My Two Cents: We Want Our Emmy Award
Let’s count the awards
for television on television. On a saner note, better not. There are too
many to list. In the U.S. alone, there are 30 organizations that bestow over
600 awards per year. An Internet search came up with over 1.6 million results
for different types of worldwide television awards. Every genre and job description
-- from acting to zoophobia documentaries, is covered or seems to
be covered, because, you see, when the letter “p” is reached, the
award category quickly skips to “q” with quiz show.
For “p” I mean press, as in “the most valuable and
interesting TV trade press article.” Indeed, why not recognize
the press professionals on the other side of the TV industry’s barricade
with an award? There are awards for technical achievement, set design,
costumes and even cameramen. There are those “above the line” and
others “below the line,” so the
trade press could be those “on the side-line.”
After all, could the industry really prosper without the TV trade press?
Some would argue yes, but many would definitely say: “not as we
know it.”
First of all, the industry would not be an industry without its own trades. Second,
the industry would not be able to communicate within itself, be properly informed
and be recognized among its peers. Third, the industry would not be so rich:
financially, talent wise, innovatively and creatively.
Every sector associated with the TV industry owes some form of gratitude to the
TV trade press. After all, where would all the TV markets and trade associations
that bestow awards left and right be without the TV trade press?
Technology could eventually eliminate the TV cameraman or the lighting technician,
but it will not dispose of the trades: the industry’s vanity factor is, among
other elements, too much on the way.
So, after all that the trade press has done and is doing for the industry, why,
for example, doesn’t the International Council of ATAS and NATAS get the ball
rolling by awarding an Emmy for TV trade reporting excellence?
The process would be simple, taking one or all of the following elements into
consideration:
1) Influence on the international TV industry at large.
2) Affect on the largest number of people.
3) Demonstration of courage and integrity.
Each publication would submit up to three articles with a $20 fee for each, to
cover expenses. A pre-selection committee would pick the more worthy to be subsequently
sent to all International Council members with a voting ballot to be mailed back.
The award for the “Best TV Trade Article” would be given
in New York, during the traditional International Emmy ceremony in
late November, which, I’m sure, would add to the overall excitement.
Such an award would certainly contribute to more quality reporting and would
set a trend for many other industries to follow.
The press in general doesn’t lack awards -- the Pulitzer Prize, the Mesa Press
Awards, the various newspaper awards, the Payne Awards, for ethics in journalism,
and two National Magazine Awards: one from Canada, the other from the American
Society of Magazine Editors -- but they are mostly limited to the consumer side.
The health industry has its Kaiser Media Fellows and the California Teachers
Association has its John Swett Awards for Media Excellence.
Only the British Press Awards has something almost tantamount to a
TV trade press award, with its “Show Business Reporter of the Year” award.
In addition, the scientific community can count on press reports that
make some of its members Nobel prize winners. Now, if this proposal
is accepted, the television trade magazine hacks could finally have
an award to call their own.
Dom Serafini
“And I’d like to thank
all of you who believed in me!”
