February 2009

Message From The President

It’s no secret this is a time of change for our industry and the world. We have a new president, our economy is continuing its downward spiral and we are making a big change with the DTV transition. Two newsrooms in Phoenix have new leaders. You’ll learn more about them in this newsletter. The Cronkite School at Arizona State University has new digs and our Student Committee is busy with a new mission. Last but not least the clock is ticking to the release of the Call for Entries for the 2009 Emmy Awards. You’ll find some important dates you’ll want to mark on your calendar. I hope 2009 has treated everyone well. Until next time!

Jennifer Jones
President
Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

Now Accepting Nomination for Silver and Gold Circle

It’s that time again, when the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences takes nominations for the coveted Silver Circle and Gold Circle Awards. These awards recognize and honor individuals within our industry who have made significant contributions and had a major impact on the development within our Rocky Mountain Southwest region.

We invite you to nominate candidates for both the Silver Circle and Gold Circle Awards. It is a great opportunity to recognize your peers and/or employees for their dedication to our industry. To be considered for the Silver Circle, individuals will have made contributions in the areas of broadcast journalism, talent, creativity, engineering, administration, commercial production or education, serving in the industry for at least 25 years, with the majority of the time spent within our region.

Prospective nominees for the Gold Circle will have served in broadcast journalism, talent, creativity, engineering, administration, commercial production and education for at least 50 years, with the majority of the time spent within our region.

A special awards ceremony will be held in April to honor this year’s inductees. Further information on the awards ceremony and invitations will be forthcoming.

Please take a few minutes to complete the enclosed nomination form. Feel free to make additional copies of the form so that others on your staff can make their nominations known. You must include a resume and/or a biographical summary of the nominee’s qualifications and explain fully why this individual is deserving of this award. The information is needed for the selection committee to discern who the inductees for this year will be…a fulfillment of the required 25 or 50 years is not enough information to identify those nominees who are truly deserving of this award.

The deadline for nominations is March 4, 2009. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the NATAS office at 623.935.9637 or via email at aznatas@qwest.net – a complete list of previous inductees and downloadable forms are available on our website at www.rockymountainemmy.org

New Role in New School for ASU NATAS

Since ASU NATAS started anew in 2007, we have always been working hard to become the premier broadcast student organization in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. With the school's relocation to its new headquarters in ASU's Downtown Phoenix Campus, we will, along the way, adapt to the changed role between the school and its student organizations.

The Cronkite School, to coincide with the opening of the new campus, have taken over many of the functions traditionally served by its student organizations, including invitation of guest speakers from within the journalism industry to speak to students, as well as providing general activities for its students, to foster unity. In this new environment, the mission of ASU NATAS will change from being an organization that brings broadcast journalism students together, to become an organization that gives an insight to how the television news industry works, and prepares its members for their future role within this industry.

In the months to come, ASU NATAS will be planning many activities to fulfill this new mission. Through organizing seminars on student internship, tours to television news studios within Arizona, and holding video contests to sharpen the videographic skills of our members, ASU NATAS is determined to take on its new role, and be the premier broadcast student organization within the Cronkite School.

COMINGS AND GOINGS

At KTVK Channel 3, Brad Remington took the reigns as Executive News Director on December 8th. Remington was most recently at KDVR in Denver, and previously led newsrooms at KTVI in St. Louis, and KOB in Albuquerque. He also has family ties to the Phoenix-area.

Long-time Phoenix Meteorologist Ed Phillips is out at KTAR after near 27 years. Phillips’ position was eliminated by the Bonneville-owned news/talk station around the first of the year. KPNX Channel 12 is now handling all weathercasts for the market’s top news/talk station.

Former KTVK Channel 3 employees are in the process of organizing an “Arizona’s Family” Reunion this Summer. If you (or someone you know) worked at KTVK between the years 1986 – 2000, contact Polly Schumacher at pollyschu@gmail.com for more information.

Michelle Donaldson may be a new face in the CBS 5 newsroom in her role as News Director but her passion for journalism started at an early age. Her first job in broadcasting was at age 16 as a radio reporter. Her bosses at the time had no idea she was so young. It was only when she had to ask for a schedule change for school that she had to fess up the needed change was for high school classes and not college classes. During her high school years, Michelle was on the debate team. Those debates allowed her to travel across the country. Fair warning to the CBS 5 Newsroom: Michelle has won many awards for her crafty debating skills. She even made a teen on an opposite team cry! Before joining the CBS 5 Newsroom, she was News Director for KRQE and KASA in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She also oversaw newscasts on KBIM in Roswell, NM. Before she made the move to the southwest she was a special projects producer and news producer. Michelle has two special projects of her own, her two children who are also adjusting to life in Arizona. Michelle is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University. As many of our hopeful reporters and journalists enter this new and uncertain marketplace, Michelle does have some words of encouragement: It is probably easy to be discouraged but there is still a place for smart, curious and passionate people who are motivated by making our democracy stronger.

BOARD MEETING ROUND-UP

Just like at organizations all across the country, much of the January Rocky Mountain Chapter board meeting was devoted to discussing the budget. Other important issues addressed included how to increase chapter involvement (especially outside of the Phoenix-area), filling committee positions, and narrowing-down a venue for the Silver Circle induction ceremony, and a location and date for the Rocky Mountain Emmys.

NATAS is also looking to add more member events, including social mixers (perhaps an organized post-sweeps party or two) and programming. Upcoming planned events will include Job Seminars, a Post Sweeps Mixer, How to enter your Emmy submissions, Social Media Seminar and more! Stay tuned for future announcements with details.

IMPORTANT DATES

March 4 – Silver and Gold Circle Nomination Deadline

March 5 – April 1 Sweeps (non-People Meter markets)

April 1 – 2009 Call for Entries Posted on Website at www.rockymountainemmy.org

April 23 – May 20 Sweeps (non-People Meter markets)

May 25 – Emmy Entry Deadline

July 2 – July 29 Sweeps (non-People Meter markets)

October 29 – November 25 Sweeps (non-People Meter markets)

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