Eight, Arizona PBS and ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication collectively win 10 awards at the 2014 Rocky Mountain Emmys

Eight, Arizona PBS won six Emmy Awards at the 2014 Rocky Mountain Emmys, and Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication was also honored with four Student Production Awards.

The winners were announced at an Oct. 18 ceremony at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess hosted by the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, an association representing television professionals in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and El Centro, Calif.

Eight’s 10-camera live concert production “The Texas Tenors: You Should Dream,” featuring country crossover stars The Texas Tenors, took home three Emmys, including Arts/Entertainment – Program/Special, Audio-Live or Post Production and Craft Specialty Musical Composition/Arrangement.

Three-time Emmy winner and Eight’s popular local production “Check, Please! Arizona” won in the category of Interview/Discussion-Program/Special or Series. Eight’s newest addition to its documentary series “The Latest Procedure” showcasing the most current medical advancements and techniques finished atop the Informational/Instructional category. And an Eight-produced “ArtBeat Nation” segment about a Phoenix artist who feeds the homeless from the proceeds of his tin can recycling art took the top honor for Arts/Entertainment – Program Feature-Segment.

“Emmy night is an important marker for how well we are delivering on our mission to produce the highest quality programming for our viewers – and I’m happy to say that this year three of our Emmy-winning productions have made it out to national audiences, including the most recent in our landmark medical series ‘The Latest Procedure,’ as well as our 10-camera concert production ‘The Texas Tenors: You Should Dream,’ which are both in national distribution, and the ArtBeat Nation segment ‘Tin Can Art,’ which was featured on PBS NewsHour. It’s also very gratifying to see that our local production ‘Check, Please! Arizona’ has been honored for a third year with a prestigious Emmy,” Eight General Manager Kelly McCullough said. “We’re glad that audiences are enjoying our programs and are extremely pleased to be honored by the Academy with these Emmy Awards.”

The Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of NATAS also recognized veteran Eight, Arizona PBS Production Services Manager Jeff Halberg with induction into the Silver Circle.

“We are very pleased to see Jeff get this recognition from the television academy,” McCullough said. “This distinguished award is reserved for truly accomplished professionals in the broadcasting field, and Jeff’s talents and high level of professionalism along with his versatility and commitment to excellence make him an outstanding choice for this honor. We are proud that Jeff has spent so many years of his career committed to the Eight, Arizona PBS mission – and we congratulate him on receiving this well-deserved award.”
According to Theresa Maher, president the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of NATAS, the Silver Circle honors individuals who have served in the broadcast industry for at least 25 years and have made major contributions. She said the award is about recognizing individuals who have made a true impact on the industry, going above and beyond typical duties.

Jim Dove, who recently retired as the Cronkite School’s chief broadcast engineer, received the Governors’ Award, the highest honor given at the Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards. Dove guided the Cronkite School on a path to technological excellence from the early days at Stauffer Hall in Tempe to the new state-of-the-art building on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus. He was instrumental in the design and installation of many of the new building’s complex digital features, making it one of the most technologically advanced educational journalism facilities in the nation.

Cronkite students captured four Student Production Awards, including best newscast for the Deaf and Hearing Network, a news broadcast produced by ASU students and the deaf community in Phoenix that uses sign language, captions and spoken language. Students Robby Baker and Nick Marek co-won the Talent category for their sports reporting reels. In Sports, Erin Patrick O’Connor, Adrian Borunda and Chris Smith won for a profile on two disabled athletes. Smith also captured the Student Production Award in arts and entertainment for a video highlighting student life on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus.

“We are extremely proud of the tremendous accomplishments of our students,” Cronkite School Dean Christopher Callahan said. “To be recognized at the Rocky Mountain Emmys is a testament to the hard work of our outstanding students and faculty.”

Rocky Mountain Emmy Award Recipients
Arts/Entertainment – Program/Special
“The Texas Tenors: You Should Dream”
Scott Wallin, Marcus Collins, John Fisher, John Hagen, Jim Ward and Katie Cobb
Eight, Arizona PBS/KAET

Arts/Entertainment – Program Feature-Segment
“Tin Can Art” Jennifer Burke

Eight, Arizona PBS/KAET