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New England Public Media, the New Alliance of WGBY and NEPR, Wins Two Prestigious Television Awards.

SPRINGFIELD, MA (June 11, 2020) – In November, 2019, WGBY’s Connecting Point and the NEPR News team came together to produce “Legal Vices: One Year Later – A Community Dialogue,” a primetime special that looked back at the impact of the MGM Casino and legalized marijuana in western Massachusetts. This program has won a 2020 Silver Telly Award, in the category of “Television Program: Social Impact.”

 

This was the first editorial collaboration for New England Public Media. The community forum was moderated by Connecting Point host Carrie Saldo and NEPR reporter and All Things Considered host Adam Frenier. A balanced panel of experts discussed topics raised by the audience and Connecting Point and NEPR contributors were on hand to share insight from their own reporting.

 

In addition to the Silver award, WGBY won a 2020 Bronze Telly Award for the 2019 Championship episode of As Schools Match Wits in the category of “Television Program: Miscellaneous.” As Schools Match Wits is New England Public Media’s academic quiz show competition open to both public and private high schools throughout western New England. It is one of the longest-running shows of its kind in the nation.

 

Tony Dunne, who is Executive Producer of both Connecting Point and As Schools Match Wits, was thrilled. “This is an international competition receiving over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents, so there’s a lot to be proud of here in having our work recognized and singled out among so many other entrants from across the globe by our peers in the industry.”

 

Martin Miller, President of New England Public Media, agrees. “The award for ‘Legal Vices’ is particularly meaningful, as it was our first real content collaboration between TV and radio at New England Public Media. The role of public media—to provide trustworthy, unbiased information and to provide a forum for community discussion—has never been more important. We’re also thrilled about the award for As Schools Match Wits, a very long running, well established program, which we produce in partnership with Westfield State University.”

 

Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards honors video and television made for all screens and is judged by The Telly Award Judging Council; a group of leading video and television experts from some of the most prestigious companies in entertainment, publishing, advertising, and emerging technology.

 

Both “Legal Vices: One Year Later – A Community Dialogue” and the 2019 Championship episode of As Schools Match Wits can be streamed at video.wgby.org.

 

ABOUT NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA

Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, New England Public Media is the new alliance of NEPR and WGBY-TV. Through a deep commitment to independent local journalism, trusted educational content, inspired cultural offerings, and civic engagement, NEPM endeavors to share new voices and inspire new conversations. It provides audiences with a broad array of local and national programs across all media — TV, radio, online, and mobile, including PBS and NPR programs as well as locally produced series, podcasts and specials. Its four digital TV channels, and two radio networks present news, jazz and classical music, documentaries, talk, drama, plus cultural and educational programming. New England Public Media is a community-supported, independent non-profit organization. nepm.org

 

ABOUT WGBY

With four digital television channels, video on demand, and streaming video, WGBY brings quality public broadcasting programs to audiences across western New England. WGBY is available over the air on digital channel 57-1 and on cable throughout western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut and can be seen in high definition in western Massachusetts at Comcast 857, Time Warner 1221, Spectrum 782, and over the air on channel 57.

 

ABOUT NEPR

NEPR’s flagship signal, 88.5FM WFCR (and 5 repeating stations in Berkshire County), presents news, jazz, and classical music, while the six stations of the NEPR News Network provide the region with news, talk, and cultural programming 24/7. NEPR.net offers three streams including an all-classical selection, NEPR-produced podcasts, and other digital offerings.