Colleen Casto, Producer

Responsible for all aspects of program production for KUED's weekly public affairs program and for selected local and national documentaries and specials, Colleen Casto has been part of KUED since 1981.

Casto produces Civic Dialogue, which takes an in-depth look at issues pertinent to the lives of Utah viewers, including: social issues, crime, politics, the environment, state and local legislation, election coverage, and more.

Casto's documentary film No Safe Place: Violence Against Women, an examination of the causes and solutions of violence against women, received the Worldfest Houston Gold Award, and was nominated for an Iris (NATPE) Award, Utah Society of Professional Journalists, Utah Broadcasters Association, and Rocky Mountain Emmy awards.

As part of her diverse production repertoire, Casto produced A Rising Voice: Hispanic Utah, a documentary profiling the diversity of culture, contributions and legacy of Utah's 100,000 Hispanics. The program was honored with a Rocky Mountain Emmy Award and was an Iris (NATPE) Award nominee.

Casto's 1990 film, On the Medical Edge, hosted by MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour anchor Charlayne Hunter-Gault, highlights cutting-edge research and patient care in genetics, neuroscience, cardiology, and cancer taking place at the University of Utah Medical Center.

Another project displaying Casto's dynamic talent as a producer is An Easter Gift of Music. This concert special features world-renown soprano Kiri Te Kanawa, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the Utah Symphony conducted by Julius Rudel. The program aired nationally on PBS 1990-92.

Prior to her current position as public affairs producer, Casto was an associate producer and production assistant at KUED, as well as a news production assistant for KUTV.

Casto received a B.S. in Journalism Mass Communication, TV/Film from the University of Utah in 1982. She was WGBH/CPB Fellow in Public Affairs in 1993. She is a member of Society of Professional Journalists, Utah Chapter and the Utah Hispanic Women's Association.