WKAR has been named Michigan Public Television Station of the Year for 2021 by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. The announcement was made in a virtual ceremony held March 10.
This year marks the tenth time in eleven years that WKAR has been named Public TV Station of the year.
The public media station serving Michigan’s capital region also won numerous Broadcast Excellence Awards, including eight Best in Category and eight Merit awards.
"I am grateful for this honor from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and our peers in recognition of the talent and passion our TV production and engagement teams bring to their work every day," said Susi Elkins, director of broadcasting and general manager.
In the Public Television division, the WKAR Best in Category awards are:
- Community Involvement: Be My Neighbor Day - Fall 2021
- Cultural & Performing Arts: “The Story of Us - A Michigan American Portrait Special”
- Independent Producer: “American Exile”
- Marketing Materials and Promos: “Hear Every Voice. Share Every Story | WKAR Sizzle Fall 2021”
- Membership Appeal: “Covid Diaries: One Year Later”
- Mini-Documentary or Series: “Right to Read”
- Special Interest: “NOVA: Algorithmic Injustice? Racial Bias and Facial Recognition”
- Use of New Media: “NOVA: Algorithmic Injustice? Racial Bias and Facial Recognition 4x5”
The TV Merit awards are:
- Community Involvement: PBS Kids Day 2021
- Independent Producer: “Great Lake to Lake Rail Trail”
- Membership Appeal: “Under the Radar Special: Great Lakes Getaways”
- News Special or Documentary: “NOVA: Zoomed Out!”
- Special Interest: Curious Crew - Magical Science
- Sports, Outdoor, or Recreation: “Crown Boxing: A Fighting Chance”
- Station Excellence: “Station of the Year Submission”
- Use of New Media: PBS KIDS Day 2021
The award ceremony also included presentation of The Carl E. Lee Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award for Television. The honoree for 2021 is Brian Kusch, broadcast engineer for the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University. The Carl E. Lee Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award was named after Carl E. Lee, a prominent Michigan broadcast engineer and station owner, who was known for his innovation and recognition of opportunity.
The awards ceremony for Public Media Radio and Television can be viewed on YouTube.
For complete award information, visit the 2021 Broadcast Excellence Awards website.
WKAR Public Media is a division of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University. WKAR provides Michigan’s capital region and the global community with award-winning original programming and the best from PBS and NPR via television channels WKAR-HD, WKAR World, WKAR Create and WKAR PBS Kids; and radio broadcasts at 90.5 FM, 105.1 FM/AM 870 and WKAR Radio Reading Service.