E-Notes
July 2014

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WUOT Receives National Edward R. Murrow Award for I'm Still Here: My HIV Life

WUOT has been recognized with a prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism for the station's documentary, I'm Still Here: My HIV Life.

The piece was chosen as the best audio documentary in the Small Market division by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA).

I'm Still Here: My HIV Life was produced by Powell and freelance producer Leslie Snow, with critical assistance from Positively Living, a Knoxville-based agency that offers housing and care to lower-income people with HIV and AIDS. The show also features a custom soundtrack composed by local musician and WUOT Jazz Coordinator Todd Steed.

WUOT aired I'm Still Here: My HIV Life Nov. 6, 2013, followed by a live, call-in program during which some of the program's participants answered questions from listeners.

The documentary also was honored with a Best Documentary award in June at the Public Radio News Directors Inc. (PRNDI) meeting in Washington, D.C. WUOT also received PRNDI first place awards for Best Call-in Program (Dialogue) and Best Writing (Justice For All: The Art of the Deal).

Listen to award-winning features

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WUOT Says Goodbye to Allan Ellstrom

Allan Ellstrom (left) with Chris Jerger and his wife, Alice Shoo-Jerger at Allan's retirement party.

When Allan Ellstrom announced his plans to retire to the WUOT staff, it didn't seem real. For many of us, it felt like Allan had always been part of the fabric of WUOT. But things change, and Allan said celebrating his 30th anniversary at the station seemed like a good time to say goodbye.

Allan aired his last Afternoon Concert on June 27, 2014. To say that listeners, members, volunteers and staff will miss him is a sincere understatement. Allan joined WUOT in 1984 as an overnight host. Over his long career, he has served as the station's traffic director, volunteer coordinator for fund drives, creator of UT Concert Hall and Around Knoxville, and producer of Knoxville Symphony Orchestra broadcasts. In 2001, he became host of Afternoon Concert, and thousands of people each week have tuned in to hear a wonderful blend of classical music annotated by a truly knowledgeable host.

WUOT held a retirement reception for Allan on June 17. About 60 people, from longtime fans to former staff, came to thank him for his contributions and wish him well in retirement. Photos from the event are posted on WUOT's Facebook page.

Best wishes for a retirement filled with volunteer projects, travel adventures and music, Allan! You WILL be missed!

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Big Thanks to Pat McHugh

Pat McHugh

When WUOT's membership coordinator, Lisa Beckman, announced in September that she was taking a job in Philadelphia, there was a little panic. After all, Lisa was a hard worker and did A LOT. Pat McHugh, who was working about six hours a week to help with membership-related tasks and improve some of our processes, graciously agreed to increase his hours while we were short a staff member, as well as help train Lisa's replacement, Jennie Caissie. Pat's work streamlined some very complicated processes and his detailed instructions helped Jennie get up to speed quickly. While he's no longer on the payroll, we're happy to report that Pat will be volunteering at the station to help us continue to find better ways to serve our listeners. Thank you, Pat!

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WUOT Recognizes New and Renewing Underwriters

The following organizations became new underwriters or renewed their support of WUOT programming in June. You'll find a complete list of WUOT's sponsors with links to their websites on the Sponsors page of our website. Please thank these organizations for supporting WUOT Public Radio!

If you'd like to raise awareness for your organization or a special event by becoming a WUOT underwriter, contact Cindy Hassil at (865) 974-6167.

WUOT-Sponsored Events in July

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From the National Desk

Goats in the City
Billionaire Mark Spitznagel thinks goats can revitalize Detroit's blighted neighborhoods. But are city goats a great urban agriculture idea, or a disaster waiting to happen? Maanvi Singh reports for The Salt.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/06/18/

Project Eavesdrop
NPR's Steve Henn, along with two tech experts, allowed his laptop and cellphone to be monitored. If someone tapped your Internet connection, what would they find out? Check out Henn's two-part report for All Tech Considered.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered

Win Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra tickets from WUOT!

Wynton Marsalis
(Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Theatre)

If big band jazz is your thing, we're giving you something to toot your horn about! It's a chance to win tickets to see Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at the Historic Tennessee Theatre Thursday, July 24, at 8 p.m. The band comprises 15 of jazz music's leading soloists led by trumpet great Marsalis, and performs from an extensive repertoire, which includes original compositions as well as the masterworks of Ellington, Mingus, Coltrane and others.

This one's quick, so don't delay: Email your name, address and phone number to Cindy Hassil with the subject line WYNTON by 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 7! Winners will pick up their tickets at the theatre's Will Call the night of the show. Good luck!

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APHC 40th Anniversary Special

Garrison Keillor

A Prairie Home Companion kicks off a yearlong celebration of the show over the 4th of July weekend. Be sure to listen to the special 3-hour live anniversary broadcast Saturday, July 5, 6-9 p.m.(repeated on Sunday 2-5 p.m.). The fun starts with a three-day outdoor festival at the location where it all began 40 years ago, at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN.

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WUOT Open House Set for Aug. 7

Things get a little wild at the 2013 Open House!

Mark your calendars! WUOT's Open House is Thursday, Aug. 7, from 4-7 p.m. If you've attended this annual celebration of all things WUOT Public Radio, you know what a great time we have. If you haven't, make this the year you join the tradition! We're still in the planning stages, but we promise it's going to be fun and the food will be fantastic (as always).

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WUOT Volunteers Convene for Annual Potluck

Maria Gall "mugs" with her mug at the 2014 potluck.

WUOT volunteers are the greatest, and each year the station hosts a Volunteer Potluck to give our vols a chance to enjoy each other's company without a phone in their hands! Threat of snow canceled our first potluck attempt in February, but about 40 people came together June 26 at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church to share tasty appetizers, entrees, salads and desserts with friends. Our dedicated volunteers also helped the staff set up and clean up, having fun all the while! Check out pics from the event on WUOT's Facebook page.

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Dialogue

Dialogue WUOT's monthly live call-in program; hosted by a member of WUOT's News Staff.

In 1968, Charles Moulden was shot while fishing in an East Tennessee stream because he was black and his attackers wanted him to know that he wasn't welcome there. Forty-six years later, he carries vivid memories of that day, as well as fragments of the bullet that brought him down. Moulden will be our guest along with Knoxville News Sentinel columnist Sam Venable, the reporter who brought to light Moulden's story of hatred, injustice and healing. So get your questions ready and join us the next Dialogue.

We'll take your calls at 865-974-5050; tweet us @WUOTFM or submit your question on WUOT's Facebook page.

Wednesday, July 2, at 1 p.m.

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Studio 865/Flipside