30 miles from campus — and a world away

The November episode of "Wichita State & The World" focuses on prairie restoration and biological research at the Ninnescah Reserve in southwest Sedgwick County. The above video clip gives you a glimpse of the show:
Host Provost Gary L. Miller explores the land, the new research center, and the work of students and faculty in the 30-minute episode broadcast on Cox Cable Channel 13. It airs at 8 p.m. Sundays, 9 a.m. Mondays, 3 p.m. Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays, and 1 a.m. Fridays this month.
In December, you can catch up to past episodes you may have missed — a variety will be rebroadcast in rotation at the above times.

"WSTW" is a production is of Wichita State's Media Resources Center, and I had a blast walking the prairie with awesome videographers Greg Matthias and Rik Dubiel for this project. Rik also edited, and did a terrific job, as you can see. I was producer, which included scripting out the storyline, creating a shot list, doing background research and lots of other behind-the-scenes tasks. The folks in the biology department were great to work with — and they did a great job explaining their research.

"Day Without Media" not worth living?

A former newsroom coworker just spotted this gem of a public notice in New Mexico — and naturally captured the image with her cell phone camera and posted it on her FaceBook page.

It brings to mind a fascinating study my husband, Dan Close, recently conducted with his classes at Wichita State University's Elliott School of Communication. Asking digital natives to give up their cell phones, videogames, laptops, iPods, TVs, etc., etc., for just 12 hours was asking more of them than most initially realized.

Students wrote about their experiences, and he presented the findings at a Popular Culture Association conference (in Albuquerque by coincidence). He called it “A Day Without Media: Freaking Out Students Who Take Technology for Granted.”

Most, as the title indicates, described themselves as disconnected, lost, afraid, alienated, on edge, lonely, stressed, frustrated, silenced, withdrawn, clueless, irritable, antsy. . . you get the idea. “It was a weird experience,” said AB, “and that’s saying the least.” A few made good use of their new-found free time and tackled chores, enjoyed time with family or friends, or just felt blessed by the relative silence.


For the course I teach for the Elliott School, Comm 502 Public Information Writing, I opened the first night of class with a request that students turn off their cells and put them away — but conceded that if it proved too uncomfortable, they should at least put these distracting little devices out of sight and out of immediate reach for the 90 minutes we meet. It's not surprising that young adults are programmed to reach constantly for their phones; a recent Pew study indicates they typically send and receive 50 text messages a day.     

Check out that smile

I love this photo of Cokie Roberts, taken by Ken Davis as she signed books at Wichita State University's Metroplex. She was on an author's tour to promote her latest book, an updated version of her best-selling "We Are Our Mothers' Daughters," and I was impressed with how generous she was with her time. She gives off a definite vibe that she doesn't suffer fools gladly, but she was warm and kind to the fans who approached her at her many campus events. After all the years she's spent on NPR and ABC, they feel like they know her, and she responded in kind.

The "Cokie show" is ready!

From Martha Washington's legacy to Michelle Obama's future, from watching her mother cook for 1,500 wedding guests to analyzing sexism in presidential politics — Cokie Roberts told one fascinating story after another during her recent two-day visit to Wichita State University.

Two of Robert's campus appearances (her sold-out speech at the Metroplex and "Conversation With The Provost" Q & A) were captured on video and are featured in the newest episode of "Wichita State & The World." The show debuts at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 7 on WSU-TV, Cox Cable Ch. 13, with repeats at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 10; 8 p.m. Thursday, May 21; and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 24.

Roberts, a longtime ABC political commentator and National Public Radio senior news analyst, was brought to campus by KMUW-FM 89.1. She made appeals to listeners on air during the station's spring pledge drive.

For more on "Wichita State & The World," which is hosted by Provost Gary L. Miller, go to www.wichita.edu/provost.

A whirlwind of a week!

Broadcasting legend Cokie Roberts visited Wichita State University as part of her national author's tour, and generously gave her time to several campus events, including a speech Wednesday night, a "Conversation With the Provost" Thursday morning and about an hour on the air during KMUW-FM's spring pledge drive. Cokie, promoting her updated best-seller "We Are Our Mothers' Daughters," has plenty to say about the changing roles of women, the expectations of men, the current state of politics and business, and much more. It will be a challenge to package the video footage we collected into just an hourlong show, but it's a good challenge to have. Several people have stopped me to ask when they could see "Wichita State & The World's" Cokie episode — look for it in May. (And check back for updates!)


Thursday night, local TV icon Anita Cochran hosted an in-studio Tweetup for her Twitter pals during the 10 o'clock news. Tonight is her final broadcast for KSN, Ch. 3, and though Wichita viewers will miss her terribly, I couldn't be happier for her. She decided a few months ago to invest more time in her family life, specifically her tween-age daughters. I may be biased; I made a similar move in 2007. Anita won't languish at home with daytime TV and bonbons (for those of you who cling to stereotypes!); she has some exciting projects in the works.

Changing things for the better: Dr. P

I'm so happy with how the new episode of "Wichita State & The World" turned out. This month, Provost Gary Miller talks with WSU Professor Ken Pitetti — one of my favorite people on campus.

Ken is one of those rare human dynamos who manages to inspire everyone he comes into contact with — without wearing them out. His generous spirit means he is as giving to aspiring nurses and medtechs in the classroom as he is to autistic kids and his fellow amputee veterans in the research environment. His personal story — of, yes, tragedy and triumph — has led him on a winding but fascinating career path.


I first "met" Ken through my husband, WSU Associate Professor Dan Close, in 1991. Dan had interviewed Ken for a magazine profile and came home mightily impressed with his ground-breaking work, his character, his innate curiosity, his humor and grit.

I've never taken a course from Ken — maybe one day! — but I've learned a lot from him.

I hope you'll check out the show. This episode debuts at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 9, with repeats at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 12, 8 p.m. Thursday, April 23
and 7 p.m. Sunday, April 26.

For more info and links, go to www.wichita.edu/provost and scroll down to the center of the page.

Next stop, Wichita . . .

Cokie Roberts — award-winning broadcaster, best-selling author — is coming this month to Wichita State University for two days of appearances, and folks are going wild. Her campus visit is part author's tour (an updated version of her book "We Are Our Mothers' Daughters" has just been released) and part fund raiser for public radio station KMUW.

The moment tickets were made available to her public appearances, the organizers were overwhelmed with requests.

I'm happy to be part of the team that's documenting her visit, including her "Conversation With Provost Gary Miller" before an audience of primarily students and faculty. Those who don't have the chance to attend the WSU events will have a chance to see her in May via "Wichita State & The World" on WSU-TV, Cox cable Ch. 13.

Greensburg tornado headed for WSU TV

Working on a "Wichita State & The World" episode that blends interviews with WSU associate professor Les Anderson and a handful of students, excerpts from their on-location video stories, blog entries and still photography from their Greensburg project, and of course an epic F-5 twister.

What will we have when the debris settles?

Stay tuned; it airs in March on WSU TV, Cox cable Ch. 13.

Ripples on a pond

Back in the 1990s, when I was working as a reporter for The Wichita Eagle, I traveled to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale to meet Don and Shirley Beggs. I was working on a profile of Don, who was a finalist for (and ultimately received) the job of president of Wichita State University.

I'll never forget how warm, gracious and genuinely open the Beggses were (and have continued to be to me and my husband over the years). Journalists who cover education and politics — and this story had elements of both — don't encounter that routinely.

It was also clear from the start that Don and Shirley were a unique kind of "power couple." There was real substance behind those smiles; hard work, solid character, and caring underpinned their their quiet confidence.

I see less of them now than I once did, so I was as surprised as any reader to pick up the paper this week and discover that Shirley is being treated for breast cancer. As the story by Roy Wenzl details, Shirley has faced it with her typical determination, and minimal disruption to her university duties, but finally decided to go public with her story in hopes that it might help someone else.

The day Shirley's story was published, my mother-in-law was headed in for yet another chemo treatment. It's Maggie's third go-round with breast cancer and as she'd tell you: It's kind of a drag.

But reading about Shirley's strength of spirit — and learning they go to the same clinic — gave Maggie the boost she needed to make it through the morning. Chances are these two wonderful women will never cross paths there, but like ripples on a pond, their stories have.

Now playing

The long-ago promised video clips of Tom Otterness are finally here! Thanks to Lonny Quattlebaum, Greg Matthias and Rik Dubiel of Wichita State's Media Resource Center for their fantastic videography and more.


Former Wichita Eagle publisher Lou Heldman, creator of "Wichita State & The World," interviewed Ulrich Museum of Art director Patricia McDonnell.

Tom Otterness' fascinating introspective of his work included slides ranging from childhood paintings to computer-assisted designs for recent projects.

Please stand by . . .

Dreaded "technical difficulties" prevented Episode 5 of "Wichita State & The World" from airing Thursday night. Reportedly a problem with an air conditioning unit caused massive overheating in master control, which . . . well, the bottom line is, this hourlong show featuring A-list sculptor and native Wichitan Tom Otterness will debut at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11 instead. WSU TV is on Cox cable Ch. 13.

It's worth the wait — and I'd say that even if I wasn't the producer. Really. For more about the show, check out www.wichita.edu/provost.

Tom Otterness, sculptor

I'm wrapping up work on Episode 5 of "Wichita State & The World," featuring Tom Otterness. An acclaimed figurative sculptor based in New York City, Tom is a Wichita native best known for public art that combines whimsy and social satire.
The show, which debuts at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, on Channel 13 on Wichita's Cox cable, will feature footage from the installation of "Millipede" on the WSU campus as well as an illustrated lecture by Otterness.

One of my favorite things about this hourlong episode — aside from the fact that the art is a treat for the eyes — is how well it captures the fact that despite living virtually all his adult life in New York City, Otterness is still clearly a Guy From Wichita.

Check back for an update; I'll add video clips here when available.

"WSTW:2" focuses on giving

Episode 2 of the new show "Wichita State & The World" hosted by provost Gary Miller debuts on Sunday evening, and reviewing the online excerpts today reminded me of how much I enjoyed sorting through video interviews with WSU engineering students to select material for it. (I'm the producer.)

Wow, what an impressive bunch.

Hearing college kids describe their experiences - the personal impact of scholarships, of mentoring from professors and professionals, of opportunities to work on real-world projects such as NASA in Kansas - made me proud(er) to be a WSU alum.

The episode, which focuses on how gifts to the WSU Foundation change lives, debuts at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, on WSU TV, Channel 13 on Cox cable, with repeats Oct. 16, 19 and 30.

A new series

I'm excited about seeing one of my big projects on the air! The fall season of "Wichita State & The World" kicks off on Sunday, Sept. 7, with an episode that features Associate Provost David McDonald of WSU and Paul Wooley of the Orthopaedic Research Institute at Via Christi talking about biomedical composites research and its impact on business and medicine.


"Wichita State & The World," hosted by Provost Gary Miller, is a series that examines how Kansas' only urban-serving research university is changing our community, our nation and the world. It's on WSU TV, Channel 13 on Cox Cable.

Episode 1 airs at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, with repeats at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18; Sunday, Sept. 21; and Thursday, Oct. 2.

You'll find more information about this and upcoming episodes at www.wichita.edu/provost.

Today's to-do list

Wrapping up post-production on Episode 3 of "Wichita State & The World" today, on public health, to air this fall on WSU TV, Cable Ch. 13. Also meeting today to get going on an episode that documents the rebuilding of Greensburg. I love the eclectic nature of this show.