OUTDOOR IDAHO’s newest episode examines the rise and fall of Idaho’s salmon. Once known for their abundance, the state’s salmon species today balance on the edge of extinction.
 
Producer Aaron Kunz traces the history of salmon runs into Idaho, examines the present, and looks to the future for this fish that travels more than 800 miles from the ocean to spawn in the Gem State. “Idaho’s Salmon,” which premiered Thursday (July 19) at 8:00/7:00 p.m. MT/PT, captures the beauty, drama and science of this amazing migration. The episode repeats Sunday, July 22, at 7:00 p.m. MT/PT.

The program can be viewed on-line after the initial premier at:

http://video.idahoptv.org/program/outdoor-idaho/
 
“We explore the decline of Idaho’s remarkable salmon that once flooded Idaho’s rivers and stream by the millions, an army of migrating fish,” Kunz says. “And we look at what is being done to bring them back from the brink of extinction.”
 
Cameras capture members of the Nez Perce tribe fishing for salmon at Riggins, scientists at Redfish Lake working to save the sockeye, and salmon themselves navigating Dagger Falls in the heart of Idaho during the 2012 run. The show looks at the increase in salmon numbers reaching Idaho during the last few years, the science of projects that seem to be working and those that don’t achieve their goals, and ideas for the immediate future.
 
“There’s nobody who is anti-salmon. It’s just about how much can you do about them and how much do you want to balance salmon against other interests,” says Rocky Barker, environmental writer for The Idaho Statesman in Boise.
 
Sportsman Tom Stuart points out that salmon also play a vital role in the Northwest ecosystem.
 
“Salmon provide the fundamental building block for the food chain that feeds hundreds of other critters. So its a big deal for Idaho,” says Stuart, who also is a board member of Idaho Rivers United. “Idaho has the most to gain and the most to lose in this debate, and I hope we seek the balance that is possible and achieve it.”
 
This OUTDOOR IDAHO episode is being produced in association with EarthFix, a collaborative journalism initiative among Northwest public media.

(Photo: Allen Powers)

Idaho Public Television is partnering with northwest public tv and radio stations to expand journalism about the environment.

EarthFix brings together journalists from Oregon, Washington and Idaho to examine the region’s environmental, energy and resource issues.

  Catch veteran reporter Aaron Kunz’s stories on Idaho Public Television, Boise State Public Radio, and at Earthfix at http://earthfix.idahoptv.org/

Congratulations to producer John Crancer and all of the IdahoPTV production team — OUTDOOR IDAHO's Salmon River Lodges & Legacies earned a Northwest Regional Emmy Award tonight (June 2). The awards were announced at the Northwest Chapter of National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences dinner near Seattle.

I’m very proud to let you know that Idaho Public Television has been honored by three organizations: the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences: Northwest Chapter (NATAS), Worldfest Houston and the Idaho Press Club. In order, the awards include:

Idaho Public Television has received five Northwest Regional Emmy Award nominations.

The award winners will be announced during the June 2 Northwest Chapter of National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy Awards Banquet at Snoqualmie Casino near Seattle.

Nominated are:

--     Idaho Public Television, Peter W. Morrill, General Manager; Station Excellence category. This is the third consecutive Station Excellence nomination in three years.

--     OUTDOOR IDAHO “Salmon River Lodges & Legacies,” John Crancer, producer; Historic/Cultural Program/Special category.

--     OUTDOOR IDAHO “The People’s Land,” Bruce Reichert, producer; Public/Current/Community Affairs Program Special category.

--     THE COLOR OF CONSCIENCE: HUMAN RIGHTS IN IDAHO, Marcia Franklin, producer; Documentary-Topical category.

--     THE COLOR OF CONSCIENCE: HUMAN RIGHTS IN IDAHO, Marcia Franklin, writer; Writer-Program category.

Idaho Public Television also recently collected nine Remi Awards during the recent 45rd annual WorldFest Houston Independent International Film Festival, including three first-place Platinum Remi Awards and a Special Jury Award.

SKY ISLAND was chosen for a Special Jury Award for creative excellence. All Special Jury Awards are also eligible for consideration in the Grand Remi competition, the festival’s highest award.

Other IdahoPTV winners are:

--     OUTDOOR IDAHO “Working for Wildlife,” Platinum Remi

--     OUTDOOR IDAHO “Flying Idaho,” Platinum Remi

--     OUTDOOR IDAHO “Wilderness in the 21st Century,” Platinum Remi

--     OUTDOOR IDAHO “Canyonlands Calling,” Gold Remi

--     OUTDOOR IDAHO “Idaho Fairways,” Gold Remi

--     D4K, Gold Remi

--     IDAHO REPORTS, Silver Remi

--     DIALOGUE, Silver Remi

--     THE COLOR OF CONSCIENCE, Silver Remi

--     EYES OF THE FOREST: AN OUTDOOR IDAHO SPECAL, Silver Remi

WorldFest is the third-oldest international film festival in North America and the oldest independent film festival in the world. The contest features 10 major categories with 200 competition sub-categories.

And finally on April 28, the Idaho Press Club, awarded their Best of 2011 Annual Awards including seventeen awards to Idaho Public Television including:

PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM -TV — STUDIO

2^nd Joan Cartan-Hansen, Al Hagenlock, Jay Krajic, Sue Nass, Pat Metzler - Idaho Public Television - "D4K: Snakes"

3^rd Marcia Franklin, Melanie Corry, Ricardo Ochoa - Idaho Public Television - "Dialogue: Captured by the Taliban"

PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM - TV — FIELD

2^nd Bruce Reichert, Pat Metzler, John Crancer, Jay Krajic, Hank Nystrom, Aaron Kunz, Jeff Tucker - Idaho Public Television - "Outdoor Idaho: The People's Land"

DOCUMENTARY — TV

1^st Marcia Franklin, Jay Krajic - Idaho Public Television - "Color of Conscience: Human Rights in Idaho"

2^nd Pat Metzler, John Crancer, Jay Krajic, Chuck Cathcart, Kris Millgate - Idaho Public Television - "Outdoor Idaho: Boat Builders"

3^rd Marcia Franklin, Jay Krajic, Dave Butler - Idaho Public Television - "Outdoor Idaho: Writers at Harriman"

OUTDOOR / ENVIRONMENT REPORT — TV

1^st Bruce Reichert, Pat Metzler, Kris Millgate, Hank Nystrom, Dave Butler - Idaho Public Television - "Outdoor Idaho: Working for Wildlife"

2nd John Crancer, Chuck Cathcart, Bruce Reichert, Cassandra Groll, Janette Crancer, Dave Butler - Idaho Public Television - "Outdoor Idaho: Eyes of the Forest"

GOVERNMENT / POLITICAL — TV

1^st Joan Cartan-Hansen, Ricardo Ochoa, Melanie Corry, McKenna Lowe - "Idaho Public Television - "Dialogue: Budget Cuts 2011"

3^rd Greg Hahn, Seth Ogilvie, Kara Veit, Bruce Reichert, Jeff Tucker, Cassandra Groll - Idaho Public Television - "Idaho Reports"

TELEVISION WRITING — TV

1^st Marcia Franklin - Idaho Public Television - "Color of Conscience: Human Rights in Idaho"

3^rd Joan Cartan-Hansen - Idaho Public Television - "D4K: Snakes"

VIDEOGRAPHY — TV

1^st TIE

Jay Krajic - Idaho Public Television - "Outdoor Idaho: Salmon River Lodges and Legacies"

VIDEO ESSAY

1^st Sauni Symonds - Idaho Public Televsion - "Heli-Skiing"

BEST TV GRAPHICS

2^nd Cassandra Groll - Idaho Public Television - "Idahoptv"

Public Relations

MEDIA KIT — PR

2^nd Lisa Sommer, Anne Peterson & Bob Evancho - Idaho Public Television - "Color of Conscience: Human Rights in Idaho"

WEBSITE - SPECIAL PURPOSE — TV

2nd Idaho Public Television - "D4K"

A big congratulations to The Color of Conscience: Human Rights in Idaho team for being honored with a regional Edward R. Murrow Award. The Edward R. Murrow Awards are sponsored by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). An initial review of the awards list suggests that Idaho Public Television; KCET, Los Angeles; and WPBA, Atlanta were the only three public television stations honored this year in the fourteen RTNDA regions.

For a complete rundown of the RTNDA honorees, check out:

http://www.rtdna.org/pages/media_items/2012-regional-edward-r.-murrow-award-winners2081.php?id=2081#region1

You can watch The Color of Conscience: Human Rights in Idaho by clicking:

http://video.idahoptv.org/video/1949293974/

The Color of Conscience website is located:

http://idahoptv.org/productions/specials/colorofconscience/

The Color of Conscience is an hour-long Idaho Public Television documentary that looks at the development of the modern human rights movement in Idaho. It features the story of a small group of concerned citizens who fought against the Aryan Nations, ultimately bankrupting the neo-Nazi supremacist group in north Idaho. The program also examines some of the current human rights issues in Idaho, such as gay rights, immigrant rights and hate crimes.

Major funding for this program was provided by: Idaho National Laboratory, The Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, Idaho Women's Charitable Foundation and the Idaho Public Television Endowment.

Again, a big congratulations to our talented IdahoPTV staff!