WEDU News

Jack Conely, Vice President of Content for WEDU, expressed his appreciation on behalf of the talented team that produce the station’s many local productions. “This unprecedented number of Emmy® Awards for WEDU’s local series A Gulf Coast Journal with Jack Perkins and Smart Health is an incredible honor. We are so very fortunate to work with such an incredible team of professionals and this much deserved recognition of their work speaks volumes for the amazing efforts put in each and every day on behalf of WEDU,” said Conely.

The Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is a nonprofit Florida corporation dedicated to excellence in television and offers the annual Regional Emmy Awards in television markets in the entire State of Florida; Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles and New Orleans, La.; Mobile, Ala.; Thomasville, Ga.; and Puerto Rico. The 2011 Suncoast Emmy Awards received a total of 972 entries, a record number and almost 100 more than last year’s submissions.

Winning 5 Emmy® Awards, A Gulf Coast Journal with Jack Perkins brings the artful, innovative, sometimes odd and always interesting people and places of Florida’s west central coast to life. The series received 13 Emmy® nominations. Smart Health, part of the HealthyState.org collaborative, was also honored with 2 Emmy® Awards. The series received 6 Emmy® nominations.

“The 20 Emmy® nominations and seven Emmy® Awards from The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences signal that WEDU continues to fulfill the needs of our community through quality educational, entertaining, and often inspirational local programs,” said Susan Howarth, President and CEO of WEDU. “We are proud to produce these quality local series and to be recognized by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is a nod to the dedicated and talented WEDU team,” Howarth said.

Original episodes of A Gulf Coast Journal with Jack Perkins, underwritten by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, can be seen on WEDU at 8 pm the last Thursday of each month. Smart Health, part of HealthyState.org, can be seen on WEDU at 9pm the last Thursday of each month. All of the Emmy® Award winning and nominated programs can be viewed on the WEDU website at < href="http://video.wedu.org/program/1879121546/">video.wedu.org.

Suncoast Regional Emmy® Award Winners

Arts / Entertainment – Program

Well-Rounded Life (April, 2011)
Jennifer Noble; Jack Perkins; Mark Harris; Bradley Clore
A Gulf Coast Journal with Jack Perkins
His voice captivates audiences while introducing spectacular acts that appear under Circus Sarasota’s Big Top. But this year, ringmaster Joseph Bauer becomes the subject of gasps himself as he puts down the microphone and climbs aboard the whirling Wheel of Destiny to wow the crowd.

Children / Youth /Teens – News

Recycled Riffs (March, 2011)
Jennifer Noble, Bradley Clore, Mark Harris, Alex Gazio
A Gulf Coast Journal with Jack Perkins
What do a cereal box, a yardstick and an empty pickle jar have in common? They’re all key components to a marvelous sound. The Garbage Men is a band of teen musicians who make music from recycled goods. You might say they prefer scrap metal to heavy metal. Their simplistic, yet innovative instruments will amaze you!

Education / Schools – Program

Vivid Verse (June, 2011)
Mark Harris, Colleen Hamilton, Bradley Clore
A Gulf Coast Journal with Jack Perkins
Schools teach our young what it is they thought they need to learn, but the best teach our young how to learn and how to express themselves in ways better than text messages, Facebook, and Twitter. In a sea of cookie-cutter curriculum, visit a high school that encourages writing poetry, not just reading it.

Public / Current / Community Affairs

Pain Pill Epidemic (March, 2011)
Angie Moreschi, Bradley Clore
Smart Health
Prescription drug abuse is at epidemic levels in Florida. The number of deaths due to powerful, addictive narcotics is skyrocketing and the addicts are getting younger and younger. You’ll discover how a young girl with a bright future got hooked because of easy availability. Are all pain clinics pill mills? We get a sobering perspective from the medical examiner, and input from those closest to this complex problem.

Informational / Instructional Program

Smart Health 201 (March, 2011)
Angie Moreschi, Jennifer Molina, Dalia Colón
Smart Health
Pain Pill Epidemic: Prescription drug abuse is at epidemic levels in Florida. The number of deaths due to powerful, addictive narcotics is skyrocketing and the addicts are getting younger and younger. You’ll discover how a young girl with a bright future got hooked because of easy availability. Are all pain clinics pill mills? We get a sobering perspective from the medical examiner, and input from those closest to this complex problem.
New Diabetes Vaccine: Rachel Burton is an active and athletic 16-year-old. She is busy with school, friends, and a position on the school volley ball team. But she’s also challenged daily with controlling her Type 1 diabetes. With this type of diabetes, the cells that make insulin are under attack by the body’s immune system. Clinical trials are underway for a vaccine that could make a real difference for young people 10 to 20 years old. It is hoped to help Type 1 diabetics preserve their ability to make insulin, and perhaps even one day provide an immunization against the disease.
Gluten-Free Diets: As you push your grocery cart down the aisle, you may have noticed something new… an explosion of ‘gluten-free’ choices. Restaurants are popping up with gluten-free menus. What is gluten? Is it bad for you? We’ll visit a local gluten-free restaurant and talk with health experts to find out what gluten is, and who needs to be concerned about it.
Life After Weight Loss: Jenny Ruano tried and tried to lose weight, but like so many who struggle with this condition, she could not seem to make progress. But when she watched a friend drop more than 100 pounds after undergoing a new type of surgical procedure for weight loss, she decided to take the same journey. Find out how life is after weight loss surgery for this young woman, and ask yourself, “How far are you willing to go to be thin?”

Photographer – Short Form

Parkour Craziness (May, 2011)
Bradley Clore
A Gulf Coast Journal with Jack Perkins
He can walk on water, leap tall buildings and seems to possess superhuman strength. Some would consider Sean Morris a thrill seeker, but he modestly calls himself a “movement artist.” Sean partakes in many activities like Parkour, freerunning and slacklining to physically test his limits while expressing himself.

Writer – Short Form

Unstill Photographer (December, 2010)
Jennifer Noble
A Gulf Coast Journal with Jack Perkins
Not one to blend in with the flock, Photographer Alan Rodriguez overcomes the side effects of his rare disease by using photography to convey unspoken words. He stands out not because of his disability, but because of his ability.