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Inside this issue: Quote, DecemberFest, Page 1 Idaho Reports,

Page 1 Idaho In Session,

Page 1 Partnership With

Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Page 1

Special Local

Programming Featured in December, Page 2

Our IdahoPTV

Productions, Page 3 In the News, Page 5

Quote “We love pbs. Cancelled cable because we watch more public television than anything else. Two boys under five years old love pbs kids and we love Masterpiece. Thank you.” ―Amy

December 1-3

Enjoy a weekend filled with music, entertainment and scenic outdoor adventure during DecemberFest 2017.

Idaho Reports, the longest‐running public‐policy show in the Northwest, begins its 46th season at 8 p.m. on December 1. Idaho Reports returns for the season with a look at the upcoming legisla ve session, poli cal races throughout Idaho, and important issues facing the state. A par cular emphasis

this season will be on how policy decisions are impac ng rural Idaho communi es. Host Melissa Davlin and producer Seth Ogilvie interview lawmakers, stakeholders and lobbyists to bridge the gap between Boise policy discussions and the everyday lives of Idahoans across the state.

Coming in January, Idaho in Session will provide gavel‐to‐gavel coverage of the House, the Senate, and commi ee mee ngs. Watch House Live on the Learn/Create Channel (subchannel .3), Senate Live on the World Channel (subchannel .4), and Streaming Live online at: idahoptv.org/Insession.

Partnership With Idaho Shakespeare Fes val Idaho Public Television had the pleasure to be the media partner for the Idaho Shakespeare Fes val’s produc on of “The Hound of the Baskervilles” last summer. Hannah Read Newbill, director of marke ng for the Shakespeare Fes val, presented the sta on a commemora ve framed poster from the 41st season. We are looking forward to our con nuing partnership with the Idaho Shakespeare Fes val for years to come.”

December 2017

Special Local Programming Featured in December

Idaho From Above ―Airs Saturday, December 2, at 9 p.m. Local producer Wide Eye Produc ons captures Idaho’s remote and rugged landscapes from the air. With more con guous wilderness than any state outside of Alaska, the best way to capture Idaho’s remote and rugged landscapes is from the air. This special was filmed from a helicopter and acquired in 5K — a format more than seven mes greater resolu on than HD. Fly with us and enjoy this jewel of the West — wild, mountainous, cracked with desert canyons, and flowing with rivers of life.

The Rocky Mountain Fly Highway ―Airs Wednesday, December 6, at 9 p.m. In the heart of the Northern Rockies, one 500‐mile stretch of highway connects the West’s most renowned blue‐ribbon trout streams. It also passes through some of America’s most spectacular scenery — jagged peaks, bewitching deserts, shimmering waters in pris ne forests. It’s a region that draws anglers from all over the world to se ngs that restore the soul. This documentary from local producers at Wide Eye Produc ons, wri en by Tim Woodward and narrated by Tom Skerri , follows U.S. Highway 20 through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Oregon, exploring some of the world’s best fly‐fishing waters.

A BYU‐Idaho Christmas ―Airs Monday, December 18, at 8 p.m. This program from BYU‐Idaho features special guests David Archuleta and Nathan Pacheco along with the symphony orchestra, choirs and dancers from Brigham Young University‐Idaho. The concert was performed in December 2016 in Rexburg before an audience of more than 14,000 people and features a variety of Christmas music, ranging from holiday favorites to

hymns and carols. Archuleta became a pop star when he was just 16 compe ng on Season 7 of American Idol. Pacheco is a classically trained tenor who has been featured on two PBS specials.

University of Idaho Holiday Concert ―Airs Tuesday, December 19, at 9 p.m. Join us for a celebra on of the holidays, Idaho‐style, with the University of Idaho holiday concert! Hundreds of performers from communi es throughout the region ringing in the season together with the award‐winning Lionel Hampton School of Music. Local and regional elementary, middle and high school choral groups, along with orchestras, bell choirs, flute choirs, and jazz ensembles performing holiday classics. It’s an Idaho holiday tradi on with an eclec c selec on of your old (and maybe new) seasonal favorites for the en re family!

PAGE 2 GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT

Behind the Stories

The Pioneers ‐ as Rugged as the Name By Bruce Reichert I’ll confess up front ‐ I knew next to nothing about the Pioneer Mountains before working on our new show, “Into the Pioneers.” At a very young age, I had become enthralled with the Sawtooths ‐ and later the White Clouds ‐ and seldom ventured beyond those mountains. Never felt the need. I now know why so many people love the “Pios.” They have everything, from big mountains to big fish, from big game to big cirques, big meadows and impressive changes in terrain. Like many others, I had thought of the Pioneers as mainly a series of foothills. Li le did I know that these mountains ‐ posi oned between glamorous Sun Valley and desolate Craters of the Moon ‐‐ are Idaho’s second highest range, with a crest of about 11,000 feet. Only the Lost River Range is higher.

The Pioneers also hold the dis nc on of having the highest named lake. We hiked up to Goat Lake ‐ eleva on 10,438 ‐‐on July 27 to discover that a third of the lake was s ll frozen over. And every day we were there, we got to experience a good old‐fashioned summer storm, complete with wind, rain, lightning, and hail. One can’t help but be impressed with the “feel” of the place. It’s not official wilderness, but it’s every bit as wild as the congressionally designated wildernesses of the Sawtooths, the Boulders, and the White Clouds.

I was delighted that so many of my colleagues wanted a piece of the ac on. Melissa Davlin organized a group that successfully summited Old Hyndman, braving the infamous black dike.

Marcia Franklin and her team followed world champion cyclist Rebecca Rusch for a bike race up Trail Creek and through Copper Basin. And videographers Jay Krajic and Peter Morrill hit some high mountain lakes on their own, bringing back exquisite video. They also joined a group of us who hiked up to Pioneer Cabin to catch the solar eclipse on August 21. About 30 others had the same idea; and no one le disappointed. But these special places really come alive for us when we meet the people who love them and spend me in them. And by that standard, the Pioneers are an Idaho masterpiece. We’ve included many of these “characters” in our hour‐long tribute to this mountain range. As one of them said to us while si ng on a horse near Copper Basin, “My soul is happy here. When you see these peaks, you feel like you’re completely in God’s country. This place feeds your soul.”


Our IdahoPTV Productions

Goat Lake, Idaho’s highest named lake. Photo by Rick Gerrard

Old Hyndman Peak and the black dike. Photo by Terry Lee

Viewing the eclipse near Pioneer Cabin. Photo by Peter Morrill

“Into the Pioneers” ―Airs Sunday, December 3 at 7 p.m.

Posi oned between glamorous Sun Valley and desolate Craters of the Moon, the Pioneer Mountains are, for many, just a blank spot on the map. But this year the Outdoor Idaho crew set out to change that, exploring the low lands and the highest peaks, and along the way interviewing ranchers and geologists, ou i ers and miners, biologists and explorers. This is Idaho’s second highest mountain range, with a rich history and diverse wildlife that will both inspire and intrigue, in a new hour‐long special called “Into the Pioneers.”

“First Look” ―Airs Sunday, December 3 at 6:30 p.m. “First Look” gives viewers a sneak peek of what to expect from IdahoPTV’s forthcoming new original series, Idaho Experience. In the tradi on of PBS’ long‐running and peerless program, America Experience, Idaho Public Television will look at where we have been, where we are, and where we are going with the launch of this new original series. Idaho Experience will bring to life the incredible characters and events that shaped Idaho’s past and present. IdahoPTV’s award‐winning producers and directors will tell the stories of Idaho’s great achievements, its defining moments and extraordinary people, all the while showcasing the resourceful, rugged and innova ve nature of Idahoans.

“Endangered Species: Endangered Species Basics” ―Airs Thursday, December 7, at 7:50 p.m.

One in four mammals, one in eight birds, one‐third of all amphibians, and 70 percent of the world’s known plants are in danger of ex nc on. Find out more about endangered species and visit some of the endangered animals at ZooBoise.

“Author Samantha Silva” ―Airs Friday, December 22, at 7:30 p.m.

Boise author Samantha Silva discusses her debut novel “Mr. Dickens and His Carol.” The story reimagines how Charles Dickens wrote “A Christmas Carol.”


In the News

PBS Cancels Charlie Rose Programs PBS president Paula Kerger made the following announcement on November 21, 2017: “In light of yesterday’s revela ons, PBS has terminated its rela onship with Charlie Rose and cancelled distribu on of his programs. PBS expects all the producers we work with to provide a workplace where people feel safe and are treated with dignity and respect.”

In troubling mes, public TV is where children, and adults, can find ‘helpers’ By Paul Sie en, CEO (The Fred Rogers Company) November 20, 2017 “Some Things I Don’t Understand” is the tle of a song from Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. In the chorus, Mister Rogers sings: “Why, why, why, why, why, why? I wonder, why?” Children wonder about the world. Their ques ons are innocent, but o en profound. Why is water so wet? Why is the sky blue? Why do people have different color skin? Why is that man asking you for money? Why do people have to die? As adults, we some mes struggle to answer these ques ons, either because we don’t know the answers ourselves or because we’re not sure our children are ready for them. Whatever our reasons, we should encourage children’s curiosity and acknowledge and respect their anxie es. As creators and broadcasters of children’s media, public television can provide tools for children and parents looking for answers to difficult ques ons. But how do we respond when they ask about terrible events such as natural disasters and mass shoo ngs? Children have ques ons about people who were harmed or killed by hurricanes, floods or fires in Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida and California, and those killed by violence in Las Vegas, New York, Texas and Northern California. In the crowd of concert‐goers at last month’s Route 91 Harvest music fes val in Las Vegas, among the 58 vic ms killed were a kindergarten teacher, an adop ve single mother, a president of a school Parent Teacher’s Associa on, an elementary school office manager, a school librarian and a bus driver. The deceased also included a special educa on teacher, a Girl Scout volunteer, a subs tute teacher, two youth football coaches, a Li le League coach, a children’s theatre performer and the mother of a seven‐week‐old baby. The shocking nature of their deaths affects children who knew and loved them and those who may have heard about them in the news. Adults also struggle to make sense of what happened. So how can we, as producers and broadcasters of educa onal media, help children and parents talk about events that are so profoundly troubling?


“Arthur”/Marc Brown/WGBH In a special episode of “Arthur” about hurricanes, Brain talks with a therapist who helps him manage his anxiety.

Our first priority should be to acknowledge children’s anxious feelings. Through our content, we can offer

assurances that the grown‐ups in their lives love them and will keep them safe.

We can remind families of Fred Rogers’ famous recollec on from his own childhood: “When I was a boy and I

would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people

who are helping.’”

Contemporary PBS Kids programs have also featured content that models best prac ces for families in these

difficult situa ons. In 2015, Arthur and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood both featured special episodes focused on

preparing for destruc ve storms and dealing with the a ermath. And in October, Sesame Workshop announced

its comprehensive ini a ve to help children cope with trauma c experiences.

Will that special content be enough? A er the immediate tragedy has

passed, how can we con nue to help families navigate the difficult, o en

frightening, world in which we live?

Child‐development experts have iden fied fundamental social‐emo onal

skills — empathy, resilience, emo onal recogni on and self‐control — as

cri cal early childhood competencies. And we know that children need

to learn and prac ce these social‐emo onal skills at a young age if they

are to master and act on them throughout their lives.

As Fred Rogers put it, “I’m convinced that when we help our children find

healthy ways of dealing with their feelings — ways that don’t hurt them

or anyone else — we’re helping to make our world a safer, be er place.”

Let’s reaffirm our everyday commitment to embracing and fostering

social‐emo onal skills in our content. Whether a program’s educa onal

focus is literacy, science, history or math, we should strive to inject our

storytelling with the social‐emo onal competencies that are essen al to

all problem solving. When we create children’s content focused on a

difficult topic, let’s also remember how important it is to meet children

where they are by talking about it in a context they find familiar and

relatable.

In Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, we use simple musical strategies to introduce complex social‐emo onal skills in

ways that children can understand. While these li le life lessons address everyday challenges children face, in the

context of tragedy, the child‐friendly language can resonate in powerful ways. Consider just a few examples of

messages from the show.

Think about how someone else is feeling.

In some ways we are different, but in so many ways we are the same.

Ask ques ons about what happened. It might help.

It’s okay to feel angry. It’s not okay to hurt someone.

You can choose to be kind.


Sesame Workshop Elmo gives a child a hug.

Characters from the series use these simple messages of empathy, resilience, emo onal‐recogni on and self‐

control when portraying issues that preschool children are learning to navigate, such as sharing toys or resolving

playground disagreements. It’s easy to see how those lessons apply to bigger societal problems.

While the messages may seem like common sense, the

musical strategies are developed by writers and child

development experts working together. It’s a formula

pioneered by Fred Rogers and carried forward by many

producers of children’s public television ever since.

We can again look to Fred’s advice in this area. When he

was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, he said, “I

feel that those of us in television are chosen to be servants.

It doesn’t ma er what our par cular job, we are chosen to help meet the deeper needs of those who watch and

listen — day and night!”

At a me when we’re all filled with ques ons that seem too complex to answer,

we’re proud to be associated with public media professionals who have “chosen

to help,” even as they struggle for answers to things none of us understand.

Paul Sie en is CEO of The Fred Rogers Company, producers of the PBS KIDS

series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat and Odd Squad. Before his

promo on to chief execu ve of the award‐winning children’s media company

early this year, he was VP of broadcast and digital media. Prior to 2013, he spent

nearly 10 years at PBS managing development of children’s programs.

HIKING & TRAILS

It takes hot, dusty, red videographers like Jay

Krajic to make ‘Outdoor Idaho’ look effortless

BY BILL MANNY

[email protected]

NOVEMBER 27, 2017 04:31 PM

Hiking with Jay Krajic put me in mind of what fans say of Ginger Rogers dancing with Fred Astaire.

She had to do everything Astaire did — but backwards, and in heels.

In Jay’s case, he backpacks just the same as everybody else on an “Outdoor Idaho” video shoot, but he also packs

the camera, ba eries, tapes and mics, and has to scamper ahead and around and aside as the rest of us just keep

walking.

He’s the videographer for “Outdoor Idaho” who gets the assignment when the assignment is backpacking or

climbing a mountain.


Sie en

“Outdoor Idaho” videographer Jay Krajic films Mat Erpelding on the way up Old Hyndman Peak in the Pioneer Mountains in August. Bill Manny ‐ [email protected]

Or in the case of our August trip, both.

I got to watch Jay in ac on on a three‐day trip for “Into the Pioneers,” an hour‐long show exploring the many

aspects of the mountain range east of Sun Valley that debuts at 7 p.m. Sunday. Idaho Public Television reporter/

host Melissa Davlin invited me and my daughter, Helen, along to climb 11,775‐foot Old Hyndman Peak. We joined

her, Jay, “Outdoor Idaho” volunteer “mule” Terry Lee (another unsung hero, packing Jay’s tripod) and Mat

Erpelding who, along with being the minority leader in the Idaho House of Representa ves, is a professional

climbing guide and instructor.

It was a great group and a fun trip, more fun s ll because we got to get up into the magnificent, wild, li le‐visited

Big Basin and climb Old Hyndman, the shorter but more challenging sibling of 12,009‐foot Hyndman Peak.

And more fun s ll to get to know Jay and watch the master at work.

He made me realize how li le we actually see or understand about what goes into one of these remarkable

shows. You never see the crew, who have to hide or maneuver to stay out of every shot. We get to hear host

Bruce Reichert’s lil ng voice‐over, introducing gorgeous aerial footage and view a er view of mountains and

rivers and hikers and wildlife.

Behind the camera, never seen by their audiences, Jay and

his fellow videographers make it look effortless. Smooth.

Seamless.

I’m here to tell you, that’s not reality.

Jay’s preference is a 17‐pound video camera. He carries

that behemoth because it gives him more manual control

than do newer, smaller, lighter cameras. It’s big enough,

and he needs it o en enough, that he carries it at his side,

like a mountain‐man briefcase. Up trails, over rocks, across

boulder fields, wading through creeks and spidering up

crevices that require two free hands for the rest of us.

“The focus, the aperture, you’re in charge of everything you need to be in charge of,” he told me. “Those li le

cameras, they want to be in control.”

A LOVE OF LANDSCAPES Jay grew up in Chicago and moved to Utah to study to be a meteorologist. But he fell in love with landscape

photography.

“I bought a camera, and the rest is history.”

He got a degree in photography from Utah State, and a skier friend suggested he try TV. He went back to school

for a degree in broadcast journalism. He did brief s nts at sta ons in Utah and Twin Falls before landing in Boise

30 years ago, where he worked for news sta ons and as a freelancer before joining Idaho Public Television full

me in 2007.

He’ll do six or eight or more “Outdoor Idaho” trips a year, and it’s hard to men on somewhere in Idaho he hasn’t

explored.


“Mule” Terry Lee, le , Mat Erpelding (red hat) and videographer Jay Krajic ascend above Big Basin toward Old Hyndman Peak in August 2017. Bill Manny [email protected]

“That’s why I live here,” he said. “I can’t leave,

because it’s the perfect setup.

“I’m two and a half or three hours from so many

wilderness areas. And there’s nobody there! You

can have the whole area to yourself.”

One of his most memorable assignments was

exploring the headwaters of the Snake (a 60‐mile

horseback trip into the farthest reaches of

Yellowstone Na onal Park and the Teton

Wilderness) and Selway (40 miles into the

northernmost part of the Frank Church) rivers for

the “Idaho Headwaters” show.

“Both of them were really cool because .001 percent of the popula on even goes there. Nobody ever goes to

these places, because they’re so remote,” he said.

‘YOU GET THESE MOMENTS...’ And as he talked, I realized that he doesn’t get to just work outdoors. His job takes him to the most beau ful,

most remote parts of one of the most beau ful, most remote states in the en re country.

So it’s a great job. But it also can s nk. Long, dusty trails; hours and hours on a pack string; bad food; cold, wet

shoots; lots of travel on really slow, rocky roads. Oh, and leaving the camera’s memory cards six miles back in the

car at the trailhead.

So, not always glamorous.

“It’s not. But — how to put this into words? — it’s brutal, and it’s hot, but you get

these moments where you just get to relax and capture what’s there, and kinda

forget momentarily about how horrible it was.”

At 6‐foot‐1, 170 pounds, he’s light and lean, his long strides moving him as fast or

faster than those of us not weighted down with 25 pounds of extra documentary

gear. He says he goes slightly slower at age 58 than he did a decade or two ago, but

that’s not apparent to fellow hikers.

“I some mes think we’re one sprained ankle away from being out of the game,”

Reichert said. “Thank God Jay keeps himself in shape. He’s an unstoppable ar st,

always willing to do what has to be done to get us a great show.”

He’s sort of a legend at Idaho Public TV, for his strength, stamina and commitment

to ge ng just … one … more … shot. And yes, perhaps, from the perspec ve of his

fellow hikers, he can be a li le too exac ng. But for viewers of “Into the Pioneers”

and other “Outdoor Idaho” episodes, it’s one more breathtaking view of Idaho landscape that looks, like Ginger

and Fred on the silver screen, effortless.

Bill Manny is the Statesman’s community engagement editor: [email protected]; 208‐377‐6406;

Twi er/Instagram:@whmanny.


“Outdoor Idaho” videographer Jay Krajic, right, and his volunteer tripod‐carrier, Terry Lee, ascend out of Big Basin toward Old Hyndman Peak as the sun rises on an August television shoot. Bill Manny ‐ [email protected]

Even while res ng at the summit of Old Hyndman Peak, videographer Jay Krajic has his camera on his shoulder. Bill Manny ‐ [email protected]

JAY’S IDAHO FAVORITES

Most remote place he’s visited: The headwaters of the Snake River, some 60 miles on horseback into the

backcountry of Yellowstone and the Tetons. Regarded as one of the most remote areas in the con nental U.S.

Favorite place: Mallard‐Larkin area, northeast of Orofino in the

St. Joe Na onal Forest.

Place he wants to explore: Magruder corridor, the 120‐mile

road trip through wild north‐central Idaho.

River he wants to run: Selway.

SEE THE SHOW

“Into the Pioneers” airs at 7 p.m. Sunday on Idaho Public

Television.


Jay Krajic, with Kent Peak behind him, on a saddle below Ryan Peak on a Boulder Mountains video shoot in 2016. Chadd Cripe ‐ [email protected]

You won’t see Jay Krajic, seated le , Melissa Davlin or Terry Lee summit Old Hyndman in the “Into the Pioneers” show, but they climbed as high and as far as everybody else to make it happen. In the top row is Mat Erpelding, Bill Manny and Helen Manny. Idaho Public Television

Videographer Jay Krajic in the cle just below the summit of Old Hyndman Peak. Bill Manny ‐ [email protected]

Jay Krajic captures the sunset in the Big Basin in Idaho’s Pioneer Mountains. Bill Manny ‐ [email protected]

While the rest of his party rests, “Outdoor Idaho” videographer Jay Krajic gathers footage on the saddle below Old Hyndman Peak. Bill Manny ‐ [email protected]

minicassia.com

Roam With Dinosaurs in New ‘Science Trek’ Video Shorts

Posted: Tuesday, November 7, 2017 9:39 am | Updated: 9:39 am, Tue

Nov 7, 2017.

Idaho Public Television’s original series Science Trek visits the Museum of Idaho to meet “Sue” the T. rex and

discover how prehistoric creatures lived, ate and reproduced — around the world and in Idaho — in a series of

digital shorts on dinosaurs to be released in November.

Each month, Science Trek explores a subject with short videos available on the Science Trek website, on a

Facebook page for parents and teachers, on YouTube, and on PBS LearningMedia, a free media site for preK‐12

educators.

The following digital shorts will be available on these pla orms in November:

Dinosaurs: Dinosaur Basics ‐ Dinosaurs once dominated the earth. Find out more about these creatures and learn

how folks at the Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls put together the traveling version of “Sue,” the largest, best‐

preserved, and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever found.

Dinosaurs: Finding Dinosaurs in Idaho ‐ Scien sts once thought there were no dinosaur bones to be found in Idaho

but that is no longer true. Join the Science Trek team on a hunt for an Idaho dinosaur.

Dinosaurs: Ea ng and Eggs ‐ Dinosaurs ate an amazing amount of food. Find out how much a T. rex could swallow

in one bite and learn more about dinosaur eggs.

Dinosaurs: Survived ‐ Lots of animals that lived alongside dinosaurs have rela ves we would recognize today and

maybe we would also recognize what dinosaurs tasted like.

Dinosaurs: Hips ‐ Dinosaurs can be divided into two groups based on a type of bone: the hip.

Dinosaurs: Plates and What We Don’t Know ‐ The earth looked very different when the dinosaurs lived. Find out

more about where dinosaurs lived and what we don’t know about these fascina ng creatures.

About Science Trek

Science Trek con nues its 19th season with a new digital content focus. Instead of producing new 30‐minute

broadcast shows, Joan Cartan‐Hansen and the Science Trek team will deliver more online‐first content.

“Each month, we explore a scien fic subject with digital shorts available on the Science Trek website, on a new

Facebook page for parents and teachers, on YouTube, and on PBS Learning Media, a free, online media‐on‐

demand service developed for preK‐12 educators,” says Cartan‐Hansen. The Science Trek team is even

experimen ng with 360‐degree immersive video produc on.

Cartan‐Hansen says in addi on to the video, each month’s topic will have facts, links, reading lists, lesson plans,

games and other educa onal support material all available on the website. The Science Trek website has more

than 90 different scien fic topics with video and suppor ng educa onal material all correlated to Idaho’s science

standards and the Common Core science standards.


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