The Suncoast Chapter is one of nineteen Chapters in the United States. We have been granted by our parent organization, The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the rights to bestow Emmy Awards within the Suncoast region of Florida, Louisiana, the Mobile, Alabama television market and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The other Chapters have similar rights in different regions of the country. All of these rights are subject to rules made by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

No Emmy Award entries are judged within the Chapter where the entry originated. All entries submitted in the Suncoast Emmy Awards are judged by peer television professionals in other Chapters. Photographers in other Chapters judge Suncoast
photography entries, news professionals in other Chapters judge Suncoast news entries, etc. The judging panels are composed of at least five qualified people who score each entry against a standard of excellence–a score of ten is the highest mark of excellence; a score of one is the lowest.

The scores are returned to the Suncoast Chapter's CPA, Ronald Martin. He tabulates the scores of each entry in every category. He prepares two sequences of the scoring, one for English-language entries and another for Spanish-language entries. He prepares a special breakdown for a meeting with the Awards Committee of the Suncoast Chapter. The breakdown displays numerous columns that each have a meaningless heading, such as "AA", "AB", "AC", etc. Underneath each heading is a list of numbers.

The columns represent entry categories in the Suncoast Emmy Awards. The numbers represent the scores awarded to specific entries. Neither the categories or the identity of the entries are revealed to the committee. The process is completely blind. A typical column might look like this:

Column AA
8.9
7.1
5.6
5.0
3.4
2.8

The rules say, The Chapter's Awards Committee, in consultation with its requisite awards accounting firm, shall determine the level of excellence for each of the disciplines (categories) judged. (The Suncoast Chapter has used its entire Board of Governors as the Chapter's Awards Committee.) Note that the language of the rule requires the Chapter to employ an accounting firm. The job is to determine a score for nominations and a higher score for recipients. In column AA above, the committee might decide that the two entries above a 7.1 would receive a nomination and that the sole recipient would be the entry receiving the score of 8.9.

The judging ballots state that scores of 5 – 6 are "Possibly Worthy", 7 – 8 are "Worthy" and 9 – 10 are "Definitely Award Worthy". This scale indicates the range in which entries are worthy of a nomination. The exact score worthy of an Emmy Award in any category is subject to the Chapter's Award Committee's judgment of what a score of excellence is in that category.

Rules for Spanish-language entries (from the Regional Awards Manual, prepared by the National Awards Committee) English-language entries from a given area will be judged by a panel of English-speaking judges while Spanish-language entries from the same area will be judged by a panel of Spanish-speaking judges. The scores produced by these two panels must not be combined; instead the scores must be interpreted separately by your CPA firm for final "cut-off" evaluation.

Drawing the line
Because all of the judging panels are different, the scores for each category are unique to that category. Therefore, when drawing the line, the scores in each blind category should not be compared to those in another category. The line must be based only on the scores in the category itself.

David Ashbrock, the immediate past Chairman of the National Awards Committee wrote, Judging panels are very different and scores within a given category reflect the uniqueness of that particular group of peer judges. By interpreting scores on a curve, we're able to diminish the disparity among judging panels. It's as much an 'art' as it is a 'science'. As a general rule of thumb, 30% of entries ought to be nominees and 10 – 15% ought to be recipients.

Linda Giannecchini, the Vice Chairman of the National Awards Committee agreed and offered these additional remarks: Your Chapter's percentages to entries, nominations and recipients are pretty much where they should be. I wouldn't suggest drawing the line for recipients any lower. Everyone can't be a winner.

The shared experience of most Chapters regarding lowering the line to allow a greater number of recipients is that "giving them out like candy" causes the Emmy to lose value. It just doesn't mean as much if it isn't hard to get. To put it another way, it doesn't mean as much if the Emmy doesn't stand for excellence in television.

The Suncoast Chapter has used a rough guideline of 10% of entries for determining recipients and 35% for determining nominees. These are not absolute numbers and vary slightly from year to year depending on the actual scores.

WTVJ-NBC 6's Bob Mayer, a fixture in the South Florida TV market for four decades, will say farewell to viewers and colleagues next month. Mayer, 63, retires July 1.

"An easy decision that was painful," says Mayer, whose contract expired in
April. He was offered a new contract, he says, but opted to leave while NBC is
owned by General Electric so he receives an enhanced retirement package
Comcast is expected to become majority owner of NBC Universal later this
year in a joint venture.

"Retiring now is financially much more beneficial," Mayer says.

A Miami native and Coral Gables High grad, Mayer joined WTVJ in '69 as an
intern, when Ralph Renick was king of local TV news. Mayer's first day on the
job, a Dominicana Airlines cargo plane crashed into an auto paint shop on
Northwest 36th Street at 2:42 p.m., killing four on board and six on the
ground. "I shuttled film back and forth."

Mayer did a few months as a photographer, then became a reporter.

He covered the '72 Eastern Flight 401 crash in the Everglades, and interviewed presidents–Nixon, Ford and Reagan. He toured the Playboy jet for a Hugh Hefner feature.

Mayer also did beat reporting–investigations, consumer affairs, science and medicine and crime. In '73, he delivered a three-month series on dirty restaurants—Not on the Menu—that prompted new laws on restaurant sanitation.

A classic car collector, he reviewed hundreds of new vehicles for his Behind the Wheel segments. He became a weekend anchor in '74. In the early '80s, he left for a main anchor job in Hartford but bailed after three years. "Couldn’t take the weather." He eventually returned to WTVJ and became an early evening news anchor.

For the past 20 years, he led WTVJ's morning show, Today in South Florida, which now airs from 5 to 7 a.m. Co-anchor Pam Giganti, 42, will miss him. "He's been my partner and my TV husband for the past eight years. He's the most giving anchor I've ever worked with. For him, it's all about the show." (No word on whether she'll go it alone or have a new co-anchor.)

One thing he won't miss: the hours. He rises at 1:45 a.m., and goes to bed at 5:30 to 6 p.m. He wants to sleep until 7 a.m. and stay up to catch the 11 p.m. news.

He'll have more time with wife Bonnie, a retired nurse. They have a son, Chad, a D.C. lawyer. Mayer says his car hobby keeps him busy, but he doesn't plan to sit around forever. "I definitely am not the retirement type. I will do something. It's just the matter of finding the right gig."

Ardyth "Ardy" Diercks, WTVJ prez/GM, says the station will call on Mayer from time to time for on-air reports and specials. "He's a legacy of integrity and excellence. That’s what he leaves behind–40 years of doing the right thing, every day."

The latest TV station group to sign up for Rentrak's StationView Essentials audience measurement service is Post-Newsweek Stations, which will use it to sell time on its ABC affiliate in Miami, WLPG, and its NBC affiliate in Houston, KPRC.

According to Rentrak, Post-Newsweek will use Rentrak’s Database Currency to attract more direct marketing and advertising dollars by proving audiences are staying tuned through commercials and are reaching the consumers with a propensity to buy the product.

"Rentrak's StationView Essentials is a ratings service that we believe will help our advertisers measure the effectiveness of their commercials and enable us to use a basket of currencies to program to our viewers and sell to our advertisers," said Alan Frank, President & CEO, Post-Newsweek Stations.

Hoke, 42, died Wednesday, June 9, 2010 while surrounded by her beloved friends and family, including husband Eric and daughter Isabella. You came to know Kristin as a journalist behind the anchor desk. A voice to rely on during trying times. A smile that made you feel like you knew her.

Kristin told countless stories over her career, but it was the courage to tell her own story that endeared her to so many. Kristin’s life was so much more than cancer.

She grew up in Michigan, the youngest of five children. As a child she was painfully shy. To break out of her shell, she started performing in musicals. "This was my outfit from when I was in the 'Sound of Music,'" said Kristin. "I was Brigitta–I was quite a cute little Fraulein I must say." She also danced ballet and cheered. Kristin often talked about what shaped her the most, her family. "All that mattered to my
parents were the kids," said Kristin.

That meant time outdoors, camping, swimming and fishing. She stayed close to home for college at the University of Michigan and for her first TV job in Lansing. Tennessee and California followed. In 2000 WPBF called, in a way it was like coming home. Kristin's most cherished family memories as a child were on the Treasure Coast. In the 30s her great-uncle helped settle part of Jensen Beach. Her family spent most of their vacations there. A branch of the Martin County Library bears the Hoke family name.

WPBF is where Kristin met her husband, Eric Cecere. They married in 2004. Just three months after their wedding doctors diagnosed Kristin with breast cancer, a disease that struck so many other women in her family–including her mother. "I know my mom raised me tough, but I never anticipated this," said Kristin.

During her five-year battle, Kristin underwent endless cycles of chemotherapy and radiation, three brain surgeries and even a clinical trial. All the while working and sharing her story.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced the election of Darryl B. Cohen, attorney, partner, Cohen, Cooper, Estep & Allen, LLC to the position of Chairman, succeeding Herb Granath, who is stepping down after leading the organization for the last four years. Malachy Wienges, President, Sedona Broadcasting Company, LLC, was elected 1st Vice Chairman of the organization.

"With the election of Darryl Cohen and Malachy G. Wienges," said Granath, "NATAS has put their trust in the leadership of two seasoned, executive committee members who have each served the Academy for over 30 years and have provided the vision and guidance that dates back to the days of John Cannon and forward into the 21st century." The other newly elected officers are, Barbara Williams- Perry, 2nd Vice Chairman, Alison Gibson, Treasurer and Norman Felsenthal, Secretary.

Darryl Cohen - Chairman
An Entertainment attorney, Cohen appeared regularly on WXIA-TV/Channel 11, the NBC affiliate, and on the Fox News Channel. He currently provides on-air legal commentary for CNN/HNN. His Entertainment practice includes representation of on-air network talent, including anchors, actors, photographers, models, recording artists, and talent agencies.

Cohen founded and is permanent chair of the Southern Regional Entertainment and Sports Law Conference, which currently includes Florida, Georgia, New York, and Tennessee. He currently serves as Legal Committee Chair of NATAS, Legal Chairman of the Northern California and Southeast Chapters; Past President of the Southeast Chapter; and a voting member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) based in Hollywood, California.

He has served as President and National Board Member of the Screen Actors Guild, Georgia branch, and previously served on the Atlanta Board of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Mr. Cohen has also co-hosted several local television telethons and was an on-camera spokesperson for WPBA-TV's pledge drives and Master of Ceremonies for numerous local events.

Cohen was previously a partner of Katz, Smith & Cohen in Atlanta, Georgia.

Malachy Wienges – 1st Vice Chairman
Wienges spent an illustrious 31 years at the CBS Television Network. He began as a management trainee and rose to the position of Vice President, Sales/Marketing and Technical Systems. From 1975 to 1985, he was Producer of the CBS Thanksgiving Day Parades for which he was nominated for two Emmys. Mal also received two National Emmys, including one for technical achievement for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, and a second National Emmy in 1992 for the NFL on CBS.

Wienges is credited with originating the concept of remote production for daytime dramas (soap operas) when he took The Guiding Light to the Bahamas in 1976. Since then, Mal has participated in more than 152 location productions. Wienges was also nominated for three Daytime Emmys.

Wienges is an honors graduate from C.W. Post College with a B.S. in atomic and nuclear physics. He obtained a Masters of Science degree in engineering management from Long Island University. Wienges has received national recognition including being listed in Outstanding Young Men of America, Who's Who in Management and in the 2001 millennium edition of Who’s Who in Entertainment.

In 2005, Wienges was appointed by Arizona Governor, Janet Napolitano, to serve as an Arizona State Film Commissioner, a position he continues to serve in.

From 2008-2009, Mal served as Chairman of the Board of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce.

Wienges is currently President of Sedona Broadcasting, LLC, and serves as a television consultant to the Warner Bros. Television Network, CBS and IBM.

Barbara Williams-Perry – 2nd Vice Chairman
A veteran of 35 years in television news in Chicago and President of the Chicago Chapter of NATAS, Ms. Williams-Perry joined WMAQ-TV, the NBC owned-and-operated station in Chicago in 1976. As part of the NewsCenter 5 team, she worked as a general assignment reporter, covering stories ranging from the death of Mayor Richard J. Daley to the first running of the Chicago Marathon. During that time, she broke the story that Center for Disease Control researchers had found the cause of Legionnaire's Disease, a bacterial infection that broke out during a convention of the American Legion.

In 1979, Williams-Perry joined WTTW-TV, Chicago's PBS station. She produced an hour-long program profiling Sandra Day O'Conner, the first woman to serve as a United States Supreme Court Justice and went on to produce the weekly program, "Chicago Week in Review," and worked as a producer/correspondent on "Chicago Tonight."

In 1993, Williams-Perry began her free-lance work with Towers Productions. She wrote and produced programs for "American Justice," working with Bill Kurtis on the series. Since 2005, Williams has served as President of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, where she has established new scholarships and started a Silver Circle Awards ceremony in Milwaukee, WI.

Alison Gibson - Treasurer
Alison Gibson serves as Treasurer and on the Finance Committee of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and has a detailed understanding of the Academy's current financial situation. Her expertise in budget and production management comes with decades of experience and a no-nonsense approach to cost cutting. She is the owner of MediaCool and Timeline Productions, two strategic communications companies she founded in 1991 to serve broadcasters, corporations and the legal community.

Her 34-year experience in media production includes documentary programming for broadcasters in the Netherlands, Italy, Germany and the United States. Her work has been recognized with a variety of awards, including the International Emmy® award, Prix Jeunesse, and a Cine Golden Eagle.

Ms. Gibson served as a National Trustee from the Northern California/San Francisco chapter (1994-1998 and 2004-2008). In addition to serving on the San Francisco chapter's executive board, she has chaired their Education Committee from 1995 - 2008, overseeing a local scholarship program. She also developed new media initiatives that brought national recognition for the chapter's media literacy program.

Norman Felsenthal – Secretary
Norman Felsenthal is Professor Emeritus of Communications at Temple University in Philadelphia where he taught for 32 years prior to his retirement in 2005. He is currently a member of the Adjunct Faculty at the University of Pennsylvania Annenberg School for Communication.

Felsenthal taught in the Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunications where he developed a specialty in the History of Broadcasting. Earlier in his academic career, Felsenthal taught for four years in the Department of Communication at Purdue University. He is the author of Mass Communication a textbook in the Mod-Com series that sold over 60,000 copies in two editions. He is the author of six articles in the Encyclopedia of Television and has also contributed articles to the Journal of Broadcasting, Educational Broadcasting Review, and other academic journals.

Felsenthal is active in both professional and academic organizations. He is currently a Trustee of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) as well as Chair of that organization's Scholarship Program and a member of the Editorial
Board of Television Quarterly. He is a charter member of the Philadelphia Chapter of NATAS and has served as a Chapter Governor, Program Chair, and Scholarship Chair. He is also a member of the Citizens Advisory Board of WHYY-TV-FM and of the Philadelphia Chapter of Broadcast Pioneers.

In addition to the elected members to the Executive Committee, the Chairman appointed 3 additional members to complete the board:

Harold Crump
A leader of the television industry for more than 50 years, Harold is currently the Vice President, Corporate Affairs, for Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. In his long career covering most of the Mid-South and Mid-West, he was President and General Manager of KSTP-TV, Saint Paul, Minnesota from 1990 thru 1997; President and CEO, Crump Communications, Houston, Texas, and Owner and Operator of WCSC-TV, Charleston, South Carolina, 1986-1990. While President, Broadcast Group, H&C Communications, Inc., Crump was responsible for the operation of KPRC-TV, Houston, WTVF, Nashville, KVOA-TV, Tucson, WESH-TV, Orlando, KCCI-TV, Des Moines, KSAT-TV San Antonio, and KPRC-AM Houston, 1984-1986. From 1981-1984, he was the Executive Vice President and General Manager of KPRC-TV, Houston, the NBC affiliate. Crump spent his formative years working at WLAC-TV in Nashville, a CBS affiliate, where he rose from local salesman to General Manger.

He is or has been a member of the board of many associations in the industry such as USFR Media, Houston, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NBC Affiliates Board of Directors, Television Bureau of Advertising, Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and has also received the Silver Medal from the American Advertising Association. His leadership has also led him to be appointed to the US Chamber Homeland Security Taskforce, and the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters. Harold has also been the recipient of both Gold and Silver Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Upper Midwest Chapter of the Television Academy.

Mike Trager
A pivotal figure in the development of sports television, Michael Trager is currently Chairman of The Trager Group, a company specializing in television consulting, rights, and production. Previously, Trager was Chairman of Clear Channel Entertainment Television after serving as President of Television and Entertainment for the SFX Sports Group before its acquisition by CCE. While at CCE Television, Trager supervised such numerous sports properties as MLB, USTA, USSA, Sun Bowl, NHRA, PRCA, CART, French Open, and the Boston Marathon. He was also responsible for CCE entertainment arm, Tollin/Robbins Productions,
producers of the HBO hit series "Arli$$", "Smallville", "One Tree Hill" and such feature films as "Varsity Blues", "Summer Catch", "Hardball", "Coach Carter", and "Dreamer." Trager also managed the Emmy and Peabody award winning documentary group, Black Canyon Productions, which created the HBO specials, "When It Was A Game", "Babe Ruth", and "Shot Heard Round the World."

Trager started his career with NBC in New York and Los Angeles where he held various management positions. In 1973, he was voted the top sales executive in the broadcast advertising business. He continued his career in management at NBC as Vice President of NBC Sports where he was responsible for all program acquisitions including the Moscow Olympics, National Football League, Major League Baseball, and the NCAA Final Four to name a few. Trager later served as Executive Vice President of D'Arcy-McManus & Masius Advertising in charge of the Anheuser-Busch media account and new broadcast technologies. While at D'Arcy, Trager managed the historic $25 million commitment by A-B to the then fledgling ESPN.

Terry D. Peterson
Peterson is the founder of Verite' Productions, a multi-national award winning Production Company based in Cleveland, Ohio. Peterson's early broadcast experience was gathered at WXYZ-TV in Detroit where he was an innovative and bold promo producer, earning two Emmy nominations and an Emmy in 1987. Moving to California, he honed his skills as a Senior Writer-Producer at Encore Communications, Inc., where his clients included, 20th Century Fox Television, Buena Vista Television, ABC, NBC, Fox, MCA Universal Television and Republic Pictures. Earning numerous awards, including a PROMAX Gold Medallion, he also worked as an Associate Producer on the Columbia Pictures Television pilot "A Question of Scruples".

Arriving in Cleveland, he was hired as Senior-Writer-Producer for Gateway Communications, working on award winning projects, such as "On the Edge" funded by the Think First Foundation. A true labor of love, "On the Edge" earned eight national awards, including a Telly Award; a Silver Screen Award in the 1994 US International Film & Video Festival; a Cine Golden Eagle Award, and the highly-prized Bronze Anvil Award, the Public Relations Society of America's top honor. Prior to founding his own company, Peterson joined WUAB-TV as Director of Marketing and Promotions, finding ample opportunities to put his unique stamp on breakthrough promotional campaigns that gathered both local and national attention.

Frank Adelson, Editor, NBC6/WTVJ, Miami
Manny Alvarez, Photojournalist,WFOR/CBS4,Miami
Fabio Apelbaum, Graphic Designer, Sherjan Broadcasting,Miami
Teri Arvesu, Executive Producer,Noticias23 Univision
Giovani Benitez, Investigative Producer,WFOR/CBS4
Terry Bloom, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Miami
Holly Brobst, 11pm News Producer,WSVN-TV/7
Jeff Burnside, Special Projects Reporter, NBC6/WTVJ
Abel Castillo, News Photojournalist,WFOR/CBS4
Tammy Darling, Director, WSVN-TV, Miami
Wendie Feinberg, Managing Editor, Nightly Business Report,PBS/WPBT-TV/2
Steve Greenberg, Independent Producer/Reporter
Jack Kelly, VP for Production,WPBT,Miami
Reizel Larrea-Alvarez, Producer, I-Zoom
Kevin Layne, Producer & Cinematographer, Forti/Layne Entertainment,Miami
Spears Mallis, Mallis Enterprises, Inc., Miami
John Mays, Production Manager, WFOR/CBS4, Miami
Richard S.Maher, Technical Manager, David Brinkley Studios,Barry University, Miami Shores
Angela Gonzalez Ramos, Programming & Public Affairs Director, WLTV/Univision23
Carmelo Rodriguez, Supervisor, Production Services for WPBT-TV, Senior Director for Nightly Business Report
Dan Roujansky, President, Spotlight Media Group, Inc.,Miami
Laurie Stein, Producer, I-Zoom
Rodney Ward, Executive Editor of Nightly Business Report and Senior Vice President of NBR Enterprises