Pl a nnerMichiana’s bi-monthly Guide to WNIT Public Television Issue No. 6 November — December 2011 SONGS OF THE DECADES: HOLIDAY EDITION STRAIGHT NO CHASER PREMIERES DECEMBER 7 & 11 BrainGames continues November 17 Board of Directors Mary’s Message Mary Pruess Chairman President and GM, WNIT Public Television Glenn E. Killoren Vice Chairmen David M. Findlay Rodney F. Ganey President Mary Pruess Treasurer Craig D. Sullivan Secretary Ida Reynolds Watson Directors Roger Benko Janet M. Botz WNIT Public Television is Michiana’s story teller. We produce and broadcast the stories of Michiana Kathryn Demarais as told by the people of Michiana. We are fully engaged with our community. In each of the following Robert G. Douglass documentaries, all produced during the current calendar year, WNIT presents programs about Irene E. Eskridge Michiana as seen from a distinctly Michiana point of view and as seen virtually nowhere else. David D. Gibson When Newsweek magazine published an article which included South Bend in its list of Ten Cities William A. Gitlin “with bleak futures ahead,” WNIT decided to face the issue head on. In February, we produced a Tracy D. Graham one-hour, live town hall style program entitled, South Bend: Thriving or Dying? Co-hosts Gary Kreg Gruber Sieber and Kelly Morgan, along with a panel of six local experts and an audience of about 75, addressed Larry D. Harding key issues facing South Bend—schools, jobs, crime, housing, recreation and transportation. In June, James W. Hillman WNIT produced the second in this series, Michiana: Open for Business followed by a third Town Najeeb A. Khan Hall program that featured Michiana’s young professionals. Evelyn Kirkwood Our Town: Warsaw – Winona Lake built on the success of Our Town: Goshen to present the stories Kevin J. Morrison of Warsaw and Winona Lake as recorded by the residents of those communities. With a little training John T. Phair from WNIT’s professional, award-winning production team, ordinary citizens became volunteer Richard J. Rice videographers. The “Our Town” series is all about these towns and the people within them who help Jill Richardson tell the stories of what makes their corner of the world unique, including historical sites, high school Maritza Robles hang-outs, churches, the quaint shopping districts and so many other special places known only to Cari Shein those who live in the area and know the true spirit of their own home town. Richard B. Siegrist, Jr. Thomas E. Slager WNIT Public Television and Memorial BrainWorks sponsored a four-part series designed to look Michael J. Wargo at aspects of the human brain’s functioning in various stages of life, including early childhood BrainGames Charter Directors development, the teen years, young adults and older adults. is presented as a game show with three teams per episode competing to win. In the fourth and final program on November 17, Mr. Arthur J. Decio the winners from the three previous shows will compete for top honors. A panel of experts adds Mr. Jerry Hammes commentary and insight throughout the series, co-hosted by Mark Durocher and the Director of Mrs. Ernestine M. Raclin Memorial BrainWorks, Debra Raybold. Mrs. Jane Warner Mr. Dar Wiekamp* The Power of 100: The Story of the 100 Black Men of South Bend follows the creation of the South Honorary Life Director Bend chapter of the 100 Black Men of America. Many of the children featured in the documentary are raised by single moms who do their best to provide for their children. It’s an uphill battle. Drugs, Carmi Murphy gangs, bad influences, all vie for their kids’ attention. That’s where the “100” comes in. These stand-out *Deceased Charter Director citizens from South Bend range from career professionals to successful businessmen and everyday citizens who have had great successes in their lives. Many of them have also overcome the same © 2011 Michiana Public Broadcasting situations as the students they mentor. Corporation Statement of Frequency: WNIT PUBLIC TELEVISION PLANNER On November 3, WNIT Public Television will present the PBS special Among the Righteous (USPS 103-650 ISSN 1523-9373) is followed by the local response, From Righteous to Willing: Building Bridges in Michiana, the published bi-monthly by The Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation, compelling story of Jews and Muslims working together harmoniously for the greater good of all. a non-profit corporation in the State WNIT is not only a window for Michiana to view the world, but is also a mirror for Michiana to see of Indiana at 300 West Jefferson itself. WNIT is proud to be the Center for Public Media for 22 incredible counties in northern Indiana Boulevard, South Bend, IN 46601. Periodical postage paid at South and southwest Michigan. Bend, IN and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box 7034, South Bend, IN 46634-7034. Editor: Roger Chrastil. What’s Worth Watching November 4 WNIT Kids Club 21 Worth Watching December 8 Development News 22 Inside? Primetime November 12 Honor Roll Members 23 Primetime December 14 Delivering on the Promise 24 Weekday Programming 16 Production News 25 Weekend Programming 17 WNIT Supporters 26 Overnight Programming 18 Supporter Spotlight 27 Membership Corner 20 Directors’ Circle 27 On The Cover STRAIGHT NO CHASER: Songs of the Decades: Holiday Edition What’s What??? Journey through the decades of the pop Back by popular demand, Straight No WNIT 34.1 is our primary 24-hour channel songbook with Straight No Chaser, the Chaser: Songs of the Decades: Holiday that features such favorites as Lawrence Welk, British comedies, Masterpiece Classic, 10-member a cappella group known for Edition will air on WNIT 34.1 and 34.2 NOVA and Nature. It is also the home for WNIT’s line-up of locally produced captivating harmonies and charm. InFocus on Wednesday, December 7 at programs, including Dinner and a Book, 9:30pm and on Sunday, December 11 at Outdoor Elements, Economic Outlook, Politically Speaking and Ask an Expert. Filmed live at Harrah’s Resort in Atlan- 10pm. 34.1 is carried on the basic tier of all local cable and satellite providers. Programs on tic City, this holiday special is a journey 34.1 may be broadcast in either high or through the decades of the pop songbook, standard definition. including everything from doo-wop to WNIT InFocus 34.2 is also broadcast 24 hours a day in standard definition. WNIT contemporary pop done with the unforget- InFocus carries a blend of such PBS features as Frontline and Independent Lens coupled table Straight No Chaser twist. From “The with programs that feature state and Boys Are Back in Town” to “Joy to the regional topics of interest, such as Indiana Week, Inside Indiana Business, Indiana World,” from “Billie Jean” to “You’re a Expeditions, Across Indiana and Indiana Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” Straight No Lawmakers. Area cable and satellite pro- viders carry WNIT InFocus on their higher Chaser is the captivating sound of 10 tiers for an additional fee. Please contact your service provider for channel placement unadulterated human voices coming on the system you use. together to make extraordinary music. Straight No Chaser: Songs of the Decades: Holiday Edition Airs December 7 & 11 3 Worth Watching November Secrets of the Dead: Deadliest Battle Women, War & Peace: The War We Are Living All programs are on both 34.1 and 34.2 WOMEN, WAR & PEACE they describe how women are emerging as unless noted. Tuesdays, 10pm necessary partners in brokering lasting peace and as leaders in forging new international “The War We Are Living” SECRETS OF THE DEAD laws governing conflict. – November 1 Tuesdays, 8pm In a mountainous region in Colombia’s NOVA “The World’s Biggest Bomb” Pacific southwest, two extraordinary Afro- “The Fabric of the Cosmos” – November 1 Colombian women are fighting to hold onto Wednesdays, 9pm Beginning in the 1950s, American and So- the gold-rich land that has sustained their viet scientists engaged in a dangerous race to community through small-scale mining for “What Is Space?” – November 2 see who could build and detonate the world’s centuries. Clemencia Carabali and Francia From the passenger seat of a New York cab largest bomb. The results exceeded all expec- Marquez are part of a powerful network of driving near the speed of light to a pool hall tations about how big a bomb could be built. female leaders who discovered during Co- where billiard tables do fantastical things, Terrifyingly, the bomb-makers on both sides lombia’s 40-year civil war that women can Brian Greene reveals space as a dynamic fab- were flying blind as they pushed the technol- organize more freely than men. As they defy ric that can stretch, twist, warp, and ripple ogy far into unknown territory. paramilitary death threats and steadfastly under the influence of gravity. Space, far remain on their land, Carabali and Marquez from being empty, is filled with some of the “Deadliest Battle” are standing up for a generation of Colom- deepest mysteries of our times. – November 22 bians who have been terrorized and forcibly displaced as a deliberate strategy of war. “The Illusion of Time” Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 was the largest troop offensive in mili- – November 9 “War Redefined” – November 8 tary history. And the Battle of Stalingrad is Brian Greene takes us on the ultimate time arguably the deadliest single battle the world Incisive interviews with leading thinkers, traveling adventure, hurtling 50 years into has ever seen. The battle not only changed secretaries of state and seasoned survivors of the future before stepping into a wormhole the course of World War II, but established war and peace-making challenge the conven- to travel back to the past.