Mt. Hood Inc.: OPB News Special Seeks the Value of the Mountain
Posted May 31, 2011
Promotional Contact
What is the value of Mt. Hood to Oregon? How do Mt. Hood's economic contributions stack up to other important local businesses? "Mt. Hood Inc.," a special series of reports by OPB News, kicks off with Think Out Loud on June 10 broadcasting live from Timberline Lodge, and continues the week of June 13 during Morning Edition. We’ll ask questions about the value of the mountain to our community.
Mt. Hood is an iconic symbol of Oregon. Its snow-covered peak is used in business logos and travel brochures. And the mountain's diverse resources are woven into the fabric of Oregon's economy in many ways.
Most Oregonians, however, would be hard pressed to put a value on the mountain. Many would argue that it's priceless; yet commercial interests and even conservationists are trying to put a price on pieces of Mt. Hood: its timber, water and its remaining wilderness.
Tune in to MORNING EDITION each day, June 13-17, at 6:51am or anytime at news.opb.org, to hear the special series of reports that look at:
• What business the mountain is in. Is Mt. Hood’s business manufacturing or recreational, destination spot or a natural reserve?
• Jobs - How many people, from seasonal workers to Forest Service employees, does the mountain employ?
• Products –What goods and services does the mountain offer? Wild mushrooms, clean water and timber, but also carbon sequestration.
• Branding - Mt. Hood appears in logos, photos, commercials and on tourist trinkets. What’s the “goodwill” value of this brand? What does a view of the mountain add to real estate values?
• Costs & Economic Impact – Forest fires, mountain rescues, climbing deaths, maintenance of forest lands and recreational areas all contribute to the cost side of Mt. Hood's balance sheet.
And there's more …
• For something completely different … as a way to look at the mountain’s value, we contemplate its absence in an animated detective series, “Mt. Hood is Missing.” Students at the Art Institute of Portland turned some of OPB's well-known radio voices into a cast of characters who go looking for the mountain, and discover its value along the way. Log onto news.opb.org and follow the exploits of Dick Moss, P.I., as he takes on the case of a lifetime in this Art Institute of Portland/OPB production.
• You can post your own photos of the mountain, tell us what the mountain means to you, check out the animated episodes and stories at http://news.opb.org/mt-hood-inc/
How Valuable is the Mountain to You?
The public is invited to a live production of Think Out Loud from Timberline to share their Mt. Hood experiences and memories on Friday, June 10. Doors open at 8:15am and the show begins at 9am.
About OPB
OPB is the largest cultural and education institution in the region, delivering excellence in public broadcasting to 1.5 million people each week through television, radio and the Internet. Widely recognized as a national leader in the public broadcasting arena, OPB is a major contributor to the program schedule that serves the entire country. OPB is one of the most-used and most-supported public broadcasting services in the country and is generously supported by 120,000 contributors.