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KCET Wins 8 National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards

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Two KCET Original series, "Artbound" and "Southland Sessions," were honored with eight first-place awards by the LA Press Club at the annual National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards. KCET received 15 nominations in 14 categories for the two locally produced, award-winning arts and culture series. The 14th annual National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards were presented virtually on Thursday, Feb. 17.

KCET also received two second-place recognitions in the Pandemic Reporting (Entertainment) and Documentary or Special Program categories as well as two third-place honors in the Humor Writing and Personality Profile categories.

Follow the links below to view the eight award-winners.

Diversity in the Entertainment Industry, Broadcast

The Watts Towers Arts Center was born out of the resilience of 1960s Black L.A.
The Watts Towers Arts Center (Preview)

The Watts Towers Arts Center was founded by artists and educators in the 1960s and has been a beacon of art and culture in the community for decades. This episode features the work of artists including Noah Purifoy, John Outterbridge, Betye Saar, Charles White and Mark Steven Greenfield.

News

Explore the values that arts education provides for all young people and communities.
Arts Education (Preview)

Explore the values that arts education provides for all young people and communities, to build the foundation for an inclusive and economically vibrant society.

Hard News Feature – Over 5 Minutes

Graphic designer Emory Douglas working in his studio.
Graphic designer Emory Douglas working in his studio.

At its peak, the Black Panther newspaper publication had the highest circulation of any paper in the country. Behind its powerful illustrations was Emory Douglas. This episode follows how Douglas created a visual language that uplifted the Black community’s image of itself amid the racist portrayals of mainstream media. In doing so, they created the visual imagery of protest in the country.

Soft News Feature, Arts/Culture – Under 5 Minutes

A man in a long-sleeve shirt holds up a graphic design poster in a studio.
Melanie Cervantes and Jesus Barraza are the duo behind Dignidad Rebelde, which amplifies the voices of marginalized communities through graphic design.

Melanie Cervantes and Jesus Barraza are the duo behind Dignidad Rebelde, a graphic arts collaboration that uses design to amplify the stories of people of color. They aspire to put art back into the hands of people. Taking inspiration from the work of Emory Douglas, they seek to use their art as a platform for social justice.

Soft News Feature – Over 5 Minutes

A woman wearing headphones overlaid with leaves
Ellen Reid with headphones and an overlay of leaves. | Erin Baiano

In her latest work 'Soundwalk,' Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ellen Reid has created a GPS-enabled work of public art that uses music to illuminate the natural environment, shaping a walk in Griffith Park into something more extraordinary.

Personality Profile, Fine Arts

JoAnne/Nobuko Miyamoto and Chris Iijima perform at the Third World Storefront organization, Los Angeles, ca. 1972.
JoAnne/Nobuko Miyamoto and Chris Iijima perform at the Third World Storefront organization, Los Angeles, ca. 1972. | Courtesy of Visual Communications

Film Feature

The final toss during “D-Man in the Waters” performance. | Courtesy of Rosalynde LeBlanc
The final toss during “D-Man in the Waters” performance. | Courtesy of Rosalynde LeBlanc

Other Fine Arts Feature

CARE NOT CAGES" written in in the sky, contributed by Patrisse Cullors, over the L.A. County Jail as seen from Griffith Park | Chris Mastro, In Plain Sight
"CARE NOT CAGES" written in in the sky, contributed by Patrisse Cullors, over the L.A. County Jail as seen from Griffith Park. | Chris Mastro, "In Plain Sight"

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A close shot of a person's hands holding strands of a dried plant. The person is wearing a ring on their left middle and ring finger, bracelets on their wrists.

PBS SoCal and KCET Nominated for 14 Golden Mike Awards

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Rubén 'Funkahuatl' Guevara from ARTBOUND Season 12 Opener "Con Safos." Courtesy of Getty Images.

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Narsiso Martinez uses a charcoal pencil to draw a portrait on a cardboard produce box mounted on the wall. The photo is taken from over his shoulder, focused on the artwork in process.

PBS SoCal and KCET Nominated for 10 NAEJ Awards

NAEJ recognizes work from U.S.-based entertainment reporters and editors and theater, film and television critics in all media.