PERMANENT FUND DOCUMENTARY

Submitted by Scott Heyworth
Anchorage, AK
Jan. 5, 2004

What public television producers believe is the most comprehensive documentary of the Alaska Permanent Fund ever prepared for broadcast will run on Alaska One stations, Gavel to Gavel Alaska and KAKM-TV in Anchorage over the next six weeks.

Researched, written and directed by Bill McAllister of KTOO-TV in Juneau, the documentary will be serialized within the first six installments of the nationally recognized program "Alaska Week," with individual chapters of 12 to 16 minutes each. The documentary, "In Trust for Us: The Story of the Alaska Permanent Fund," will be shown later as a stand-alone program, at a date and time to be announced.

The program chapters and "Alaska Week" air dates and times are as follows:

• Part 1 "Rainy Day, Dream Away."

  The creation of the fund, with footage from 1976 on, and discussions about the original intent of the Legislature and the voters. 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, on Alaska One stations -- KTOO in Juneau, KYUK in Bethel and KUAC in Fairbanks -- and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, on KAKM in Anchorage. Broadcast times on Gavel to Gavel will be announced during the week of Jan. 12. The show and subsequent shows will be archived on-line at www.ktoo.org/alaskaweek.

• Part 2 "Save It for Later."

  The establishment of the fund's mission, with debate between proponents of a savings account and proponents of a development bank, and a look at the contemporaneous Alberta Heritage Fund. 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, on Alaska One, and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, on KAKM; and 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, and 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19, on Gavel to Gavel. Additional Gavel to Gavel air times are possible.

• Part 3 "I Want My PFD."

  The creation of and continuing debate about the dividend, from social, economic and political perspectives. Same times and stations, Jan. 23-26.

• Part 4 "The Wall Street Shuffle."

  The investment policies and management experiences of the fund. Same times and stations, Jan. 30-Feb. 2.

• Part 5 "Gains & Losses, Realized & Unrealized."

  Proposals that have changed or that would change the structure of the fund, including POMV. Same times and stations, Feb. 6-9.

• Part 6 "Take the Money and Run."

  The prospect of using fund earnings for government and for putting the dividend into the constitution. Same times and stations, Feb. 13-16.