Effective January 10, WNIT is pleased to introduce a new channel to its viewers, WNIT InFocus. WNIT InFocus presents many of the programs you are used to seeing on WNIT’s high definition channel, plus an exciting array of in-depth programs revolving around Indiana business and government. WNIT InFocus will be broadcast as channel 34.2.
Most of the programs which were previously broadcast over 34.2 will now be seen as WNIT 34.1. This is where you will find such favorites as Masterpiece Classic, Keeping Up Appearances, Nature, Front Row Center and all of our local productions—Dinner and a Book, Outdoor Elements, Politically Speaking, Economic Outlook and Ask An Expert. In short, as of January 10, most of the programs previously seen on 34.1 will be broadcast on 34.2 and vice versa. We have worked closely with the major cable and satellite providers in our area to ensure their cooperation in making these changes.
Gail Martin returns for her 10th season as host of WNIT’s DINNER AND A BOOK. “It has been an amazing experience for me to work with so many members of our community who enjoy cooking as well as discussing a book of substance. The camaraderie of working together in a kitchen is just unbelievable!” she says. The Rex and Alice A. Martin Foundation remains the exclusive production underwriter for the program as well as, Gail notes, “providing a large part of the show’s enthusiasm.”
This season marks the first time the program has been able to use a fully functioning kitchen, primarily contributed by Robert Weed Plywood of Bristol. Additional support for the kitchen comes from Higley TV and Appliance in Elkhart, Bob Miller’s Appliances in South Bend and Kukhaven, Inc. of South Haven, Michigan. DINNER AND A BOOK is taped in the Ganey Studio Complex.
The season begins on January 8 with co-host Nancy McCaslin and a discussion of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. This episode was taped last April in the St. Joseph County Library as part of its “One Book, One Michiana” program. The “One Book, One Michiana” project continues on April 13, when ROCKET BOYS by Homer Hickam, Jr. is the featured book.
WNIT’s salute to the great outdoors, OUTDOOR ELEMENTS, begins its 10th season on January 2. The program airs on Sundays at 9am and repeats on Wednesdays at 5:30pm and is underwritten by the St. Joseph County (Indiana) Parks Department.
“I can't believe we are airing our 10th season” show host Evie Kirkwood said recently. “I feel so proud to be able to highlight so many unique natural areas and the dedicated people who care for them in our region.” Evie is St. Joseph County Parks Director and has hosted OUTDOOR ELEMENTS since its beginning.
Producer Kelsy Zumbrun explained the program’s format. “We have a specific theme and three featured segments for each episode. For example, the theme of the first program of the new season is ‘The Ways of Water,’ featuring ‘Spring House: Preserving Foods,’ ‘Bear Cave!’ and ‘Acid Rain.’ Other themes during this season include ‘Green Living,’ ‘Fins and Feathers’ and ‘Wild about Wildflowers.’ ”
OUTDOOR ELEMENTS was awarded first place in the broadcast division of the 2010 Hoosier Outdoor Writers Awards-in-Craft contest. The award-winning episode was “Spiders and Insects, Oh My!”
The Indiana Broadcasters Association (IBA) awarded its Excellence in Broadcasting citation in the category “Special Interest and Cultural Programming” to WNIT Public Television for its documentary Kicking the Notes the Toradze Way. The distinction was announced Saturday night at the IBA’s 23rd Annual Spectrum Awards in Indianapolis. This achievement comes on the heels of the documentary’s two regional Emmy awards in Chicago for Outstanding Achievement for Entertainment Programs and for Outstanding Achievement for Editing (non-news).
Linda Schaller is the project’s producer and director and Angel Hernandez, WNIT’s Vice President of Production, is the Executive Producer. The program was made possible by the Martin Foundation, Brian and Jeannelle Brady, Indiana University Foundation, Indiana University South Bend, Patricia and Arthur J. Decio, Rod and Carol Ganey, Robert and Mary Pat Deputy, Liz Naquin Borger and Tom Borger, and Mary Naquin.
Kicking the Notes the Toradze Way was first aired by WNIT on December 7, 2009. The documentary was also selected as one of the top 24 finalists at the prestigious International Television Festival Golden Prague awards, October 16 – 20 in Prague, Czech Republic.
WNIT Public Television’s documentary Kicking the Notes the Toradze Way has won a regional Emmy award in two of the three categories in which it was nominated. According to WNIT President and General Manager Mary Pruess, the program won in the category of Outstanding Achievement for Entertainment Programs and Tim Schaller won for Outstanding Achievement for Editing (non-news).
WNIT accepted the honor at the 52nd Annual Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards Ceremony held Saturday, November 6, 2010.
Linda Schaller is the project’s producer and director and Angel Hernandez, WNIT’s Vice President of Production, is the Executive Producer. The program was made possible by the Martin Foundation, Brian and Jeannelle Brady, Indiana University Foundation, Indiana University South Bend, Patricia and Arthur J. Decio, Rod and Carol Ganey, Robert and Mary Pat Deputy, Liz Naquin Borger and Tom Borger, and Mary Naquin.
"Alexander Toradze and his Piano Studio at Indiana University South Bend are cultural treasures," said Hernandez. "WNIT would like to thank the community partners that made it possible for us to produce this extraordinary documentary. Winning an Emmy is always an honor, but winning an Emmy in the Midwest Chapter/Chicago is even more challenging. Being the third largest media market in the U.S., Chicago’s production standards are very high." Stated Pruess, "This is another way WNIT serves the community by exploring and connecting our region’s assets as no one else can. Congratulations to everyone who worked to make this program possible! It takes a dedicated team with a good story and a strong vision to create the kind of program that garners this kind of recognition from our professional community."
Kicking the Notes the Toradze Way was first aired by WNIT on December 7, 2009. The documentary was also selected as one of the top 24 finalists at the prestigious International Television Festival Golden Prague awards, October 16 – 20 in Prague, Czech Republic.
Outstanding Achievement for Editing (non-news)
For a complete list of winners, visit www.chicagoemmyonline.org.
South Bend – WNIT Public Television’s documentary KICKING THE NOTES THE TORADZE WAY has been named one of the top 24 out of 124 entrees in the prestigious International Television Festival Golden Prague awards. Since its inception in 1964, the International Festival Golden Prague has become the world’s most important television festival dedicated to music and dance on television. By being named to the top 24, KICKING THE NOTES THE TORADZE WAY is eligible for the grand prize, which will be determined during the Festival itself, October 16 – 20 in Prague, Czech Republic.
The ITF Golden Prague is a unique and prestigious showcase of TV production, presenting the world’s best music and dance programs of all musical genres, including classical, rock, pop and world music. The Festival’s popularity is ever increasing and last year welcomed 600 accredited guests from 24 countries around the world.
The documentary features Alexander Toradze, who makes his home here in Michiana where he leads the Toradze Piano Studio on the campus of IUSB. What sets Toradze apart in the world of classical music is not only his virtuosity, but his passion for teaching and his abilities to inspire young pianists to “kick the notes” their own way. He never encourages piano students to copy his interpretative style, but shows them through instruction and by example of his own concert preparation how to create passionate, compelling musical performances that reach across the stage to the hearts of the audience.
Linda Schaller is the project’s producer and director and Angel Hernandez, WNIT’s Vice President of Production, is the Executive Producer. Kicking the Notes the Toradze Way is a one-hour, high-definition documentary made possible by the Indiana University Foundation, Indiana University South Bend, Brian and Jeannelle Brady, Patricia and Arthur J. Decio, Robert and Mary Pat Deputy, Liz Naquin Borger and Tom Borger, Mary Naquin, Rod and Carol Ganey, and The Martin Foundation. The program premiered on WNIT’s High Definition and Standard Definition channels on December 7, 2009.
WNIT Public Television is a not-for-profit corporation celebrating over 37 years of broadcasting in northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan. WNIT - Michiana’s Center for Public Media.
