Radiowaves Will Be Featuring Stories About WPR and WPT's History of Innovation and Impact on Public Broadcasting Nationally

Home , All Things Considered, Charlie Sykes, Michel Martin, On Point, Tom Ashbrook

ON AIR & ONLINE FEBRUARY 2017

Final Forte WPR at 100 Meet Alex Hall Centennial Events Internships & Fellowships

Featured Photo Earlier this month, WPR's To the Best of Our Knowledge explored the relationship between love WPR Next" Initiative Explores New Program Ideas and evolution at a sold- out live show in Madison, We often get asked, "Where does WPR come up with ideas for its sponsored by the Center programs?" First and foremost, we're inspired by you, our listeners for Humans in Nature. and neighbors around the state. During our 100th year, we're looking Excerpts from the show, to create the public radio programs of the future with a new initiative which included storyteller called WPR Next. Dasha Kelly Hamilton (pictured), will be We're going to try out a few new show ideas focused on science, broadcast nationally on pop culture, life in Wisconsin, and more. You can help our producers the show later this month. develop these ideas by telling us what interests you about these topics. Sound Bites Do you love science? What interests you most ---- do you wonder about new research in genetics, life on other planets, or ice cover on Winter Pledge Drive the Great Lakes? What about pop culture? What makes a great Begins February 21 book, movie or piece of music, and who would you like to hear WPR's winter interviewed? How about life in Wisconsin? What do you want to membership drive is know about our state's culture and history? What other topics would February 21 through 25. you like to hear explored? Celebrate 100 years of information and We want to hear from you. Send us your ideas, topics and more at inspiration with your gift [email protected], using the subject line "WPR Next." We can't today! promise that every topic will end up in a program, but we can promise that we'll read every idea you send our way. Join Us to See Historic Read about the WPR Next initiative at wpr.org/next. Sites, National Parks and More Got the travel bug? Join Final Forte Broadcast and us on an exciting Live Event Showcase adventure with a WPR Young Artists, March 29 host this spring, summer or fall. Experience the beauty of musical expression, the amazing technical Click here to find out mastery of young musicians, and more. the drama of competition as four gifted young artists compete in the final round of the 2017 Bolz Young WisContext Series Artists Competition. Julian Rhee Looks at Drinking Water

(violin), Naomi Sutherland (harp), Quality WisContext ---- a Michael Wu (piano), and Yaoyao collaborative reporting Chen (violin) will each perform project between WPR, with the Madison Symphony Orchestra at Madison's Overture Hall. Wisconsin Public Television and The concert will be co-hosted by WPR Hosts Lori Skelton and Jim Cooperative Extension Fleming and broadcast statewide on WPR's NPR News & Classical ---- took a look at Music Network and on Wisconsin Public Television at 7 p.m. on Wisconsin's drinking Wednesday, March 29. The concert is free and open to the public, water quality in one of the but reservations are required to attend in-person. latest series. Click here to reserve your seat for the concert. Visit WisContext.org for more on emerging BEHIND THE SCENES issues.

Quick Links

WPR Online Donate Now WisContext NPR Online

Listen Live to Ideas Ideas Schedule

WPR at 100: The NPR Connection Listen Live to NPR News & Music In 1967, 50 years after the launch of Wisconsin Public Radio, the NPR News & Music U.S. Congress established the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Schedule (CPB), which created PBS and NPR a few years later.

Wisconsin already had a national reputation for innovation in public Be Part of WPR's Online broadcasting. Wisconsin Public Television was the first public Community television station in the nation to win a national Emmy Award, and WPR's statewide network of stations and ground-breaking work in distance learning were a national model. So it was natural that NPR, which was established in February 1970, would find a few experienced partners with Wisconsin connections to get off the ground.

Jack Mitchell, who was NPR's first employee, was hired to develop programs with Bill Siemering (pictured above), who had worked at WPR in high school and college. The two, along with others, created NPR's first program, All Things Considered. Siemering also wrote the first NPR charter and worked for stations around the nation and around the world. Jack returned to Wisconsin and served as WPR director for more than 20 years, during which he launched The Ideas Network and long-running programs such as Whad'Ya Know?

Among other national connections, WPR was the first radio station to receive a CPB grant for its National Center for Audio Experimentation and, later, Music Director Don Voegeli's Electrosonic Studio, where the All Things Considered theme ---- still in use today ---- was written. The national effort to revive radio drama in the 1970s, Ear Play, was directed by WPR's Karl Schmidt in collaboration with NPR and other stations.

Throughout our centennial year, RadioWaves will be featuring stories about WPR and WPT's history of innovation and impact on public broadcasting nationally.

Explore our interactive timeline, find events, and share your story at wpr.org/100.

Meet Alexandra Hall, WPR's New Mike Simonson Memorial Investigative Reporting Fellow

"My goal is to craft stories that are surprising, sound-rich and relevant, with a focus on sharing the voices of immigrants, low- income workers and rural communities with WPR listeners throughout the state," said Alexandra (Alex) Hall.

During the one-year fellowship, Alex will work collaboratively with WPR and the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism to deepen her skills in investigative journalism, editing and on-air radio production. Named for award-winning WPR Reporter Mike Simonson, who passed away unexpectedly in 2014, the fellowship is funded by private donors who valued Mike's legacy of investigative reporting.

"When I read about the fellowship, I thought it sounded like a job designed specifically for me. I am honored to have been chosen and am truly looking forward to the experience," Alex said.

Alex previously worked as a bilingual producer for NPR's Investigative Unit and at Reuters TV in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, she worked on the international desk at CNN Chile and as a freelance radio reporter covering breaking news, women's health and politics throughout South America from her base in Santiago, Chile. Her reporting has aired on NPR News, Latino USA, Radio Ambulante, PRI's The World and Here & Now.

AROUND WISCONSIN

Charlie Sykes, Lynda Barry Join NPR's Michel Martin in Madison on March 7

You're invited to join WPR in celebration of our centennial year of service and innovation! Throughout 2017, and around the state, WPR will host live (and lively) events that feature the entertainment, music and information programming you love.

On March 7 in Madison, we welcome NPR's Michel Martin, who will host a panel discussion on the question, "What's a college education for?" Panelists include radio host Charlie Sykes, cartoonist Lynda Barry, NPR's Stephen Thompson, and others. Click here for tickets.

On April 20 in Milwaukee, On Point Host Tom Ashbrook will bring his show on the road for a special Thursday evening at the Latino Arts Auditorium. The show will be recorded for national broadcast. Click here for tickets.

And later on in the year, we look forward to Says You! and Old Time Radio Drama productions around the state. And don't miss Larry Meiller at Lambeau Field or the Simply Folk Centennial Shindig.

Join us at one, two ---- or all our events! You will find a complete list of events, locations and dates at wpr.org/100.

Apply Now for Paid Summer Internships and Fellowships at WPR

WPR is now hiring for paid summer internships in Madison and Eau Claire and a paid news fellowship in Madison.

The Lee Ester News Fellowship, based in Madison, is designed for recent graduates or reporters early in their careers. The fellow will spend nine months reporting for WPR's news team, all the while receiving coaching on writing, editing, voicing and more.

WPR also offers summer internship opportunities for current students. We are currently hiring a multimedia production intern based in Madison and a journalism intern based in Eau Claire.

Click here to see all job opportunities and apply.