University of Wisconsin - Extension

At the Milwaukee Press Club annual award ceremony late last week, Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) took home eight awards - four first-place and four second-place honors.

"Wisconsin World War II Stories "Home Front," the story about those who planted Victory Gardens, collected scrap metal, went without and waited for the soldiers to return, won a first-place award in the Best Documentary Category.

The news and public affairs department of WPT swept the first- and second-place spots in the Best Public Affairs Program slot with Here and Now taking top honors and In Wisconsin second. Here and Now is a live, weekly news roundup featuring interviews and commentary. In Wisconsin is a magazine-style program spotlighting the people, places and issues of the state.

Also winning first place was the fall United States Senate Debate in the Best Planned Coverage field; and the history series' companion Web site, wisconsinstories.org, in the Best Web Site Design field. This is the second year in a row the Web site won the No. 1 prize.

Second-place awards were captured by WPT videographer Frank Boll for a segment about hibernating black bears in northeastern Wisconsin; by northern Wisconsin author Michael Perry, WPT producer Andy Moore and WPT videographer Wendy Woodard for a story on clearing stones from a field; and a group of WPT staff for the "Wisconsin Witness Series," which looked at Wisconsin's contributions and reactions to the Iraqi War.

"I'm very proud that Wisconsin Public Television provides exemplary local programming that serves our statewide audiences, and that work is then recognized through awards," said Malcolm Brett, WPT director of television. "Further, more and more people are turning to the Web to enhance their broadcast experiences - learning more, linking to educational resources and posting their own stories - and the Wisconsin World War II stories Web site is an excellent example of an approachable and informative site."

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

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