National Research Again Confirms PBS KIDS as the Most Educational TV/Media Brand, the Safest On-Air and Online Destination for Children and the Top Provider of Content That Helps Children Learn Reading, Math and Essential Skills

Moline, IL - Today WQPT, Quad Cities PBS Interim General Manager Jamie Lange announced that an annual national survey conducted over the last 10 years has consistently confirmed that PBS and its member stations are ranked first in trust among nationally known institutions and are considered an "excellent" use of tax dollars by the American public. The yearly study has also called PBS the most fair network for news and public affairs 10 consecutive times. In the most current round of research, PBS KIDS was named the most educational TV/media brand, the safest destination for children to watch television or visit online, and the top provider of content that helps children learn reading, math and essential skills. In each question, PBS KIDS significantly outscored cable and commercial broadcast television.

The research was conducted in January 2013 by the independent, non-partisan research firm ORC International. Each year, PBS commissions research to measure its performance and value as judged by its most important stakeholder - the American public.

"For the past 30 years WQPT, as the local public television station, has worked to be a trusted resource, not only on our air, but in our community. We are proud of our PBS brand and of the work WQPT does locally," said Lange.

PBS Ranks #1 in Public Trust - Nearly Twice the Level of Trust Than Courts of Law

More than 4 in 5 people trust PBS (85% "trust a great deal" or "trust somewhat"). The 2013 study marks the 10th time in a row that PBS was called the nation's most-trusted institution among a consideration set that includes courts of law, newspapers, and others. The study found that respondents had nearly twice the level of trust in PBS (46% "trust a great deal") over the nearest institution, courts of law (27% "trust a great deal").

PBS Considered Top Use of Tax Dollars

·        Only military defense outranked PBS as the best value for the American tax dollar. Three-quarters (75%) of those polled called PBS an "excellent" (22%) or "good" (52%) use of their tax dollars. Military defense was described as "excellent" or "good" by 77% (27% "excellent" or 50% "good").

·        Nearly 3 in 4 participants (76%) believe federal funding for PBS is money well spent.

PBS Named the Most Fair Network

More than 4 in 10 respondents (43%) called PBS' news coverage, investigations and discussions of issues "mostly fair" (when asked to choose among "liberal," "mostly fair" and "conservative"). PBS outscored all other sources in the "mostly fair" category, including ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News and MSNBC.

PBS KIDS Called #1 Educational TV/Media Brand, Top Builder of Critical Skills, and Safest
On-Air and Online Destination

·        More than 4 in 10 respondents (44%) named PBS KIDS the most educational TV/media brand, significantly outscoring the second most highly rated brand, Disney, which was considered most educational by 12%.

·        Eighty-six percent (86%) agreed "strongly or somewhat" that PBS "helps children improve their reading and math skills." Cable and commercial broadcast television received this rating from 51% and 43% of respondents, respectively.

·        Eighty-one percent (81%) agreed "strongly or somewhat" that "PBS helps prepare children for success in school and life." This statement was equated with cable television and commercial broadcast television by 48% and 44% of participants, respectively.

·        Eighty-eight percent (88%) agreed "strongly or somewhat" that PBS "is a trusted and safe place for children to watch television." Fifty-one percent (51%) and 49% of respondents agreed with this statement regarding cable and commercial broadcast television, respectively.

·        More than 3 in 4 respondents (78%) agreed "strongly or somewhat" that PBS "is a trusted and safe place for children to visit online," while this statement was attributed to cable television and commercial broadcasters by only 41% and 37% of the sample, respectively.

·        Eighty-one percent (81%) agreed "strongly or somewhat" that PBS is "the innovator" in children's educational media. Forty-seven percent (47%) percent and 40% of participants also applied this statement to cable and commercial broadcast television, respectively.

Full results are available at http://to.pbs.org/most-trusted-2013.

Survey Methodology

For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Jan McNamara, PBS Corporate Communications, jmcnamara@pbs.org or 703-739-5028.

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About WQPT

WQPT, serving 309,000 households in eastern Iowa and western Illinois, is dedicated to the concept of lifelong learning. The station went on the air in November 1983 and is a public media service of Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, located in Moline, Illinois.

Open Lands Trust to Create Public Hunting Ground in Illinois' Deer Capital

SPRINGFIELD - February 20, 2013. Governor Pat Quinn today announced acquisition of 547 acres of public land in four Illinois counties to boost public access for hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and outdoor recreation. The $2.8 million in land purchases includes 410 acres in Pike County, a hallowed deer hunting region, and 71 acres in Hackmatack, the nation's newest National Wildlife Refuge. This acquisition is part of Governor Quinn's ongoing commitment to expand and preserve Illinois' natural resources and boost the economy.

The properties were acquired through the Illinois Open Lands Trust (OLT), which is funded by Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! capital program and allocated for public recreation and conservation purposes.

"Preservation of open space for future generations is a worthy goal, and hunting, fishing and other forms of outdoor recreation generate billions of dollars a year in Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "Continuing to expand outdoor recreation areas and natural habitats such as Hackmatack are not only good for our economy, but also ensure that Illinois children can enjoy nature and lead a healthy lifestyle. Let's leave no child inside!'"

"Pike County is a tremendous deer hunting destination with virtually no public access. This acquisition will give hunters an opportunity to pursue white-tails in Illinois' deer capital," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller. "There is tremendous demand in Illinois for public access to open space and this purchase helps meet that demand."

The Pike County property includes extensive timber and upland areas with some tillable Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and pasture areas well-suited for public hunting programs. The newly acquired property will remain closed to the public while the IDNR continues development of a management plan, submits regulations for hunting and other recreation programs at the site, and installs public access areas.

The Pike County parcel - southwest of Pittsfield - was acquired for the appraised value of $1.8 million. Today's announcement includes acquisition of three other properties to expand public lands:

Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, McHenry County, 71.8 acres ($511,000) - The parcel was acquired to formally establish the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, the first refuge established in northern Illinois. The core areas of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge are rich in important natural resources, including rare and diverse natural communities, endangered and threatened species, wetlands, diverse aquatic systems and migratory birds. Eventually, the Hackmatack Refuge will improve or restore 11,000 acres of wetlands, prairie and forest, and will conserve habitat corridors between protected parcels to ensure sustainability of local ecological systems.

Expansion of Lowden-Miller State Forest, Ogle County, 64 acres ($450,000) - A 64-acre tract of land best known locally as the centerpiece of Sinnissippi Forest's former Christmas tree operation, has been added to Lowden-Miller State Forest. This acquisition will give the public better access to the easternmost portion of this resource which is named for Illinois Governor Frank Lowden, an advocate of reforestation who was responsible for planting a half-million trees.

"Twenty years ago, my late wife Nancy and I took great pleasure in the creation of Lowden-Miller State Forest, knowing that the people of Illinois would now be able to enjoy this magnificent part of the Rock River Valley," Warren Miller, former owner of the property said. "When we reluctantly closed our Christmas tree operation in 2010, it was my hope that this tract could be added to the State Forest. I am extremely pleased that we've finally been able to do so."

Expansion of Kickapoo State Recreation Area, Vermilion County, 0.94 acres ($25,000) - This parcel of land is located at the entrance to Kickapoo State Recreation Area adjacent to the Rock Cut Botanical Area, an Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site that supports some 40 species of sedge, a state-listed threatened grass-like plant.

Funds used to acquire these properties are through 2009 capital dollars appropriated for the Open Lands Trust Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Since the program was first authorized in 1998, the OLT has acquired 41,000 acres for public recreation and conservation.