WASHINGTON — February 28, 2012 — The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) today presented Eric Hyyppa, Director and General Manager KUSM-TV, MontanaPBS, with the 2012 National Advocacy Award for his exceptional efforts in furthering public television’s legislative goals. The National Advocacy Award recognizes an individual that exemplifies effective advocacy on behalf of public television.
“Eric Hyyppa is a tireless advocate for public broadcasting, engaging the influential Montana delegation through the annual appropriations process, the Super Committee’s work and most recently the Payroll Tax conference’s deliberations,” said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of APTS. “In each of these situations, Eric has been an eloquent, persistent and effective advocate for MontanaPBS and the entire public broadcasting system.”
Hyyppa has been in public broadcasting for more than 16 years and has worked for every major television network and many independent production companies. He has a background in Information Technology, including a BS in Computer Science from Montana State University.
Hyyppa has been member of the Society of Motion Picture Television Engineers and the Society of Broadcast Engineers and currently serves on the board of directors of the Association of Public Television Stations, the board of directors of the Montana Broadcasters Association, the executive board of the National Educational Telecommunications Association, and as co-chair of the Organization of State Broadcasting Executives.
“I’m honored and humbled to be recognized with this award,” said Eric Hyyppa. “MontanaPBS is a proud member of APTS. The work of communicating the value of public media, particularly with our elected leadership, is critical to our success. I share this award with my colleagues in Montana and a host of great volunteer citizen advocates who believe strongly in the promise of public television, and commit their time and energy to preserving and strengthening critical public support for public media.”
The National Advocacy Award was presented to Eric Hyyppa during The APTS Public Media Summit on Tuesday, February 28, in a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington.
About APTS
The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization established in 1979. The mission of APTS is to conduct – in concert with member stations – advocacy, planning, research and communications activities in order to achieve strong and financially sound noncommercial television and advanced digital services for the American people. APTS provides consistent leadership and information that helps our members better accomplish their own missions and goals. Through its affiliate APTS Action, APTS promotes the legislative and regulatory interests of noncommercial television stations at the national level through direct advocacy, and grasstops and grassroots campaigns designed to garner congressional support. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
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