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WPT Year in Review: 2018
December 20, 2018 Leave a Comment
What a year! We had new programs, new forms of community engagement, new places to go and – above all – new stories to discover and share from all across Wisconsin.
Step back in time with us as we relive some of the highlights of 2018 – and thanks for joining us on the way!
JANUARY
Start Up Wisconsin (produced with UW-Madison University Communications) premieres, sharing stories about entrepreneurial spirit across the state.
FEBRUARY
Ahead of the March television premiere of his newest documentary, WPT films a workshop led by Jerry Apps at the Patterson Memorial Library in rural Wild Rose. The result becomes a special one-hour feature, entitled “Telling Your Story,” included with the DVD of Jerry Apps: One-Room School – and now viewable here!
MARCH
Jerry Apps: One-Room School premieres – our fifth full-length special with Wisconsin’s favorite rural historian.
APRIL
Noon Wednesday debuts on Facebook, featuring a live interview hosted by Here & Now reporter Marisa Wojcik every week!
Watch the final conversation of 2018, on efforts to preserve indigenous languages, here.
JUNE
The Wisconsin Life segment “Jaxon’s Wish” wins a 2018 Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) National Edward R. Murrow Award, one of the most prestigious in broadcast and digital news.
See below for more of our award-winning and nominated work – we have a lot to celebrate!
Three exciting hours of Antiques Roadshow: Green Bay premiere after filming in the summer of 2017. See any treasures you know?
Watch: Green Bay, Hour 1 | Hour 2 | Hour 3
And we can’t forget our special Behind the Scenes at Antiques Roadshow, with host Michael Bridgeman.
Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Eau Claire premieres, exploring the evolution of the city shaped by the confluence of two rivers.
JULY
Wisconsin Public Media (the combined forces of WPT and Wisconsin Public Radio) begin the transition to their original administrative home of UW-Madison.
AUGUST
Get Up and Go! takes place in Madison, Eau Claire, La Crosse and Appleton. Broadcasting live from Madison, the annual event expands to Breese Stevens Field, including favorite characters, performances and a special area for sensory-friendly visits in a quiet indoor atmosphere.
SEPTEMBER
Hip-Hop U: The First Wave Scholars premieres, spotlighting talented scholar-artists at a one-of-a-kind program of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
OCTOBER
Jo Wilder and the Capitol Case debuts, offering educators and students a unique opportunity to become history detectives as they learn about Wisconsin. The game is a partnership between WPT Education and UW-Madison’s Field Day Lab.
WPT continues its tradition of incisive election coverage and analysis, including debates for candidates running for Governor, Attorney General and U.S. Senate. WPT also broadcast Candidate Statements for candidates seeking statewide office, as well as for candidates seeking election to the U.S. Congress and Senate.
New seasons of both Wisconsin Life and Around the Farm Table premiere.
NOVEMBER
Wisconsin Life: Food Traditions debuts on Thanksgiving.
Wisconsin Water From the Air premieres – the third in our acclaimed aerial series.
DECEMBER
A Madison Symphony Christmas premieres, bringing the magic of this holiday tradition to viewers across the state. Read our exclusive interview with Maestro John DeMain.
Dr. Monroe and Sandra Trout, who earlier created the Timothy William Trout Education Endowment Fund at Wisconsin Public Television, make a $2.1 million gift to create an ambitious new education partnership between the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, Morgridge Institute for Research, UW Madison School of Education and Wisconsin Public Television.
We continue to share fantastic live programs including the State Honors Concerts, 2018 Jerry Awards, Once Upon a Christmas Cheery In the Lab With Shakhashiri and The Final Forte, in addition to top-notch election and government coverage including state addresses and debates.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences – Chicago/Midwest recognized Wisconsin Public Television’s outstanding work across many content genres with multiple Emmy Awards and nominations.
“Jaxon’s Wish,” mentioned above, won for News Feature or Series (Trevor Keller and Ryan Ward, Producers; Christine Sloan-Miller, Executive Producer). Ryan Ward was also nominated for Outstanding Crafts Achievement Off-Air: Photographer – News for the segment.
Other Emmy Award recipients include the following:
Feature News Report – Light Feature/Series
School Bus Deer Stand
Trevor Keller, Ryan Ward, Producers
Christine Sloan-Miller, Executive Producer
News Specialty – Arts/Entertainment
Nyckelharpa
Trevor Keller, Ryan Ward, Producers
Christine Sloan-Miller, Executive Producer
Crafts Achievement: Graphic Arts/Animation/Art Direction/Set Design
Kitchens
Philip Ashby, Rodney Lambright, Brian Lorbiecki, Brandon Ribordy
Magazine Programming – Program/Special/ Series/Segment
Wisconsin Foodie: Anarchy Acres
Arthur Ircink, Executive Producer
Thanks for joining us during this great year – and for the support that makes it all possible. We can’t wait to share what we have in store for 2019!
Wisconsin Public Television Wisconsin Public Television WPT Education
