Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Press Gazette - Top 2010
Warren Gerds column: Top TV, radio stories of 2010
Green Bay Press Gazette - Green Bay, Wis.
| Author: | Warren Gerds |
| Date: | Jan 4, 2011 |
| Start Page: | B.7 |
| Section: | Life |
| Text Word Count: | 461 |
Document Text
The big story in TV and radio locally in 2010 is about a fallout. Looking back:
* Profound: The makers of the "Wisconsin Vietnam War Stories" public TV documentary help inspire the landmark LZ Lambeau, an emotional welcome-home weekend at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The program earns a regional Emmy, and the event inspires similar welcome-homes elsewhere.
* Vince lives on: HBO and the Green Bay Packers do up the premiere of the documentary "Lombardi" big. Bart Starr, Jerry Kramer and Dave Robinson appear, and the showing is electric. "To premiere 'Lombardi' at Lambeau Field -- I really can't think of anything more perfect," says producer Joe Lavine.
* Headaches: WBAY, Channel 2, and WPNE, Channel 38, share the same tower and share transmission problems that last for almost five months. Six channels are affected.
* Radio changes: Soft-pop WECB ("The Breeze") is replaced by quicker-paced hits on WCHK ("Chuck FM) at 104.3 and 103.5 FM. The 24/7 Christmas music of the past shifts to WCHK's Internet station. WAUN, 92.7 FM shifts from smooth jazz to light jazz-rock. Alt-rock WZNN ("The Zone") switched to adult album alternative WKRU ("The Cruise") at 106.7 FM.
* He's honored: John Anderson of ESPN's "SportsCenter" and ABC's "Wipeout" returns to Green Bay Southwest High School to accept his alma mater's first distinguished alumni award.
* Academics, too: Professors associated with "A Mirror of Our Culture: Sport & Society," a notable academic conference hosted by the Packers and St. Norbert College, closely examine TV sports viewing and find it "active and participatory" -- yelling for the home team -- rather than passive. Yeah.
* Glib, plus: Globetrotting Anthony Bourdain of TV's "No Reservations" makes a spontaneous, entertaining, acerbic appearance at the Weidner Center.
* Death: Personable former WLUK meteorologist Bob Thomas, noted for sailing the world for 10 years, dies at age 89. His family lays a wreath in his honor in waters off Egg Harbor Yacht Club.
* Eight for eight: Green Bay native Tony Shalhoub earns an eighth -- and final -- Emmy Award nomination for his role on "Monk."
* From here: Two local women are featured in TV series, Marcia Prentice in HGTV's "Design School" and Sharon Hinnendael in Showtime's late-night "Look."
* Ripple effect: Using sophisticated techniques and stories with power, the Green Bay made documentary "The Hidden Homeless" reaches a statewide audience, earns national honors and carries on as part of an exhibit on local poverty.
* Yawn patrol: WBAY, Channel 2, moves its morning newscast a half-hour earlier, 4:30 a.m.
* More than a tweak: Time Warner Cable changes its digital experience for subscribers.
Warren Gerds writes about television and radio for the Press-Gazette. Write to him at P.O. Box 23430, Green Bay, WI 54305-3430 or e-mail wgerds@greenbaypressgazette.com.
Press Gazette - Hidden Homeless
Warren Gerds column: 'Hidden Homeless' documentary explores world of homeless youth
Green Bay Press Gazette - Green Bay, Wis.
| Author: | Warren Gerds |
| Date: | Sep 14, 2010 |
| Start Page: | B.7 |
| Section: | Life |
| Text Word Count: | 645 |
"A lot of our students will move eight, 10, 12 times during an academic year, in and out of homeless situations and sometimes in and out of what somebody might consider a stable living situation," Ali Draheim, coordinator for at-risk programs for Green Bay schools, says on a remarkable TV documentary, "The Hidden Homeless."
The program is another revealing exploration from a well-respected collaborative that tackles hard topics.
"The Hidden Homeless," which will be broadcast statewide Thursday, tells the stories of four teens.
Amber lived on the streets in Milwaukee, Scott on an island in Menominee, Mich., Justin in an abandoned bus in Escanaba, Mich., and Savannah in various locations in and out of Green Bay after her mother was sent back to prison.
One of the program's compelling scenes follows Savannah to Taycheedah Correctional Institution to visit her mother.
The mother is tearful as she mourns the loss of years not seeing her daughter while growing up. Savannah is stoic. She relies on an outlet, perhaps a surprising one.
"You can really get your emotions out when you play an instrument," she says. Savannah played string bass in school orchestras.
April Strom-Johnson, co-founder of Good Samaritan Charities in Green Bay and a mentor to Savannah, says many teens with parents in prison look on the situation with relief, as if the parents are safe.
The program uses the term "hidden homeless" because the homeless youth often take pains to blend in. They dress like others -- or play in the school orchestra -- and pass under the radar as being homeless.
Teens become homeless for many reasons. The main one is family conflict, says Todd Witt, program director for Walker's Point Youth and Family Center in Milwaukee.
The youth are leaving situations of abuse or neglect -- homes with a significant amount of trauma and conflict, Witt says.
Strom-Johnson says she senses a feeling that "outsiders" show up and become homeless in Green Bay.
"I have young people that I see from every ethnicity, from every race, from every part of the county, from people who have lived in shelters for years and people who have never been in a shelter," Strom-Johnson says.
"But the majority of the people that we're serving in the homeless community are homegrown homeless, if you will. They are from this area. They are from the Green Bay area. They are from the Brown County area. They are from the Northeastern Wisconsin area."
The program tracks the four teens out of the depths. Savannah is seen graduating from high school and looking forward to attending the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
This is one of the most tightly made programs to come out of the association of Northeastern Wisconsin-In School Telecommunications, Cooperative Educational Services Agency 7, Educational Television Productions of Northeast Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Television.
Plans of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction are to submit "The Hidden Homeless" for a national media award.
Warren Gerds writes about television and radio for the Press-Gazette. Write to him at P.O. Box 23430, Green Bay, WI 54305-3430 or e-mail wgerds@greenbaypressgazette.com.
On TV
What: "The Hidden Homeless"
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: WPNE, Channel 38, and statewide via Wisconsin Public Television and Milwaukee Public Television
A technique
"The Hidden Homeless" documentary does not use a narrator. The only voices heard are of participants.
"Sometimes I think the narrator gets in the way of things," said Eileen Littig, a Green Bay-based educational TV producer who teamed with Dean Thomas to put together the 30-minute program.
"We just wanted the story told through the agency people and the people who work with the kids and the kids themselves -- their own voices, nothing to get in the way."
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
Abstract (Document Summary)
A lot of our students will move eight, 10, 12 times during an academic year, in and out of homeless situations and sometimes in and out of what somebody might consider a stable living situation," Ali Draheim, coordinator for at-risk programs for Green Bay schools, says on a remarkable TV documentary, "The Hidden Homeless. Press Gazette - Warren Gerds
Green Bay, Press Gazette
Warren Gerds column: Top TV, radio stories of 2010
♦ Ripple effect: Using sophisticated techniques and stories with power, the Green Bay made documentary "The Hidden Homeless" reaches a statewide audience, earns national honors and carries on as part of an exhibit on local poverty
Press Gazette - TV Future
Unique Green Bay TV unit looks to future
Green Bay Press Gazette - Green Bay, Wis.
| Author: | Warren Gerds |
| Date: | Jul 11, 2005 |
| Start Page: | D.1 |
| Section: | Thats Life |
| Text Word Count: | 539 |
Document Text
A William Shakespeare title may apply to a TV situation that burst on the Green Bay scene in early 2002: "All's Well That Ends Well."
After Wisconsin Public Television announced it would shut its production center at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay after 30 years, 54 parents, kids, educators, public officials and everyday citizens from an array of cultural backgrounds spoke against the action at a public forum.
"Wisconsin Public Television had a $1-million problem, and ending the facility here in Green Bay was one logic that made some sense -- and the people in Green Bay didn't agree, so we worked together and formed a new solution," says William Hynes, president of that "new solution," Educational Television Productions of Northeast Wisconsin.
"In the end, they saved considerable money, and we have an independent, grass-roots organization still producing high-quality videos and working together. So what's not to like?"
The topic arises because ETP-NEW has extended its contract with its landlord, UWGB, and is close to signing a contract extending its ties with Wisconsin Public Television and UW-Extension.
This means "Teen Connection" and documentaries made by the teamed entities will continue to be made in Green Bay and broadcast statewide.
"We're also looking for other independent producers or organizations that want and have a need for educational video productions," Hynes says. "We're trying to hold our base and expand at the same time -- 'maintain and improve' is the old adage."
Hynes is president of St. Norbert College. The 12-member ETP-NEW board he heads is made up of business, educational and community leaders.
Among other ETP-NEW productions, the past year saw "Teen Connection" programs on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual teens; AIDs; ethics; and prisons. A showpiece is "You Don't Want to Live in My House," a remarkable program made by inmates at the Green Bay Correctional Institution.
"The documentaries and 'Teen Connection' are all cutting edge," Hynes says. "Sometimes they're very controversial, but they all try to speak authentically about what is happening inside our community."
To celebrate its continuation, ETP-NEW will hold an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 17 at the UWGB production facility. Details will be made known closer to the date.
* More VOD: Three more free video on-demand channels have been added by Time Warner Cable.
TNT on Demand (channel 914) carries original TNT movies and behind the scenes footage from TNT drama series. TBS on Demand (915) offers episodes of "Outback Jack." Oxygen on Demand (930) offers original Oxygen movies and such shows as "Drastic Plastic."
As with a long list of other VOD channels, these may be viewed anytime and can be fast-fowarded, paused and replayed.
* Shalhoub appearances: Tony Shalhoub has another guest spot lined up. He's scheduled for "Last Call With Carson Daly" at 12:30 a.m. Friday on WGBA, Channel 26.
Shalhoub's appearance last Thursday on NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" found him chatting about his Screen Actors Guild awards for "Monk" (which resumed Friday), his two daughters, his family of 10 brothers and sisters and a family reunion this month in Wisconsin.
Warren Gerds writes about television and radio for the Press-Gazette. Write to him at P.O. Box 23430, Green Bay, WI 54305-3430 or e-mail wgerds@greenbaypressgazette.com.
Press Gazette - Public TV Survival
Green Bay public TV facility celebrates survival
Green Bay Press Gazette - Green Bay, Wis.
| Author: | Warren Gerds |
| Date: | Aug 15, 2005 |
| Start Page: | D.1 |
| Section: | Thats Life |
| Text Word Count: | 784 |
Document Text
The "Teen Connection" folks are holding an open house Wednesday to celebrate and say thanks.
"So many in the community helped us -- donors and people who went to the public hearing," says public TV producer Eileen Littig of Green Bay.
Littig is referring to April 24, 2002, when people gathered at Brown County Central Library to speak on behalf of the production facility that was facing closure due to budget problems at Wisconsin Public Television.
"What at the time looked to be a hopeless situation turned out to be a relatively successful grass-roots effort," says Paul Jadin, president of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
The entity did not survive intact, but an independent organization came along to keep avenues open for Green Bay to remain a hub of documentary making: Educational Television Productions of Northeast Wisconsin.
"We were worried that if we lost this production facility that these kinds of programs would not be produced not only here but not be produced in the state because we have such a good track record," says William Hynes, president of St. Norbert College as well as of ETP-NEW.
"They can be produced elsewhere theoretically -- in Milwaukee or Madison -- but here is the place where the network and the traditions of doing this are aligned well."
Located at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the facility has turned out statewide "Teen Connection" broadcasts along with numerous documentaries on tough topics for three decades.
"They add value in providing stories about important issues -- Hmong families who have come to Green Bay, the changing diversity of Green Bay, teenage suicide -- and having those stories told by people who are directly involved," says Nancy Armbrust, ETP-NEW board secretary and vice president of education and community relations for Schreiber Foods.
Wednesday's event includes a meet-and-greet hour with hors d'oeuvres, a few brief remarks from key people and the showing of video highlights from the past year.
Of note, projects include the four "Teen Connection" programs broadcast statewide and the documentary "You Don't Want to Live in My House" made by inmates of the Green Bay Correctional Institution.
"The open house is primarily to let people know we're still here," says Dean Thomas, ETP-NEW executive director. "We made it through the first year. It looks like we're pretty much set on a contract for next year (with Wisconsin Public Television and UW-Extension).
Ahead, the center has a "Teen Connection" broadcast set for Oct. 18 on teens and prescription drugs. Among other projects, it's at work on a documentary on restorative justice.
"With restorative justice, you have a group of victims who talk to a group of inmates," Thomas says. "We're putting a face on crime, realizing that there are many victims in a crime, not only the victim and their family but sometime even the perpetrator's family.
Also on the horizon is a companion piece to "You Don't Want to Live in My House" involving the women's prison, Taycheedah.
Keeping the Green Bay facility going was important in two ways to Jadin.
"The programming that we've enjoyed here is first rate, first of all," he says.
The studio also is useful for other activity.
"When there were major statewide events that required some sort of weigh-in from Green Bay, it would have been nearly impossible to have everyone drive to Madison every time there needed to be an interview," Jadin says.
Had not 54 parents, kids, educators, public officials and everyday citizens spoken out in 2002, it's doubtful the facility would be operating today with the support of a nonprofit, tax-deductible 501C corporation.
"There were two years of functioning before that, basically with a handshake," Hynes says. "Now we're more formal. We have a 12-member board, and we have signed and sealed contracts with UWGB as our landlord and a master contract we are about to sign with Wisconsin Public Television and UW-Extension."
It's still not easy, notably the funding part. Some programs in production need a financial lift, and they're not all heavyweight programs.
One is on Ten Chimneys, the estate at Genesee Depot of Broadway theater legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.
Also possible is a piece for the "In Wisconsin" series on the Green Bay East-Green Bay West 100th anniversary football game.
"That looks like something that would be really fun to do," Thomas says.
Warren Gerds writes about television and radio for the Press-Gazette. Write to him at P.O. Box 23430, Green Bay, WI 54305-3430 or e-mail wgerds@greenbaypressgazette.com.
If you go
* What: Educational Television Productions of Northeast Wisconsin open house
* When: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday
* Where: Production center at Instructional Services Building at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
* Admission: Free
Press Gazette - Images of Hope
Green Bay Press Gazette December 10th 2010
'Images of Hope' exhibit at Neville Public Museum puts local face on poverty's struggle
A photo exhibit designed to bring awareness about poverty in the Green Bay area is on display at the Neville Public Museum of Brown County.
Included are photographs and the stories of the eight people who took the photographs.
Text describes a person's or family's situation and what led to their struggle or poverty, including medical bills, drug use and being a single parent.
"Those are their words," said Bobbie Lison, budget counselor at Catholic Charities.
The participants were chosen through local agencies that include Catholic Charities' financial health program, the Salvation Army's transitional living program and Integrated Community Service's Leaving Homelessness Behind program.
"It does take a lot of courage, and actually one of those stories in the exhibit is my story," Lison said. "From my own personal viewpoint, it's a scary thing to do. It's a scary thing to kind of admit. You're opening yourself up.
In her panel, Lison describes herself as a single mother of three who at times held two jobs to try to make ends meet and spent time in a domestic abuse shelter.
"A lot of the people had some concerns, but we look at it more as an empowerment thing to say, 'We can use our stories to enlighten the community about what life is really like and the struggles that we face and use those stories to bring about change," Lison said. "So it's about advocacy and empowerment."
Included in the exhibit is a seven-minute clip from "The Hidden Homeless," a locally made documentary that recently won a national award.
The exhibit is a joint effort of the museum and Seeds of Hope, a community initiative.
"Seeds of Hope has been in existence for a little over two years, and we kind of used the Bay Area Community Council's white paper on poverty that identified eight areas that people need to kind of overcome or do well in and succeed and move away from poverty," Lison said.
The exhibit project is all-volunteer group that contributed to the project, including making the graphic art designs in a brochure and the display.
"The objective is to bring community awareness about poverty in our community but also to try to get people involved in helping solve the issues surrounding poverty," Lison said.
Three free events will be held at the museum in coming months in association with the exhibit.
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