WVPT RECEIVES THREE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS AWARDS
WVPT FARM SERIES CELEBRATES FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
GOODLATTE ANNOUNCES SATELLITE PROVIDER TO CARRY LOCAL TV STATIONS
WVPT BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER
WVPT—VIRGINIA’S PUBLIC TELEVISION RECEIVES THREE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS AWARDS
“This award goes to…..WVPT!”
WVPT—Virginia’s Public Television received three top Virginia Association of Broadcaster (VAB) awards Friday, June 27, at the VAB’s annual convention in Virginia Beach.
Category Title
Outstanding News Series “Virginia Farming” 2007
Best Station Promotion/Contest WVPT Kids’ Book Festival
Best Website wvpt.net
“WVPT is honored and very proud to receive these awards. They are indicative of the types of quality projects that WVPT produces throughout the year. They are each a product of our mission to make a difference in the lives of our audience, and are examples of our vision to connect the residents of our viewing area to each other, to their country and to the world through the use of broadcast television, the internet and community/educational outreach projects,” said WVPT President and General Manager David Mullins.
Outstanding News Series 2007
WVPT’s “Virginia Farming”
“Virginia Farming” on WVPT—Virginia’s Public Television is the Commonwealth’s only locally produced, weekly televised farm series.
During the series, writer and award-winning host Jeff Ishee reports on the wide variety of commodities raised in Virginia, weather conditions and farm safety. He invites guests from across the state to discuss Virginia’s poultry, beef, dairy, crop, wine, seafood, timber, aquaculture and related industries. He interviews everyone from young farmers to senior farm leaders and discusses timely issues, including immigration and farm bills before the legislature. The series features in-depth interviews, news, statistics and even bluegrass music.
“Virginia Farming” is seen across the nation on the RFD network. This series also airs on Blue Ridge Public Television, serving 29 counties in southwest Virginia; WCVE, serving the Richmond, Virginia area; WHTJ, serving the Charlottesville, Virginia area; and on West Virginia Public Television.
Best Station Promotion/Contest 2007
WVPT Kids’ Book Festival (Charlottesville)
The WVPT Kids’ Book Festival (KBF) is a four-hour, outdoor community event that makes literacy accessible to children at no cost. Throughout the event, area business and community partners provide literacy activities for children and their families. Every child that attends is given a free new book with the option of picking out other “gently read” books to take home. Child-friendly entertainers and mascots delight children throughout the day with stories, puppetry and humor. The day is topped off with free food, as well.
WVPT’s second annual event took place in Charlottesville in September 2007 on the campus of Piedmont Virginia Community College with well over 4,000 people in attendance. This was by far the largest KBF to date. Seventy-five community partners provided literacy activities; over 2,600 new books were distributed, along with 1,100 “gently read” books; and there were 45 stopping points throughout the event with 37 of those being interactive literacy activities. Children ranged in age from birth to 15 with 81 percent of the attendees being under seven years of age.
WVPT KBF Goals:
1. To raise awareness of the importance of literacy in young children so that they arrive at school ready to learn.
2. To demonstrate to parents and caregivers how books can be engaging for all children regardless of age, ethnicity or financial status.
3. To engage community organizations and businesses in these goals to ensure a demonstrated community value on literacy.
4. To provide an event to reach all socio-economic populations that can benefit from support for and education on how to improve the literacy skills of their children at home.
Best Website 2007
www.wvpt.net
WVPT—Virginia’s Public Television’s website – wvpt.net – is an example of positive visual impact, design and creativity. It was redesigned with many updates added in 2007.
Goals for re-design of www.wvpt.net: (appearing no particular order)
1. Bring the site's style and format more in line with pbs.org and wvpt4learning
2. Improve accessibility and maneuverability
3. Update technologies
4. Enhance community portal concept
Methods:
WVPT reduced the deep layers and updated the look of the previous site. The design of the home page better transitions visitors from pbs.org and wvpt4learning to wvpt.net so they have a more seamless experience and the branding value from all three provide a more lasting and powerful impression. Less text and more visuals were emphasized in the redesign. The number of navigations on the home page was reduced and the information presented was shortened and simplified. The home page was also designed with flexibility to grow. Technologies, including videostreaming of local and national content, and online purchasing were added. Web visitors are also linked to YouTube to view clips of WVPT’s locally produced documentaries and are then directed back to wvpt.net. The Community Calendar gives the community opportunity to promote upcoming events.
WVPT FARM SERIES CELEBRATES FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
HARRISONBURG—Congressman Bob Goodlatte returns as special guest on “Virginia Farming” as WVPT—Virginia’s Public Television’s farm series celebrates its five-year anniversary Friday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, March 28, 2003, WVPT premiered the Commonwealth’s only locally produced, weekly televised farm series—“Virginia Farming.” Congressman Bob Goodlatte was the special guest on the premiere.
Over the last five years, “Virginia Farming” has been recognized with four top journalism awards from the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation (VFBF) for outstanding farm news communication. During this time, writer and award-winning host Jeff Ishee has reported on the wide variety of commodities raised in Virginia, weather conditions and farm safety. He has interviewed everyone from young farmers to senior farm leaders and has discussed timely issues, including immigration and farm bills before the legislature. The series features in-depth interviews, news, statistics and even bluegrass music.
This staple of farm news communication continues today. Each week, Ishee invites guests from across the state to discuss Virginia’s poultry, beef, dairy, crop, wine, seafood, timber, aquaculture and related industries.
“My primary goal is to be of service to farmers and agribusiness,” observes Ishee. “Agriculture is important not only to our statewide economy, but it is also important to each of the thousands of farm families in Virginia.” And in five years, this hasn’t changed.
During the anniversary show on March 28, Ishee and Congressman Goodlatte discuss the multi-billion dollar Farm Bill being considered in Washington, D.C.; immigration reform and how it impacts Virginia agriculture; and farmland preservation.
“Virginia Farming” is seen across the nation on the RFD network (Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. and Wednesdays at 1:00 a.m. ET). This series also airs Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. on Blue Ridge Public Television, serving 29 counties in southwest Virginia; Sundays at 1:00 p.m. on WCVE, serving the Richmond, Virginia area; Sundays at 1:00 p.m. on WHTJ, serving the Charlottesville, Virginia area; and on Sundays at 2:00 p.m. on West Virginia Public Television. The 2008 anniversary show repeats on WVPT March 29 and 30 at noon both days.
Bob Goodlatte began his eighth term representing the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia in 2007. His service to the people of the Sixth District began in 1977 when he became District Director for former Congressman Caldwell Butler. He served in this position for two years until 1979, and was responsible for helping folks across the District seeking assistance with or encountering problems from various federal agencies. In 1979, he founded his own private law practice in Roanoke. He was a partner in the law firm of Bird, Kinder and Huffman, working there from 1981 until taking office.
During his time in Congress, Bob has made a name for himself as a leader on Internet and high-tech issues. He is Co-Chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus, and Chairman of the House Republican High Technology Working Group. Bob serves on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law and on the Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property Subcommittee. The Judiciary Committee is well-suited to many of Bob’s legislative priorities including ensuring the Internet is free from regulatory burdens, combating spyware, protecting private property rights and reining in wasteful spending by requiring the government to have a balanced budget.
In addition to serving on the House Judiciary Committee, Bob serves as the Ranking Republican on the House Agriculture Committee. Before his appointment as Ranking Republican at the start of the 110th Congress, Bob served as Chairman of the full Committee. He was elected to serve as Chairman of the full House Agriculture Committee in January 2003 at the start of the 108th Congress and served as Chairman of the Committee throughout the 108th and 109th Congresses, convening 132 Full and Subcommittee hearings and guiding 38 bills under the Committee’s jurisdiction to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
In the last Congress, Bob took a leadership role on issues such as welfare reform and forestry policy, working with his colleagues on the Agriculture and Resources Committees to introduce the President’s Healthy Forest Initiative.
Bob, age 54, is a graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law, and his undergraduate degree in Government was earned at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. He and Maryellen, his wife of 32 years, live in Roanoke and have two children, Jenny and Rob.
Jeff Ishee is Farm Director for WSVA radio in Harrisonburg and hosts “On the Farm Radio,” a syndicated radio show for listeners in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and North Carolina. Ishee is a writer and award-winning farm news broadcaster and has received the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s Agriculture Journalism Award for Broadcasting (radio category) in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, as well as an Honorary Degree from the Future Farmers of America in 2000. He has received a Virginia Farm Bureau Federation farm news communication award for “Virginia Farming” 2003—2006.
He manages retail farmers’ markets and has consulted with numerous organizations on issues relating to public farmers’ markets. Ishee wrote and published Dynamic Farmers’ Marketing: A Guide to Successfully Selling Your Farmers’ Market Products in 1997. He is a columnist for The Virginia Gardener magazine, as well as Staunton’s Daily News Leader.
Ishee has served on the Environmental Awards Selection Committees of the Virginia Poultry Federation, and has served as Vice President of the Virginia Farmers Direct Marketing Association.
To submit program topic ideas, contact Jeff Ishee by phone (540) 363-3938, fax (540)
434-7084 or email Jeff@onthefarmradio.com. Visit www.wvpt.net for the schedule of upcoming guests and to view recent programs videostreamed.
If interested in purchasing an episode of “Virginia Farming” on DVD, please visit www.wvpt.net or email virginiafarming@wvpt.net.
GOODLATTE ANNOUNCES SATELLITE PROVIDER TO CARRY LOCAL TV STATIONS
January 16, 2008
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Bob Goodlatte announced that DirecTV, a satellite television provider, will begin to provide local television stations to consumers in the Harrisonburg, Virginia television viewing area, which includes Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, as well as Augusta and Rockingham Counties. The service is scheduled to begin on January 16, 2008.
“I have been working very closely with DirecTV for years now to bring local television stations via satellite to consumers in this market,” Goodlatte said. “I am extremely pleased to announce DirecTV’s decision to bring local channels to consumers here. Finally, consumers in these rural areas – often beyond the reach of cable lines – will have access to local programming and emergency news and information via satellite.”
“WVPT is excited to now be seen by many viewers in Harrisonburg and the surrounding area, who as DirecTV subscribers have missed this local connection of the Public Television program services we provide,” said David Mullins, President and General Manager of WVPT-TV.
“We are so happy to finally be available by satellite,” said Tracy Jones, Vice President and General Manager of WHSV-TV3. “We have been working for years with Congressman Goodlatte's office to try to coax the process along so that people in the Valley could have access to local news. Now homes in Rockingham, Augusta and Pendleton Counties will get 4 local stations (TV3 ABC, The Valley's FOX, My Valley and WVPT-PBS) -- almost worth the wait.”
DirecTV’s launch will include all television stations that originate in the Harrisonburg viewing area, including the local ABC and FOX affiliates and the local public broadcasting stations.
Before 1999, satellite television providers like DirecTV and DISH Network were not allowed to retransmit local television channels over satellite. Congressman Goodlatte was instrumental in getting the landmark law passed that allowed satellite companies to provide local channels. Congressman Goodlatte also authored a bill to provide loan guarantees to satellite companies who provide this local service, which was signed into law, and he has continued to encourage the rollout of more local television channels via satellite through numerous pieces of legislation since that time.
| WVPT BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER |
HARRISONBURG—The Board of Directors of WVPT—Virginia’s Public television announced that David Mullins, vice president of Marketing at WPBT public television in Miami, Florida, has accepted the position of President and General Manager at WVPT.
Brad Roof, chairman of the WVPT Board of Directors, commented, “David has held a variety of positions at WPBT in both marketing and production during his 19 years there. Prior to joining WPBT, he held other positions in private television broadcasting. David, his wife Clara, and their two children will be joining us soon. We look forward to his coming and to the talents, skills and expertise that he brings to the position.” |
David Mullins
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David Mullins has worked in commercial, cable and public television for more than 28 years. The past 19 have been with WPBT, the PBS station in Miami, Florida.
Since 1998, Mullins has led the development team at WPBT as Vice President of Marketing, overseeing the station’s fundraising departments of membership, pledge, underwriting and special projects. During this time he also served as Executive Producer for a series of award-winning documentaries and other special projects. For these efforts, his team has been recognized with three national PBS Development Awards, as well as multiple Emmy Awards.
Mullins’ extensive production background includes directing nationally broadcast music, documentary and news programs. For seven years, Mullins managed the production and operations areas of WPBT and Comtel, its commercial production facility. While in this position, he was responsible for local productions; client projects; oversight of national PBS productions like “The Nightly Business Report,” “Sunshine Cuisine” and “Surviving The Hurricane;” as well as projects for The Learning Channel and The Travel Channel.
Mullins graduated from Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and had the honor to serve as an Adjunct Instructor with Florida International University in Miami. Most recently he served on the North Miami Economic Development Board, as well as the Production Advisory Committee for the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. He has also been a member of NATAS and the North Miami Chamber of Commerce.
Mullins commented, “WVPT is a great organization. I am excited and honored to work with such a dedicated staff and board Together our goal will be to provide a variety of unique services to educate, enlighten, entertain and inform residents throughout the Shenandoah Valley, Central Virginia and the D.C. areas. We will engage the communities we serve and encourage the sharing of ideas, opinions and information as an electronic town square.”
Brad Roof continued, “Since May we’ve been privileged to have Richard Parker as Interim General Manager. This has been a unique opportunity for WVPT since Richard was WVPT’s General Manager some years ago and has intimate knowledge of the station. He has led us well and we are grateful for his guidance over the past months.”
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