Nominees for Regional Emmys To Be Announced September 5

Regional Emmy Award Nominees will be announced on Friday, September 5, starting at 6:00pm. “Meet at the Times Bar and Cafe,” said Emmy Awards Chair Shari Lamke (tpt). “We’ll have copies of the nominee list for distribution. Teresa Vickery (Executive Director, Upper Midwest Chapter) will have an Emmy on our table, so you can find us. You can also practice your acceptance speech!” Nominees will be posted on the website (www.NATASUpperMidwest.org) later that evening.
The Times Bar and Cafe
201 Hennepin Avenue E, Minneapolis
612-617-8098

Duluth: News 6 Announces UPN/PAX Affiliation, and Return of Prime Time News to the Northland

Duluth, MN -- News 6 is announcing the arrival of United Paramount Network (UPN) and PAX programming to the Northland beginning September 8th. This programming will be on its own channel, separate from the NBC programming News 6 currently airs. News 6 also is announcing a new home for prime time news. News 6 plans to broadcast the signal digitally, allowing high-definition sets in the region to receive the signal clearly beginning in November. The new station will feature a local newscast. News 6 plans to place its nine o'clock newscast on UPN 9 beginning September 9th.

KARE-11 Nominated for National Community Service Emmy

Community Service Emmys recognize the ways television helps improve our daily lives right where we live. Through original local programming broadcasters cooperate with public service organizations to help improve the society we live in. Through the Community Service Emmys, NATAS recognizes that the heart of American television is local stations serving their communities.
KARE-11 is being honored for “KARE About Kids Super Bus”, a piece which helps children K-6 learn the importance of school bus safety. With 12 other finalists from around the country, KARE will be honored at a black-tie recognition dinner on Wednesday, August 28 and will receive a special plaque. One outstanding program or campaign will be awarded the prestigious Community Service Emmy. Best of luck to KARE!

Membership Special Announced for DMAs 51+ - a 40% Discount!

The Upper Midwest Chapter has a special offer for our colleagues working in DMAs 51 and higher: a 40% discount off the membership fee of $75. You pay only $45 - and this includes your national membership. We want you to join. We want you to be involved. We hope this discount makes the decision to join easier. What do you get for $45? First and foremost, access to our One-on-One professional development program where we will pair you with a mentor/advisor in a larger market. See our website (www.NATASUpperMidwest.org) for details. You’ll also get member discounts for the Emmy Awards and Silver Circle Gala, and more. Plus, you’ll all the get national benefits, including a subscription to the acclaimed TVQuarterly. The membership form is posted on-line or call Teresa at 952-474-7126.

Former KMSP’er Alan Beck Elected to National Awards Committee

We're pleased to announce the results of the tightly contested race for President's Representative to the National Awards Committee. After a primary and run-off election, the Chapters have elected Alan Beck as their chosen representative to this important national committee. Alan knows us, and knows what we want and need from the National Awards Committee. He will represent us well.

Alan was a founding member of our Upper Midwest Chapter of NATAS and served as our Awards Chair. Alan left his position as Assistant News Director at KMSP-TV earlier this year to make what he calls “a lifestyle move” to Eugene, OR where he is News Director at KEZI, the ABC affiliate in Eugene, OR. He is currently on the Board of Governors for the Seattle Chapter and serves as Vice President for Oregon.

Board of Governors Adds 2 Key Individuals

Gina Katzmark (KBJR) and Dan Weig (WCCO) Join the Board

In our effort to expand our reach to better serve our members, we’re adding Regional Vice Presidents in key markets around the region. The first of these is Gina Katzmark, from KBJR in Duluth.

Gina walked into KBJR-TV in Duluth for a reporting internship 9 years ago, today she’s in charge of the day-to-day news operations. Gina worked as a reporter and producer at KBJR before taking an executive producer position at WQAD-TV in the Quad Cities. She soon returned home to KBJR for an assistant news director position. Her tenure in Duluth has been filled with fire and ice. The station's studios burned down in December of 1997. Gina served as honorary “queen of the double wide trailer” until a new building was completed. While still working in the trailer, an ice storm toppled KBJR’s broadcast antenna. If Lake Superior floods and wipes out the new station, Gina plans to take the hint and leave television. Gina serves as the Vice-President of the Northwest Broadcast News Association. She has attended the Poynter Institute’s News Management Seminar in 1999, and was a News Management Fellow at the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Television Journalism in 2001.

And, we’d like to welcome Dan Weig (WCCO) to our Board. Dan gives us his background:
“I took my first job in television right out of college. Seventeen years later I'm still here, having a blast. I started in 1985 at WIVB TV in Buffalo, N.Y.. I began by designing camera cards for news but soon they brought in an Aurora 125 computer graphics system and I was hooked. In 1987 I moved to WJZ TV in Baltimore Maryland. I quickly moved up from Designer to Senior Designer to Art Department Supervisor. After six years in Baltimore I decided I needed a change. In 1993, I moved to KATU TV in Portland Oregon as Art Director. I loved Oregon. Met my wife there. But, after two years I was offered the Art Director position at WBZ in Boston and we just had to go. My wife and I had our one and only in Boston (our son Nick). In 1998, I came to the Twin Cities as Promotion Manager at WCCO TV. The change from design to promotion has revitalized my spirit and has kept my creative juices flowing. Now I'm looking forward to working with the NATAS Board to promote the industry that has given me so much.”

We’re always looking for a few good people. If you are interested in a Regional Vice President position or would be interested in serving as a Governor, please email Teresa Vickery at [email protected].

Attention Parents! We’ve Got Free Money ... for College!

To all of you with high school kids starting their senior year: You’ve got only a couple of months left to figure out how to pay for college. But don’t panic. NATAS has several scholarship programs you need to investigate.

Our Upper Midwest Region Scholarship Committee, chaired by Allen Costantini (KARE) will again present four $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors interested in a career in television, broadcasting or electronic media. Eligibility criteria include a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, demonstrated leadership qualities and acceptance at a four-year college or university offering a broadcasting, television or electronic media curriculum. Applications will be available soon. To receive a copy of the application as soon as it is available, please email Teresa Vickery at [email protected]

Nationally, NATAS will be presenting two $40,000 scholarships for prospective college students who seek a career in the television industry. Scholarships are distributed over a four-year period ($10,000 per year) as long as recipients demonstrate satisfactory progress towards a degree and remain in a communications-oriented program.

For NATAS members Only!
The National Board of Trustees has created a new scholarship in honor of its late president, John Cannon. The Cannon Memorial Scholarship will be offered exclusively to the children and grandchildren of NATAS members. This $40,000 grant, to be distributed over four years, will go to a high school senior planning to enter a communications program at a four-year college or university. NATAS membership, at only $75/year, is a bargain if it helps get your high school senior a $40K scholarship.

Information on these three national scholarships will be released in September. To get copies, please email Teresa at [email protected]

Movin’ On …

Julie Nelson will be leaving her anchor position at KSTP-TV in St. Paul to accept an offer at KARE-TV in Minneapolis. Nelson will not join KARE-TV for another year due to a non-compete clause in her contract. In October 2000 Nelson won an Emmy as “Best News Anchor.”

Check It Out ...

News Management Training Seminar For Journalists of Color and Women
If you’re looking for a career in news management, then don’t miss the opportunity to attend RTNDF’s News Management Training Seminar on Friday, September 13 through Sunday, September 15, in Denver. This three-day seminar will provide the latest information, hands-on training and counseling on management issues and techniques. This program is specifically geared toward journalists of color and women in the news industry. A $50 registration fee ($40 for RTNDA members) includes meals and seminar materials. Only 30 professionals (working in radio and television news) will be accepted. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, with only two spots guaranteed per station. For more information, contact Karen Jackson-Bullitt, 202-467-5218 or [email protected].

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