Wichita State News: Media Resources Center

WSU's Gordon Parks documentary picks up Telly Award

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:05:00 CST

The Media Resources Center at Wichita State University has won a national Telly Award for its work. The 2011 Bronze Telly Award goes to MRC's Video Services for the documentary "Roots and Branches: Preserving the Legacy of Gordon Parks."

"Roots and Branches" explains how Wichita State became the home of the Gordon Parks Collection and details its efforts to preserve Parks' legacy. The documentary premiered at a campus event in March and also aired on WSU-TV, Channel 13 on Cox Cable.

In her letter notifying the university, Telly Award executive director Linda Day congratulated Video Services for being honored by the 32nd annual Telly Awards. The bronze award is topped only by the Telly Silver Award.

"This is a tremendous honor," said Day.

Greg Matthias, manager, Video Services, credited the MRC staff who worked on the documentary: Ryan Unruh, the producer, editor and videographer who directed and edited the program; Rik Dubiel, producer, editor and videographer; and Corin Brena, who worked as a contract producer on the piece.

Ted Ayres

Wichita State vice president and general counsel Ted Ayres, whose leadership helped the university gain the honor of protecting Gordon Parks' papers in University Libraries Special Collections archives, was highly involved in the production of the program.

"Ted offered us guidance on the history and the process of WSU being awarded the Parks papers," said Matthias, "and he provided immeasurable insight into the life and works of Mr. Parks."

Matthias also credits Ablah Library's Special Collections with providing valuable information and artifacts from the Gordon Parks Papers collection.

"Lorraine Madway, Mary Nelson and Josh Yearout, who has since passed away, gave us many hours of their time and expertise," Matthias said.

Previously, the MRC won a bronze finalist award for "Beyond the Word," a documentary about WSU dance students and faculty making a summer 2000 trip to Poland to participate in a mime festival, and the Silver Telly Award for a 30-second "Thinker, Doers, Movers and Shockers" advertising spot that aired in 2000.

Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and Web commercials, videos and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators and corporate video departments in the world.

KMUW presents Final Friday Concert at Ulrich Museum

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:01:31 CST

Come join KMUW Wichita Public Radio for a Final Friday concert at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Wichita State University's Ulrich Museum of Art.

Bring a lawn chair to the new plaza and attend the free concert, featuring Notes/Scraps, Ryan Windham and Spirit of the Stairs.

Georgia Andersen, the artist behind Notes/Scraps, has been playing local music for more than 10 years. She primarily plays the piano, but will occasionally use an accordion or guitar.

Ryan Windham has been experimenting with sound by playing with a loop station and integrating guitar on guitar, hand percussion and other electronic devices into his music. He has played many live performances at local venues in Wichita, and is heading back into the studio to begin working on his second album.

Spirit of the Stairs will complete the evening. The five-piece instrumental rock band formed in early 2003.

Wichita Radio Reading Service to host mini-golf benefit tournament

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:53:40 CST

The Wichita Radio Reading Service (WRRS) Mini-Golf Masters Benefit Tournament will tee off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at All-Star Adventures.

WRRS, a public service of KMUW – Wichita Public Radio, provides free broadcast readings of local and national newspapers and magazines for area citizens who are unable to read on their own.

Register to sponsor a team of four for a morning of miniature golf and prizes in support of this needed service. Local celebrity Bryan Holmgren of KWCH-TV Sports will emcee the event.

Team registration is $100 for four members.

All teams are encouraged to dress in costume to compete for the most creative team presentation. Participating teams receive event T-shirts and compete for best individual and team scores, and prizes for originality of costumes and team spirit.

New this year, one participant will have the opportunity to win round-trip airline tickets for two to either New York City or San Francisco. There will be donuts for breakfast, pizza for lunch, and lots of excitement and prizes.

For more information about the event or to volunteer to help, call WRRS at (316) 978-6600 or go to www.kmuw.org.

WRRS has provided free, closed-circuit radio broadcast readings of local and national newspapers, magazines and novels to listeners in south central Kansas since 1975. WRRS listeners are area citizens who suffer from vision, physical or cognitive handicaps that limit their ability to read the printed word.

KMUW launches redesigned Web site

Fri, 15 May 2009 10:59:49 CST

KMUW 89.1 Wichita Public Radio has a newly redesigned Web site.

KMUW Web site specialist Kerri Wood-Thomson said the station wanted a site with streamlined design and functionality.

The homepage at www.kmuw.org features links to an interactive events calendar, information about becoming a KMUW member, underwriting, volunteering for the station, podcasts and information about the Wichita Radio Reading Service.

Users can also view programming schedules and listen online to each of KMUW's HD streams: HD-1, the digital version of its broadcast signal, HD-2 Adult Acoustic alternative, and HD-3 the BBC World Service.

"It is our hope that this Web site will further our mission of supporting arts and culture within our communities," said director of development Denise Irwin.

Lifeboat Creative designed the site.

"I am happy with how it turned out," said Wood-Thompson. "I think it's easy to navigate and looks sleek."

KMUW producer named as a journalism fellow

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:40:48 CST

Chris Heim, KMUW 89.1 FM producer, reporter and host, has been named one of the 2009 RIAS Journalism Fellows.

The RIAS program is an outgrowth of Radio in the American Sector, a joint German-American radio station that broadcast in Berlin from the end of World War II until German reunification.

At that time, a bi-national program to foster German-American understanding in the field of broadcasting was set up in its place.

Each year, groups of American journalists travel to Germany, and German journalists come to the United States, for a program that offers an in-depth look at political, economic, cultural and other aspects of both countries and offers journalists an opportunity to develop stories as an extension of the program.

Since the agreement was signed in 1992, nearly 1,000 journalists have taken part in the program.

In the United States, program partners are the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation and a number of university journalism programs across the country.

Heim came to KMUW FM 89.1 in 2006 and hosts the eclectic weeknight world and roots music show, "Global Village" and a weekly blues/soul show, "Crossroads."

She also produces a weekly feature, "Music Roundup," with concert previews, CD and book reviews, along with a variety of feature pieces and specials.

Heim has an extensive background in print journalism and radio, having worked in Chicago for a number of years at WHPK, WJKL, WXRT and WBEZ. She also has written for a number of newspapers and national publications including the Chicago Tribune, JazzTimes, Utne, Global Rhythm and Dirty Linen.

More information about the RIAS Berlin Kommission and the RIAS Exchange Program is available at http://www.riasberlin.de/index.html.

KMUW is licensed to Wichita State University as a public radio station and is a charter National Public Radio member and an affiliate of Public Radio International and American Public Media.

Award-winning journalist Cokie Roberts coming to WSU

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 12:35:21 CST

Cokie Roberts

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of KMUW 89.1, KMUW presents Emmy Award-winning journalist and author Cokie Roberts in a public presentation at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, in Lowe Auditorium, Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

Admission is free, but tickets are required.

Go to http://www.kmuw.org for tickets.

For information about this and other events associated with Roberts' visit to WSU, go to www.wichita.edu/thisis/newsresource/KMUWPresentsCokieRoberts.pdf.

Obama's cousin to be interviewed on KMUW

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:31:40 CST

Carla Eckels with KMUW FM 89.1 recently interviewed President Barack Obama's cousin Nancy Harewood.

In the interview Harewood speaks about her childhood in Wichita, her life as an actress and her family's support of Obama's presidential campaign.

The interview will air during NPR's Morning Edition, Friday, Feb. 13, at 5:50 a.m., 7:50 a.m. and 9:50 a.m. on KMUW, 89.1 FM.

President Obama's speech airing on KMUW

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 09:27:58 CST

KMUW FM89 will air live coverage of President Barack Obama's press conference at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9.

This will be the first prime-time news conference for President Obama, who took office Jan. 20.

It is expected that President Obama will push for his economic recovery stimulus package, as well as his administration's plans for the second tranche of TARP funding.

KMUW broadcasting State of the State address

Fri, 9 Jan 2009 10:03:01 CST

At 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, KMUW 89.1 Wichita Public Radio will broadcast Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' 2009 State of the State Address.

The address will be delivered in the Kansas House Chamber of the State Capitol.

The Office of the Governor has not released any talking points, but Sebelius is expected to address the state's budget deficit and energy policy.

KMUW is licensed to Wichita State University as a noncommercial, full-service public radio station and is a charter National Public Radio member and affiliate of Public Radio International.