Arizona PBS first-season shows shine at Rocky Mountain Emmys

Sept. 16, 2019

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Arizona PBS won five regional Emmy Awards, including three for the first seasons of “Catalyst” and “Plate & Pour.”

Arizona PBS won across a range of categories at the 42nd annual Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards celebration, hosted Saturday evening by the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in Phoenix. The event also included the induction of “Arizona Horizon” producer Mike Sauceda into the Silver Circle Society.

“It is a privilege to come to work every day with such talented and dedicated professionals,” said Arizona PBS General Manager Mary Mazur. “I am so pleased that our nominees and award recipients were recognized by our community of peers.”

Two new local shows – “Plate & Pour” and “Catalyst: Shaping the Future” – were both honored in their first year of eligibility. “Plate & Pour” earned an Emmy for interview/discussion program. Hosted by chef Mark Tarbell, the food and restaurant themed show will return to Arizona PBS for a second season in January 2020.

“Catalyst” earned two Emmy Awards: one for excellence in covering technology and one for covering historical/cultural topics such as Arizona State University scientists who made a surprising discovery while sequencing the saguaro cactus genome. Produced as a collaboration between Cronkite students and professional staff members, “Catalyst” will return for a new season this spring.

Arizona PBS’s David Angell and Alex Kosiorek won an Emmy for Audio-Live or Post Production for their recording and production of the ASU Symphony Orchestra featuring pianist Michelle Nam, while Alex Kline earned an Emmy for his editing work.

During the event, Sauceda was inducted into the Silver Circle Society of the NATAS Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter, an achievement reserved for media veterans in the Southwest who have shown exemplary service in the industry for more than 25 years.

Sauceda has worked on “Arizona Horizon” since joining Arizona PBS in 1990. His deep knowledge of Arizona and wealth of statewide connections often help the “Horizon” team secure last-minute guests when there is breaking news.

In addition to his work at Arizona PBS, Sauceda has covered the news at many Valley radio stations, and he currently covers daily news for Skyview Satellite radio. He has also taught broadcast writing and producing at Arizona State University.

In addition to the honors for Arizona PBS, Arizona State University students at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication dominated the intercollegiate contest, winning eight out of a total of 20 college-level awards.

“We are extremely proud of the work our students produce and the impact it has, here in Arizona and beyond,” said Cronkite School Dean and Arizona PBS CEO Christopher Callahan. “Our strong showing across the board at the Rocky Mountain Emmys is a testament to the dedication of our students, faculty and staff.”

“American Hate,” a Carnegie-Knight News21 investigation on the legacy of hate in America and what it means to the country today, won for college long form nonfiction. The 40-minute documentary was produced and reported by a team of 38 journalism students from 19 universities who collaborated at the Cronkite School during summer 2018. The film aired locally on Arizona PBS in August.

NATAS is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. The Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter represents Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and El Centro, California.

2019 Arizona PBS Rocky Mountain Emmys

Interview/Discussion – Feature/Segment/Program Special
“Plate & Pour” featuring Vincent’s
Shana Fischer, Rebecca Guldberg, Alexander Kline, Scot Olson, Margery Punnett, Melissa Thompson

Technology
“Catalyst: Shaping the Future”
Students of the Cronkite School

Historic/Cultural Program Special
Saguaro Cactus Genome – “Catalyst” segment
Bailey Netsch, Scot Olson, Margery Punnett and students of the Cronkite School

Audio – Live or Post Production
ASU Symphony Orchestra featuring Michelle Nam, Piano
David Angell, Alex Kosiorek

Editor – Program
Alexander Kline