The network is preparing for the premiere of its most ambitious project to date, Louisiana: A History.  The six-part series, scheduled to air in September 2003 on the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase, will be LPB’s first major program of the digital age.  It will explore events from prehistoric times to the present and the many cultures that created Louisiana’s one-of-a-kind character. 
     
Stories about life in Louisiana have always been a major part of LPB’s locally produced programming, and the twelfth episode of Lost Louisiana, a series about “off the beaten path” places and people, will air this December.   Recent award-winning documentaries include Frame After Frame: The Images of Herman Leonard, the story of jazz photographer Herman Leonard; and Kate Chopin: A Re-Awakening, a biography of the nineteenth century Louisiana writer.

  
Although educational services are a focal point of LPB’s mission, they are often called “the LPB you don’t see.”  “We take our educational television network role very seriously and work hard to bring literacy programs, technology instruction, and other resources to the poorest areas of the state,” said Courtney.  LPB block feeds programming to more than 800,000 students and honors outstanding students with the annual Louisiana Young Heroes Awards.
  
The network has produced many award-winning educational programs, including The Forest Where We Live (distributed by NETA).  In partnership with the Satellite Educational Resources Consortium (SERC), LPB delivers distance-learning courses to rural school districts and produces EnviroTacklebox, the environmental education series that won an award at the NETA conference this year.

  
 
  
LPB houses the Louisiana Educational Technology Resource Center, which assists educators with technology integration in their schools.  Through Literacy & Learning, a Star Schools project, LPB and Southeastern Louisiana University are developing reading instruction videos for teachers and Content Area Literacy, a college credit course.
     
For 19 years, LPB and Louisiana’s universities have offered college credit courses, and more than 36,000 Louisianans have enrolled.  Now, through the Going the Distance program, LPB offers the opportunity to earn an Associate Degree in General Studies at home.  With classes to enable adults to earn the GED, Ready to Learn programs for the elementary and pre-school groups, and First Book (free books for disadvan-
taged children), LPB offers educational opportunities to learners of all ages in diverse settings. 

     
LPB has come a long way since its “two rooms” beginning.  The Telecommunications Center, new technology, and changing viewer needs have transformed day-to-day operations, but some things never change.  LPB is still all about bringing the benefits of public television to all Louisianans. 
  

• NETA Member Spotlight: Wyoming PTV (10/02)
• NETA Member Spotlight: UNC-TV (9/02)
• NETA Member Spotlight: Smoky Hills PTV (8/02)