Gold and Silver Circles: Who They Represent

Posted on July 15, 2025 by jimjakobs

Gold and Silver Circles: Who They Represent

By Joyce Mitchell, SF NATAS/Norcal Governor and Wayne Freedman two-time SF NATAS/Norcal Governor

Legends pass through our doors only so often. They rarely arrive with such status. It happens over time through hard work, good deeds, and lasting commitments to the business and community.

Those are the people that the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) inducts into our Gold & Silver Circles. Induction is one of the highest tributes a NATAS Chapter can bestow upon an individual.

The Circles are honor societies. Silver Circle recognizes 25 years or more in the business. Gold Circle honors a minimum of 50. While longevity certainly matters, it is where consideration only begins.

Gold & Silver Circle members and candidates are more than survivors. They have made significant, positive contributions to and for our industry. They’re wise. They’re humble. Most have heart and soul.

One of the greatest newsmen ever, Edward R. Murrow, said the TV set is an instrument that can illuminate and even inspire. “But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it’s nothing but wires and lights in a box.”

Technology has changed since Murrow spoke those words in 1958, but our industry’s essential goals have remained the same. We communicate and connect with viewers. We collaborate with co-workers. We’re creative and adaptive. Gold and Silver Circle members embody that spirit. They leave the business better than they found it. By example, they serve to remind us of where we’ve been and show future generations how to carry it forward.

To that end, every Gold & Silver Circle luncheon includes students and distributes scholarships. Every induction provides opportunities for young people in the business to mingle with accomplished seasoned professionals.

The Emmy SF/NorCal Silver Circle started in 1986. Currently, it has 305 members.

The Gold Circle began in 2002. It now has 29 members.

How It Works :

Our chapter inducts a maximum of 10 new professionals per year
The chapter community submits names for consideration
A G&SC committee is comprised mostly of Gold & Silver Circle members who discuss and select names for nomination
The committee nominates in regional categories for on-air talent, crafts, and management
Only previous Gold & Silver Circle recipients vote
Committee members look at the final totals and make selections
The Board of Governors gives final approval for Gold Circle recipients
Gold can include one or two inductees – or none
New inductees are notified by the committee
They are honored at the annual luncheon
An emcee is selected from members of the Gold & Silver Circle
Individuals not selected for one year may be moved forward for future consideration
Again, ballots are confidential

“Our history will be what we make it.”

– Edward R. Murrow

—

After 25 Years, KTVU’s Steve Paulson Is Forecasting a Sunny Retirement

Posted on July 15, 2025 by jimjakobs

After 25 Years, KTVU's Steve Paulson Is Forecasting a Sunny Retirement

By Roberta Gonzales, Governor NATAS SF/Norcal

After a remarkable 25-year run as one of the Bay Area’s most trusted and beloved weather anchors, Steve Paulson has announced he’ll be hanging up his clicker and retiring from KTVU this Autumn.

Steve joined KTVU in 2000 and quickly became the calm, familiar face viewers turned to each morning—delivering forecasts with a blend of deep meteorological expertise, local insight, and that signature Paulson wit. Whether decoding fog patterns in Daly City or explaining offshore wind shifts like a neighborhood storyteller, Steve made even the most complex weather systems feel approachable.

He was more than a meteorologist, he was a morning companion for countless Bay Area residents, easing us into our day with warmth, consistency, and (let’s be honest) a well-timed joke or two.

While we’ll deeply miss his steady presence in the mornings, we suspect Steve won’t be missing that 3:00 a.m. alarm. After decades of early wakeups, he’s finally earned the chance to sleep in, chase sunshine on his own terms, and maybe even enjoy a forecast-free weekend.

Please join us in celebrating Steve Paulson’s extraordinary career, and in wishing him nothing but clear skies and smooth sailing in his next chapter.

If you have a story you’d like to see in ‘Off Camera‘ please send us an email to offcamera@emmysf.tv

KHON2 Anchor/Reporter Leaves Broadcasting For State Government

Posted on June 22, 2025 by jimjakobs

KHON2 Anchor/Reporter Leaves Broadcasting For State Government

By Pamela Young, San Francisco | Northern California Chapter The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

KHON2 anchor/reporter Jenn Boneza is stepping away from the studio into state government. She has accepted a position with the Hawaii State Department of Environmental Studies. “While I’m excited for this next chapter, leaving the newsroom is bittersweet,” she says. “KHON2 ha been more than a workplace. It’s been a home, a launch-pad, a family. I’ve had the honor of telling stories that matter, standing alongside a crew that works tirelessly behind the scenes and collaborating with some of the most dedicated, talented and passionate people I’ve ever met.”

At the 2025 Emmy®Awards Gala in Sacramento, Jenn won her first Emmy® for her contributions to “Moloka’i Hoe World Championship,” which took top honors for Sports-One Time Special.

If you have a story you’d like to see in ‘Off Camera‘ please send us an email to offcamera@emmysf.tv

KOVR’s Cecil Houston Celebrates 25 Years with CBS

Posted on June 8, 2025 by jimjakobs

KOVR's Cecil Houston Celebrates 25 Years with CBS

By Kevin Wing, Chair, Archives & Museum Committee, San Francisco | Northern California Chapter The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

Director of News Operations at CBS News Sacramento Cecil Houston was serenaded by his colleagues this week for a big silver anniversary.

The KOVR (CBS 13) newsroom cheered on Cecil Wednesday, June 4, with a special announcement by Vice President/Director of News Pete Saiers and a really tasty red velvet anniversary cake to mark the special occasion – 25 Years of service to CBS Television Stations.

Cecil has served in the operations role since 2020. From 2006 to 2020, he served as the station’s Director of News Photography. From 2000 to 2006, he was Chief Photographer at KPIX CBS Bay Area.

Prior to joining CBS in 2000, he was a photographer at KCRA 3 in Sacramento from 1992 to 2000.

Cecil is a graduate of San Jose State University.

If you have a story you’d like to see in ‘Off Camera‘ please send us an email to offcamera@emmysf.tv

‘Extremely traumatic’: Fresno reporter Juanita Adame recounts being saved from Kings River

Posted on June 2, 2025 by jimjakobs

‘Extremely traumatic’: Fresno reporter Juanita Adame recounts being saved from Kings River

Courtesy: www.yourcentralvalley.com

What was supposed to be a fun day on the Kings River turned into a fight for survival for one of our station’s reporters.

YourCentralValley’s Juanita Adame was white water rafting above Pine Flat on Saturday with her fiancé and her cousin’s family. It was a trip planned two months in advance that ended just a few minutes after boarding.

“It was one of the scariest experiences I’ve ever had in my life,” Reporter Juanita Adame said.

Full story here.

If you have a story you’d like to see in ‘Off Camera‘ please send us an email to offcamera@emmysf.tv

David Wurtzel named president and general manager of ABC7/KGO-TV San Francisco

Posted on June 2, 2025 by jimjakobs

David Wurtzel named president and general manager of ABC7/KGO-TV San Francisco

ABC Owned Television Press Release

David Wurtzel has been named president and general manager of ABC7/KGO-TV San Francisco – the Bay Area’s Emmy^® Award-winning source for breaking news; it was announced today by ABC Owned Television Stations President Chad Matthews, to whom he will report. In this new role, Wurtzel is responsible for the station’s operations and ancillary businesses.

Wurtzel has been with The Walt Disney Company for nearly 20 years, recently serving as the vice president of Operations and Business Planning for the ABC Owned Television Stations in Los Angeles and Fresno. He is an accomplished finance executive with extensive experience in strategic planning, contract negotiations, accounting, labor relations, financial reporting and analysis, and compliance. He also leads all contractual and rights fee negotiations for special programming, including the LA Pride Parade, Kingdom Day Parade, and LA Rams preseason football, among others.

“His strong analytical skills, proven track record of achieving ambitious goals, and commitment to operational excellence have enabled him to tackle critical business challenges and initiate transformational projects,” said Matthews. “I know he will leverage his expertise and vision to enhance the station’s continued success in providing the highest quality local news.”

“The KGO team is regularly singled out for overall excellence – most recently by the Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards – for very good reason,” said Wurtzel. “From in-depth stories about the impact of climate change and severe weather to hard-hitting investigations into government corruption and powerful documentary storytelling, they have distinguished themselves by reporting on complex issues of vital interest to Bay Area residents with the utmost care, thoroughness and professionalism. I look forward to working with them to further enhance and leverage the tremendous work they do across linear, streaming and social platforms.”

Throughout his career at Disney, Wurtzel has worked within the broadcast television, digital media, and distribution groups, gaining expertise in corporate financial planning and analysis (FP&A), process improvements, technical accounting, budgeting and forecasting, internal controls, and systems implementation.

Before joining The Walt Disney Company, Wurtzel served as a supervisor, Internal Audit at Sony Pictures Entertainment. In this role, he conducted a range of domestic and international financial audits across various divisions, including television, theatrical releases, motion picture production and home entertainment. He began his career as a senior auditor at Ernst and Young in Boston.

Wurtzel received his Master of Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University and his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts. He is a certified public accountant licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He is on the board of directors for the Media Financial Management Association, a not-for-profit association that provides media and entertainment industry financial professionals with unique networking and educational opportunities and media-specific information services to enhance their capabilities and contribute to their organizations’ success.

If you have a story you’d like to see in ‘Off Camera‘ please send us an email to offcamera@emmysf.tv

Roberta Gonzales Joins KTVU Full-Time as Meteorologist

Posted on May 19, 2025 by jimjakobs

Roberta Gonzales Joins KTVU Full-Time as Meteorologist

After nearly four years of freelancing with KTVU while simultaneously leading her own media company, Roberta Gonzales Productions, veteran broadcaster Roberta Gonzales has officially joined the KTVU FOX 2 weather team full-time.

With her signature energy, deep-rooted passion for storytelling, and decades of experience forecasting California’s ever-changing climate, Roberta brings a unique blend of warmth, credibility, and community connection to KTVU’s already dynamic weather team.

“I’ve been fortunate to spend the past few years contributing to KTVU while also growing my own production company,” Roberta said. “Now, I’m beyond thrilled to fully commit to this next chapter—working alongside some of the most talented meteorologists in the business and serving the Bay Area viewers I love.”

Roberta’s career spans more than three decades across the Bay Area’s top stations, where she’s become a household name for her approachable style, breaking coverage of extreme weather, and tireless community involvement. From field reporting major wildfires and atmospheric river storms to engaging audiences through her signature segments and uplifting stories, Roberta is known for both her professionalism and heart.

Her full-time role at KTVU marks a homecoming of sorts—a continuation of her on-air legacy, now grounded in a newsroom known for trusted journalism and innovation in weather coverage.

If you have a story you’d like to see in ‘Off Camera‘ please send us an email to offcamera@emmysf.tv

Mark Tamayo Named Chief Meteorologist at KTVU, Succeeding Legendary Bill Martin

Posted on May 19, 2025 by jimjakobs

Mark Tamayo Named Chief Meteorologist at KTVU, Succeeding Legendary Bill Martin

By Roberta Gonzales, Meteorologist KTVU FOX 2-KTVU PLUS

KTVU FOX 2 has officially named veteran meteorologist Mark Tamayo as its new Chief Meteorologist, stepping into the role following the retirement of the station’s longtime weather leader, Bill Martin.

Tamayo, a trusted and beloved figure in Bay Area broadcasting, joined KTVU in 2009. Over the nearly 16 years at KTVU, he has become known for his calm, clear, and science-based approach to weather forecasting—especially during critical events such as wildfires, earthquakes, and atmospheric river storms that have shaped California’s recent climate narrative.

A native Californian, Tamayo holds a journalism degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a meteorology degree from San Francisco State University, blending storytelling with deep scientific understanding. He began his career at KVIQ in Eureka and moved through the ranks at KSBW in Salinas and KRON in San Francisco before making his mark at KTVU.

In addition to his on-air work, Tamayo has earned two Emmy Awards for Best Weather Reporting and has been praised for his ability to explain complex climate systems in ways that are both accurate and accessible to viewers. Off camera, he’s often invited to speak at schools, weather forums, and science education panels across the region—demonstrating his passion for public outreach and climate awareness.

In a statement shared on social media, Tamayo said:

“Some BIG news to share with you guys. I am honored and excited to continue my journey at KTVU… now as Chief Meteorologist. It’s been an amazing ride, and I look forward to this next chapter serving our Bay Area viewers.”

He replaces the legendary Bill Martin, who retired earlier this year after more than three decades at KTVU. Martin, known for his measured tone and deep respect within the weather community, covered everything from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake to the 2018 Camp Fire, leaving behind a legacy of excellence and mentorship.

Tamayo’s promotion not only continues KTVU’s legacy of top-tier weather coverage but also ushers in a new era, blending experience with a forward-looking vision in a time when climate reporting has never been more essential.

If you have a story you’d like to see in ‘Off Camera‘ please send us an email to offcamera@emmysf.tv

Ross Rowley named KIEM-KVIQ News Director in Eureka

Posted on May 19, 2025 by jimjakobs

Ross Rowley named KIEM-KVIQ News Director in Eureka

Ross Rowley will be the next news director for KIEM/KVIQ-TV (a CBS/NBC operation), according to Rick Gevers and Associates.

His promotion comes after the stations were taken over by Marquee Broadcasting.

Here’s Ross’s Linkedin page.

He replaces Dawn Dugle who left the station last fall after about a year as news director.

If you have a story you’d like to see in ‘Off Camera‘ please send us an email to offcamera@emmysf.tv

Behind the Scenes, 2025 Emmy® Awards Nominations Watch Party

Posted on May 12, 2025 by jimjakobs

Behind the Scenes, 2025 Emmy® Awards Nominations Watch Party

About 25 people from the local Bay Area television community gathered at ABC7 KGO for this year’s Emmy® Awards Nominations Watch Party on Wednesday, May 7.

Congratulations Nominees! Here is a link to the press release with all of the nominations.

The event-packed Emmy® Awards Weekend is June 13, 14, 15, for the first time in Sacramento! Get your tickets to the event at this link.

If you have a story you’d like to see in ‘Off Camera‘ please send us an email to offcamera@emmysf.tv