Tag: West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Hope And Healing Documentary To Premiere On April 23, 2024

“Hope and Healing: A Discussion with West Virginia Youth” is a collaboration between West Virginia Public Broadcasting and the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute (WVDII). Youth from West Virginia gathered for the project to talk about issues they face on topics including substance use disorder, bullying, social media, and mental health. The project will be screened on Tuesday, April 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the University of Charleston’s Geary Auditorium. The screening is free and open to the public.

An eye-opening documentary illuminating teen struggles presented by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute

Charleston, WV – (April 1, 2024) – A video project with West Virginia youth talking about issues they face, ranging from social media to substance use disorder, will premiere at a public screening in April at the University of Charleston.

“Hope and Healing: A Discussion with West Virginia Youth” is a collaboration between West Virginia Public Broadcasting and the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute (WVDII). Youth from West Virginia gathered for the project to talk about issues they face on topics including substance use disorder, bullying, social media, and mental health. The project will be screened on Tuesday, April 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the University of Charleston’s Geary Auditorium. The screening is free and open to the public.

The project will broadcast statewide on WVPB Television on Monday, April 29, at 9 p.m. and will be available on all WVPB’s streaming platforms, including the PBS App, YouTube, and at wvpublic.org.

“These teens had very open and honest conversations about their struggles and of those around them to educate other teenagers and adults better,” said Heather McDaniel, WVDII’s vice president.

Filmed at the University of Charleston’s new downtown innovation center, the project underscores the importance of listening to youth voices and understanding their perspectives. It features candid discussions with middle and high school students in West Virginia. The youths express what they wish adults knew about navigating life in today’s world, from discussing their encounters in schools to offering advice on effective communication and prevention strategies. The participants engage in a thought-provoking roundtable discussion aimed at fostering empathy and awareness.

“We believe ‘Hope and Healing’ has the power to spark important conversations and drive positive change in our communities,” said Maggie Holley, WVPB’s director of Education.

The WVPB Education Department and the WVDII encourage guidance counselors in school systems throughout the state to use this video and accompanying activities as a resource.

Those interested in attending the screening at the University of Charleston on April 23 should RSVP to rhiannon@wvdii.org.

For more information about the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute, contact President Susan Bissett at susan@wvdii.org or Vice President Heather McDaniel at heather@wvdii.org.

For more information about West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s education programs, contact education@wvpublic.org.

Watch the promotional trailer for Hope and Healing using this link or click below.

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About the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute

Located in Charleston, West Virginia, the mission of the Drug Intervention Institute is to reduce opioid and drug-related deaths in Appalachia and the nation by (a) preventing substance use through education (b) reducing overdose through training and distribution related to naloxone and other opioid reversal agents, and (c) supporting harm reduction and other drug-response efforts.

About West Virginia Public Broadcasting

West Virginia Public Broadcasting is dedicated to Telling West Virginia’s Story through its state radio and television network and online platforms. WVPB’s mission is to educate, inform and inspire the people of West Virginia. WVPB is the Mountain State’s only source for national NPR and PBS programming.

WVPB Newsroom Brings Home Awards From Virginias AP Broadcasters

Winners of the 2023 Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards were announced March 23 at the Awards Luncheon and Annual Membership Meeting at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. WVPB brought home five first place awards and seven second place awards in eight different categories. 

Winners of the 2023 Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters (VAPB) Awards were announced March 23 at the Awards Luncheon and Annual Membership Meeting at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

Thirty-eight news organizations in Virginia and West Virginia submitted 619 entries in the contest, which featured news and sports from 2023.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) brought home five first place awards and seven second place awards in eight different categories. 

The VAPB also awarded a $3,000 scholarship to Hunner Moore, a student majoring in media and broadcast journalism at West Virginia University’s (WVU) Reed College of Media.

The VAPB is an independent association comprised of local members of The Associated Press, a not-for-profit news cooperative that represents thousands of newspapers and broadcast stations across the United States.

Winners In The 2023 Virginias AP Broadcasters Contest: 

West Virginia Public Broadcasting brought home 12 awards on Saturday, March 23, 2024 from the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards Luncheon.

Photo Credit: Eric Douglas/West Virginia Public Broadcasting

COMBINED DIVISION (TV/RADIO):

Best Podcast-Audio:

RADIO I/METRO:

Best Continuing News:

Best Light Feature:

Best MMJ/One-Person Band Reporter:

Best QA (One-on-One) Interview:

Best Specialty Reporting:

  • First, Ben Paviour, VPM News, Richmond, VA, “Politics/Criminal Justice”

  • Second, Emily Rice, WVPB-FM, Charleston, WV, “Unwinding Medicaid.”

Best Mountain State Heritage:

Excellence in Public Service Through Journalism:

WVPB Reporters Recap Bills Passed And Failed This Session

On this episode of The Legislature Today, when the session began in January, our government reporter Randy Yohe was assigned to cover the House of Delegates and our southern West Virginia reporter Briana Heaney was assigned the Senate. With a budget bill still to be finalized, Yohe and Heaney offer some of their insights into bill proposals, passed and failed, that affect the lives, wallets and communities of West Virginia. 

On this episode of The Legislature Today, when the session began in January, our government reporter Randy Yohe was assigned to cover the House of Delegates and our southern West Virginia reporter Briana Heaney was assigned the Senate. With a budget bill still to be finalized, Yohe and Heaney offer some of their insights into bill proposals, passed and failed, that affect the lives, wallets and communities of West Virginia. 

In the House Wednesday, several Senate bills on third reading were sent to the governor’s desk for his signature. Bills were completed on adult education, safeguarding health care worker’s personal information, and leadership and structural changes to the Educational Broadcasting Authority – which governs West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Randy Yohe has more.

Also, a bill with bipartisan support to criminalize artificial intelligence (AI) child pornography now has an unexpected insert – resurrecting a bill regarding libraries and obscene materials. Randy Yohe has more.

In the Senate Wednesday, the chamber processed many House bills with zero debate and unanimous or near unanimous votes. It was also Suicide Prevention Day at the Capitol. Briana Heaney has more.

Finally, the Senate Health Committee met in front of a room full of white coat-wearing physicians to discuss House Bill 5105 – a bill to eliminate vaccine requirements for public virtual schools. The committee approve the bill after amending it to remove religious exemptions for public school students, but not for private and parochial school students. The bill will now be considered by the full Senate.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Bills Sent To Governor Include Adult Education, Personal Information And Changes In Public Broadcasting 

Bills were completed on adult education, safeguarding health care worker’s personal information – and leadership and structural changes in West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s parent organization, the state Educational Broadcasting Authority.

In the House of Delegates Wednesday, several Senate bills on third reading were sent to the governor’s desk for his signature. Bills were completed on adult education, safeguarding health care worker’s personal information – and leadership and structural changes in West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s parent organization, the state Educational Broadcasting Authority. 

Offering better educational opportunities to adults is key to Senate Bill 146, creating an adult education taskforce, empowered to fund and enhance already established adult learning centers around the state. The bill passed with a 94-2 vote.

For West Virginia hunters and anglers, Senate Bill 148 established an auto-renewal program for wildlife licenses. The BIll passed 96-0.

Senate Bill 477 updates state code on prohibiting public disclosure of personal information on the internet, specifically for health care workers and first responding health care workers. 

Del. Adam Burkhammer, R-Lewis, supported a bill he said is protective and proactive.

“There has to be threats, there has to be crimes committed, there has to be an issue prior to being able to have your information removed,” Burkhammer said. “I think that’s what we’re looking at here is the opportunity and the ability for our healthcare workers on the front lines out here to proactively go and request their personal information, their mailing addresses where people could show up at their homes, which is a real threat that individuals in my community have called and asked for. 

Senate Bill 477 passed 93-2.

Also on third reading, Senate Bill 844 redesignates the Educational Broadcasting Authority (EBA) as an Educational Broadcasting Commission . West Virginia Public Broadcasting is operated by the EBA. 

The bill highlights duties of the newly created Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Arts, Culture and History.

It changes the now-governing body, the Educational Broadcasting Authority to the Educational Broadcasting Commission, and gives it only duties to act as an advisor and consultant. 

Del. Larry Rowe, D-Kanawha, opposed a bill he feared would eliminate a policy making board and possibly turn news reporting into propaganda.

“All it takes is a phone call from the governor’s office, to the secretary, to have everything changed to pull news, subjects that aren’t pleasant, in the governor’s office,” Rowe said. “We’re setting up a structure where literally one phone call can completely change an agency. And that’s not something that we want. And certainly, whenever it’s news, and I hate to use the term, but it creates an opportunity for propaganda, rather than news. For slanting of information about economic development or, or any sort of possibilities in the programming of public broadcasting.  

No one in the supermajority spoke for the bill, which passed 79-12 and goes to the governor’s desk. 

Capito Receives Award For Senate Support Of Public Broadcasting

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito has received an award for her support of public broadcasting.

Capito accepted the Champion of Public Broadcasting Award from America’s Public Television Stations on Wednesday.

The two-term West Virginia Republican is the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that maintains federal funding for public broadcasting.

In another role on a Homeland Security subcommittee, Capito has supported funding for public broadcasting’s emergency communications services.

“Public broadcasting plays a significant role in our communities and helps inform Americans on what is happening around their state, our nation, and our world,” Capito said. “It certainly does in my state of West Virginia.”

The organization also presented Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, who chairs the Appropriations subcommittee alongside Capito, with the same award.

The award is the highest given by the organization, to state and federal leaders who have made an extraordinary contribution to public television.

The organization presented Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat, with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Blumenauer founded and chaired the Congressional Public Broadcasting Caucus.

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