University of Wisconsin - Extension

Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) yesterday announced that it won seven Midwest Emmy Awards in a ceremony in Chicago Saturday evening.

Wisconsin: Prisons & Politics, an analysis of why the state prison population is among the fastest growing in the nation and how overcrowding has an impact on everyone involved in the corrections system, won the award for documentary of current significance.

The best in children's programming for an audience 16 and under, according to the judging panel, was Beyond the Butterfly. The compelling documentary offers insights on what it is like to be young and female in the Midwest. Teen and pre-teen girls in Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio were given video cameras and asked to record their thoughts, hopes and fears in this hour-long presentation.

"Wisconsin Public Television celebrates and connects the people of Wisconsin in meaningful ways through diverse programming such as Wisconsin: Prisons & Politics and Beyond the Butterfly," said Malcolm Brett, the interim director of television. "We are pleased that our efforts to examine the richness of our state have been recognized through these Emmy Awards."

The remaining five awards were for excellence in individual efforts on two programs, Wisconsin: Prisons & Politics and Indigenous Always, the Legend of La Malinche. The latter documentary, about a Milwaukee Hispanic man's search for his roots, examines Mexican culture and how it has been influenced by Europeans.

WPT is a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Wisconsin Public Television is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV/Madison, WPNE-TV/Green Bay, WHRM-TV/Wausau, WLEF-TV/Park Falls, WHLA-TV/La Crosse and WHWC-TV/Menomonie-Eau Claire.