Cronkite Work Wins Two Rocky Mountain Emmys, Dominates College Competition

Monday, Sept. 16, 2019

  

 Cronkite students won eight Student Production Awards and two Emmys for the student-produced show “Catalyst” at the 42nd annual Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards. 

Work from students at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication won two Emmy awards for the show “Catalyst” and dominated the regional college competition at the Rocky Mountain Emmys.

Cronkite students took home eight Student Production Awards in the college contest at the 42nd annual Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards on Saturday. The Cronkite School now has won 57 Student Production Awards since 2009, the most by any university in the regional contest organized by the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

The two Emmy wins honored work on “Catalyst,” a 30-minute television magazine that features science research at ASU. Student storytellers chronicle the work of cutting-edge university research and experiments all over the world, from Antarctica to Mexico. The show airs on Arizona PBS, one of the largest public television stations in the country.

“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.”

In the college contest, “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.

Cronkite student Scott Gange also received two awards, one for his pregame show leading up to the broadcast of the Oregon State University-ASU baseball game in Tempe, and one for his work as a sports reporter and anchor.

Arizona PBS, operated by the Cronkite School, won five Emmy Awards. In addition to the two wins for “Catalyst,” Arizona PBS also won an Emmy for the first season of “Plate and Pour,” a local food and restaurant show hosted by chef Mark Tarbell.

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.

“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.”

During the event, longtime “Arizona Horizon” producer Mike 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 key last-minute guests during breaking news.

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 College Student Production Awards:

College Long Form Nonfiction

“American Hate”

Scott Bourque, Brittany Brown Shelby Knowles, Ashley Mackey, Justin Parham, Jasmine Putney

College Magazine Program

“ASU vs. OSU Pregame Show”

Scott Gange

College Newscast

“Choose Your News”

Hayley Brand

College Public Affairs/Community Service

“Newberry Opioid Coverage”

Bryce Newberry

College Short Form Nonfiction

“Don & Charlie’s”

Taylor Rocha

College Sports

Family Bond

Jake Trybulski, reporter

College Sports

From the Military to the Mats

Chancellor Johnson

College Talent

sports reporter/anchor

Scotty Gange

2019 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