News from Alabama Public Television

WBHM Partnering with APT

WBHM PARTNERING WITH ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION TO ENHANCE STATE POLITICAL COVERAGE STARTING FEB. 3 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM/WSGN 91.5 FM and Alabama Public Television (APT) are joining forces to enhance coverage of state politics in Alabama. Starting Feb. 3 and continuing through the 2012 session of the Alabama State Legislature, WBHM will feature a weekly interview with Don Dailey, co-host of APT’s newly re-launched news and public affairs program CAPITOL JOURNAL. The interviews will be featured on the radio station’s Friday airings of Morning Edition at 6:33 and 8:33 a.m. and All Things Considered at 4:45 p.m., NPR’s signature news and information programs. They also will be available at www.wbhm.org. “This new collaboration builds on previous joint efforts by WBHM and APT, including the Southern Education Desk (www.southerneducationdesk.org) and the GulfWatch Project (www.gulfwatch.org),” said WBHM News Director Tanya Ott. “It’s also in keeping with our ongoing reporting and analysis partnerships we have with other state media, which are our regular interviews on local politics with John Archibald of The Birmingham News and Kyle Whitmire of Weld for Birmingham, and on financial matters with Cindy Crawford of the Birmingham Business Journal.” APT will air an hour-long CAPITOL JOURNAL each Friday at 8 p.m. The "week in review" program, also co-hosted by Olivia Stacey, will feature interviews of newsmakers and panel discussions by guest journalists, including WBHM’s Ott and Andrew Yeager, WBHM announcer/producer. During the Legislature’s regular session, APT also plans to air 30-minute shows Monday through Thursday nights at 10:30 p.m. The first of those programs is scheduled for Feb. 6. All programs will be available for viewing online at www.aptv.org. “Alabama Public Television is proud to continue its long tradition of in-depth coverage of the Legislature,” said APT Executive director Allan Pizzato. “This partnership will help both APT and WBHM provide the people of Alabama with a better understanding of the important issues facing state government.” About Alabama Public Television & CAPITOL JOURNAL Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide public television network, is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children and adults alike – through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. CAPITOL JOURNAL provides daily coverage of the Alabama Legislature with a studio inside the Alabama State House. Don Dailey and Olivia Stacey host the half-hour nightly report, examining key issues and interviewing newsmakers. Erica Lembo of APT reports on education-related issues throughout the session. Reporters Karen Brown and Marcus Hyles of WVAS-FM News at Alabama State University follow action in the House and Senate. About WBHM Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM, a listener-supported service of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is “Your NPR News Station” and home to the Alabama Radio Reading Service, a resource for the blind and print-impaired. WBHM programming and award-winning regional journalism also can be heard in North Central Alabama on WSGN 91.5 FM through a partnership with Gadsden State Community College. Listen online at WBHM.org and follow the station at WBHM903 on Twitter and Facebook.

APTs CAPITOL JOURNAL Resumes Broadcast

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., January 19, 2012 – Alabama Public Television resumes broadcast of its public affairs program CAPITOL JOURNAL on Friday, January 27 at 8:00 p.m.. The weekly Friday night program examines top news events and issues each week with newsmaker interviews and a panel of guest journalists from around the state. CAPITOL JOURNAL will add half-hour nightly broadcasts Monday – Thursday nights at 10:30 p.m. beginning February 6 to cover the 2012 Alabama Legislative Session. Hosts for the new season of CAPITOL JOURNAL will be veteran Alabama radio newsman Don Dailey and Olivia Stacey, who most recently served as anchor for Florida public television station WUFT. Dailey received the Alabama Broadcasters Association’s award for “Best Radio News Reporter” in the state for four of the last five years. APT’s Erica Lembo will report on education-related issues including the education trust fund on both the House and the Senate sides. Karen Brown and Marcus Hyles, reporters for WVAS-FM News with Alabama State University, will also be working with APT this season to follow action in the House and Senate. Their reports will be heard on WVAS and seen on CAPITOL JOURNAL. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mike McKenzie 205-451-0123 800-239-5233, ext. 123

Alabama Educational Television Commission Elects New Officers

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., January 10, 2012 – In their final meeting of the last calendar year on December 6, 2011, the Alabama Educational Television Commission (AETC) elected its new officers – Ferris W. Stephens as Chairman; Gregory O. Griffin Sr. as Vice-Chairman; and Dr. Rodney Herring as Secretary. The seven-member AETC is charged with overseeing Alabama’s public television service to Alabama residents and ensuring compliance with the licensee requirements of the Federal Communications Commission. The commissioners also serve concurrently on the board of the Alabama Educational Television Foundation Authority, a non-profit public corporation responsible for soliciting and managing grants for the benefit of APT and overseeing the corporation’s endowments and investments. Ferris W. Stephens, an Assistant Attorney General, is a resident of Hoover and represents the Sixth Congressional District of Alabama on the AETC. Stephens has served in various leadership positions under six attorneys general for the State since 1982. His background includes service as assistant district attorney of Shelby County, temporary staff member for U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, and five years in private practice. His duties have included, among others, developing policy and drafting legislation in the areas of education, welfare and election reform, criminal law, and the protection of the elderly and disabled. Stephens earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and his law degree from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. He has served as a member of the Alabama District Attorneys Association, the Federalist Society, and numerous Alabama State Bar Committees. He is also a member of the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council, U.S. Northern District of Alabama, and the board of the Children’s Trust Fund, Sixth Congressional District. Gregory O. Griffin, Sr., chief legal counsel for the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, represents the Second Congressional District on the Commission. Griffin is a Montgomery resident who has served as an adjunct instructor at Alabama State University since 1989. He is a graduate of Morehouse College. He received his JD degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and his master’s degree from Boston University School of Law. He assumed his current position in 1995 after serving for several years as Alabama’s assistant attorney general and three years as an attorney with private firms. Dr. Rodney Herring, who has been in private practice in Opelika since 1987, was raised in Port St. Joe, Fla. He received bachelor’s degrees from Florida State University (Biology), Life College (Clinical Nutrition) and his Doctor of Chiropractic from Life Chiropractic College. Co-owner of Herring Spine & Rehab, Inc., a multi-doctor clinic providing healthcare for musculoskeletal injuries and spinal disorders, Dr. Herring is a member of the Alabama State Chiropractic Association and served five terms on their board of directors. He also served two terms as president of the East Alabama Chiropractic Society. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide public television network, is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children and adults alike – through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System.

APT Photography Contest Winners Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APT Photography Contest Winners Announced Alabama Public Television is pleased to announce the winners of its 2011 “Picture Us Outdoors” photo contest. Photographers from around the state entered their pictures in three possible categories: Amazing Sights, Nature and Me and Outdoor Family Time. The entries included photographs of blossoms and butterflies, beaches and waterfalls, kids at play and birds in flight – illustrating the great diversity of Alabama’s outdoors. Photographs were judged by a three-person panel including celebrated Alabama conservation photographer Beth Maynard Young, Birmingham fine art and commercial photographer Liesa Cole and APT director of creative services Randy Johnson. Hannah Pearson of Bessemer, Ala., and 13-year-old Camille Smith of Homewood shared top honors in the Amazing Sights category. Pearson’s winning photograph, “Sunset Soar,” captures a bird in flight around Mt. Cheaha. Smith, the youngest winner yet in APT’s photo contest, shot her picture "Fall Lambing on Sweet Seasons Farm," at her grandmother’s farm in Valley Head. Theresa Manry of Birmingham photographed her son canoeing on Lake Martin early in the morning for her winning entry "Serenity on the Lake" in the Nature and Me category. Kim Vangphachanh caught a magic moment at Orange Beach in her winning photo "Father and Son at the Beach" in the Outdoor Family Time category. See the winners’ work and all the other terrific submissions for the “Picture Us Outdoors” contest at Alabama Public Television’s website, www.aptv.org/outdoors. The winners' photos will be included in APT's 2012 "Beautiful Alabama" poster calendar. The “Picture Us Outdoors” photo contest is part of Alabama Public Television’s Emmy Award-winning Take a Child Outdoors public service campaign. Children today spend less time outdoors than any preceding generation – and health experts agree that this sedentary lifestyle has a negative impact on children’s physical and mental well-being. The Take a Child Outdoors campaign encourages parents and caregivers to take kids outside for free and creative time to play and explore. An extensive list of destinations, activities and related information for parents is available on APT’s Outdoors web page. Contact Information: Mike McKenzie Alabama Public Television 2112 11th Ave. S., Suite 400 Birmingham, AL 352205-2884 Phone: 205-451-0123 or 1-800-239-5233, ext. 123

APT Documentary Celebrates Traditional Alabama Music

"Sucarnochee: A Revue of Alabama Music," a new special from Alabama Public Television, takes viewers directly to the stage of The Sucarnochee Revue at the University of West Alabama to celebrate the traditional, grassroots music of Alabama — blues, bluegrass, gospel and country. Produced by the Emmy Award-winning documentary team at Alabama Public Television, the documentary features never-before-seen performances by artists Carroline Shines, the Jake Landers Band, The Birmingham Sunlights and Jacky Jack White. The program premieres Monday, Oct. 24 at 9:00pm on Alabama Public Television. "Sucarnochee: A Revue of Alabama Music" focuses on Alabama’s historical musical forms and the artists who preserve and perform them today. Carroline Shines is carrying on the blues tradition she learned from her father — the late, great Johnny Shines. Jake Landers is recognized worldwide as one of bluegrass music’s finest songwriters — having penned such classics as “Secret of the Waterfall,” “The Girl I Love” and “The Last Request.” Gospel music is represented in the program by The Birmingham Sunlights with their four-part a capella style. Country music singer and songwriter Jacky Jack White completes the picture. White has had songs on the charts as a singer/songwriter since 1985 and his songs have been recorded by such artists as Ray Stevens, Charley Pride, Buddy Jewell, Steve Wariner, Neal McCoy and Mark Lowery. Radio listeners may be familiar with the Sucarnochee Revue musical variety show hosted by Jacky Jack White and recorded in Meridian, Miss. and Livingston, Ala. Mississippi Public Broadcasting has recorded some of these performances for television and these Sucarnochee Revue TV programs will air on APT on Thursday nights at 10:30pm beginning Oct. 27. "Sucarnochee: A Revue of Alabama Music" was produced through a partnership between APT and Alabama Power, Alabama State Council on the Arts and Year of Alabama Music, with special thanks to the University of West Alabama. The program will also air Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 7:00pm and Sunday, Oct. 30 at 5:00pm on APT. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, the nation’s first statewide educational television network, served as a model for other statewide public broadcasting networks in the U.S. and abroad. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System, APT retains its educational mission by serving as a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every child and adult in Alabama through online services, digital television programming on three statewide channels, Emmy Award-winning documentary production and outreach activities.

APTs "Alabama Stories" Features Jett Williams

Birmingham, AL – Alabama Public Television’s “Alabama Stories” will feature a one-on-one interview with Jett Williams, country music artist and daughter of music legend Hank Williams, on Tuesday, June 21* at 7 p.m. “I had four families before I was four, was orphaned three times, and had six name changes," Williams has said. In this one-hour discussion with APT’s Lori Cummings, she documents the battle she fought to prove her paternity and to become a legal heir of her biological father’s estate. In 1952, Hank Williams executed a pre-birth custody contract acknowledging his paternity of his yet unborn child and taking custody her. Unfortunately, the child was born five days after Williams’ death in January 1953. In his absence, his mother Lillian adopted her grandchild. When Lillian died just two years later in 1955, the child passed to Hank’s sister. Less than one month later, Jett was turned into the state as an unwanted child and placed in the Alabama foster care system, where she was adopted by a family living in Mobile. While attending the University of Alabama, Jett’s adoptive father confided to her that it was possible that she was the daughter of the legendary Hank Williams. In 1980, she began a campaign to verify her paternity and a battle to claim her share of Williams’ estate. That battle ended in 1987 when, having been declared the biological child of Williams, she was awarded half of Williams’ estate. The Jett Williams court case resulted in changes in numerous laws, including those governing inheritance rights of adopted children. Today in her late fifties, Jett Williams lives in Tennessee with her husband Keith Adkinson and is enjoying a successful singing career. *The program will also be aired on APT at 8 p.m. on June 26 and at 10 p.m. on June 28. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, the nation’s first statewide educational television network, served as a model for other statewide public broadcasting networks in the U.S. and abroad. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System, APT retains its educational mission by serving as a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every child and adult in Alabama through online services, digital television programming on three statewide channels, Emmy Award-winning documentary production and outreach activities. # # # Photos available for this release

Spotlight on Education Examines Outlook for Tomorrows STEM Careers

Women and Minorities Underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Fields Women are slightly more than half of U.S. residents, and projections show minorities will become half of the U.S. population by 2050. So why are both women and minorities still underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers ? Alabama viewers will have a chance to discuss this disparity with experts in education this Thursday evening, May 26, at 7 p.m. as Alabama Public Television presents “Spotlight on Education.” Producer/Host Rhonda Colvin with guests Brenda Terry, executive director of Alabama Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Coalition; Marilyn Lewis, education specialist with Will Technology; and Shannon Parks, education administrator at the Alabama Dept. of Education take a look at programs in the state focused on changing the statistics by sparking student interest in these fields early. Viewers are invited to join the conversation by calling the one-hour program 1-866-552-0025 toll free or e-mail questions prior to the program at spotlightoneducation@aptv.org. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, the nation’s first statewide educational television network, served as a model for other statewide public broadcasting networks in the U.S. and abroad. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System, APT retains its educational mission by serving as a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every child and adult in Alabama through online services, digital television programming on three statewide channels, Emmy Award-winning documentary production and outreach activities. For more information about APT and its services, visit www.aptv.org. # # #

APT Presents Doo Wop Live July 9

Concert at Alys Stephens Center in Birmingham Alabama Public Television (APT) is bringing original Doo Wop stars to the Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts for matinee and evening concerts on Saturday, July 9, 2011. The concerts, which raise funds to support APT’s educational mission, will feature Gene “Duke of Earl” Chandler; Shirley Alston Reeves, original lead singer for the Shirelles; Jay Siegel and The Tokens; Jay and The Americans; and Tommy Mara of the Crests. Most of the performers have appeared on public television’s series of Doo Wop reunion concerts that have been so popular over the past then years and still draw large audiences at live concerts around the country. “We’ve held similar concerts previously in Birmingham and Mobile and the audiences couldn’t get enough,” said APT executive director Allan Pizzato. “There’s no better way to support the educational services APT provides Alabama’s students and teachers than by enjoying this wonderful music.” Tickets to the 2:30 p.m. matinee and 7:00 p.m. evening performance are available with a tax-deductible contribution to APT. Individuals making a $75 donation to APT will receive a ticket in the balcony and those providing a donation of $100 or more will receive a gift ticket in the orchestra, mezzanine or loge section. Tickets may be ordered at www.aptv.org or by phone at 451-0136 in Birmingham (toll free 1-800-239-5233, extension 136). About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, the nation’s first statewide educational television network, served as a model for other statewide public broadcasting networks in the U.S. and abroad. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System, APT retains its educational mission by serving as a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every child and adult in Alabama through online services, digital television programming on three statewide channels, Emmy Award-winning documentary production and outreach activities. For more information, visit www.aptv.org. # # #

APT Broadcasts "Discover Shakespeare" Live Electronic Field Trip

Tuesday, April 5, 2011 Birmingham, AL – Who was William Shakespeare and why has his influence spanned four centuries? Alabama students will receive a free, once-in-a-lifetime lesson on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 as Alabama Public Television presents “Discover Shakespeare,” an electronic field trip broadcast live from the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. Dr. Gail Kern Paster, Shakespearean scholar and director of the Folger Library, will discuss everything Shakespeare and answer student questions phoned in during the 30-minute broadcast, which is scheduled to air at noon on that date. This program will be broadcast only on Alabama Public Television’s main channel and will not be streamed live over the Internet. As a complement to the program, APT provides educators grade-appropriate educational materials online for the target group of sixth to twelfth graders as well as special online content resources for third graders. The material includes a wealth of information, lesson plans and teaching strategies from PBS, the Folger Shakespeare Library, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and the Fairfax County (Virginia) public schools. Although the program is free, educators are required to register for the field trip at www.aptplus.org. Click on “Discover Shakespeare” on the APTPLUS™ homepage to register. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television holds the distinction of being the nation’s first statewide educational television network, serving as a model for other statewide public broadcasting networks in the U.S. and abroad. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System, APT retains its educational mission – serving as a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children and adults alike – through online services, digital television programming on three statewide channels, Emmy Award winning documentary production and outreach activities. Contact:Kathie Martin AVP of Marketing Phone: (205) 380-5168 E-Mail: kmartin@aptv.org

WLRH Receives AP Broadcasting Awards

Birmingham, AL, March 22, 2011—WLRH-FM (89.3 Huntsville), Alabama’s first full-service public radio station, has earned the top awards in the Best Anchor and Best Use of Tape categories from the Alabama Associated Press. Fine Arts Specialist Ginny Kennedy brought home the Best Anchor award for her work on both “Morning Edition” and “Morning Blend.” Kennedy and Program Director Brett Tannehill received the Best Use of Tape award for a story WLRH produced about an outreach program that helps incarcerated mothers keep in touch with their children. This story followed a busload of children as it went to the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka for a holiday reunion. “We are extremely proud that Ginny and Brett have been recognized for their outstanding work at WLRH,” noted Station Manager Oliver Stoutner. “It is well deserved and will, no doubt, be the first of many future WLRH awards.” The Associated Press awards will be presented this weekend in Birmingham during the Alabama Broadcasters Association’s annual conference. ABOUT WLRH Located on the University of Alabama in Huntsville campus, non-commercial public radio station WLRH is licensed to the Alabama Educational Television Commission. It operates on 89.3 megahertz FM with 100,000 watts of stereo power. WLRH also provides two HD channels that reach listeners in the Huntsville-Madison area, areas south of Cullman and Gadsden and areas in south central Tennessee. Funding is provided by listener and community support, the State of Alabama and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Contact: Brett Tannehill 256-895-9574 800-239-9574 brett@wlrh.org

Herring Appointed to Alabama Educational Television Commission

DR. RODNEY HERRING APPOINTED TO ALABAMA EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION COMMISSION BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 11, 2011 – Prior to his term’s end, former Gov. Bob Riley appointed Opelika chiropractor Dr. Rodney D. Herring to serve as a commissioner on the Alabama Educational Television Commission (AETC). Dr. Herring, whose appointment was confirmed by the Alabama Senate, will represent the state’s Third Congressional District on the Commission until February 16, 2020. The seven-member AETC is charged with overseeing Alabama’s public television service to Alabama residents and to ensure compliance with the licensee requirements of the Federal Communications Commission. The new commissioner will also serve concurrently on the board of the Alabama Educational Television Foundation Authority, a non-profit public corporation responsible for soliciting and managing grants for the benefit of APT and overseeing the corporation’s endowments and investments. Dr. Herring, who has been in private practice in Opelika since 1987, was raised in Port St. Joe, Fla. He received bachelor’s degrees from Florida State University (Biology), Life College (Clinical Nutrition) and his Doctor of Chiropractic from Life Chiropractic College. Co-owner of Herring Spine & Rehab, Inc., a multi-doctor clinic providing healthcare for musculoskeletal injuries and spinal disorders, Dr. Herring is a member of the Alabama State Chiropractic Association and served five terms on their board of directors. He also served two terms as president of the East Alabama Chiropractic Society. He has served on the Opelika Parks and Recreation Board since 2002, co-chairing a task group and seven-year project to design, develop and build the Opelika Sportsplex & Aquatic Center. He served as chairman of the Lee County Republican Executive Committee from 2006 to 2010 and is a current member of the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee. Herring and his wife Karen have been married for 28 years and have six children and two grandchildren. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide public television network, is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children and adults alike – through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. # # # Contact: Kathie B. Martin, APR 800-239-5233, ext. 188 205-380-5168 205-222-0932

Inauguration and Parade Aired Live on APT

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – January 11, 2011 – Alabama Public Television (APT) will air extensive live coverage of the inauguration of Governor-elect Robert Bentley and other newly-elected state officers live on Monday, January 17 beginning at 9:30 a.m. APT “Capitol Journal” hosts Jon Beans and Lori Cummings will head a team of reporters/producers including Rhonda Colvin and Randy Scott, with commentary from special guest Dr. Ed Bridges, Director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History. The program will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the color and pageantry of the celebratory parade winding its way from the foot of Dexter Street in downtown Montgomery up to Bainbridge Street and the state capitol. Then at noon, Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb administers the oath of office to State Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries-elect Bob McMillan, State Treasurer-elect Young Boozer, State Auditor Samantha Shaw, Alabama Secretary of State Beth Chapman, State Attorney General-elect Luther Strange, Alabama Lieutenant Governor-elect Kay Ivey and ending with Governor-elect Bentley, as he becomes Alabama’s 53rd governor. Alabama Public Television has covered Alabama’s gubernatorial inaugurations for decades, beginning with the inauguration of Governor James E. Folsom, Sr. in 1955—one of the first events it broadcast. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, established in 1955, was America’s first statewide educational television network. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), it is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for Alabamians of all ages through online services, analog and digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. For more information about APT, visit www.aptv.org. # # # CONTACT: Kathie B. Martin, APR 800-239-5233/205-222-0932

Aaron Beam Alan Hunter Interviewed on APT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., December 9, 2011 – Back-to-back interviews with HealthSouth co-founder and former CFO Aaron Beam and Allan Hunter, co-owner of Birmingham entertainment complex WorkPlay, will air on Alabama Public Television December 19 in episodes of Face-to-Face with Lori Cummings and Profiles with Wendy Garner. APT producer/host Lori Cummings’ interview with Aaron Beam will air at 8 p.m. Beam discusses with Cummings the founding of HealthSouth, his time there, his subsequent trial, stint in Federal prison and his current mission to educate college students on business ethics. Immediately following this interview at 8:30 p.m., Wendy Garner interviews Alabama native son Alan Hunter, one of the original five MTV “VJs” who brought his talents back home to pursue another dream. In an interview recorded earlier this year, Hunter talks about his ‘60s childhood in a city recognized for its civil rights struggles, how he landed the MTV job, his time as a VJ and life after New York. Both programs will be broadcast at 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., respectively, on Thursday, December 23. # # # CONTACT: Kathie B. Martin, APR 800-239-5233 205-380-5168

APTs Online Professional Development Improves Teacher Student Performance

Birmingham, Ala., October 21, 2010—English and math teachers who took professional development courses online improved their instructional practices and subject knowledge, producing performance gains for their students. That’s the report from Boston College documenting the success of e-Learning for Educators, an initiative led by Alabama Public Television (APT) that paired state departments of education and public television stations in ten states, in one of the first large-scale experiments to study the impact of online professional development for educators. The e-Learning project, focusing on high-need areas, is a five-year effort funded by a $22 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Ready to Teach program. The Boston College research, the largest set of independent randomized trials conducted on an online professional development program to date, included 330 elementary and middle school teachers and 7,000 students in ten states. Education Development Center (EDC), a recognized leader in online instruction, consulted with APT and Boston College in carrying out the project research studies. As teacher performance comes under increased scrutiny, the findings from the research point to online professional development as a powerful option to improve teacher quality, according to the report. APT’s Dr. Lynne Meeks, director of the e-Learning for Educators project, notes that K-12 teachers located in rural areas, in high-need schools and in the difficult-to-staff math and science subjects are particularly suited to online professional development. Yet even as the study report was being released, APT learned that an anticipated $10.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue and expand the program to additional states in 2011 had been diverted to a jobs bill designed to prevent teacher layoffs. Meeks notes that Alabama Public Television is deeply committed to supporting departments of education in providing effective, accessible professional development for teachers at little or no cost and will continue to seek funding projects like e-Learning for Educators. “The e-Learning model holds promise for improving teaching and learning across all grades and academic areas,” she adds. “Online courses allow busy teachers to access learning, resources and colleagues not available locally and at a time that fits with their busy schedules. This is particularly important for rural teachers, who make up a large percentage of teachers in our state.” Boston College’s Technology and Assessment Study Collaborative (inTASC) is a not-for-profit research group that works collaboratively with schools, education institutions and business on research and development related to technology and assessment. Alabama Public Television holds the distinction of being the nation’s first statewide educational television network, serving as a model for other statewide public broadcasting networks in the U.S. and abroad. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System, APT retains its educational mission—serving as a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian through online services, digital television programming on three statewide channels, Emmy Award-winning documentary production and educational outreach activities. Who Participated in the e-Learning for Educators Initiative? The e-Learning for Educators project partnered local educational television affiliates with state departments of education in Alabama, Delaware, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.. What was the e-Learning for Educators Impact in Alabama? In Alabama, more than 4,914 teachers completed an online e-Learning for Educators course, impacting approximately 98,280 children. 335 teachers who have leadership certification have earned PLUs (professional learning units), required for an administrative post in Alabama school systems. Of the teachers who have taken courses, 75% report that the content learned was new information. 89% gained insight into new/different approaches to teaching and 90% agree that when they used learned content in class, students appeared more interested.

APT Earns Five Telly Awards

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – October 20, 2010 – Alabama Public Television has earned a total of five Telly Awards in this year’s competition honoring outstanding local programs. APT’s “We Have Signal,” a half-hour music program recorded live at Birmingham’s BottleTree Café, and the trailer for the APT-produced documentary, “Sloss: Industry to Art,” have earned first-place (silver) Telly Awards; the 2009 APT two-part documentary, “Alabama Craft: Tradition and Innovation,” earned three second-place (bronze) Telly Awards. APT received the silver Telly Award for “We Have Signal” in the Sound/Sound Design category and the silver Telly for “Sloss” was in the Movie Trailer category. The production crew for “We Have Signal” are J. Whitson, producer; Matt Whitson, director, audio and editing; Justin Gaar and Christopher E. Holmes, videography; and Paul Rogers, videography and editing. The production crew for “Sloss” includes Chris Holmes, producer/director; J. Whitson, production manager; Justin Gaar, videographer; and Paul Rogers and Matt Whitson, video editors. The three bronze Telly Awards scored by “Alabama Craft” were in the Documentary, Editing and Videography/Cinematography categories. Focusing on the work of potters Jerry Brown and Charles Smith, quilters Mozell Benson and Bettye Kimbrell, glassblower Cal Breed, musical instrument maker Gene Ivey and blacksmith John Phillips, “Alabama Craft” was produced and directed by Andrew Beck Grace with Chris Holmes serving as executive producer, Justin Gaar as cinematographer, J. Whitson as associate producer, Matt Whitson in charge of motion graphics and Paul Rogers as editor. David Hickox wrote the original score. The film was produced in partnership with the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA), the APT Foundation, Alabama Power, the Daniel Foundation of Alabama and the Sybil H. Smith Charitable Trust. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, which has previously earned three Telly Awards for its productions, was America’s first statewide public television network. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), it is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for Alabamians of all ages through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. For more information about APT, visit www.aptv.org. About the Telly Awards Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online film and video. The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, interactive agencies, and corporate video departments in the world. The Telly Awards receives over 13,000 entries annually from all 50 states and countries around the world. To find out more about the Telly Awards, visit www.tellyawards.com # # #

APT Broadcasts Live Electronic Field Trip

Television host and conservationist Jeff Corwin will host the National Park Foundation’s Electronic Field Trip to North Cascades National Park that will air live on Alabama Public Television (APT) on Wednesday, October 13 at 9 a.m. and again at 12 noon (CST). The 57-minute broadcasts, designed to teach 4th to 8th grade students around the country about climate change, will feature opportunities for viewers to call in questions to be answered live on the air. A companion website featuring downloadable lesson plans for teachers and online games for students is available now at http://www.aptv.org/APTPlus/classroom/lesson.asp?LessonID=53. This will be the first Electronic Field Trip broadcast from a park in Washington State and the first focusing on the planet’s changing climate. With its northerly location and high elevation, North Cascades National Park is already experiencing melting glaciers and loss of species. As a result of its efforts to understand and address climate change with science, management and education, the park has a great deal to teach to students about natural areas and their own lives. Educators and students can take advantage of the program by registering for free to watch the show premiere at https://myaccount.nationalparks.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=426. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television holds the distinction of being the nation’s first statewide educational television network, serving as a model for other statewide public broadcasting networks in the U.S. and abroad. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System, APT retains its educational mission -- serving as a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children and adults alike – through online services, digital television programming on three statewide channels, Emmy Award winning documentary production and outreach activities.

APT Offers Mobile-Enabled Website

Smartphone users can now get Alabama Public Television (APT) program schedules and information literally in the palms of their hands. Last week, APT launched a new smart-phone-friendly site called APT Mobile that is designed specifically for smaller, handheld devices that offer most of the same information found on its Website. Visitors to APT’s Website (www.aptv.org) can get a feel for the new tool by scrolling down on its home page and clicking on “APT Mobile.” Smart phone users who input www.aptv.org into their phone browser will be given an automatic prompt to choose between APT Mobile and the regular Web site. Once the choice is made, the user has the option to switch back, although the mobile-enhanced Website makes it easier to check program schedules, watch APT and PBS videos, pledge support and see the latest APT news. The APT mobile web application is free to use and has received nearly 1,000 visitors since its soft launch last week. APT anticipates that number to increase dramatically over the next month. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, established in 1955, was America’s first statewide public television network. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), it is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for Alabamians of all ages through online services, analog and digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. For more information about APT, visit www.aptv.org. # # #

APT Earns Three 2010 Emmy Awards

Alabama Public Television (APT) has earned three Emmy® Awards in the 2010 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences southeast competition. The network earned the coveted award in the Live and Post-production Audio category for “We Have Signal,” a music program recorded live at Birmingham’s BottleTree Café; in the Non-News Program Editor category for “Alabama the Beautiful: State Parks,” a feature on six Alabama State Parks; and in the Historic/Cultural News and Program Specialty category for “Honor Flight,” a half-hour program that follows the journey of Alabama WWII veterans to Washington to see the National World War II Memorial. Individuals responsible for the award-winning entries include Matt Whitson of APT and Brad Lightfoot of BottleTree for the “We Have Signal” award; APT’s Stephen Dubberley for the “Alabama the Beautiful” editing award; and Rhonda Colvin, APT producer/reporter, for “Honor Flight.” About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, established in 1955, was America’s first statewide public television network. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), it is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for Alabamians of all ages through online services, analog and digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. For more information about APT, visit www.aptv.org. About the Emmy Awards The Emmy Awards are presented annually by the Academy of Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Southeast Chapter, which serves the Southeast Region (geographic areas of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Asheville, N.C.). Entries into the 2010 competition must have aired in the Southeast Region within the calendar year January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009 and must have aired in less than 50% of the U.S. markets. For more information about the Emmy Awards, visit natasadmin@natassoutheast.tv.

Birmingham Youths are APT Writing Contest Winners

Birmingham third-grader Ellie Talalight, first-grader Eden Kennedy Morris and kindergartener Cheryl Kaye Marshall are among 12 elementary students and authors statewide to be selected winners in the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, sponsored by Alabama Public Television. Winning a first place in the third-grade category for her book, “The Crab who wasn’t Crabby,” Talalight lives in Gardendale. Marshall earned a second place award in the kindergarten category for her book, titled “The Good Dog,” and Morris received a third-place award for her book, titled “The Pug Parade.” The contest encourages children grades K-3 to celebrate the power of writing and illustrating by creating their own original storybooks. First through third-place winners are selected in each grade level. This year, a record 285 entries were submitted to APT’s Education Division. Winning authors will be recognized at a special awards ceremony to be held Saturday, April 17 at the Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery and they will be hosted with their family at an APT-sponsored luncheon in their honor at the historic Young House. They will also receive a presented with a gift package containing books and educational activities from APT. Alabama’s first-place winning entries will advance to the national competition, where they will be judged by a panel of renowned professionals. National winners will be announced during summer 2010 and will earn additional prizes including laptops, digital cameras and MP3 players. In announcing the winners, APT’s VP of Educational Services Dr. Cindy Kirk noted, “Research shows that writing plays a key role in the development of early literacy skills. This contest provides the perfect forum for kids to flex their imaginations while tapping into those important skills.” A full breakdown of the 2010 Young Writers’ Contest Winners appears below. KINDERGARTEN First Place: “Gramy Goes to Space” by Hattin Berryman, Waterloo, AL Second Place: “The Good Dog” by Cheryl Kaye Marshall, Birmingham, AL Third Place: “Finding Grandma” by Sofie Jean Pickett, Phenix City, AL FIRST GRADE First Place: “The Spider Who Couldn’t Swim” by Jackson Baggett, Cullman, AL Second Place: “Weasler and the Big Purple Blimp” by Evan Nicholas Leary, Montgomery, AL Third Place: “ The Pub Parade” by Eden Kennedy Morris, Birmingham, AL SECOND GRADE First Place: “Sunny Days are Here” by Taylor El’ana Moore-Jones, Dixon’s Mills, AL Second Place: “Lizzy the Dancing Scientist” by Maria Joy Moxey, Mobile, AL Third Place: “A New Day” by Benjamin Starkey, Southside, AL THIRD GRADE First Place: “The Crab who wasn’t Crabby” by Ellie Talalight, Gardendale, AL Second Place: “The Very Special Gardener” by Molly Kay Rose Richardson, Prattville, AL Third Place: “Jake: Best Day Ever!” by Jordan Hale, Hartselle, AL All APT winning stories will be posted on the APT Web site, www.aptv.org/education after the awards ceremony. The Web site also features a wealth of information for parents and teachers as well as interactive user-generated content for kids. About the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Produced by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages 2 to 8, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being, family and educator resources - including PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, PBSKIDS.org , PBSKIDSGO.org , PBS Parents (PBSPARENTS.org ), PBS Teachers (PBSTEACHERS.org). PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation’s nearly 360 public television stations, serving more than 124 million people on-air and online each month. For more information on specific shows supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide educational television network, is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children, parents and teachers alike – through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. About CPB CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1000 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related on-line services. CONTACT: Kathie B. Martin, APR 800-239-5233, ext. 188 The contents of this release were developed under a grant, #PRU295A050003 and #PRU295B050003, from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Cullman Youth an APT Writing Contest Winner

Cullman first-grader Jackson Baggett is among 12 elementary students and authors statewide to be selected winners in the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, sponsored by Alabama Public Television. Baggett received a first-place award in the Alabama competition in the first-grade category for his book, “The Spider Who Couldn’t Swim.” As a first-place winning entry, it will go on to the national competition and be judged by a panel of renowned professionals. National winners will be announced during summer 2010 and will earn additional prizes including laptops, digital cameras and MP3 players. Winning authors will be recognized at a special awards ceremony to be held Saturday, April 17 at the Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery and they will be hosted with their family at an APT-sponsored luncheon in their honor at the historic Young House. They will also be presented with a gift package containing books and educational activities from APT. In announcing the winners, APT’s VP of Educational Services Dr. Cindy Kirk noted, “Research shows that writing plays a key role in the development of early literacy skills. This contest provides the perfect forum for kids to flex their imaginations while tapping into those important skills.” The contest encourages children grades K-3 to celebrate the power of writing and illustrating by creating their own original storybooks. First through third-place winners are selected in each grade level. This year, a record 285 entries were submitted to APT’s Education Division. A full breakdown of the 2010 Young Writers’ Contest Winners appears below. KINDERGARTEN First Place: “Gramy Goes to Space” by Hattin Berryman, Waterloo, AL Second Place: “The Good Dog” by Cheryl Kaye Marshall, Birmingham, AL Third Place: “Finding Grandma” by Sofie Jean Pickett, Phenix City, AL FIRST GRADE First Place: “The Spider Who Couldn’t Swim” by Jackson Baggett, Cullman, AL Second Place: “Weasler and the Big Purple Blimp” by Evan Nicholas Leary, Montgomery, AL Third Place: “ The Pub Parade” by Eden Kennedy Morris, Birmingham, AL SECOND GRADE First Place: “Sunny Days are Here” by Taylor El’ana Moore-Jones, Dixon’s Mills, AL Second Place: “Lizzy the Dancing Scientist” by Maria Joy Moxey, Mobile, AL Third Place: “A New Day” by Benjamin Starkey, Southside, AL THIRD GRADE First Place: “The Crab who wasn’t Crabby” by Ellie Talalight, Gardendale, AL Second Place: “The Very Special Gardener” by Molly Kay Rose Richardson, Prattville, AL Third Place: “Jake: Best Day Ever!” by Jordan Hale, Hartselle, AL All APT winning stories will be posted on the APT Web site, www.aptv.org/education after the awards ceremony. The Web site also features a wealth of information for parents and teachers as well as interactive user-generated content for kids. About the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Produced by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages 2 to 8, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being, family and educator resources - including PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, PBSKIDS.org , PBSKIDSGO.org , PBS Parents (PBSPARENTS.org ), PBS Teachers (PBSTEACHERS.org). PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation’s nearly 360 public television stations, serving more than 124 million people on-air and online each month. For more information on specific shows supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide educational television network, is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children, parents and teachers alike – through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. About CPB CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1000 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related on-line services. CONTACT: Kathie B. Martin, APR 800-239-5233, ext. 188 The contents of this release were developed under a grant, #PRU295A050003 and #PRU295B050003, from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Dixons Mills Youth an APT Writers Contest Winner

Dixon’s Mills second-grader Taylor El’ana Moore-Jones is among 12 elementary students and authors statewide to be selected winners in the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, sponsored by Alabama Public Television. Moore-Jones, who was also a winner in APT’s 2008 competition, received a first-place award this year in the second-grade category for her book, “Sunny Days are Here.” Her previous winning entry was titled “Winter, Winter.” This year’s first-place winning entry will go on for judging in the national writers contest. Winning Alabama authors will be recognized at a special awards ceremony to be held Saturday, April 17 at the Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery and they will be hosted with their family at an APT-sponsored luncheon in their honor at the historic Young House. They will also be presented with a gift package containing books and educational activities from APT. In announcing the winners, APT’s VP of Educational Services Dr. Cindy Kirk noted, “Research shows that writing plays a key role in the development of early literacy skills. This contest provides the perfect forum for kids to flex their imaginations while tapping into those important skills.” The contest encourages children grades K-3 to celebrate the power of writing and illustrating by creating their own original storybooks. First through third-place winners are selected in each grade level. This year, a record 285 entries were submitted to APT’s Education Division. A full breakdown of the 2010 Young Writers’ Contest Winners appears below. KINDERGARTEN First Place: “Gramy Goes to Space” by Hattin Berryman, Waterloo, AL Second Place: “The Good Dog” by Cheryl Kaye Marshall, Birmingham, AL Third Place: “Finding Grandma” by Sofie Jean Pickett, Phenix City, AL FIRST GRADE First Place: “The Spider Who Couldn’t Swim” by Jackson Baggett, Cullman, AL Second Place: “Weasler and the Big Purple Blimp” by Evan Nicholas Leary, Montgomery, AL Third Place: “ The Pub Parade” by Eden Kennedy Morris, Birmingham, AL SECOND GRADE First Place: “Sunny Days are Here” by Taylor El’ana Moore-Jones, Dixon’s Mills, AL Second Place: “Lizzy the Dancing Scientist” by Maria Joy Moxey, Mobile, AL Third Place: “A New Day” by Benjamin Starkey, Southside, AL THIRD GRADE First Place: “The Crab who wasn’t Crabby” by Ellie Talalight, Gardendale, AL Second Place: “The Very Special Gardener” by Molly Kay Rose Richardson, Prattville, AL Third Place: “Jake: Best Day Ever!” by Jordan Hale, Hartselle, AL All APT winning stories will be posted on the APT Web site, www.aptv.org/education after the awards ceremony. The Web site also features a wealth of information for parents and teachers as well as interactive user-generated content for kids. About the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Produced by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages 2 to 8, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being, family and educator resources - including PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, PBSKIDS.org , PBSKIDSGO.org , PBS Parents (PBSPARENTS.org ), PBS Teachers (PBSTEACHERS.org). PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation’s nearly 360 public television stations, serving more than 124 million people on-air and online each month. For more information on specific shows supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide educational television network, is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children, parents and teachers alike – through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. About CPB CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1000 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related on-line services. CONTACT: Kathie B. Martin, APR 800-239-5233x188 The contents of this release were developed under a grant, #PRU295A050003 and #PRU295B050003, from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Hartselle Youth an APT Writing Contest Winner

Hartselle third-grader Jordan Hale is among 12 elementary students and authors statewide to be selected winners in the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, sponsored by Alabama Public Television. Hale, who also submitted winning books in APT’s 2008 and 2009 competitions, received a third-place award in the 2010 competition in the third-grade category for her book, “Jake: Best Day Ever!” Her previous winning entries were titled “Jake Goes to the Barbershop” and “Mean Jake Goes to the Dentist.” Winning authors will be recognized at a special awards ceremony to be held Saturday, April 17 at the Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery and they will be hosted with their family at an APT-sponsored luncheon in their honor at the historic Young House. They will also be presented with a gift package containing books and educational activities from APT. In announcing the winners, APT’s VP of Educational Services Dr. Cindy Kirk noted, “Research shows that writing plays a key role in the development of early literacy skills. This contest provides the perfect forum for kids to flex their imaginations while tapping into those important skills.” The contest encourages children grades K-3 to celebrate the power of writing and illustrating by creating their own original storybooks. First through third-place winners are selected in each grade level. This year, a record 285 entries were submitted to APT’s Education Division. A full breakdown of the 2010 Young Writers’ Contest Winners appears below. KINDERGARTEN First Place: “Gramy Goes to Space” by Hattin Berryman, Waterloo, AL Second Place: “The Good Dog” by Cheryl Kaye Marshall, Birmingham, AL Third Place: “Finding Grandma” by Sofie Jean Pickett, Phenix City, AL FIRST GRADE First Place: “The Spider Who Couldn’t Swim” by Jackson Baggett, Cullman, AL Second Place: “Weasler and the Big Purple Blimp” by Evan Nicholas Leary, Montgomery, AL Third Place: “ The Pub Parade” by Eden Kennedy Morris, Birmingham, AL SECOND GRADE First Place: “Sunny Days are Here” by Taylor El’ana Moore-Jones, Dixon’s Mills, AL Second Place: “Lizzy the Dancing Scientist” by Maria Joy Moxey, Mobile, AL Third Place: “A New Day” by Benjamin Starkey, Southside, AL THIRD GRADE First Place: “The Crab who wasn’t Crabby” by Ellie Talalight, Gardendale, AL Second Place: “The Very Special Gardener” by Molly Kay Rose Richardson, Prattville, AL Third Place: “Jake: Best Day Ever!” by Jordan Hale, Hartselle, AL All APT winning stories will be posted on the APT Web site, www.aptv.org/education after the awards ceremony. The Web site also features a wealth of information for parents and teachers as well as interactive user-generated content for kids. About the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Produced by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages 2 to 8, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being, family and educator resources - including PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, PBSKIDS.org , PBSKIDSGO.org , PBS Parents (PBSPARENTS.org ), PBS Teachers (PBSTEACHERS.org). PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation’s nearly 360 public television stations, serving more than 124 million people on-air and online each month. For more information on specific shows supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide educational television network, is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children, parents and teachers alike – through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. About CPB CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1000 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related on-line services. The contents of this release were developed under a grant, #PRU295A050003 and #PRU295B050003, from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Mobile Youth an APT Writers Contest Winner

Mobile second-grader Maria Joe Moxey is among 12 elementary students and authors statewide to be selected winners in the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, sponsored by Alabama Public Television. Moxey received a second-place award in the competition in the second-grade category for her book, “Lizzy the Dancing Scientist.” Winning authors will be recognized at a special awards ceremony to be held Saturday, April 17 at the Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery and they will be hosted with their family at an APT-sponsored luncheon in their honor at the historic Young House. They will also be presented with a gift package containing books and educational activities from APT. In announcing the winners, APT’s VP of Educational Services Dr. Cindy Kirk noted, “Research shows that writing plays a key role in the development of early literacy skills. This contest provides the perfect forum for kids to flex their imaginations while tapping into those important skills.” The contest encourages children grades K-3 to celebrate the power of writing and illustrating by creating their own original storybooks. First through third-place winners are selected in each grade level. This year, a record 285 entries were submitted to APT’s Education Division. A full breakdown of the 2010 Young Writers’ Contest Winners appears below. KINDERGARTEN First Place: “Gramy Goes to Space” by Hattin Berryman, Waterloo, AL Second Place: “The Good Dog” by Cheryl Kaye Marshall, Birmingham, AL Third Place: “Finding Grandma” by Sofie Jean Pickett, Phenix City, AL FIRST GRADE First Place: “The Spider Who Couldn’t Swim” by Jackson Baggett, Cullman, AL Second Place: “Weasler and the Big Purple Blimp” by Evan Nicholas Leary, Montgomery, AL Third Place: “ The Pub Parade” by Eden Kennedy Morris, Birmingham, AL SECOND GRADE First Place: “Sunny Days are Here” by Taylor El’ana Moore-Jones, Dixon’s Mills, AL Second Place: “Lizzy the Dancing Scientist” by Maria Joy Moxey, Mobile, AL Third Place: “A New Day” by Benjamin Starkey, Southside, AL THIRD GRADE First Place: “The Crab who wasn’t Crabby” by Ellie Talalight, Gardendale, AL Second Place: “The Very Special Gardener” by Molly Kay Rose Richardson, Prattville, AL Third Place: “Jake: Best Day Ever!” by Jordan Hale, Hartselle, AL All APT winning stories will be posted on the APT Web site, www.aptv.org/education after the awards ceremony. The Web site also features a wealth of information for parents and teachers as well as interactive user-generated content for kids. About the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Produced by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages 2 to 8, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being, family and educator resources - including PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, PBSKIDS.org , PBSKIDSGO.org , PBS Parents (PBSPARENTS.org ), PBS Teachers (PBSTEACHERS.org). PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation’s nearly 360 public television stations, serving more than 124 million people on-air and online each month. For more information on specific shows supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide educational television network, is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children, parents and teachers alike – through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. About CPB CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1000 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related on-line services. The contents of this release were developed under a grant, #PRU295A050003 and #PRU295B050003, from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Contact: Kathie B. Martin, APR 800-239-5233, ext. 188

Montgomery Youths Are APT Writing Contest Winners

Montgomery first grader Evan Nicholas Leary and Prattville third grader Molly Kay Rose Richardson are among 12 elementary students and authors statewide to be selected winners in the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, sponsored by Alabama Public Television. Leary, who was also a winner in APT’s 2009 writing contest, received a second-place award in the first-grade category for his book, “Weasler and the Big Purple Blimp,” and Richardson, a first-time winner, earned a second place award in the third-grade category for her book, titled “The Very Special Gardener.” The contest encourages children grades K-3 to celebrate the power of writing and illustrating by creating their own original storybooks. First through third-place winners are selected in each grade level. This year, a record 285 entries were submitted to APT’s Education Division. Winning authors will be recognized at a special awards ceremony to be held Saturday, April 17 at the Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery and they will be hosted with their family at an APT-sponsored luncheon in their honor at the historic Young House. They will also be presented with a gift package containing books and educational activities from APT. Alabama’s first-place winning entries will advance to the national competition where they will be judged by a panel of renowned professionals. National winners will be announced during summer 2010 and will earn additional prizes including laptops, digital cameras and MP3 players. In announcing the winners, APT’s VP of Educational Services Dr. Cindy Kirk noted, “Research shows that writing plays a key role in the development of early literacy skills. This contest provides the perfect forum for kids to flex their imaginations while tapping into those important skills.” A full breakdown of the 2010 Young Writers’ Contest Winners appears below. KINDERGARTEN First Place: “Gramy Goes to Space” by Hattin Berryman, Waterloo, AL Second Place: “The Good Dog” by Cheryl Kaye Marshall, Birmingham, AL Third Place: “Finding Grandma” by Sofie Jean Pickett, Phenix City, AL FIRST GRADE First Place: “The Spider Who Couldn’t Swim” by Jackson Baggett, Cullman, AL Second Place: “Weasler and the Big Purple Blimp” by Evan Nicholas Leary, Montgomery, AL Third Place: “ The Pub Parade” by Eden Kennedy Morris, Birmingham, AL SECOND GRADE First Place: “Sunny Days are Here” by Taylor El’ana Moore-Jones, Dixon’s Mills, AL Second Place: “Lizzy the Dancing Scientist” by Maria Joy Moxey, Mobile, AL Third Place: “A New Day” by Benjamin Starkey, Southside, AL THIRD GRADE First Place: “The Crab who wasn’t Crabby” by Ellie Talalight, Gardendale, AL Second Place: “The Very Special Gardener” by Molly Kay Rose Richardson, Prattville, AL Third Place: “Jake: Best Day Ever!” by Jordan Hale, Hartselle, AL All APT winning stories will be posted on the APT Web site, www.aptv.org/education after the awards ceremony. The Web site also features a wealth of information for parents and teachers as well as interactive user-generated content for kids. About the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Produced by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages 2 to 8, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being, family and educator resources - including PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, PBSKIDS.org , PBSKIDSGO.org , PBS Parents (PBSPARENTS.org ), PBS Teachers (PBSTEACHERS.org). PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation’s nearly 360 public television stations, serving more than 124 million people on-air and online each month. For more information on specific shows supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide educational television network, is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children, parents and teachers alike – through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. About CPB CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1000 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related on-line services. CONTACT: Kathie B. Martin, APR 800-239-5233, ext. 188 The contents of this release were developed under a grant, #PRU295A050003 and #PRU295B050003, from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Phenix City Youth an APT Writers Contest Winner

Phenix City kindergartener Sofie Jean Pickett is among 12 elementary students and authors statewide to be selected winners in the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, sponsored by Alabama Public Television. Pickett received a third-place award in the kindergarten category for her book, “Finding Grandma.” Winning authors will be recognized at a special awards ceremony to be held Saturday, April 17 at the Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery and they will be hosted with their family at an APT-sponsored luncheon in their honor at the historic Young House. They will also be presented with a gift package containing books and educational activities from APT. In announcing the winners, APT’s VP of Educational Services Dr. Cindy Kirk noted, “Research shows that writing plays a key role in the development of early literacy skills. This contest provides the perfect forum for kids to flex their imaginations while tapping into those important skills.” The contest encourages children grades K-3 to celebrate the power of writing and illustrating by creating their own original storybooks. First through third-place winners are selected in each grade level. This year, a record 285 entries were submitted to APT’s Education Division. A full breakdown of the 2010 Young Writers’ Contest Winners appears below. KINDERGARTEN First Place: “Gramy Goes to Space” by Hattin Berryman, Waterloo, AL Second Place: “The Good Dog” by Cheryl Kaye Marshall, Birmingham, AL Third Place: “Finding Grandma” by Sofie Jean Pickett, Phenix City, AL FIRST GRADE First Place: “The Spider Who Couldn’t Swim” by Jackson Baggett, Cullman, AL Second Place: “Weasler and the Big Purple Blimp” by Evan Nicholas Leary, Montgomery, AL Third Place: “ The Pub Parade” by Eden Kennedy Morris, Birmingham, AL SECOND GRADE First Place: “Sunny Days are Here” by Taylor El’ana Moore-Jones, Dixon’s Mills, AL Second Place: “Lizzy the Dancing Scientist” by Maria Joy Moxey, Mobile, AL Third Place: “A New Day” by Benjamin Starkey, Southside, AL THIRD GRADE First Place: “The Crab who wasn’t Crabby” by Ellie Talalight, Gardendale, AL Second Place: “The Very Special Gardener” by Molly Kay Rose Richardson, Prattville, AL Third Place: “Jake: Best Day Ever!” by Jordan Hale, Hartselle, AL All APT winning stories will be posted on the APT Web site, www.aptv.org/education after the awards ceremony. The Web site also features a wealth of information for parents and teachers as well as interactive user-generated content for kids. About the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Produced by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages 2 to 8, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being, family and educator resources - including PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, PBSKIDS.org , PBSKIDSGO.org , PBS Parents (PBSPARENTS.org ), PBS Teachers (PBSTEACHERS.org). PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation’s nearly 360 public television stations, serving more than 124 million people on-air and online each month. For more information on specific shows supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide educational television network, is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children, parents and teachers alike – through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. About CPB CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1000 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related on-line services. CONTACT: Kathie B. Martin, APR 800-239-5233, ext. 188 The contents of this release were developed under a grant, #PRU295A050003 and #PRU295B050003, from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Southside Youth an APT Writers Contest Winner

Southside second-grader Benjamin Starkey is among 12 elementary students and authors statewide to be selected winners in the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, sponsored by Alabama Public Television. Starkey received a third-place award in the competition in the second-grade category for his book, “A New Day.” Winning authors will be recognized at a special awards ceremony to be held Saturday, April 17 at the Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery and they will be hosted with their family at an APT-sponsored luncheon in their honor at the historic Young House. They will also be presented with a gift package containing books and educational activities from APT. In announcing the winners, APT’s VP of Educational Services Dr. Cindy Kirk noted, “Research shows that writing plays a key role in the development of early literacy skills. This contest provides the perfect forum for kids to flex their imaginations while tapping into those important skills.” The contest encourages children grades K-3 to celebrate the power of writing and illustrating by creating their own original storybooks. First through third-place winners are selected in each grade level. This year, a record 285 entries were submitted to APT’s Education Division. A full breakdown of the 2010 Young Writers’ Contest Winners appears below. KINDERGARTEN First Place: “Gramy Goes to Space” by Hattin Berryman, Waterloo, AL Second Place: “The Good Dog” by Cheryl Kaye Marshall, Birmingham, AL Third Place: “Finding Grandma” by Sofie Jean Pickett, Phenix City, AL FIRST GRADE First Place: “The Spider Who Couldn’t Swim” by Jackson Baggett, Cullman, AL Second Place: “Weasler and the Big Purple Blimp” by Evan Nicholas Leary, Montgomery, AL Third Place: “ The Pub Parade” by Eden Kennedy Morris, Birmingham, AL SECOND GRADE First Place: “Sunny Days are Here” by Taylor El’ana Moore-Jones, Dixon’s Mills, AL Second Place: “Lizzy the Dancing Scientist” by Maria Joy Moxey, Mobile, AL Third Place: “A New Day” by Benjamin Starkey, Southside, AL THIRD GRADE First Place: “The Crab who wasn’t Crabby” by Ellie Talalight, Gardendale, AL Second Place: “The Very Special Gardener” by Molly Kay Rose Richardson, Prattville, AL Third Place: “Jake: Best Day Ever!” by Jordan Hale, Hartselle, AL All APT winning stories will be posted on the APT Web site, www.aptv.org/education after the awards ceremony. The Web site also features a wealth of information for parents and teachers as well as interactive user-generated content for kids. About the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Produced by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages 2 to 8, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being, family and educator resources - including PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, PBSKIDS.org , PBSKIDSGO.org , PBS Parents (PBSPARENTS.org ), PBS Teachers (PBSTEACHERS.org). PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation’s nearly 360 public television stations, serving more than 124 million people on-air and online each month. For more information on specific shows supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide educational television network, is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children, parents and teachers alike – through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. About CPB CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1000 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related on-line services. CONTACT: Kathie B. Martin, APR 800-239-5233, ext. 188 The contents of this release were developed under a grant, #PRU295A050003 and #PRU295B050003, from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Waterloo Youth an APT Writers Contest Winner

Waterloo kindergartener Hattin Berryman is among 12 elementary students and authors statewide to be selected winners in the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, sponsored by Alabama Public Television. Berryman received a first-place award in the Alabama competition in the first-grade category for his book, “Gramy Goes to Space.” As a first-place winning entry, it will go on to the national competition and be judged by a panel of renowned professionals. National winners will be announced during summer 2010 and will earn additional prizes including laptops, digital cameras and MP3 players. Winning Alabama authors will be recognized at a special awards ceremony to be held Saturday, April 17 at the Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery and they will be hosted with their family at an APT-sponsored luncheon in their honor at the historic Young House. They will also be presented with a gift package containing books and educational activities from APT. In announcing the winners, APT’s VP of Educational Services Dr. Cindy Kirk noted, “Research shows that writing plays a key role in the development of early literacy skills. This contest provides the perfect forum for kids to flex their imaginations while tapping into those important skills.” The contest encourages children grades K-3 to celebrate the power of writing and illustrating by creating their own original storybooks. First through third-place winners are selected in each grade level. This year, a record 285 entries were submitted to APT’s Education Division. A full breakdown of the 2010 Young Writers’ Contest Winners appears below. KINDERGARTEN First Place: “Gramy Goes to Space” by Hattin Berryman, Waterloo, AL Second Place: “The Good Dog” by Cheryl Kaye Marshall, Birmingham, AL Third Place: “Finding Grandma” by Sofie Jean Pickett, Phenix City, AL FIRST GRADE First Place: “The Spider Who Couldn’t Swim” by Jackson Baggett, Cullman, AL Second Place: “Weasler and the Big Purple Blimp” by Evan Nicholas Leary, Montgomery, AL Third Place: “ The Pub Parade” by Eden Kennedy Morris, Birmingham, AL SECOND GRADE First Place: “Sunny Days are Here” by Taylor El’ana Moore-Jones, Dixon’s Mills, AL Second Place: “Lizzy the Dancing Scientist” by Maria Joy Moxey, Mobile, AL Third Place: “A New Day” by Benjamin Starkey, Southside, AL THIRD GRADE First Place: “The Crab who wasn’t Crabby” by Ellie Talalight, Gardendale, AL Second Place: “The Very Special Gardener” by Molly Kay Rose Richardson, Prattville, AL Third Place: “Jake: Best Day Ever!” by Jordan Hale, Hartselle, AL All APT winning stories will be posted on the APT Web site, www.aptv.org/education after the awards ceremony. The Web site also features a wealth of information for parents and teachers as well as interactive user-generated content for kids. About the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Produced by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages 2 to 8, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being, family and educator resources - including PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, PBSKIDS.org , PBSKIDSGO.org , PBS Parents (PBSPARENTS.org ), PBS Teachers (PBSTEACHERS.org). PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation’s nearly 360 public television stations, serving more than 124 million people on-air and online each month. For more information on specific shows supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide educational television network, is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children, parents and teachers alike – through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. About CPB CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1000 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related on-line services. CONTACT: Kathie B. Martin, APR 800-239-5233, ext. 188 The contents of this release were developed under a grant, #PRU295A050003 and #PRU295B050003, from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Jackson Mosley Honored for Service to APT

BIRMINGHAM, AL, April 7, 2010 - On March 24, 2010, Alabama Public Television honored two outgoing commissioners, Thomas E. Jackson and Dr. John H. "Pete" Mosley, for the years of service they provided on the Alabama Educational Television Commission (AETC). During a dinner held in their honor at The Summit Club in Birmingham, Jackson's and Dr. Mosley's combined service of more than 51 years on the AETC were lauded. Jackson's wife Kathy and Mosley's wife Sue Ellen joined family members and colleagues at the dinner. Thomas E. Jackson Jackson has served more than 22 years on the AETC. First appointed to the Commission in 1987 by Governor Guy Hunt to represent the Sixth Congressional District of Alabama, he was reappointed in 1997 by Governor Fob James. Tom has a journalism degree from the University of Georgia and is the founder and president of Market Technologies, a Birmingham-based company that provides medical diagnostic equipment across the Southeast. According to APT Executive Director Allan Pizzato, Jackson's expertise and experience as an owner of his own business have been great assets to the Commission in making sound financial decisions while providing quality educational programming to the citizens of the State of Alabama. Dr. John H. "Pete" Mosley Mosley, with more than 29 years of service to the AETC, was first appointed to the Commission in 1980 by Governor Fob James to represent the Sixth Congressional District of Alabama. He was reappointed in 1989 by Governor Guy Hunt and again in 1998 by Governor Fob James. During his tenure on the Commission, Mosley served as its secretary, vice-chairman, and as its chairman from 1999 to 2008—the longest continuous chairmanship in its history. Missing only one meeting in 29 years, Mosley led the organization during one of the broadcast industry’s most challenging periods—the national television digital conversion—a process that was ten years in the making. An educator with a distinguished career in Alabama public schools, Mosley retired in 1995 as Superintendent of Schools in Ozark after nearly 20 years in that position. He was named Alabama Superintendent of the Year in 1989 and was nominated by his peers for National Superintendent of the Year. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as his doctorate from Auburn University. He has taught graduate courses in educational administration at four different institutions and has served on many panels and committees that have shaped educational decisions for the State of Alabama. About the AETC The Alabama Educational Television Commission is the governing body of Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide educational television network. The Commission is made up of seven members, each appointed by the governor to represent one of the state’s seven congressional districts. Members of the AETC also serve on the Alabama Educational Television Foundation Board. APT is a seven-days-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian—children and adults alike—through online services, digital television programming on three separate channels, documentary production and outreach activities.

APT Names 2010 Young Heroes Award Winners

Alabama Public Television (APT) has announced the winners of its annual Young Heroes Awards. Carlissa Brown of Highland Home, Mackenzie Derr of Vestavia Hills, Shawn Dillard of Decatur, Christopher Gray of Birmingham and Stephen Tyree of Berry, Alabama, were selected by a panel of leading Alabama business, civic and education leaders to receive the award. To earn APT’s Young Heroes Award, youngsters must be full time students in a 9th through 12th grade curriculum, have demonstrated academic excellence, be an active participant in their community and have the courage to persevere in the face of adversity. The five winners will be honored in a live “Stars in Education” broadcast on Alabama Public Television on May 12 that combines the announcement and presentation of Alabama’s Teacher of the Year Award by the Alabama Department of Education with the Young Heroes Award. About the Young Heroes Carlissa Brown, a senior at Highland Home High School, will graduate with honors this year as third in her class. While maintaining excellent grades, she works 30 hours a week in a part-time job as well as operating a nail design business out of her home. Her accomplishments have come despite the loss of her mother during Brown’s preschool years and the conviction of her father for the murder. A family friend served as Brown’s legal guardian until her death in an industrial accident during the student’s sophomore year. Brown, who is considering a career in nursing, is now under the guardianship of her adopted grandmother. Mackenzie Derr is a senior at Vestavia Hills High School who is an active member of the National Honor Society, Leo Club, Relay for Life and a student mentor group for elementary school children. In addition to jobs at Birmingham’s Levite Jewish Community Center and Temple Emanu-El’s religious school, she volunteers each summer at HealthSouth’s Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital and Camp Smile-a-Mile events in addition to speaking to physical therapy groups at Childrens Hospital and UAB. A cancer surviver, Derr lost a leg at the age of seven—and later her remaining foot—to the disease. A keen sense of humor and determination to triumph over physical obstacles led to Derr’s selected as “Most Admired” and Homecoming Queen by her classmates. Shawn Dillard was diagnosed at six months of age with kidney disease and has undergone more than 15 surgeries since that time, including two kidney transplants, leg and hip surgeries. Through it all, Dillard has remained an outstanding student, and enrolled as a member of his school’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC). A graduate of the rigorous and challenging JROTC Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, he now holds the rank of Sergeant First Class in the JROTC. Christopher Gray, a senior at Ramsay High School, maintains a 4.0 grade point average. The founder of two nonprofit organizations—one to organize the volunteer activities of teens and the other to raise money for people who are in unfortunate situations—Gray is also chief executive officer of a teen-run recreation business and has put in more than 500 hours of community service by volunteering regularly for nonprofits such as the American Cancer Society, the Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, the Jimmie Hale Mission, the Community Entrepreneur Institute and the Jefferson County Health Department. To help support his two siblings and a mother who lost her job during the recession, Gray maintains a part-time job. Determined to be his family’s first college graduate, he plans to pursue a career in business. Steven Tyree is an honors student at Berry High School in Berry, Ala. In addition to playing on the school’s varsity football and baseball teams, he serves as president of the student government, is active in numerous school clubs and donates as many hours as possible to the community, reading to preschool children, working on clean-up committees and cutting the grass at a local cemetery. He was one of a select few to attend the 10th Annual Lott Summer Leadership Institute last year. From his many accomplishments, few could guess that this young man underwent brain surgeries as a child and that he and his brothers came from a home where both parents used illegal drugs, sending his father to jail and the boys to live with their aunt and uncle. After college graduation, Tyree plans to return to Berry to serve the community as a physician. In addition to an engraved plaque, the Young Heroes receive a $2,500 scholarship to the college of their choice and a laptop computer with software suitable for a college student. One of the five winners will be selected to receive an additional award—the The Marissa Feigelson Award, which offers an additional $1,000 scholarship. Young Heroes Sponsors The Young Heroes Awards program is made possible by the generous donations of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Books-A-Million, Honda, Publix and Technip USA, Inc. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television (APT) is America’s first statewide public television network. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), it is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for Alabamians of all ages through online services, digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. For information about APT’s educational and broadcast services, visit www.aptv.org.

APT Enhances Online Educational Services

Parents who have looked at their child’s homework assignments no doubt know that schoolwork has changed; answers to questions don’t come as easily as they did a generation ago and problems aren’t resolved as quickly as they once were. Now thanks to a free, enhanced online service from Alabama Public Television (APT), homework doesn’t have to be a monumental challenge. APTPLUS™ combines children’s natural curiosity, their computer talents and enthusiasm to learn with a wealth of educational content. Available at no charge to parents, teachers and students, APTPLUS is accessible twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week from any computer with Internet access. The APTPLUS Learn360 database provides audio and visual explanations of hard-to-teach and difficult-to-learn concepts, creating an environment for learning for Pre-K students through twelfth graders. Using APTPLUS Learn360, parents can stream or download videos along with speeches, songs and still images in the areas of the Arts, Health and Guidance, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies and World Languages. They can also access educational PBS programs that bring another dimension to learning, such as NOVA, Between the Lions and Cyberchase. Tools for parents and teachers to create blogs, podcasts, multimedia assignments and quizzes to promote creative and critical thinking skills are also available. Alabama’s stories are told through the APT-produced content available in the APTPLUS Digital Library database including the story of the migrating Whooping Cranes that fly over Alabama and the array of talent displayed by Alabama craftsmen and artisans in the series entitled Alabama Craft: Tradition and Innovation, all on APTPLUS. Those who are preparing for the GED exam may benefit from the GED Connection series in the APT Adult Education database. Basic adult life skills content focusing on health, money and family is available through the TV411 and Workplace Essential Skills series, available in the APT Adult Education Database on APTPLUS. “Think of it as your own private library, filled with videos, still images and audio that’s at your disposal 24 hours a day,” says Dr. Cindy Kirk, APT’s vice president of educational services. She notes that parents can use the service to spark their child’s imagination, thereby making learning more meaningful. “Best of all, there’s no questionable content that you might find on a general Internet search engine,” she adds. “All items accessed through APTPLUS™ come from trusted sources with children’s best interests in mind.” Registering for and using APTPLUS™ is easy at www.aptplus.org. Parents should click on “Parent Registration” and scroll down the page to complete the online form to request a username and password, which will be e-mailed to them within three business days. For registration assistance or answers to other questions, go to www.aptplus.org and click on “contact APTPLUS.” When parents receive a username and password, they can use the APTPLUS Learn360 database by logging onto APTPLUS™ at www.aptplus.org, clicking on the APTPLUS™ Media Services icon and typing in their username and password. Registration is not required for the other APTPLUS databases including the APTPLUS Digital Library and the APT Adult Education database. For registration assistance or answers to other questions, go to www.aptplus.org and click on “contact APTPLUS.” About Alabama Public Television Since its founding in 1955 as America’s first statewide educational television network, Alabama Public Television has focused its efforts on education. Funded by viewers and the State of Alabama, the nine-station network presents local and PBS-produced programming, community outreach activities and online services for individuals and educators.

Kirk Heads APT Education Division

Cindy Formanek Kirk, Ph.D., a respected Birmingham education professional, has joined Alabama Public Television (APT) as Vice President of Educational Services. Kirk, who spent the past 28 years with Samford University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) overseeing continuing education, is now responsible for all services provided by the fastest-growing division of Alabama’s educational network. Falling under her supervision are APT’s Early Childhood initiatives, its online services for teachers, parents and students, and all APT’s statewide educational outreach activities. Allan Pizzato, executive director of Alabama Public Television said, “Dr. Cindy Kirk brings a long and stellar educational background to APT at a time when we are seeing exploding growth in utilization of APT’s Web-based new media content by pre-K through high school teachers. Her education and management expertise along with her deep commitment to improving our educational system will serve to further that growth and increase our impact on improving the quality of education throughout the state.” A native of Garner, Iowa, Kirk earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and her master’s degree in Family Development from the University of Iowa. She earned a doctorate in Early Childhood Education and Development from UAB in 1999. She is currently enrolled in the MBA program at Samford University Brock School of Business. Kirk’s community involvement is extensive, including current commitments as Chair of a United Way of Central Alabama Visiting Allocation Team, board member of the Shades Valley YMCA and member of the fundraising committee for Holy Family Cristo Rey High School. She has served in professional leadership positions including Chair of the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) Region South, Commissioner on the UCEA Commission on Learning, Instruction and Technologies, and Vice President of the Alpha Sigma Lambda Adult Education Foundation. Past honors include being named as a Cahaba Valley Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction, Metropolitan Birmingham and Shades Valley YMCA Board Member of the Year and National Academic Advising Association Advisor of the Year. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television holds the distinction of being the nation’s first statewide educational television network, serving as a model for other statewide public broadcasting networks in the U.S. and abroad. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System, APT retains its educational mission -- serving as a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children and adults alike – through online services, digital television programming on three statewide channels, Emmy Award winning documentary production and outreach activities. CONTACT: Kathie B. Martin, APR 205-380-5168 800-239-5233, ext. 188 cell: 572-0875

APT Earns Emmy and Telly Awards

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – July 9, 2009 – “We Have Signal,” a half-hour Alabama Public Television (APT) music program recorded live at Birmingham’s BottleTree Café, has earned a regional Emmy® Award and three bronze Telly Awards in competitions held this year. Among the awards received was an Emmy for Matt Whitson of APT and Brad Lightfoot of BottleTree in the “Outstanding Achievement in Audio, Recorded in Live- and Post-production” category. The three bronze Telly Awards earned by “We Have Signal” were in the Entertainment, Sound/Sound Design and Videography/ Cinematography categories. The series is produced by APT staff members: J. Whitson, producer; Matt Whitson, direction, audio and editing; Justin Gaar and Christopher E. Holmes, videography; Paul Rogers, videography and editing. “We Have Signal” features new and innovative bands from around the state, country and world. Episodes of the series air weekly on APT and APT/HD at 10p.m. each Thursday night. Each week’s new episode also airs at 11p.m. Sunday evenings. In addition to the nomination for “We Have Signal,” APT also scored a nomination in the documentary category for “Marching into History,” a program that presents the story of Selma in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement. The documentary was produced by APT’s Lori Cummings. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, established in 1955, was America’s first statewide public television network. Affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), it is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for Alabamians of all ages through online services, analog and digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. For more information about APT, visit www.aptv.org. About the Emmy Awards The Emmy Awards are presented annually by the Academy of Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Southeast Chapter, which serves the Southeast Region (geographic areas of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Asheville, N.C.). Entries into the 2009 competition must have aired in the Southeast Region within the calendar year January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008 and must have aired in less than 50% of the U.S. markets. For more information about the Emmy Awards, visit natasadmin@natassoutheast.tv. About the Telly Awards Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online film and video. The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, interactive agencies, and corporate video departments in the world. The Telly Awards receives over 13,000 entries annually from all 50 states and countries around the world. To find out more about the Telly Awards, visit www.tellyawards.com # # #

A TRUE Event with Alabama Public Television

Alabama Public Television (APT), in partnership with Wesley True, Executive Chef of TRUE, and award-winning artists Bruce Larsen and Nall, will present a celebration of south Alabama cuisine and craft Sept. 24 at TRUE Fine Dining, located in Spring Hill’s Legacy Village. The benefit event, which will help fund APT’s educational mission, begins at 6 p.m. with a pre-dinner reception and live auction in which mixed-media craftsmen Larsen and Nall will unveil their one-of-a-kind collaborative design commemorating Alabama craft. A seated dinner prepared by chef True and his staff will follow at 7 p.m. Following dinner, APT will present a short preview of its newest documentary, Alabama Craft: Tradition and Innovation, which features Mobile master potter Charles Smith. CONTACT: Marty Vignes PHONE: 251.533.0151 EMAIL: mvignes@aptv.org WEBSITE: www.aptv.org Limited corporate and individual sponsorships and table bookings are available. For more information, contact Marty Vignes at 251-533-0151; mvignes@aptv.org; or visit the APT Web site at www.aptv.org.

Department of Education Alabama Public Television Partner to Honor Alabamas Stars in Education

Alabama Public Television (APT) and the Alabama Department of Education are partnering to honor Alabama’s outstanding teachers and students in a May 13 evening celebration event titled Alabama’s Stars in Education. The event, which combines the Department of Education’s 2009 Teacher of the Year Awards with APT’s annual Alabama Young Heroes Awards, will be featured in a live telecast that will be broadcast statewide on Alabama Public Television from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Approximately 300 educators, business leaders, government representatives and families of nominated individuals are expected to attend the Stars in Education event, which will be held at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Civic Center. In addition to comments from Joe Morton, state superintendent of education, and Allan Pizzato, executive director of Alabama Public Television, the broadcast will feature comments from Betsy Rogers, the 2003 national teacher of the year, and a keynote speech by John Croyle, director of Big Oak Ranch, Inc. “Alabama Public Television is proud to be a part in honoring our state’s best teachers and spotlighting some of the remarkable youth our state has to offer,” said Allan Pizzato, executive director of Alabama Public Television. “It’s the perfect use of our broadcasting capabilities to help celebrate our state’s greatest educational successes.” About the Teacher of the Year Award Sponsored by the Alabama state board of education and Alabama department of education, The Alabama Teacher of the Year program annually honors and recognizes excellence in the teaching profession by identifying outstanding Alabama classroom teachers at local, district and state levels. Any public school-certified classroom teacher whose major responsibility is to work with children in a P-12 setting to provide learning opportunities based on the appropriate state Courses of Studies, is eligible to receive the award. Alabama’s Teacher of the Year is entered automatically in the National Teacher of the Year Program. Additional information—including the names of the sixteen finalists and final four candidates for the award—can be found at www.alsde.edu. About the Alabama Young Heroes™ Awards Now in its ninth year, Alabama Public Television’s Alabama Young Heroes™ Awards honors five exemplary students in grades nine through 12 who have excelled in academics, generously served their communities while overcoming personal hardships along the way. Each Young Hero receives scholarship assistance to the college of his/her choice, a new laptop computer and other prizes. Additional information about the awards—including details about the five 2009 award winners—are available at www.aptv.org. Contact: Kathie B. Martin 800-239-5233, ext. 188 205-572-0875 (cell)

APT Documents Whooping Crane Flyover for On-line and Classroom Use

APT Documents Whooping Crane Migration Over Alabama BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — March 27, 2009 –Alabama Public Television highlights the flight of 14 endangered whooping cranes on their first trip south on “Flying Over Alabama: The Whooping Crane Story,” to be aired this Sunday night, March 29, at 7:30 p.m. on APT IQ (APT digital channel 4). The half-hour program documents the journey of cranes flying over and making stopovers in the state of Alabama for the first time ever as ultralight airplane “parents” – flown by members of the non-profit organization Operation Migration – teach them the way. In addition to describing how the project to save these magnificent creatures from extinction began and its educational aspect, the story also details the hard work of the Operation Migration team who accompanies the cranes on their journey and the history of the whooping crane. APT will also post additional resources on its online educational resource, APTPLUS™. These include video clips of the flights, a classroom presentation made by an Operation Migration pilot and ground supervisor and teacher-led classroom activities tracking the cranes’ migration from point of origin to final destination. These activities will be invaluable tools for students to track next year’s flight of migratory birds. “Because of the educational aspect of our work, APT was privileged to be given the opportunity to document the cranes’ flight and share the story with classrooms and the people of Alabama,” notes Nancy Hill, vice president of Educational Services at APT. “In working with Alabama Public Television, our hope was to interest school children not just in whooping cranes, but in wildlife conservation,” said Liz Condie, COO and Director of Communications for Operation Migration. “Why? Because we think young people are our most important audience. Theirs is the generation in which lies the hope for all of earth’s creatures – including humankind.” The program is also scheduled to run on APT’s main channel (APT digital channel 1) on May 17 as a special “Alabama Stories” episode. For information about the program, visit www.aptplus.org. About Operation Migration Operation Migration, established in 1994, is a non-profit charitable organization that uses ultralight aircraft to reintroduce endangered whooping cranes to eastern North America. Its mission is to advance the conservation of migratory species and their habitats through innovate research, education and partnership. For more information, visit www.operationmigration.org. About Alabama Public Television Since its founding in 1955 as America’s first statewide educational television network, Alabama Public Television has focused its efforts on education. Funded by viewers and the State of Alabama, the nine-station network presents local and PBS-produced programming, community outreach activities and online services for individuals and educators. APT serves as a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian. Associated photo cutline: Operation Migration ultralight pilot Brooke Pennypacker leads seven whooping cranes on their first migration south. APT Contact: Kathie B. Martin, APR Alabama Public Television Marketing/Corporate Support Manager 205-572-0875 (cell) 800-239-5233, ext. 188 Operation Migration Contact: Liz Condie COO & Director of Communications Operation Migration 905-982-1096 (o); 608-542-0829 (c)

Stokes Named APT Vice President of Development

STOKES NAMED VP OF DEVELOPMENT AT APT BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 25, 2009 – Gary A. Stokes has been named Vice President of Development at Alabama Public Television (APT). Stokes, who joined APT in 2006 as Manager of Corporate Support, was named Assistant Vice President of Development in 2008. He assumes his new title on April 1, at which time he will assume total responsibility for fundraising activities of APT, including membership, pledge activities, corporate support and public information, all of which support the network’s all-encompassing educational mission.. President and General Manager of NBC-affiliate WVTM-TV in Birmingham from 1996 to 2001, Stokes has more than 27 years of experience in the television industry. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton in Ohio and is a graduate of both Leadership Birmingham and Leadership Alabama. “Gary Stokes is a well-respected professional in our community who has made a significant contribution to our team from his first day with us,” said Allan Pizzato, Executive Director of Alabama Public Television. “We are excited to have him accept this challenging position.” Stokes is a native of Philadelphia, Pa. and a past member of the Radio-Television News Directors Association and the National Association of Black Journalists. A tireless community supporter, he serves on the Advisory Committee of the Communications Studies Department of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Marketing Committee of Aldridge Botanical Gardens. Previously he served on the board of directors of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham, served as president of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Birmingham and served on the Board of Visitors of the University of Alabama’s College of Communications and on the executive committee of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. He also served as program co-chair of Leadership Birmingham’s Class of 2008 and headed the State Employees Campaign of the 2007 United Way campaign. In 1999, he co-chaired the Vulcan Park Foundation’s drive to raise monies for the repair of the statue, restoration of the park and construction of the Vulcan Center; the project was completed and rededicated in 2004. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide educational television network, is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. It is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children and adults alike – through online services, digital television programming on three separate channels, documentary production and outreach activities. # # #

ONLINE EDUCATIONAL SITE NOW AVAILABLE TO PARENTS STUDENTS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — January 23, 2009 — Parents of students in pre-kindergarten through high school are now able to register for Alabama Public Television’s powerful online learning service—APTPLUS™—previously only available to teachers. The free service provides a wealth of multimedia assets that enhance and stimulate learning. APTPLUS™, which spans all pre-K through adult education subject areas, offers full-length videos, video clips, audio files, still images, clip art and other materials (including teacher guides, lesson plans and print media articles). Using a single sign-in, parents and their children can simultaneously search multiple databases including PowerMediaPlus, Thinkfinity (Marco Polo), as well as adult education programs including GED Connection, Workplace Essential Skills, TV 411 and APT local productions. Materials correspond to Alabama state curriculum standards, the Alabama High School Graduation Exam and the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT). Nancy Hill, vice president of education services at APT, describes the service as a resource for parents that can spark their child’s imagination and make learning more meaningful. “Is your child studying the Roman Empire? Go to APTPLUS™ and you will find content that includes dozens of videos. APTPLUS™ can provide you with the history of the civilization, how the people lived, and their religious and cultural beliefs.” APTPLUS™ was rolled out to public, private and home school K-12 teachers in 2003 and APT’s statistics show that 91 percent of all public K-12 schools are using the service—and that only represents Alabama’s public schools. Registering for the service is as simple as contacting APT at www.aptplus.org and clicking on the “Parent” icon to request a username and password. Using it is as simple as logging onto the APTPLUS™ homepage (www.aptv.org/APTPlus) and clicking on “Sign in Now” with your username and password. About Alabama Public Television Since its founding in 1955 as America’s first statewide educational television network, Alabama Public Television has focused its efforts on education. Funded by viewers and the State of Alabama, the nine-station network presents local and PBS-produced programming, community outreach activities and online services for individuals and educators. APT serves as a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian. Contact: Kathie B. Martin 205-380-5168 1-800-239-5233, ext. 188

APT SPONSORS LIVE MUSIC PROGRAM BENEFIT

Four Bands Appear at Bottletree January 22 Alabama Public Television (APT) will sponsor a benefit performance by four noted Alabama bands at Birmingham’s BottleTree Café on Thursday, January 22 at 9 p.m. Proceeds from the benefit will go toward funding future episodes of the locally produced music program “We Have Signal” on APT. Bands donating their talents to the benefit will be: • DEXATEENS – “…rooted in the rough-and-tumble rock & roll of the Faces and the Rolling Stones, with a strong undercurrent of outlaw country and some dynamics borrowed from the Southern rock tradition.” - Michael Toland, High Bias • THE BROKEN LETTERS – Pastoral post-punk • SWORN ENEMIES – Honkey-tonk with an upright bass and the occasional washboard. Dancing encouraged. • MT.ST.MTN. – A new instrumental collaboration between Birmingham music veterans. Kind of Don Caballero with miner’s helmets. On a rocketship. Three of the performances will be videotaped for future episodes of “We Have Signal.” Doors open at 8 p.m. with music scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.; an $8 admission will be charged. BottleTree will provide drink and food specials and APT will provide free stickers and t-shirts while supplies last. About WE HAVE SIGNAL: LIVE FROM BIRMINGHAM “We Have Signal” is a live episodic music program filmed by Alabama Public Television exclusively at The BottleTree Café in Birmingham, AL. The series features new, innovative bands from around the state, the country and the world. New episodes of “We Have Signal” air weekly at 10 p.m. on Thursday nights, followed by an encore presentation of the previous week’s episode. Each week’s new episode also airs at 11 p.m. Sunday evening on APT. The program debuted on APT in January of this year and the network is currently in repeats; new episodes are scheduled to begin in April. About The BottleTree Café The BottleTree Café is a live music venue and restaurant with an emphasis on national touring music acts and an eclectic mix of food of special appeal to vegetarians with locally grown, seasonal vegetables. BottleTree is located east of downtown Birmingham, Ala. at 3719 3rd Ave South. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide educational television network, is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children and adults alike – through online services, analog and digital television programming, documentary production and outreach activities. It is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. CONTACT: For more information on the program, including a complete performer listing, contact producer J. Whitson at 205-451-0127 or jwhitson@aptv.org or Kathie Martin at 205-572-0875.

APT Cuts Program Staff

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., January 9, 2009–Alabama Public Television (APT) announced today that it must make programming and staff changes due to the recent state budget reductions. Executive Director Allan Pizzato announced today that the network will no longer be producing its weekly half hour For the Record program—a stable of the APT lineup for more than 25 years—after its February 3 broadcast. In addition, the network is laying off four valued staff members. In making the announcement to employees, APT Executive Director Allan Pizzato explained that the network “is facing its greatest financial challenge ever.” He noted that APT’s 2008-2009 operating budget had already been reduced by more than $2.2 million from the previous year’s budget and that an additional $742,800 has to be cut due to the recent state proration. Prior to this proration announcement, APT had let 6 positions remain vacant and had laid off one production staff position along with other budget reduction measures in order to balance the FY 2009 budget. “We were forced to make some very hard decisions.” he added. “With the elimination of For the Record, we will be asking the remaining production staff to contribute even more. The production staff of Capitol Journal will continue to produce it’s normal Monday-through-Thursday half-hour program during the legislative session, but will add an additional one-hour program on Friday evening at 9 PM that will wrap up the legislative week and incorporate the discussion format with several Alabama journalists that was a signature part of For The Record. After the legislative session ends, Capitol Journal will continue to air on Friday evenings each week throughout the year. “The half-hour programs Alabama Stories, and From These Fields will not appear as monthly programs, but will be placed within the broadcast schedule as Alabama Stories specials throughout the year. With a limited production staff, we will continue to do our best to provide statewide programming dealing with Alabama issues, and continue to tell Alabama stories.” APT’s operating budget funds—which come from the state Education Trust Fund, the federal funds distributed by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, private contributions from viewers and corporate underwriting—pay for the PBS programming broadcast on the network’s nine stations, for locally produced programs and documentaries that tell the stories of Alabama, and for the online educational services used by teachers, caregivers and parents statewide. Pizzato indicated that unless tax revenue to the state’s Education Trust Fund and contributions from viewers and corporations to APT increase, APT’s budget for the coming year may see further cuts. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television, America’s first statewide educational television network, is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System. It is a seven-day-a-week educational resource for every Alabamian – children and adults alike – through online services, analog and digital television programming on three separate channels, documentary production and outreach activities.

Holmes Joins APT as Executive Producer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., October 27, 2008 – Chris Holmes has joined Alabama Public Television (APT) as executive producer in its Birmingham Production and Documentary Department. Holmes, who earned four regional Emmy Awards this year for his work on the APT films “Mr. Dial Has Something to Say” and “Alabama Remembers: WWII,” has been a freelance filmmaker for the past 12 years. During that freelance career he has been involved in the production of an Oscar-nominated short film among other feature films. At APT, he will produce documentaries and original content for the statewide network. He is a graduate of Florida State University and a member of the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences. APT is currently working on the documentary “Alabama Craft Masters,” which explores art forms across the state of Alabama and highlights seven craftsmen and women, presenting how they work, why they make the objects the way they do and how their work reflects the rich heritage of Alabama.

APT AMSTI Partner to Develop Math Content

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kathie Martin 205-380-5168 800-239-5233, ext. 188 As Alabama gains stature in the world marketplace by spawning and attracting companies such as Mercedes-Benz, HudsonAlpha, ThyssenKrupp, Boeing, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and Southern Research, it needs to ensure that it can provide a quality workforce for the future as well as provide the quality jobs that will keep the talent in state. To help make Alabama the force it needs to be for years to come, Alabama Public Television (APT) and AMSTI (the Alabama Mathematics, Science and Technology Initiative) have formed a partnership to develop and distribute original online middle school mathematics content to educators throughout Alabama. The program will be piloted in select AMSTI classrooms in January 2009. APT has formed a task force of AMSTI-trained math and science educators from around the state (noted below) who will serve as content developers for the project. They will work with APT’s Education Department to create original, online content that can be accessed by teachers, parents and students through APTPLUS™, the network’s free multi-media online resource. The math content developed will focus on proportional reasoning for 8th grade students and may include video clips, flash animations, lesson plans and interactive elements. The partnership is made possible by a grant to APT from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The two-year grant will focus on math, but with local support could be extended to develop into a long-term initiative that can later address the science, technology and engineering needs of Alabama students. While CPB’s grant allows APT to determine strategies and begin addressing needs specific to Alabama, it also allows collaboration and sharing of content across the education departments of public broadcasting networks in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and Maryland. The Importance of Math Education In March 2008, The National Mathematics Advisory Panel—created by order of President George W. Bush—released a report recommending that the mathematics curriculum for Pre-K to grade 8 should be streamlined to emphasize the most critical topics early in a child’s education. This is the first step in preparing America’s students to not only excel in mathematics, but to become leaders in the fields of science, engineering, and research—a necessity to ensuring our country’s continuing stature as a world leader. The APT Educator Task Force Among the educators who are serving on the APT’s task force are Cathy Jones, Math Specialist for AMSTI in Montgomery; Drs. Gary Martin and Marilyn Struchens, mathematics education professors and co-directors of TEAM MATH at Auburn University; Sandra Oswalt, 9th-grade math instructor at Oxford High School; Jeanne Simpson, with AMSTI at the University of Huntsville; Joanne Taylor, math coach at Avondale Elementary School in Birmingham; Anita Forest, math instructor at Cullman Middle School; Brenda Terry, executive director of the Alabama Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Coalition and outreach and special projects coordinator for the University of Huntsville’s Institute for Science Education; Judy Matthews, principal of Tarrant Middle School in Birmingham and Susan Pruet, program director of the Mobile Area Education Foundation. About Alabama Public Television Alabama Public Television holds the distinction of being the nation’s first statewide educational television network. Its mission is, first and foremost, education. APT provides educational resources for children and adults seven days a week through online services, analog and digital television programming on three separate channels (it is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting System), documentary production and outreach services. About AMSTI Alabama’s Mathematics, Science, and Technology Initiative, commonly referred to as AMSTI, is the Alabama Department of Education's initiative to improve math and science teaching statewide. AMSTI was designed by a Blue-Ribbon committee comprised of K-12 educators, higher education representatives, and business leaders. The committee pursued every step possible to design the most effective statewide initiative for improving math and science teaching. AMSTI is research-based and incorporates best practices for math and science teaching.

APT Earns Six Regional Emmy Awards

Alabama Public Television (APT) has earned six regional Emmy® Awards in the National Academy of Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Southeast Chapter 2008 competition held today in Atlanta. Among the awards received by APT were an Emmy for outstanding achievement in the Documentary category, earned by APT’s “Mr. Dial Has Something to Say,” which was produced and directed by Celia Carey with J. Whitson as production manager, Jared Shull as editor and Christopher Holmes as director of photography.

In the program editor category, “Mr. Dial Has Something to Say” also produced an Emmy for APT, Celia Carey, and editors Jared Shull and Chris Tomberlin. Carey also earned an Emmy in the Post-Production Director category. The documentary’s director of photography, Christopher Holmes, and Carey received an Emmy in the Program photography category. “WWII: Alabama Remembers,” a 90-minute documentary that featured first-hand accounts of the war by veterans throughout Alabama and aired on APT on Veterans Day 2007, received an Emmy for the film’s promotional piece that appeared on APT and can still be viewed on the APT Web site (www.aptv.org). Producer/director Amanda Shaw Newsome, production manager J. Whitson, director of photography Christopher Holmes, editor Matt Whitson and art director Randy Johnson were credited with the win. The film also garnered an Emmy for in the Lighting category for Holmes and Newsome.

June 2008 Programming All New

An interview with a pioneer in working with special needs children, the STD epidemic in Alabama’s African American community, the making of a port city “boomtown,” the impact higher fuel prices are having statewide and a tour of some of Alabama top vacation destinations are the subjects covered in new local programming presented by Alabama Public Television in June. On Friday, June 6 at 7:00 p.m., “Profiles” host Wendy Garner interviews Betty Bell, Alabama Health Care Hall of Fame Award winner. Just over 20 years ago, Bell founded the Bell Center for Early Intervention, which has delivered a range of treatment programs for approximately 500 children to date from birth to age three who are at risk of developmental delay. Immediately following “Profiles” at 7:30, stay tuned for “frontstreet with Tracey Larkin.” According to the Center for Disease Control, African Americans accounted for 69% of gonorrhea cases in 2006, a rate 18 times greater than among whites. Host Larkin examines the causes and effects of this epidemic, as well as possible solutions. “Alabama Stories” follows each subsequent Friday at 7:00 p.m. with a range of Alabama-based stories. On June 13, it’s “Taking Off” with Chris Newbold, a program that explores why Mobile and surrounding communities are on the verge of becoming the next “boomtown” in the Gulf South region. A massive steel mill, one of the largest current investments in the county, is currently under construction near southern Alabama’s largest city. Mobile has also landed a key aircraft assembly plant. Newbold examines the effects on the region from this influx of high-paying jobs and the “spin-off” factor. On June 20 at 7:00 p.m., Lakia Richardson takes viewers on a tour of some of Alabama’s top vacation destinations in “Destination: Alabama.” Find out why the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Alabama Adventure amusement park are attracting nationwide attention from tourists. On June 27, host Randy Scott explores the “Pain at the Pump” that motorists around the country (including Alabama) are feeling as the price of gas skyrockets. On top of a lackluster vacation travel season, consumers can expect to see an increase in the price of goods, especially food items. And what about those who work with gas-operated equipment? From farmers to fishermen on the Alabama coast, higher fuel costs are making an impact. With the help of an economist or two, Scott attempts to break down the actual price of gas. He also examines problems such as gas theft and a possible increase in fees for those who use credit cards to purchase fuel.