PBS Kids GO Writers Contest

MOLINE, IL - WQPT-Quad Cities PBS invites young authors and illustrators in kindergarten-third grade to submit their original stories to the PBS Kids Go Writing Contest.

Stories, which must be the original work of the child, may be non-fiction, fiction, prose or poetry. Entries, postmarked by Wednesday, April 10, can be dropped off at WQPT's office at Western Illinois University's 60th Street campus, or mailed to WQPT, 3561 60th St., Moline, Illinois 61265.

Sixteen local winners (four from each grade) will be honored with prizes at a ceremony held at the Butterworth Center in May and will appear on-air in a promotion for PBS Kids programs on WQPT. First place winners will compete for national prizes and their stories will appear on the WQPT website. Finalists and participating classrooms will also receive free books. Each participant will receive a Certificate of Achievement.

For more information, along with guidelines and entry forms, visit wqpt.org/storycontest or contact Ana Kehoe at (309) 764-2400 or AT-Kehoe@wiu.edu.

Funding and support for the writing contest has been provided in part by the Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House, Family Museum, Figge Art Museum, Midwest Writing Center and WQPT.

WQPT is a public media service of Western Illinois University-Quad Cities.

###

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT, Quad Cities PBS is pleased to offer a $500 Broadcast Scholarship to students pursuing a career in broadcasting.

Last year's recipient Kristy Anne Phillipson said "As a senior in the broadcasting department at Western Illinois University in Macomb, I am honored and deeply grateful that I was chosen for this scholarship. It will help me pay for my final year at Western.  It will definitely take some of the stress off."

The annual award can be applied to tuition, books, and fees. Interested students may request an application through WQPT by calling 309-764-2400 or 1-800-877-413-2424 or through www.wqpt.org.

Applications will be accepted through April 19, 2013.

Criteria:

v Be accepted to or currently enrolled at Western Illinois University in the broadcasting program

v Reside in WQPT's viewing area or have recently graduated from a high school in the WQPT viewing area

v Overall 2.5 GPA

v Broadcast Classes 3.0 GPA (not applicable to incoming college freshmen)

v Preference given to full-time students although part-time students may apply.

WQPT is a public media service of Western Illinois University Quad Cities located in Moline, Illinois.

# # #

MOLINE, ILLINOIS -  WQPT's local public affairs program "The Cities with Jim Mertens" will air a 3-½ hour special on Sunday, November 4th at 2:30 pm that takes a look at the local political contests being voted on this coming Tuesday.

"Since early September we have been talking with the political candidates on both sides of the river," said Mertens.  The special features commentary by former Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert and Steve Grubbs, former Iowa state representative and former Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa.

The candidates interviewed in the first hour include Neil Anderson (R) and Pat Verschoore (D) running for the Illinois 72nd House District and John Archer (R) challenger for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District.  In the second hour incumbent Dave Loebsack (D) from Iowa's 2nd Congressional District along with Rich Morthland (R) and Mike Smiddy (D) competing for the Illinois 71st House District and Shawn Hammerlinck (R) and Chris Brase (D) for Iowa's 42nd Senate District.  The third hour and a half features Bill Albracht (R), the candidate for the Illinois 36th State Senate District opposite Mike Jacobs (D) (not interviewed) and Cheri Bustos (D) and Bobby Schilling (R) who are vying for the 17th Illinois Congressional District will finish the program.  Each candidate's full interview is also available by logging on to www.wqpt.org/thecities/.

"The Cities with Jim Mertens" begins its third year on Thanksgiving.  It is the only local public affairs television program airing in the greater Quad Cities area.   WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline, Illinois.

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT's local public affairs program "The Cities with Jim Mertens" will be focusing on local political races in the coming weeks finishing with a 3 hour special that will air the Sunday before election-day.

In the coming weeks the following candidates will appear on The Cities, which airs each Thursday at 6:30 pm, Sunday at 5:30 pm on WQPT and on WVIK on Fridays at 7:00 pm.

Rep. Pat Verschoore (D) Illinois 72^nd House District                         September 13, 2012

Neil Anderson (R)

John Archer (R) Iowa 2^nd Congressional Candidate                           September 20, 2012

Cheri Bustos (D) 17^th Illinois Congressional Candidate                     September 27, 2012

Rep. Rich Morthland (R) Illinois 71^st House District                         October 4, 2012                           Mike Smiddy (D)

Sen. Shawn Hammerlink (R) Iowa 42^nd Senate District                      October 11, 2012

Chris Brase (D)

Rep. Bobby Schilling (R) 17^th Illinois Congressional Candidate       October 18, 2012

Sen. Mike Jacobs (D) Illinois 36^th State Senate District                     October 25, 2012

Bill Albracht (R)

"We are happy to have a longer format to focus on the issues that impact our local communities," said host, Jim Mertens. "Our program guide and website will list the times that each candidate will appear during the 3 hours special so that our viewers can focus on the candidates that they are most interested in hearing from," said Jerry Myers, WQPT's Program Manager.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline, Illinois.

# # #