Station News

Show Previews, Station News

Meet Angela Fitzgerald – New Host of Wisconsin Life

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This fall’s new season of Wisconsin Life on Wisconsin Public Television  brings plenty to get excited about. New adventures await, bringing us closer to the people and places that make our state such a great place to live and explore.

And, this year, the show has a new host to help guide the way.

Angela Fitzgerald joins Wisconsin Life as the series’ host for its fifth season, inviting viewers along to visit new locations, meet people whose passions, hobbies and expertise celebrate the best of our state, and introduce new stories from every corner of Wisconsin.

“I’m excited to experience the people and places of Wisconsin, while introducing our viewers to the diversity that exists in our state,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s been a blast filming in locations around Wisconsin so far, and I look forward to sharing all those stories with viewers across Wisconsin.”

In addition to her new role as host of Wisconsin Life, Fitzgerald is a member of the Madison College faculty, as well as a professional financial educator with Summit Credit Union. Her work in the field of financial literacy led her to be a founder of Brown Girl, Green Money – a social network of women of color working to support the achievement and pursuit of personal finance goals.

The award-winning WPT series dedicated to telling personal and engaging stories about Wisconsin people and places begins its new season Thursday, Oct. 5, but viewers can start watching exclusive new segments online now at WisconsinLife.org.

Get to know Angela a little bit better – and learn about some of the exciting places we’ll all visit in the new season of Wisconsin Life in this exclusive interview from a recent on-location shoot in Minocqua!

Interviews, Station News

Introducing: What We Watch!

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With so many great programs on Wisconsin Public Television, it’s hard to pick favorites – especially for the people who work here! Meet some of the people behind the scenes at WPT and see what gets us excited in this new blog series, “What We Watch.”

Diane Agans, major gifts manager for WPTFirst up: Diane Agans, major gifts manager, who has worked for WPT since 1986.

With two busy teenagers, Diane enjoys programs the family can watch together and discuss – which includes a lot of public television programming!
Continue reading Introducing: What We Watch! →

Station News

Antiques Roadshow Coming to Green Bay June 17

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Antiques Roadshow has announced their 2017 tour, and the show is coming to Green Bay June 17!

The application process to enter the random drawing for a chance to receive free tickets is open now through April 10.

Learn more about the application process, find out how you can apply to have large furniture pieces appraised, see the full rules and sign up for your chance to attend the taping and have your priceless antiques appraised by one of the show’s experts online now!

Can’t get enough Antiques Roadshow? Watch full episodes and favorite appraisals online now!

Show Previews, Station News

WPT to Launch New 24/7 PBS KIDS Channel on Jan. 16

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Wisconsin Public Television has exciting news! On Monday, Jan. 16 a brand-new 24/7 channel: WPT PBS KIDS and live stream will debut, supporting WPT’s mission to provide Wisconsin children with high-quality educational content.  Read more about these new children’s services and how to tune in below! 

Continue reading WPT to Launch New 24/7 PBS KIDS Channel on Jan. 16 →

Interviews, News, Sports & Public Affairs, Show Previews, Station News

WPT’s “Here & Now” Welcomes the New Year With a New Look

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New year, new Here & Now set! Here & Now‘s look has been completely revamped – from a brand-new set design to deeper story possibilities and a fresh logo. Go behind the scenes in WPT’s studios to view the set rebuild, reflect on Here & Now’s history, and hear from Here & Now anchor Frederica Freyberg and Here & Now producer Andy Moore about what they’re most looking forward to in 2017.

Then, tune in to Here & Now tomorrow – 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6 –  to be the first to view the show’s new look.

Continue reading WPT’s “Here & Now” Welcomes the New Year With a New Look →

Food & Travel, Show Previews, Station News

Wisconsin Winter From the Air – Exclusive First Look

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Come Soar With Us Again!
Wisconsin Winter From the Air
Coming to Wisconsin Public Television
at the end of November 2016

In Wisconsin From the Air, we took flight above the state we call home. Now, Wisconsin Winter From the Air – an all-new, visually stunning program – takes us into the sky again as we capture the wonder of a winter season that transforms the state’s landscape. This time, we’ll fly over some of Wisconsin’s most beloved landmarks and travel inside some of the active pastimes that bring us out into the cold to explore.

Loft above running rivers and frozen fields, soar over lighthouses and cityscapes, ski down snow-covered hills and across wandering trails and snowmobile along icy lakes.

As we anxiously await this exciting new show, we want you to be the first people to take a look inside the program

Today, we are sharing an exclusive first look and in coming weeks we will send you new segments from the program. We hope you will mark your calendar for the premiere date and share this video with your friends!

Funding for Wisconsin Winter From the Air provided by Ron and Colleen Weyers, Wisconsin Department of Tourism, Morgan’s Shoes, John E. Kuenzl Foundation, Stanley J. Cottrill Fund, Francis A. and Georgia F. Ariens Fund within the Brillion Area Family of Funds, Holiday Vacations, and Friends of Wisconsin Public Television.

Food & Travel, Show Previews, Station News

Watch Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Door County Online Now!

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We are excited for the premiere of Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Door County at 8 Monday night on Wisconsin Public Television.

We are even more excited that you can watch the full program early right now online below or on the PBS channel of your Roku or other digital device!

History, News, Sports & Public Affairs, Show Previews, Station News

Extended Report on “Too Many Candles: Milwaukee Gun Violence”

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After the premiere of our most recent documentary, Too Many Candles: Milwaukee Gun Violence, our partners at Wisconsin Public Radio and the University of Wisconsin-Cooperative Extension decided to explore some of the issues addressed in the film, continuing the ongoing discussion surrounding gun violence in Milwaukee and in the nation. Below, follow the research and reporting done by Scott Gordon:

WATCH NOW: “Too Many Candles: Milwaukee Gun Violence”

Gordon’s three-part series on Milwaukee gun violence begins with some historical context. For a more nuanced view of the socio-economic segregation and the challenges faced by low-income families in Milwaukee, read How Milwaukee’s Economic, Social Disparities Correspond With Gun Violence. 

“Although crime, poverty and other social factors often overlap, mapping these factors in Milwaukee shows dramatic divisions that align with the city’s racial segregation.”

In this article, Gordon explores the focus on infamous zip-code 53206 – a series of numbers that, according to Gordon, “has become social-science and media shorthand for the violence, hunger, lack of opportunity and sense of hopelessness plaguing Milwaukee’s poorest residents.” Continue reading Extended Report on “Too Many Candles: Milwaukee Gun Violence” →

Events, Kids, Station News

Teacher Appreciation Week

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Why does someone become a teacher?

Is it because they like kids? Is it because they enjoyed school?

There is no one “correct” answer for why someone decides to teach, but there is a common thread—teachers teach because they care. As a former teacher and as someone who works with teachers, I daily see the passion in every teacher’s eyes.

HTS_Teachers3Blog
Teachers collaborating with Wisconsin Public Television on curriculum for one of our Hometown Stories documentaries.

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 2-6, 2016. While we appreciate our teachers every day, we wanted to take this week and reach out, thanking educators for all of their time, dedication, and extraordinary care while teaching our children.

Teachers care deeply about the work they do. They put in countless hours before and after school, as well as over weekends, prepping lessons and creating unique learning experiences for students.

They seek opportunities to better serve their students. These opportunities may take place at a state educational conference, with a teaching peer, or while watching a webinar late at night.

Teachers do all of this work because they care about providing our children with a high-quality education – an education that will help them become well-rounded individuals that are responsible, active members of society. (Holy cow! No pressure there…)

Teachers care profoundly for the students they teach. They take the time to learn about the students and their interests, tailoring lessons to meet the children’s specific learning needs.

Screen Shot 2016-05-05 at 9.12.22 AMThis extends to educators outside the classroom, myself included. I’m WPT’s education specialist, and even though I don’t have a traditional classroom, I consider the children of our state my students.

Continue reading Teacher Appreciation Week →

Arts, Film & Music, Interviews, Show Previews, Station News

Director Stanley Nelson on Central Time and Director’s Cut

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directors_cut_nelsonDirector Stanley Nelson visited Madison last week after the release of his newest documentary, The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution. Watch Nelson’s interview with Pete Schwaba on Director’s Cut tonight at 7:30 p.m. on Wisconsin Public Television, which will be followed by a broadcast of the new film.

In this clip from Nelson’s interview for WPR’s Central Time, the prolific director discusses the cultural backdrop of his newest documentary. Want to hear more? Listen to the entire archived interview here.