A new online resource provided free by Idaho Public Television for learners of all ages again demonstrates that the statewide public television system is more than just TV stations.

Through a partnership with the Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL), thousands of multimedia resources are now available via IdahoPTV’s Scout learning portal, part of ICfL’s Libraries Linking Idaho service (LiLI.org). LiLI.org provides an array of educational services free to all Idaho residents.

In the Scout, Classroom Edition, Idaho teachers and students have immediate access to more than 14,000 research-based instructional resources — including videos, interactive sites, images, audio files, mobile apps, lesson plans and worksheets.

The Scout, Idaho Edition, offers online access to full-length video productions by Idaho Public Television. Users can view programs that celebrate Idaho’s people and places, examine the Gem State’s history, and analyze some of the issues it faces today.

Funding for Scout is provided in part by the ICfL, Idaho Public Television, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Broadband USA.

The Scout Online Video Collections is at http://www.scout.lili.org/ .

Recent audience reports suggest that PBS and IdahoPTV programming services are being used by more and more people.

According to Nielsen viewer data compiled by TRAC Media, during November 2011, IdahoPTV was the second most watched PBS station in the United States on a per capita cume basis.

In addition, Current.org is reporting that PBS is enjoying has seen impressive four percent increase in viewing nationwide.

Even more significant, PBS children’s program viewing is up 18% from last year in ages 2-5, and being watched by a whopping 79% of children ages 2-11.

For a complete report, checkout:

http://currentpublicmedia.blogspot.com/2012/02/theres-good-news-in-numbers-at-pbs.html

The Governor, University Presidents, Leadership Academy, Desks and JFAC…indeed, this has been a very busy week at Idaho Public Television.

On Tuesday, Idaho Report’s Greg Hahn conducted Idaho Reports interviews with Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter and Idaho’s three university President’s: University of Idaho’s Dr. M. Duane Nellis, Boise State University’s Dr. Bob Kustra and Idaho State University’s Arthur Vallis for the Friday, January 27 program. They can be found at: http://video.idahoptv.org/video/2190890606

On Wednesday, we hosted more than 60 high school juniors from the Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Academy. During their six hour session in our studios, they divided into several teams and created public service announcements for Computers for Kids. They got expert guidance on spot conception, writing, new media techniques, presentation and editing from several of our producers, directors and technicians including Greg Hahn (Producer), Jeff Tucker (Production Manager), and Ricardo Ochoa (Director). The staff had a great time with the group! Check out these pictures on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150474334281307.358560.61809386306&type=1

Thursday saw two major activities: Reapportionment Commission sessions and move day at IdahoPTV. The Reapportionment Commission reconvened and began their work again to develop a redistricting plan that will pass court muster. Those live hearings can be accessed in archive form at: http://idahoptv.org/leglive/archive.cfm#redistrict

Also that day, through the generosity of the Speaker of House, Pro Tem and Legislative Services, we were the recipient of 12 lightly used module desk units that will replace very old office furniture (35 + years!). With the steady coordinating efforts of staffer Kelly Roberts, personnel from Idaho Correctional Industries moved the furniture from the basement of the Joe R. Williams Office Building to our Boise/North Orchard offices.

Finally, on Friday, I made my annual budget request presentation to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) for state fiscal year 2013. Budget presentations are held in the historic and beautifully renovated JFAC chambers of the Idaho State Capitol. They are always invigorating experiences! Checkout a low-resolution video of my session at: http://youtu.be/xUAYLmIfxVA

The Spokesman-Review and Current.og covered the presentation.

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2012/jan/27/iptv-facing-equipment-replacement-costs-lack-funding/

http://currentpublicmedia.blogspot.com/2012/01/idaho-ptv-faces-loss-of-service-in-wake.html

I want to thank Friends of IdahoPTV board members Eve Chandler, Dr. Jerry Evans, Sheri Freemuth and Bob Sonnichsen for their in person support. The JFAC budget process for IdahoPTV will continue until early March when the committee will vote their recommendations to the full Idaho legislature. We’ll keep you posted on their progress.

 Each month, my colleague Kelly Roberts and I produce GM Reports. It’s an overview of significant issues and initiatives at Idaho Public Television and public media. In addition, it presents a collection of media stories that have been written about us over the past month.

This month, I highlight several items including the beginning of the state’s legislative budget process with the Governor’s Budget Recommendations for IdahoPTV, the season premier of Idaho Reports, Idaho Legislative Live and two national awards for IdahoPTV local productions.

GM Report January can be downloaded at: http://idahoptv.org/about/reports/gm/jan12.pdf

Past editions can be accessed at:  http://idahoptv.org/about/reports.cfm

 As our state celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr./Idaho Human Rights Day over this long weekend, our documentary, "The Color of Conscience," which chronicles the history of the modern human rights movement in our region, has been used by a number of groups to explore this subject.

Producer Marcia Franklin screened the documentary in Coeur d'Alene recently, and will show it again on Monday at 1 PM at the Nampa Civic Center. I wanted to share an email from her:

Peter, I'd like to take this opportunity to express my warm thanks to Friends of IdahoPTV board members Ann Smart, Judy Meyer, Erna Rhinehart and Roger Grigg for hosting me in Coeur d'Alene Thursday and Friday of last week.

In addition to the screening and discussion, which about 60 people attended at the beautiful library there, I was able to speak to a graphics/video production class at North Idaho College. Then the next morning Lakes Magnet Middle School in Coeur d'Alene showed the documentary. (That brings the number of screenings to 12.)

 It was particularly poignant for me to see a whole school watching the documentary, in the very same community where many of the scenes took place. Although I was able to be in only one class to answer questions, I spoke to all the students in the school before the program through their PA system. I suggested a few themes for them to think about with their teachers, including a particular quote from human rights advocate Norm Gissel.

 As I understand it from teachers with whom I spoke, there were some thoughtful discussions afterwards, including one with a boy directly affected by one of the scenes depicted in the documentary.

A few hours later, several KKK members were holding signs in downtown CDA. If the children saw that on the news, hopefully they now had some more context for it.

I have attached a photo of something that was very special for me to see: a teacher who took Norm Gissel's quote from the documentary and wrote it on a whiteboard outside his classroom for all his students to see. We are developing lessons plans to accompany the program, one of which will expand on the theme of the quote, ie: "What does it mean to live a purposeful life?"

Again, many thanks to all who helped arrange my visit. I'm sure it will be one of the highlights of my year.

If my schedule permits, I'd be glad to talk to other groups. Indeed, if I hadn't already made plans to be in Coeur d'Alene and Nampa, I would have attended one of the Pocatello screenings, which were on the same days. I thought the LocalNews8 piece was very good, and was pleased it focused on Idaho Purce, an amazing person.

Best, Marcia

Several news organizations have highlights her efforts. Check out the following links:

Color of Conscience program: http://video.idahoptv.org/video/1949293974/

KIVI-TV, Nampa: http://www.kivitv.com/news/local/137391638.html

Spokesman Review: http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/hbo/2012/jan/13/middle-schoolers-study-area-racism/

Local News8, Idaho Falls/Pocatello: http://www.localnews8.com/news/30202309/detail.html

Idaho Press Tribune, Nampa: http://www.idahopress.com/community/documentary-film-music-to-mark-human-rights-day-event/article_2acdc174-3ce4-11e1-a3e5-0019bb2963f4.html

CDA Press, Coeur d’Alene: http://www.cdapress.com/news/local_news/article_c6cf6bee-3dc1-11e1-b731-0019bb2963f4.html

Idaho State Journal, http://www.journalnet.com/