts in September. With the concert at Tanglewood, the ensemble returned to its place of origin—it played its first concerts there in 1955. The occasion also marked a return to repertoire it made American audiences familiar with over the decades: Franz Schubert's magisterial opus 99 and opus 100 piano trios. The group's three encores will also be included in the podcast.

Fred Child, host of Performance Today, served as host for an exclusive live webcast of the August 21 concert, and he'll provide commentary, features and interviews with the members of the trio: pianist Menahem Pressler, violinist Daniel Hope and cellist Antonio Meneses.

"Their playing was searching and soulful, enough to make any evening memorable," said Child. "But what really touched me was the depth of gratitude I felt surrounding the concert that night. How do you thank an ensemble for 53 years of moving performances? And how does an ensemble thank fans for as many years of rapt listening and support? The trio and the audience wanted nothing more than to express warm and heartfelt thanks...and both did."

In addition to the podcast, the Schubert performances will also be broadcast on Performance Today on Wednesday, August 27 and Thursday, August 28. The show is available through streaming audio at www.performancetoday.org for seven days after the initial broadcast.

American Public Media's Performance Today is broadcast on 245 public radio stations across the country and is heard by more than one million listeners each week. Performance Today features live concerts by famous artists in concert halls around the globe and from the American Public Media studios as well as interviews, news and features. Listeners to Performance Today, on any given day, may hear from performances in the great concert halls of New York, Prague, London, Berlin and Paris.

To find out where and when Performance Today is broadcast in your area, please visit www.performancetoday.org.

Southern California Public Radio to Bring Award-Winning Public Radio Programming to Coachella Valley Beginning August 22

Contact:Betty St. Peter
(213) 621-3471
bstpeter@scpr.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

Southern California Public Radio to Bring Award-Winning Public Radio Programming to Coachella Valley Beginning August 22

(Pasadena, Calif.) August 22, 2008—Southern California Public Radio today announced it will begin broadcasting in the Coachella Valley on 90.3 KPCV starting Friday, August 22. Coachella Valley residents will now be able to tune to 90.3 KPCV for 24-hour public radio news—with the most complete offering of NPR, American Public Media^™ and PRI programming plus award-winning regional coverage from SCPR's News Team.

With a newsroom that has won nearly 200 awards for journalistic excellence, SCPR produces in-depth public affairs programs that address the most important issues affecting the Southland: the weekday programs with renowned columnist Patt Morrison and AirTalk^® with Larry Mantle, and the weekend news, life and arts magazine, Off-Ramp^® with John Rabe.

SCPR is also the local home for public radio's signature programs, including A Prairie Home Companion,^® Marketplace,^® Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Car Talk.

"We are delighted to extend SCPR's service to the residents of the Coachella Valley by broadcasting on 90.3 KPCV," said Bill Davis, President of Southern California Public Radio. "The Coachella Valley is an increasingly important part of the Southland—in terms of population, obviously, but also in terms of its economic, political and cultural impact on the larger metropolitan area. KPCV's award-winning reporting from Steven Cuevas and others will help listeners throughout the Southland have a better understanding about what's happening in the Coachella Valley and vice versa."

Additional programming information for 90.3 KPCV will be available at www.scpr.org.

Southern California Public Radio is the member-supported non-profit organization that operates 89.3 KPCC in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and its repeater station, 89.1 KUOR in the Inland Empire. Bureaus are maintained in downtown Los Angeles, Orange County, Sacramento, and on the campuses of the University of Redlands and Pasadena City College.

American Public Media announces new Weekend America host

Contact: Margaret Ann Hennen
(651) 290-1071
mhennen@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

American Public Media announces new Weekend America host

John Moe named to new position

(St. Paul, Minn.) August 5, 2008—American Public Media^™ announces today the appointment of John Moe as host of Weekend America,^® public radio's show about what's happening around the country this weekend. The program connects listeners to the most fascinating events and stories of the day, through eye-opening, memorable and inventive reports. Weekend America is a news program with a human touch, substance informed by humor—and that's the perfect venue for John Moe.

"John's a veteran, of public radio and also of this show," said Sarah Lutman, American Public Media's senior vice president of Content and Media. "He's been doing segments with us since the start, first as a freelance reporter and later as senior reporter. John is smart, funny, thoughtful, and he connects perfectly with the mission of the show."

Moe begins his new host position on Aug. 16. Before joining the show, Moe hosted many different programs at Seattle public radio (KUOW) and was a staff writer at NPR's Rewind. He continues to write occasional columns for McSweeney's and The Seattle Times, and writes about music, TV and film for MSN.

Desiree Cooper will become a senior correspondent for Weekend America.

"Desiree is a great, natural storyteller," said Peter Clowney, Weekend America executive producer. "Her essays and reports have deepened the program—and now we'll get to showcase Des's talent even more."

Bill Radke is leaving Weekend America.

"Bill has contributed to the sound and shape of Weekend America," said Clowney. "His comfort in front of the microphone, his ease with listeners, and his quick wit are rare skills and ones we know will continue to serve him well in this business. We thank him for everything he has done for the program."

Weekend America is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and American Public Media. It is heard on more than 140 public radio stations nationwide, including in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, and Boston.

In the Interest of the Public Public Interest Set-aside Is Critical To Justify XM - Sirius Satellite Merger

In the Interest of the Public
Public Interest Set-aside Is Critical
To Justify XM - Sirius Satellite Merger

In 1945, the FCC set aside frequencies in the then new FM band for public service radio. That decision eventually resulted in public radio: NPR, American Public Media, PRI and some 2900 public radio stations throughout America. Today, the FCC Commissioners have another opportunity to demonstrate their obligation to support the public interest. In approving the merger of XM and Sirius satellite radio, they can require conditions that will affect future generations of Americans as much as their predecessors' 1945 decision has.

In a matter of hours or a day or two, the FCC will be creating an unprecedented monopoly in one category of the broadcast spectrum. Rather than the “business merger” approved by the Justice Department, the FCC approval will create a “spectrum merger” monopoly – something few have focused on.

Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate has the final vote on this merger – the swing vote – and the leverage to require appropriate concessions for allowing a monopoly merger. If the FCC approves the XM-Sirius merger without a public interest set-aside of channels receivable by all audiences without obligation, fees or authority of the Sirius-XM management, or without mandating access to local digital radio services, it will be granting an entire technology to one entity with no return to the public. It is similar to their granting the entire FM spectrum to Clear Channel without requiring anything for the public that they represent. Proponents have argued for 25% of the channels for the public interest and minorities. FCC Chairman Martin has suggested 8%. Setting aside 25% of this satellite spectrum would enable 75 national public service stations to be created. The Chairman's proposal of 8% would equate to a mere 24 channels. Somewhere in that range there is a compromise. But what is cruical is that those channels be “open access”. That they be free of control by XM-Sirius. That all Americans with satellite receivers be able to receive them without cost, and that the monopoly operator (XM-Sirius) not be able to dictate programming, channel operators, programmers, or costs.

The current FCC commissioners can be visionary, as their predecessors in the 1940s were, or they can surrender the public airways to a single commercial entity. To do the latter without any gain for the public is unconscionable.

Non-commercial, non-profit broadcasters need long-term assurances of their right to broadcast on these channels in order to justify investment in them. Similar to terrestrial broadcast licenses, a public interest set-aside assures the permanent use of that part of the spectrum. Non-commercial broadcasters should not be at risk of being removed for XM-Sirius business reasons or of having escalating charges for non-commercial use of the channels. For the public good, for the principles of the First Amendment, and to provide some balance to this explicit monopoly, non-commercial broadcasters need to have control of their channels unfettered by the owner of the satellite system.

While NPR, American Public Media and PRI advocate setting aside 25% of the satellite radio capacity (spectrum and booster spectrum), we are most strongly concerned about the independence and open access of whatever spectrum the Commission allocates.

Open access is consistent with the philosophy of public service channels. Open access ensures public access without restrictions, and it is the price the satellite operator should pay for the monopoly use of the remainder of this spectrum.

This set-aside would benefit the public interest through increased diversity of programming on satellite radio. Such expanded diversity would also benefit XM-Sirius as an incentive for consumers to purchase satellite radio receivers.

In addition to a public interest set-aside for the satellite spectrum, the FCC should require that all satellite radio receivers be capable of receiving the new digital radio signals broadcast by local radio stations. This would put local radio on a par with satellite, assure access to local weather and safety information, and partially offset the negative consequences of a monopoly on the satellite spectrum.

With foresight, the FCC Commissioners can leverage the US Congress' investment in public radio. Without the assurance of public interest set-aside spectrum and signal agnostic HD digital radio receivers, the public interest will not be served by this merger.

The FCC's decision sets the path for satellite radio. Will that path continue the American tradition of serving the public interest, or will it serve the private interests of the XM-Sirius monopoly? That decision rests today with the three FCC Commissioners who are voting for this proposal against the objections of the two who do not support creating a monopoly of such unprecedented magnitude. We hope they have not forgotten the American public ñ the people they were placed in office to represent.

Dennis Haarsager	Interim CEO	National Public Radio
William H Kling	President & CEO	American Public Media
Alisa Miller	President & CEO	Public Radio International

July 24, 2008

American Public Media to Cancel Word for Word

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.orgAmerican Public Media to Cancel Word for Word

(St. Paul, Minn.) July 15, 2008—American Public Media^™ is cancelling Word for Word,^™ effective August 8, 2008.

For the last two years, Word for Word has provided listeners with the very best of the nation's speeches from several notable institutions. While American Public Media believes in the importance of Word for Word to bring these speeches to its audiences, American Public Media is continuously evaluating all of its activities, programs and services to determine where it makes the greatest impact and how it achieves its long-term strategic goals.

"American Public Media's accountability to our audiences is the principle guide in our decision-making," said American Public Media COO Jon McTaggart. "A big part of that accountability is spending all of our resources effectively and efficiently.

"Despite our best efforts, the program has not gained significant station carriage," said McTaggart.

American Public Media's American RadioWorks Wins 2008 Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

American Public Media's American RadioWorks Wins 2008 Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism

(St. Paul, Minn.) June 10, 2008—American Public Media^™ today announced that its award-winning documentary unit, American RadioWorks,^® has won a 2008 Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism in the radio category for its documentary, "Wanted: Parents." Presented by the Journalism Center on Children & Families, the Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism recognize exemplary reporting on children and families in the U.S.

Wanted: Parents profiles teenagers on the verge of aging out of foster care who agreed to try once more to trust a family. Producers Catherine Winter and Ellen Guettler spent more than a year following a brother and sister as they searched for a family and a home to call their own. The documentary presents their story and the voices of their foster parents, adoptive parents, social workers and child advocates. Wanted: Parents is available online at www.americanradioworks.org.

Judges' Citations: "Adopting an infant is a common story, while finding a home for teenagers living in foster homes is more difficult to tell. A fascinating portrait of teens in the foster care system faced with aging out of state care, as they question whether they are adoptable and whether they want to be. A painfully real story of the ups and downs of finding love, family and permanence."

American RadioWorks will receive its Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism at a ceremony in Washington, DC on October 22, 2008.

American RadioWorks
Based in St. Paul, Minn., American RadioWorks is public radio's largest documentary production unit. American RadioWorks creates documentaries, series projects and investigative reports for the public radio system and the Internet. Its hour-long specials provide in-depth reporting on public affairs, social and cultural subjects and the 20th-century experience. Major funding for American RadioWorks is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. American RadioWorks is on the Web at www.americanradioworks.org.

American RadioWorks on iTunes U
In partnership with Apple,^® American Public Media has created a rich archive of journalism from American RadioWorks and other signature radio programs available on the popular iTunes U platform. Get free, easy access to in-depth audio journalism that spans the globe and expands your mind with downloadable programs and interviews, searchable by subject; printable transcripts; discussion questions; and links to online resources: annotated program notes, primary source information, reading lists and interactive timelines.

American Public Media's The Splendid Table Wins 2008 James Beard Foundation Award

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

American Public Media's The Splendid Table Wins
2008 James Beard Foundation Award

(St. Paul, Minn.) June 10, 2008—American Public Media^™ today announced that The Splendid Table^® has won the 2008 James Beard Foundation Award in the Radio Food Show category. Referred to by TIME magazine as "The Oscars of the food world," the James Beard Foundation Awards honor culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their field.

Produced and distributed by American Public Media in Saint Paul, Minn., The Splendid Table is a culinary, culture and lifestyle one-hour program that celebrates the intersection of food and life. Each week, The Splendid Table's Lynne Rossetto Kasper leads public radio audiences on a journey of the senses and leads discussions with a variety of writers and personalities who share their passion for the culinary delights. The Splendid Table won its first James Beard Foundation Award in the Best National Radio Show category in 1998.

The Splendid Table production team includes host Lynne Rossetto Kasper, managing producer Sally Swift, producer Jennifer Russell and technical director Jennifer Luebke. The program is on the Web at www.splendidtable.org.

American Public Media Receives Renewal Grant from The Kendeda Fund for Continued Global Sustainability News Coverage and Programming

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

American Public Media Receives Renewal Grant from The Kendeda Fund for Continued Global Sustainability News Coverage and Programming

(St. Paul, Minn. & Los Angeles, Calif.) May 21, 2008—American Public Media today announced it has received renewed support from The Kendeda Fund that will total $3 million through 2010 for continued in-depth news coverage and programming on global sustainability issues across several American Public Media programs. Tide Foundation's Kendeda Sustainability Fund, a donor-advised fund, was the original funder of American Public Media's Sustainability Initiative.

For the past three years, American Public Media has been aggressively reporting on global sustainability through ongoing coverage across six programs and through many high-profile special series. American Public Media's Marketplace, Marketplace Morning Report, Marketplace Money, American RadioWorks, Being, and Weekend America have produced programming that tells the unfolding story of sustainability as it becomes an ever larger issue in the national and global dialogue over how we use the Earth's resources. American Public Media also created Consumer Consequences, an interactive game that lets people see the environmental consequences of their lifestyles.

The Kendeda Fund renewal grant will allow Marketplace, Marketplace Morning Report, Marketplace Money, American RadioWorks, Being, and Weekend America to continue their ongoing sustainability coverage with a focus on the people, groups and ideas offering concrete answers to the interconnected problems of global sustainability. Some have called this task ahead of searching for solutions and overcoming their obstacles the "Big Re-design." American Public Media's "Big Re-design" reporting and programming will be aimed at individuals and their activities at the grass-roots level, while underscoring the scale and breadth of the "Big Re-design" effort.

"The Kendeda Fund's support for Marketplace and the suite of American Public Media programs is designed to bring about a truly transformational body of work within the field of public radio," said Diane Ives, Fund Advisor, The Kendeda Fund. "While some mainstream media outlets are faced with cutting back on the ability to do more in-depth and comprehensive reporting, American Public Media is training a more focused eye on the concept of a sustainable economy, and is exploring it as the multi-faceted, contradictory and intriguing concept that it really is."

"American Public Media considers sustainability a crucially important topic," said Bill Kling, president and CEO of American Public Media Group. "The Kendeda Fund's renewal increases our capacity to communicate sustainability issues through a far-reaching network of innovative programming. American Public Media's global sustainability coverage will constitute a comprehensive forum for opinion, analysis, commentary and solutions to the most pressing sustainability issues around us."

The Kendeda Fund is a charitable giving program dedicated to exploring how human beings can relate to one another and to this planet more mindfully and use resources equitably. Through its grant making, the Fund is committed to examining two of the critical questions confronting humanity: How do we live within the limits of the natural world in ways that promote community, equity, and health? and How do we redefine prosperity so that it leads to deeper contentment in our lives?

NEW ONLINE GAME EMPOWERS ANYONE TO BE AMERICA'S "BUDGET HERO"

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

NEW ONLINE GAME EMPOWERS ANYONE TO BE AMERICA'S "BUDGET HERO"

American Public Media and the Woodrow Wilson Center launch new "serious" game for public to weigh values and develop insight on managing the federal budget

(St. Paul, Minn.) May 12, 2008—On a recent episode of the U.S. television game show "Deal or No Deal," President George W. Bush made a highly unusual appearance and sought host Howie Mandel's help to deal with the federal budget in upcoming talks with Congress. President Bush can now turn to millions of Americans for this help as American Public Media, in partnership with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, announces the launch of "Budget Hero"—an online game that lets citizens weigh in on where their tax dollars should go.

"Budget Hero is a new type of journalism that gives people the big picture on the complex and fragmented federal budget process. We created this news game to help Americans feel they can understand and participate in the national debate over the election, the budget and the direction of our country," said Michael Skoler, executive director of the Center for Innovation in Journalism at American Public Media. "It isn't easy to be a Budget Hero in the game. You have to stay true to the values you express in the first screen and create a budget that achieves your main goals without jeopardizing the fiscal health of the nation for your children and grandchildren."

As players choose from over 100 policy cards, they explore the pros, cons and social impact of the most important policy issues and choices facing our country. "Budget Hero" players get immediate feedback on their choices through a budget "skyline" that shows how their policies affect money for areas like defense, education and health care. They also watch as meters show them how their choices affect national debt, the size of government and the year the budget goes bust (when there's no money left beyond Social Security, health care and interest on debt). The game gives players an accurate yet simplified understanding of the federal budget.

"The saying 'you can't understand until you walk a mile in someone else's shoes' best describes Budget Hero," said David Rejeski, who heads the Serious Games Initiative at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. "The game empowers players to take on the role of our government officials and allows anyone to try out their solutions and ideas on how to manage the federal budget."

Players can open up large categories of the budget and review "cards" that represent specific policy decisions. Players choose among the policy decisions by "playing" the card or cards that align with their values. So under Defense and Diplomacy, for example, a player may choose to pull all troops from Iraq by 2010, withdraw troops over five years, or stay the course in Iraq and add two new Army divisions.

Players can work to achieve a variety of financial and policy goals in the game. Financial goals might include balancing the federal budget by a certain year, eliminating the national debt or limiting the size of government by keeping it at a certain percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (or GDP, which measures the size of the economy). Policy goals might include providing universal health coverage, fully funding No Child Left Behind, or raising or lowering income taxes.

"Budget Hero is unique in that it provides the player with immediate feedback on how their choices affect the federal budget in terms of revenues, spending, deficit and debt, and the economic, societal and individual impact of their policy choices," added Skoler. "And the game collects the choices players make, as well as their comments, so our journalists learn how people think through the budget debate.""Budget Hero" players can also compare how their policy choices and budgets stack up to other players across a wide range of demographic groups based on gender, income, age, political loyalty or region. American Public Media is also hosting an online discussion for players of "Budget Hero" on Gather.com (http://budgethero.gather.com/?ref=apm_budgethero).

American Public Media is offering the game to other public radio and television stations, and even commercial news organizations, as a widget that can be imbedded in a Web site, so these media groups can directly engage their audiences in the national political debate.

Additional support for "Budget Hero" has been provided by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Richard Lounsbery Foundation.

To play "Budget Hero," visit www.BudgetHero.org.

American Public Media has created a "widget" version of Budget Hero to embed on Web sites. Marketplace, American Public Media's award-winning daily business and economics news program, is featuring the Budget Hero widget at http://marketplace.org/budgethero.

To learn more about how to add the Budget Hero widget to a Web site, visit http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/engage08/budgethero/widget/.

About Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (www.wilsoncenter.org) is the living, national memorial to President Wilson established by Congress in 1968 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center establishes and maintains a neutral forum for free, open and informed dialogue. It is a nonpartisan institution, supported by public and private funds and engaged in the study of national and international affairs.

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION'S "SUMMER NIGHT IN LAKE WOBEGON" RHUBARB TOUR HITS THE ROAD AUGUST 10th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: David O'Neill
Prairie Home Productions
Phone: 651-999-1095
E-mail: davido@prairiehome.us

May 6, 2008

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION'S "SUMMER NIGHT IN LAKE WOBEGON" RHUBARB TOUR HITS THE ROAD AUGUST 10th

Garrison Keillor and company to play 16 cities

(SAINT PAUL, Minn.) The 2008 A Prairie Home Companion "Summer Night in Lake Wobegon" Rhubarb Tour kicks off on August 10th for a 16-city run that will take the troupe from coast to coast.

Garrison Keillor describes the ramble this way:

"The Home of the Heart Tour is the soul of A Prairie Home Companion - stories from Lake Wobegon, passionate duets, the philosophy of Guy Noir, wild radio dramas starring sound-effects genius Fred Newman, and the incredible Guy's All-Star Shoe Band. "

"This is the show I'd do if I could only do one more show. It's the essence of everything from the past 34 years of Prairie Home that was funny and heartbreaking and made for great radio. The terrific Suzy Bogguss joins us for the singing, and Guy Noir reminisces about his salad days in the P.I. business, and I'll tell about the little town that time forgot and State Fairs and the first girl I loved, and we'll all sing 'America the Beautiful' and go home."

Beginning its 35th season in September 2008, A Prairie Home Companion is heard by some 4 million listeners on more than 500 public radio stations nationwide, as well as on XM Radio, 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 the Sleep Number Bed by Select Comfort. Audio clips, scripts and more information on A Prairie Home Companion can be found online at www.prairiehome.org.

WHAT: A Prairie Home Companion's "Home of the Heart" Rhubarb Tour hits 16 cities beginning August 10, 2008

WHO: Garrison Keillor, the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, singer Suzy Bogguss, sound-effects wizard Fred Newman

WHEN/WHERE:

Aug. 10 Bayfield, WI - Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua
Aug. 12 Lewisburg, WV - State Fair of West Virginia Grandstand
Aug. 13 Indianapolis, IN - Indiana State Fair Grandstand
Aug. 14 Bismarck, ND - Bismarck Civic Center
Aug. 15 Seattle, WA - Marymoor Park (Redmond, WA)
Aug. 16 Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
Aug. 17 Des Moines, IA - Iowa State Fair Grandstand
Aug. 19 Salt Lake City, UT - Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series
Aug. 20 Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Aug. 21 Ocean Grove, NJ - The Great Auditorium
Aug. 23 Essex Junction, VT - Champlain Valley Fair Grandstand
Aug. 24 Gilford, NH - Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion
Aug. 26 Santa Fe, NM - The Santa Fe Opera
Aug. 27 Salem, OR - Oregon State Fair, L.B. Day Amphitheater
Aug. 31 Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent
Sept. 1 Cohasset, MA - South Shore Music Circus

TICKET INFO: See links at www.prairiehome.org

ABOUT SUZY BOGGUSS: go to www.suzybogguss.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION: go to www.prairiehome.org, or contact David O'Neill at davido@prairiehome.us

# # #

American Public Media's Being Wins 12th Annual Webby Award

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

American Public Media's Being Wins 12th Annual Webby Award

(St. Paul, Minn.) May 6, 2008—American Public Media's Peabody Award-winning Being with Krista Tippett—public radio's premier in-depth conversation about religion and spiritual ethics in individual and public life—has won a 12th Annual Webby Award from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.

Established in 1996, the Webby is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Web sites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile web sites. Being won the Webby in the "Religion and Spirituality" category. Being was the first public radio program ever to be honored with the prestigious prize, winning its first Webby Award in the same category in 2005.

Created and designed by Being Online Editor Trent Gilliss, with the contributions of Being's production staff, speakingoffaith.org offers a behind the scenes look at the radio production with complimentary multimedia content such as unedited mp3s of the radio interviews, videos and slide shows, and a new staff blog called SoF Observed.

The 12th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from all 50 states and more than 60 countries worldwide. The Webby Awards will be presented June 10 at a ceremony in New York City.

Just as religion has emerged as a powerful and at times dangerous force in global life, Being has innovated a new journalistic paradigm to address it with unparalleled creativity, depth and diversity. Created as an occasional series at American Public Media in 2001 and launched weekly in 2003, the show is now heard on more than 200 public radio stations in the U.S. and globally via Web and podcast.

Being's host and creator Krista Tippett brings a rare combination of intellect and compassion to her interviews, moving far beyond wedge issues and polarizing voices. She engages theologians, scientists, philosophers and a wide array of other thinkers and activists to reframe public conversation about some of the largest issues of our time. A complete archive of programs can be accessed at speakingoffaith.org.

American Public Media’s Being Wins 12th Annual Webby Award

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

American Public Media’s Being Wins 12th Annual Webby Award

(St. Paul, Minn.) May 6, 2008—American Public Media’s™ Peabody Award-winning Being® with Krista Tippett—public radio’s premier in-depth conversation about religion and spiritual ethics in individual and public life—has won a 12th Annual Webby Award from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. 

Established in 1996, the Webby is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Web sites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile web sites.  Being won the Webby in the "Religion and Spirituality" category.  Being was the first public radio program ever to be honored with the prestigious prize, winning its first Webby Award in the same category in 2005.

Created and designed by Being Online Editor Trent Gilliss, with the contributions of Being’s production staff, speakingoffaith.org offers a behind the scenes look at the radio production with complimentary multimedia content such as unedited mp3s of the radio interviews, videos and slide shows, and a new staff blog called SoF Observed.

The 12th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from all 50 states and more than 60 countries worldwide.  The Webby Awards will be presented June 10 at a ceremony in New York City.

Just as religion has emerged as a powerful and at times dangerous force in global life, Speaking of Faith has innovated a new journalistic paradigm to address it with unparalleled creativity, depth and diversity. Created as an occasional series at American Public Media in 2001 and launched weekly in 2003, the showis now heard on more than 200 public radio stations in the U.S. and globally via Web and podcast.

Being’s host and creator Krista Tippett brings a rare combination of intellect and compassion to her interviews, moving far beyond wedge issues and polarizing voices.  She engages theologians, scientists, philosophers and a wide array of other thinkers and activists to reframe public conversation about some of the largest issues of our time.  A complete archive of programs can be accessed at speakingoffaith.org.

The Splendid Table Locavore Nation Participants Report Ability to Fulfill 57 Percent of Food Needs Locally

Contact: Kathleen Davies
651-605-5172
kdavies94@msn.com

The Splendid Table Locavore Nation Participants Report Ability to Fulfill 57 Percent of Food Needs Locally

(St. Paul, Minn.) April 16, 2008—First-quarter results for The Splendid Table^® Locavore Nation, a one-year qualitative research study on eating sustainably, reveal 14 out of 15 participants are maintaining a local/regional diet at least 45 percent of the time and the overall average for the 14 was 57 percent. One of the members made the 80 percent goal.

Although a few participants in rural or northern areas of the country expressed frustration over price and fewer sources for fresh produce in winter, surprisingly, cost was not a factor for most and healthier, more conscientious eating habits were reported as a tangible benefit.

The group was selected by The Splendid Table in December 2007 from more than 5,000 initial applicants to explore the obstacles or ease of maintaining a local/regional diet. Produced and distributed by American Public Media,^™ The Splendid Table is public radio's only national program exploring the many dimensions of food.

The criteria the group agreed to meet was to average 80 percent of food items purchased or obtained from organic local/regional sources within 50 to 500 miles of their homes. Spices are exempt. The group also keeps food journals to measure progress and note difficulties, resources and local trends. Most are adhering to a 100-mile distance for purchases.

"Hitting 40 percent would be amazing during winter for almost anyone in the U.S.," according to Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of The Splendid Table. "The group surpassed all our expectations."

The Locavore Nation participants, who represent a national geographic and demographic mix, write about their experiences on The Splendid Table Web site at www.splendidtable.org.

Difficulties experienced by the group include: narrowing the amount of variety in their diets; seasonal sacrifices such as no berries in winter; eliminating tropical fruits; driving long distances to find suppliers; taking time to learn about sources; and cooking from scratch. Non-local foods most report buying are organic coffee, special fruits, wine, chocolate and, for some, staples like flour and sugar.

Only two expressed pessimism about the Locavore movement and knowing where food is produced. The first was concerned about cultural elitism and affordability for those on a poverty level. The second was troubled that the movement may obscure more major issues, such as global warming and genetically modified plants (GMO), unaddressed by U.S. government policy.

The remainder of the participants expressed optimism and pleasure at the strong support they get from friends, family and others adopting sustainable lifestyles. Some were touched by the positive experiences of interacting with and learning from their farmer/suppliers. They also believe they are supporting their communities and farm economies strongly by purchasing locally.

Participants agreed to the stringent diet out of concern about industrialized food production methods in the U.S. potentially affecting the nutritional quality of food and other health-related issues from E-coli and salmonella contamination to obesity.

The Splendid Table also assists those confused about making good choices in a new book, How to Eat Supper.

Updates on Locavore Nation progress will be issued quarterly. A final report, focusing on regional issues and findings, will be released in January 2009.For details about individual results, contact Kathleen Davies at 651-605-5172 orKdavies94@msn.com.

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

American Public Media and The San Francisco Symphony's The MTT Files Wins Peabody Award

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

American Public Media and The San Francisco Symphony's The MTT Files Wins Peabody Award

(St. Paul, Minn.) April 4, 2008—The MTT Files, a public radio series produced by American Public Media and the San Francisco Symphony and hosted by the renowned San Francisco Symphony music director Michael Tilson Thomas, has won a 2007 Peabody Award.

Michael Tilson Thomas, also known as MTT, is acclaimed for his work as a conductor, composer and as one of the great communicators about music in the world today. In The MTT Files, Tilson Thomas metaphorically pulls out some of his "files"—files full of ideas about music and art, and reminiscences of the legendary artists he has known throughout his career—to create eight very original and personal one-hour radio programs. The series includes an episode featuring Tilson Thomas in conversation with James Brown, in one of the soul singer's final interviews before his death.

Announcing the Peabody Award, Horace Newcomb, director of the Peabody Awards, said, "In these beautifully crafted radio pieces, conductor Michael Tilson Thomas examines a series of his personal files that range over an expansive world of music from Igor Stravinsky to James Brown. The subjects and topics in Tilson Thomas's explorations broaden our knowledge as they delight our brains and our imaginations."

The Peabody Awards are the oldest honor in broadcasting and widely considered electronic media's most coveted award. The Peabody Awards recognize excellence and meritorious work by radio and television stations, networks, Webcasters, producing organizations and individuals. For more information, visit www.peabody.uga.edu.

The Peabody Awards will be presented June 16, 2008, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Brian Williams, anchor of NBC Nightly News, will host the ceremony.

The MTT Files was produced and mixed by Tom Voegeli of American Public Media. Voegeli also wrote, produced and mixed American Mavericks, a public radio series also produced in association with the San Francisco Symphony and hosted by Tilson Thomas. American Mavericks won a Peabody Award in 2004. Voegeli is also the executive producer of From the Top, a weekly radio showcase of America's top young classical musicians, hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher O'Riley.

The MTT Files are supported by a grant from Koret Foundation Funds and by members of Minnesota Public Radio. The MTT Files are part of Keeping Score, made possible with lead funding from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund and with generous support from The James Irvine Foundation, Marcia and John Goldman, Nan Tucker McEvoy, William and Gretchen Kimball Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, and others.

In November 2006, the San Francisco Symphony launched Keeping Score, a national television series aimed at making classical music more accessible to people of all ages and musical backgrounds. The Keeping Score project features PBS telecasts, a national radio series, interactive websites, and a K-12 education program. For additional information, visit www.sfsymphony.org and www.keepingscore.org.

American Public Media has the largest broadcast audience reach of any classical music radio producer in the United States. Through global partnerships with leading music organizations, the European Broadcasting Union, the BBC, orchestras, festivals, vocal ensembles, and artists, American Public Media's classical music service delivers performances and insight from around the world to its listeners. American Public Media's classical music portfolio includes nationally renowned programs Performance Today, SymphonyCast, Pipedreams, and Saint Paul Sunday.

American Public Media’s Being Wins Peabody Award

Contact: Brad Robideau
(651) 290-1113
brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org
www.americanpublicmedia.org

American Public Media’s Being Wins Peabody Award

(St. Paul, Minn.) April 2, 2008—American Public Media’s™ Being™ with Krista Tippett—public radio’s premier in-depth conversation about religion and spiritual ethics in individual and public life—has won a 2007 Peabody Award for its program, “The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi.”  The citation reads, “Delving into the ‘adventurous, cosmopolitan’ Islam of a 13th century Persian poet now enjoying revival worldwide, this public-radio series continues to illuminate connections among people of all faiths.” 

Announcing the award, Bel Hernandez, Chair of the Peabody Board, said, “This hour of Being… exemplifies the approach of the long-running series.  Here, spirituality and faith in contemporary life always remain central, and are explored with extraordinary breadth and understanding." 

Just as religion has emerged as a powerful and at times dangerous force in global life, Speaking of Faith has innovated a new journalistic paradigm to address it with unparalleled creativity, depth and diversity.  Created as an occasional series at American Public Media in 2001 and launched weekly in 2003, the showis now heard on more than 200 public radio stations in the U.S. and globally via Web and podcast.

Being’s host and creator Krista Tippett brings a rare combination of intellect and compassion to her interviews, moving far beyond wedge issues and polarizing voices.  She engages theologians, scientists, philosophers and a wide array of other thinkers and activists to reframe public conversation about some of the largest issues of our time.  A complete archive of programs can be accessed at www.speakingoffaith.org.

The Peabody is electronic media’s most coveted award.  The 2008 awards will be presented June 16 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.  Brian Williams, anchor of NBC Nightly News, will host the ceremony. 

“The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi” program was funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.  Speaking of Faith also receives support from the Ford Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, the George Family Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, Inc., the Marbrook Foundation, and the Kendeda Sustainability Fund of the Tides Foundation.