KUAC honored for "˜Mr. Alaska’ documentary

Submitted by Gretchen Gordon
Phone: 907-474-1891
01/19/10

KUAC-TV has received the National Educational Telecommunications Association’s award for best program production for "Mr. Alaska: Bob Bartlett Goes to Washington." Members of the production team accepted the award at an annual ceremony in Las Vegas last week.

"I’m proud of what our team here can accomplish, putting forth consistently creative work that furthers our mission to educate every generation by telling stories that would otherwise go untold," said KUAC general manager Keith Martin. ""˜Mr. Alaska’ is also the third KUAC production to be distributed to a national audience. That gets the university’s name before millions of people across the country."

The 60-minute documentary chronicles Bartlett’s political, professional and personal journey as he worked toward Alaska’s statehood. The film was produced as part of Alaska’s 50th anniversary and continues the story that began with KUAC’s Emmy-winning production, "The 49th Star." The production team for "Mr. Alaska" included Michael Letzring, Aaron Elterman, Deb Lawton, Karen Perdue and Claudia Clark. Sponsors included New York Life, Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and UA Eight Stars of Gold.

"For the fourth time in five years, KUAC has been recognized," said Clark. "In many ways, the NETA award is the biggest tribute in public TV. Voters are documentary producers from throughout the United States."

KUAC’s award was one of 31 honoring 23 public broadcasters. One judge called the film "a classic and timeless, professional documentary that will be a joy for Alaskans to watch."

KUAC 89.9 FM/Alaska One TV channels 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 bring public radio and public television to interior Alaska and to the world. KUAC is licensed to the University of Alaska Board of Regents.

CONTACT: Gretchen Gordon, KUAC director of development and outreach, at 907-474-1891 or gretchen@kuac.org.

ON THE WEB: www.mralaska.org

LS/1-19-10/125-10