Sept. 13, 2023
Rise and Shine,’ Family Day receive top honors in 55th annual competition
CONWAY, Ark. (Arkansas PBS) — Arkansas PBS has won two Public Media Awards from the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) in the 55th annual competition. Winners were announced Sunday, Sept. 10, during the PMA Gala at the 2023 NETA Conference and CPB Public Media Thought Leader Forum. Videos of the winning and nominated projects may be viewed at myarpbs.org/awardwinning and myarpbs.org/awardnominated.
The Public Media Awards honor NETA members’ finest work in content, community engagement, marketing/communications and education.
“At Arkansas PBS, we are proud to be recognized with these Public Media Awards that acknowledge the highest caliber work from public media networks across the nation,” CEO Courtney Pledger said. “We are committed to producing exemplary programming, educational content and community engagement opportunities for all Arkansans.”
Arkansas PBS won the following Public Media Awards:
“Rise and Shine” Season 2 – Community Engagement – Community Initiative. This extensive educational program was designed to boost summer learning and help K-5 students retain academic learning targets. The six-week program featured lessons led by Arkansas teachers to reinforce learning in key subjects including literacy, math, science and social studies.
“Arkansas PBS Family Day 2022” – Community Engagement – Kids & Family. This free public event that encourages community spirit through family-friendly fun, entertainment and educational activities attracted more than 5,000 attendees in fall 2022. With the theme “‘C’ is for Community,” the event featured PBS KIDS costume characters, live entertainment, hands-on activities and games, studio tours and more.
Arkansas PBS was also a finalist in the following PMA categories:
- Overall Excellence in Marketing/Communications.
- Overall Excellence in Community Engagement.
- Overall Excellence in Education.
- “Arkansas PBS Sports Media Campaign” – Marketing & Communications – Integrated Media Campaign.
- “The One and Only Canaan Sandy” – Content – Short Form.
- “Dirt” – Content – Topical Feature.
- “Speak Up, Speak Out: Teen Suicide Awareness and Prevention” – Education – Teacher Professional Learning.
- “Connecting ‘The U.S. and the Holocaust’ to Arkansas” – Community Engagement – National Project.
- “Celebrating Arkansas” – Marketing & Communications – Social Media.
The complete PMA winners’ gallery may be viewed here.
With the exception of the overall excellence categories, stations compete within their divisions based on their station size. Awards are judged by a group of expert panelists from within the public media system, as well as industry professionals working outside of public media.
About NETA
The National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) is a professional association representing 302 member stations in 49 states, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. NETA provides leadership, general audience content, educational services, professional development, and trusted financial management services, including human resources and benefits administration, to individual public media licensees, their affinity groups, and public media as a whole. More information is available at netaonline.org.
About Arkansas PBS
Arkansas PBS, Arkansas’s only statewide public media network, empowers learners of all ages by educating, informing, entertaining and inspiring communities. Arkansas PBS serves as a daily and essential resource for Arkansans by creating, sharing, celebrating and driving conversation around Arkansas stories and classic, trusted PBS programs through multiple digital platforms, including livestreaming at myarpbs.org/watch, on-demand services and YouTube TV, and the distinct channels Arkansas PBS, Arkansas PBS Create, Arkansas PBS KIDS, Arkansas PBS WORLD and Arkansas PBS AIRS on SAP. Members with Arkansas PBS Passport have extended on-demand access to a rich library of public television programming. Arkansas PBS depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. Additional information is available at myarkansaspbs.org. Arkansas PBS is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro), KETZ (El Dorado), KETS (Russellville), KETS (Forrest City), KETS (Gaither) and KETS (Yancy).
---###---