Arizona PBS Wins Three Public Media Awards for Content and Overall Excellence

Arizona PBS won two awards in the Overall Excellence category and a third in the Content category of the 53rd Annual Public Media (PMA) Awards on January 25, 2022. The PMAs, presented by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA), honor the public the best work of media stations in community engagement, content, education and marketing/communications.

Arizona PBS won a total of three awards in two categories – including Excellence in Education, Excellence in Response to COVID-19, and Content – ​​Arts & Entertainment.

The winning entry that landed the Excellence in Education Award was Arizona PBS: Education Across Generations, Cultures, which highlights the innovative educational content and technologies that Arizona PBS provides to enrich the lives of children, students, educators, caregivers and parents – many of whom live on tribal lands or in underserved communities.

The Arizona Childhood Career and Professional Development Registry, a free online service that encourages lifelong learning and continuous improvement in early childhood education, is a great example of the station’s support for statewide. In 2021, the registry awarded more than 800 college scholarships to individuals pursuing degrees, certification, and other degrees in early childhood education.

“Without this scholarship, I would never have achieved my dream of becoming a teacher,” one participant said of the service.

Arizona PBS also received an Overall Excellence Award in the COVID-19 Response category. The station, which tied with South Carolina ETV in this category, was recognized for finding new ways to serve and connect with its audience and growing its statewide presence under unprecedented circumstances. .

When the pandemic hit, Arizona PBS switched to virtual production and expanded daily news coverage. And when schools moved to virtual learning, the station expanded its online professional development system, PBS LearningMedia, to include more standards-based programs so teachers, students and parents have access to more. educational resources.

“I couldn’t be prouder than I am of the outstanding and crucial support the Arizona PBS team has provided both in the classroom and at home,” said Cronkite School Dean Battinto L. Batts Jr. “Their work fits perfectly with our overall mission to serve society through media and education.

Arizona PBS also won first prize in the Content – ​​Arts & Entertainment category for its work Saving Art – One Artist at a Time. The station’s ‘Art in the 48’ episode, which highlights the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the local arts community, featured a wide range of artists, including chef Silvana Salcido Esparza; the beautiful artist and painter Antoinette Cauley; Laura Best, curator of exhibitions at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art; and Dwayne Hartford, Artistic Director of Childsplay Theatre.

Adrienne Fairwell, general manager of Arizona PBS, said the episode focuses on artists who have a deep connection to the community, especially artists of color. “It was important to connect with underserved communities in an effort to make art more accessible to a wider audience. We wanted every community to see themselves represented in this episode, as well as during every show.

Fairwell says winning three PMAs is a testament to Arizona PBS’ unprecedented dedication to its audience. “During a disheartening time for many, this incredible team rose to the challenge and served as a benefit and resource to our communities.”

About Arizona PBS

Arizona PBS is one of the nation’s leading public media outlets, with four broadcast channels and a growing range of digital platforms. A trusted community resource for 60 years, Arizona PBS promotes lifelong learning through quality programming, in-depth news coverage and essential educational outreach services. It is one of the largest public television stations in the country, reaching 80% of Arizona homes and 1.9 million homes each week. Arizona PBS has been part of ASU since the station launched in 1961. Learn more at https://azpbs.org.

About NETA

The National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) is a trade association representing 279 member stations in 47 states, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. NETA provides trusted leadership, consumer content, educational services, professional development and financial management services, including human resources and benefits administration, to individual public media licensees, their affinity groups and public media as a whole, visit netaonline.org

by Andrea Estrada

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