UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — WPSU Penn State has been nominated for five 2019 Mid-Atlantic Emmy awards for excellence in the television and media industries from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Two episodes from the WPSU web series “Finding Your Roots: The Seedlings,” which earned two regional Emmy awards in 2018, were also nominated in 2019. “Unrivaled: The Penn State Football Story” and the “Our Town” community series earned nominations, as well as sports photographer Matt Stephens.
The 2019 Mid-Atlantic Emmy awards will be presented on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Pittsburgh. In all, 335 entries received nominations.
“It’s always such an honor to be nominated for Mid-Atlantic Emmy awards,” said Isabel Reinert, executive director and general manager for WPSU Penn State. “The production teams and individuals worked incredibly hard to deliver content that enriched learning and brought communities together, and these nominations are a result of their hard work.”
The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which represents Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and parts of West Virginia and Ohio, annually recognizes the top cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, news, informational programming and craft achievements in television and online.
WPSU — an Outreach service of Penn State — has earned 25 regional Emmy awards since 1981.
WPSU Penn State nominees, by category, are:
Education/schools – Program/special — For excellence in a program or special that covers schools, teaching or education.
Crew: Kristian Berg (producer/director), Cheraine Stanford (producer), Tyler Henderson (editor)
"Finding Your Roots: The Seedlings” is a web series following 13 young people using science and research skills at a new genetics and genealogy camp to answer the question “Who am I?” With an innovative curriculum envisioned by Henry Louis Gates Jr., host of the popular PBS series "Finding Your Roots” and developed by a team led by Penn State professor Nina Jablonski from the College of the Liberal Arts, campers explore their own family history and DNA ancestry with techniques never before used in an educational setting.
Sports – Program series — For excellence in a sports (non-news) limited series.
Crew: Mindy McMahon (executive producer), Don Hampton (senior producer/director), Anya Swanson (producer/director), Shane Robinson (videographer/editor), Sam Newhouse (videographer/editor), Clint Yoder (location and post-production audio), Matt Stephens (videographer/editor), Jonnie Baker (editor), Mickey Klein (post-production audio)
“Unrivaled: The Penn State Football Story” chronicles the journey of the 2018 Nittany Lion football team. The show includes a look at game week preparation, game highlights, sideline and locker room coverage and an all-access look at the coaching staff and selected players on and off the field.
Community service — For excellence in programming, whether news or non-news, involving the entire station in a continuing effort to focus interest on, and marshal support for, a worthy community cause.
“Our Town” captures the spirit of local communities from the perspective of the residents by providing an opportunity for the community to share the unique features of their town – profiling organizations, arts, schools, attractions, local folklore, history and more. The 2018 season included visits to the following Pennsylvania communities: Lock Haven, Reynoldsville, Coudersport and Boalsburg.
Photographer – Sports — For excellence by an individual covering sports related content.
- Matt Stephens
WPSU-TV, a PBS member station, serves 24 counties in central Pennsylvania and reaches 515,000 households, and WPSU-FM, an NPR member station, is accessible to more than 450,000 listeners in 13 counties. The public media station also includes WPSU Digital Studios, which offers original web series that explore science, arts and culture.
Visit the WPSU website for more information.