Larena Baldazo Steps Down as Marketing Chair & “Off Camera” Publisher

Posted on June 29, 2023 by larenabaldazo

Larena Baldazo Steps Down as Marketing Chair & “Off Camera” Publisher

In 2017, I was in my last quarter at John F. Kennedy University, while interning at KTVU Fox 2 News. During one of my shifts in the newsroom, I was approached by Steve Shlisky, and he asked if I’d like to volunteer for the Emmy® Gala at the SF Jazz Center in San Francisco.

I was beaming with excitement!

My task was to help post on social media. I was on speech clips and who could have imagined what a task that would be – but I was eager!

The night was a success and the award recipient clips were live. I had sore feet and a burst of energy when I returned home.

I was inspired to say the least.

From there, I volunteered at the Gold & Silver Circle Induction Luncheon, and this was when Steve and Patty Zubov asked me to join NATAS as a student member.

In that moment I would have never guessed that I would go on to lead the social media subcommittee, become Marketing Chair, and eventually serve as Emmy SF’s “Off Camera” Publisher (oh, and be the Zoom Producer for our first virtual gala!).

It has been my personal goal to strengthen Emmy SF’s digital presence and while it has not been easy, I am pleased to say that we totally crushed that goal. We as in the marketing committee as a whole! While this committee has evolved over the years, I would like to personally thank Nazy Javid, Kris Sanchez, Susan A. Bradley, Toby Momtaz, Steve Shlisky, Jim Jakobs, Patty Zubov, and Austin Castro.

Our social media engagement has more than tripled, “Off Camera” now operates as a blog (in a whole new format as well), and web traffic has been steadily on the rise.

While things seem to be moving in the right direction, I have realized that it’s time to create more space in my life for self-care, free time, and most importantly – family time.

Self-reflection post pandemic and being pregnant will do that to you.

NATAS has given me the opportunity to learn new things, test my strengths and shine! Being a young journalist, and very new to the professional world, it took me a while to own my craft (at least that’s how I felt) and over the years, that confidence built me into the person I am today.

The day Patty officially handed off her Marketing Chair duties to me (at the retreat 5 years ago) she gave me a small coin pouch with Princess Leia on it. The front also had text that read, “well behaved women rarely make history”. I’d like to think that during my time as Marketing Chair and Publisher, I’ve left my mark…

The next Chair will bring fresh new ideas and creativity, and I can’t wait to see how that unfolds! Until then, I’ll be here to serve as a guide and hope to return eventually in a new capacity.

My fellow Board members, thank you for allowing me to serve with you and for doubling as mentors, friends and support systems. I appreciate you all and hope to have added just as much value to your lives as you have mine.

Lastly, I extend all my gratitude to Darryl Compton and Brooks Jarosz, for always supporting my vision for marketing and “Off Camera“. You all are in good hands.

Devin Fehely Honored With Governors’ Service Medallion For Commitment To Giving Back

Posted on June 28, 2023 by larenabaldazo

Devin Fehely Honored With Governors’ Service Medallion For Commitment To Giving Back

By Kevin Wing

Chapter Vice President, San Francisco

Devin Fehely is not only a standout on Bay Area television news, he has also carved out quite a significant niche for himself on the Board of Governors of the San Francisco/Northern California Chapter of The National Academy of Arts & Sciences, where the KPIX CBS Bay Area reporter has proven himself to be a passionate, hard-working Governor, a champion for every member of the Chapter.

It is that dedication that the Board of Governors chose Fehely to receive the 2023 Governors’ Service Medallion for his selfless service to the Chapter. He received the honor this year along with fellow Governor Susan A. Bradley, of Susan A. Bradley Photography, another individual who has demonstrated selfless service to the Chapter. Fehely and Bradley received their Medallions at the 52^nd Northern California Area Emmy® Awards Gala in San Francisco, held Saturday, June 3 in the Grand Ballroom of the San Francisco Hilton Union Square in the City-by-the-Bay’s fashionable Union Square. (An individual article about Bradley may be viewed here.)

Fehely, a 17-time Emmy® Award recipient, feels honored for the recognition. He was nominated by Randy Forsman, a director at KCRA 3 and recent Past President of this Chapter’s Board of Governors.

“I was humbled and honored to be recognized by the Chapter for my service to this organization,” Fehely said. “And it was truly special to share that honor with Susan A. Bradley, our chapter photographer and a woman who is the epitome of selfless service.”

Fehely has served on the Board of Governors for the last three years. His dedication to NATAS is designed to inspire excellence.

“The essence of my service to this organization dovetails with its mission to honor and inspire excellence and innovation and creativity in the realm of TV journalism,” added Fehely, who has been with KPIX CBS Bay Area since early 2015.

“In many regards, I feel like I entered into service to this organization through the back door,” Fehely explained, reflecting that a few years ago he successfully advocated for the Regional Emmy® Awards Competition’s Reporter Craft Category to be split in two — Specialty Assignment and General Assignment. At the time, he had not yet been elected to the Board of Governors or even added to the roster of the Chapter’s Emmy® Awards Committee.

“We had investigative reporters and consumer reporters and feature reporters all of whom often have the luxury of more time and resources competing against General Assignment Reporters who might have a few hours to cobble their stories together,” he said. “And having done both roles over the course of my career, it was plain to me that each type of reporter was deserving of their own lane in which to compete.”

Fehely said the idea was inspired by his experience in the Atlanta television market and in NATAS’ Southeast Chapter, where he was honored with the first eight of his eventual 17 Emmy® statuettes.

Today, he describes himself as a bit of a “contrarian” on the Board of Governors, willing to challenge the status quo or advocate for new ideas.

“From Monterey to Eureka, Reno to Hawaii, our Chapter is huge,” Fehely said. “And I think it’s important that all of those regions are represented and have a seat at the table. Ensuring a diversity of experience and opinion on the Board and all of our Committees is vitally important to our mission. And I’ve tried to build those bridges and relationships.”

Amongst his NATAS contributions, Fehely also participates in the Chapter’s Mentor Match program. Currently, he mentors a young journalist who, only a few years ago, got his first on-air TV position in the industry.

“In the early stages of your career, you’re learning and growing and climbing the ladder. The focus is inward,” Fehely said. “But, you eventually arrive at a point in your career where you say to yourself, ‘You know, I’ve learned a few things that might benefit someone coming up behind me.’ This program gives me an opportunity to share some of those lessons and it also refreshes my enthusiasm for the craft.”

What about future service to the Chapter? Fehely explained he would like to expand upon service on the Chapter’s Awards Committee by helping to showcase more of the amazing work being produced by the Chapter year-round.

“There is so much talent, so much creativity, so many probing investigations, so much magnificent storytelling in this Chapter,” he said. “Right now, the focus is on the awards competition at the end of each year and the Emmy® Gala in the middle. I’ve always been of the opinion that we should be celebrating that great work on an ongoing basis.”

Meantime, Fehely would like to launch a series of discussions with journalists throughout the Chapter, highlighting stories, documentaries and investigations they have worked on.

Congratulations again to Devin Fehely and Susan A. Bradley on the occasion of their receiving the 2023 Governors’ Service Medallion!

My First Emmy Was So Rewarding…But…

Posted on June 28, 2023 by larenabaldazo

My First Emmy® Was So Rewarding…But…

Showing My High School Journalism Teacher Was Priceless

By Jessica Harrington, ABC30 Fresno

Guest Contributor

Growing up, I always wanted to be a math teacher.

I was good at it.

It came easy to me.

I’d planned to teach algebra in high school, just like Mrs. Love, my sophomore algebra teacher.

She talked about a special heirloom that was passed down to her from her middle school math teacher.

She hoped to pass it down to a student someday too.

I knew that student would be me.

You see, I grew up in a small town called Coalinga.

It had a population of about 12,000 people when I was there and your career paths were teaching, Ag, oil or working at the prison.

Heading into summer of 2008, Tom Lucero, the AP English, multimedia and drama teacher, encouraged me to try something different for my last year of high school.

I had been part of the leadership class my freshman, sophomore and junior year.

“Why don’t you give the multimedia class a try next year?” he asked me.

“Writing for a newspaper? I don’t think so,” I laughed.

“No, our broadcast team. Come join ‘In the News at CHS.’”

And I did.

I had no idea how transformative that year would be.

I was shooting video, editing newscasts and interviewing people weekly.

I beamed over each completed project.

I went onto college and received my bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in journalism.

I snagged a summer fellowship in New York City working with ABC News.

I sat just off to the side of where David Muir anchored the news every evening.

I was hired in Bakersfield, which meant I was in a market only 1.5 hours from my hometown.

I covered wildfires, murder trials, 5K runs and police corruption.

All of that happened because of that one conversation with Mr. Lucero.

After multiple years in Bakersfield I was hired by the top station in the Fresno market, KFSN-ABC30.

It was the channel I grew up watching.

Now, I know it as the station where I received my first two Emmy® nominations.

It’s also now the station where I won my first Emmy®.

Our weekend evening team was nominated twice for Best Evening Newscast – once for Saturday and once for Sunday – for our coverage of the Oak Fire in Mariposa County.

It was a wildfire that destroyed hundreds of homes in our mountain community.

Our small, but mighty, weekend team was able to get critical, comprehensive information out to our viewers.

And through the SF/Norcal Emmys®, we were recognized for our efforts.

Our team, dressed better than we have ever dressed, and gathered in San Francisco on June 3.

We knew we would win an Emmy® that night because it was us versus us, literally.

No one else was nominated in our category.

I was excited, but I didn’t know what it would mean to me until I opened up the statuette’s box and saw my name on it.

I’m not one to openly share or express my emotions, but that night I couldn’t help but be overcome by the years of hard work I put in finally being recognized by my peers.

I knew this accomplishment was thanks to countless people along the way, but really came down to the one person who helped springboard my career.

Four days after the award show I raced back to Coalinga.

I coordinated with the high school principal to sneak into Mr. Lucero’s class.

He wasn’t expecting me and he didn’t know our team was nominated, let alone won.

In front of his current multimedia students, I pulled the statuette of the box and proudly told him I’d won my first Emmy®.

His response?

“It’s about time! Congratulations!”

It was a full circle moment I will cherish forever.

While I’m disappointed I never got that heirloom from my former math teacher, I think the tradeoff was worth it.

This career has given me the opportunity to connect with people I likely would’ve never met.

I’ve seen places I likely would’ve never visited.

And I have a career I likely would’ve never explored.

I’m so grateful for what journalism has done for my life.

And I’m even more grateful for Mr. Lucero.

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After 32 Years, KRON4s Pam Moore Leaves Anchor Desk to Produce Station’s Special Projects

Posted on June 21, 2023 by larenabaldazo

After 32 Years, KRON4s Pam Moore Leaves Anchor Desk to Produce Station’s Special Projects

By Vern Glenn

Governor

I was lucky enough to work with Pam Moore for 22 of her 32 years at KRON4. She will be leaving the anchor desk full time at the end of June, yet will remain a contributor for special projects and human interest stories. I was even luckier to steal a few moments of her time for an “Off Camera” visit recently.

V: And we’re rolling! How crazy has everything been since your announcement?

PM: It’s been overwhelming. People are responding to the news with emails, social media, and phone calls and I really want to thank everyone appropriately. It’s been amazing, and it’s made me very sentimental about my career and my life here in the Bay Area. I feel really grateful.

V: I remember when we came here (KRON) within a year of each other. When you walked into KRON, 1001 Van Ness Avenue, what did you think?

PM: I’m working in the San Francisco Bay Area, that was fabulous for me. I felt at home here so quickly. I felt a part of the community quickly. I had worked in several news markets, so it was a big deal to come to this market and feel so at home.

V: If someone tapped you on the shoulder and said, “Pam, you’re gonna be here for 32 years”, what would you have said?

PM: I feel lucky. How many of us can stay in a great market, in this great job, for this long? Ha. I feel very fortunate.

V: What is the secret to your success?

PM: I don’t know. I’m a survivor. I think a lot of the things we do in the community make a big difference to people. You certainly hope it does, anyway. You participate in events, you try to tell stories that mean something to people, or you try to do something that’s fun and interesting.

Whatever you’re doing you hope that somehow, you’re contributing to make things better. You’re (Vern) on the Sports side so you can have a lot more fun than we newsies can have on the air. Sometimes it’s difficult telling these stories on the news side, but when you can feel a part of a community, then it means something to you too. You’re not just repeating things that don’t affect you, they affect me just like they affect everybody else in the community. I hope that comes through that I am a part of this community and I care.

V: What clicked in your mind that just told you, you know what? Now’s the time.

PM: Well, I have been around a long time, ha ha. I worked nights for 32 years. When you work nights and you come in at three, you can’t come in cold. You have to be aware of the news all day long. So your day may start at three at the office, but you have to be aware of what’s happening all day. You don’t get off till 11 or 11:30 at night and then you come back and it’s the same thing. I get to the weekend and I’m exhausted. Anyway, I wanted time to have more fun and find out what it is like for my time to be my own. More time to be spontaneous, time to travel, to relax, whatever. And after I get over the initial change, I look forward to still doing something where I can contribute. There are so many issues that I care about. I hope to find some place to land that suits me, but more on my terms. It will be nice to find out what ii is like to live your life on your own terms. When you work any job for anybody, you’ve got to clock in, you have responsibilities. I’m looking forward to not having so many responsibilities, where my time is my time.

V: Where do you get the energy to be able to deliver it every night?

PM: Same place you get it. We care about our work. You want to do it well. I’ve grown up a lot here, I’ve made my mistakes, I’ve not always been the very best, but I’ve managed to survive a lot of changes, as you know. All the media companies have changed a great deal from when we both started many years ago in the Bay Area. But we’ve survived it and we’ve certainly grown from it. I just feel really blessed and really honored.

V: Look at this Pam, we’ve gone almost 6 minutes. Last one from me, and I don’t want to start any “water works”, but I will ask you this, what do you think you might miss the most?

PM: Well, it would have to be my co-workers, the interaction that you have every day. Everybody has to work, but when you can go to work with people that you really enjoy, people that you feel are your genuine friends, you care about them and they care about you. You can’t get much better than that in terms of a job. In addition to that, we have an incredible opportunity working in this position. We’re meeting people all over the community, interviewing people who are in positions of authority, telling stories about other people’s lives, things that I would never maybe ever experience in my own life, and so it’s a real privilege to be allowed to do these jobs. And even with the ups and downs, this has just been an amazing experience and I’m going to miss all of that. But I’m still going to tell some stories. I’ll still do some profile reports. The station has been very supportive of that. I will still do some community work. I took the kids today from EOYDC to Marcus Books, and I’ve been doing that for more than a decade.

There’s just so much more joy in life which I hope to discover and explore and I want to do a lot of it with the people I’ve met along the way through this job

“Never Too Late?” Free Premiere Screening 6/21

Posted on June 20, 2023 by larenabaldazo

"Never Too Late?" Free Premiere Screening 6/21

By Wayne Freedman

Awards Chair & National Trustee

Becoming transgender is a highly controversial social issue.

Four in ten Americans know a transgender person, but it continues to be an uncomfortable, misunderstood, and sometimes taboo subject. Half of Americans do not approve for reasons ranging from religion to education to politics.

Never Too Late? tells the story of 76-year-old Stephanie Haskins, the oldest-known American to undergo gender affirmation surgery. She began making that change at age 72.

The people behind this documentary are all well-known to NATAS in Northern California. Emmy® Award producer Joyce Mitchell produced it. Retired ABC7 reporter and 54-time recipient Wayne Freedman co-wrote the work, conducted interviews, and did the narration. Former Emmy® Chapter president Steve Shlisky edited. Emmy® Award-winning photographer Ken Day did the shooting. NATAS governor Toby Momtaz also helped produce the production.

One of every 100 Americans is transgender. Their desire is as old as humanity itself. Yet, many transgender people remain in the closet for fear of violence, stigma, and discrimination.

Before becoming Stephanie, Steve Haskins had been a successful Sacramento television executive, husband, and father. From the early teens, he knew he was different, but denied it for seven decades. That led to depression, a late-life suicide attempt, and then intense
psychotherapy. Finally, Steve had an epiphany. He realized he was really a woman born into the wrong body.

Steve Haskins felt obliged to become his more authentic self.

For three years, Steve-now-Stephanie has undergone numerous drug treatments and surgeries including breast augmentation, facial feminization, the removal of her Adam’s apple, penis and testicles. She has more procedures planned. While medical insurance covers some of the work, Stephanie is paying for most of the surgeries, herself.

Her adjustments have been difficult, physically and emotionally.

While Stephanie is committed to being a radical feminist woman, she lives in a world that remains mostly reluctant to accept her. That includes her ex-wife and daughter, who feel betrayed. Their reaction is not unusual. Forty-percent of relatives reject relationships with transitioning family members.

In this documentary, Stephanie tells her story of metamorphosis, the prices she has paid, and the rewards she has reaped. If anyone wonders why a person becomes transgender and what transitioning is like, Stephanie describes it here. She is on a mission to demystify people like herself.

“If you know who I am, just on the surface that I am a transgender woman, then you know or at least have a pretty good sense of how much I had to give up for that, how much I suffered. And, by God, you damn well better respect me enough to call me by my name,” she says.

Stephanie Haskins is a compelling and polarizing character-a human inkblot. Many viewers will see her as being courageous. Other viewers will conclude that she is selfish or delusional. And some will simply gain a new understanding and empathy for transgender people. The recurring theme of this documentary asks, “What does it take to make a woman?”

Ultimately, the viewer decides.

Reserve a spot here: “Never Too Late?” Free Premiere Screening Tickets, Wed, Jun 21, 2023 at 5:30 PM | Eventbrite

Regional Roundup June – San Francisco Bay Area

Posted on June 8, 2023 by larenabaldazo

REGIONAL ROUNDUP June - San Francisco Bay Area

CONGRATULATIONS, 2023 Emmy® Award recipients!

Congratulations to all of the 2023 Northern California Area Emmy Award recipients, especially everyone representing the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose television market!

The June 3 Emmy Awards Gala, held in San Francisco’s Union Square at the San Francisco Hilton Union Square, was a sold-out success with more than 600 people attending. As far as station tally totals in our market, the most went to KSTS Telemundo 48 in San Jose, tying for a total of seven in the Chapter with KUVS Univision 19 in Sacramento. Also, congratulations to market representatives and our Board of Governors’ colleagues, Susan A. Bradley of Susan A. Bradley Photography and Devin Fehely of CBS Bay Area KPIX upon being awarded this year’s Governors’ Service Medallion. Congratulations again to ALL recipients throughout our Chapter, and a special thanks to everyone from throughout the Chapter who traveled to the Bay Area to join us for this year’s gala.

Pam Moore Announces Retirement

Veteran KRON 4 anchor Pam Moore, who joined the station in 1991, announced her retirement June 6. Moore has been one of the main evening anchors for the station since she began in March of that year. A Detroit native, Moore anchored at the station with the likes of Catherine Heenan, Vicki Liviakis, Suzanne Shaw, Wendy Tokuda, Tom Sinkovitz, Ken Wayne and the late Pete Wilson. While her last newscast as an anchor will be in late June, Moore will remain with the station to work on special projects. She was inducted into the Chapter’s distinguished Silver Circle in 2010.

NBC Bay Area Photographer Graduates

He’s been burning the midnight oil and for a very good reason. Veteran Bay Area photojournalist Michael Horn went back to college and has earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Wildfire Science, graduating from California State University, San Marcos. He graduated on May 19. Horn plans to leverage his education in ways that elevate the journalism at KNTV NBC Bay Area and to educate the public on relevant topics such as wildfire prevention, protection, and natural resource topics. He will continue coursework with the university this fall, when he begins a Masters program with the University of Idaho along the same subject matter. It should be no wonder if you’ve heard of Horn: currently serving the station as director of photography for special projects, he has been with NBC Bay Area since 2014. Previously, he worked for KGO-TV in San Francisco from 1998 to 2008 and for KION/KCBA in Salinas-Monterey from 1995 to 1998.

Congratulations to Our Region 2 Edward R. Murrow Award Winners!

Posted on May 30, 2023 by larenabaldazo