
Awards
Congratulations to all our staff who were involved in the production of these award-winning programs!
Detroit Society of Professional Journalists – Excellence in Journalism Awards 2023
Broadcast
Community/Local News Reporting
1st Place: Detroit Home Repairs – Daphne Hughes, Stephen Henderson, Catherine Kelly, Malachi Barrett, Bill Kubota
3rd Place: The Black Church in Detroit – Daphne Hughes, Stephen Henderson, Bill Allesee, AJ Walker, Orlando Bailey
Consumer/Watchdog/Investigative Reporting
1st Place: Communities and Coal Ash – Rob Green, Jordan Wingrove, Sarah Aie, Diana Leane
2nd Place: Unpaid Bills – Rob Green, Jordan Wingrove, David Ruck, Ryan Busch, Kelly House
Environment Reporting
1st Place: Shrinking Water – Rob Green, Jacob Carah, Jordan Wingrove
Feature Reporting
4th Place: The Black Church in Detroit: Gospel Music and the Black Church – Daphne Hughes, Stephen Henderson, Bill Allesee, AJ Walker, Kevin Lesser
General News Reporting
2nd Place: Future of Work – Will Glover, Zach Allen, Jonathan Shead
Health Reporting
3rd Place: The Black Church in Detroit: Black Church Worship During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Daphne Hughes, Stephen Henderson, Bill Allesee, AJ Walker, Doug Susella
News Editing
1st Place: Vampires of the Great Lakes – Jordan Wingrove
News/Public Affairs (Regularly Scheduled Program)
1st Place: One Detroit – Zosette Guir, Bill Kubota, Will Glover, Daphne Hughes, Chris Jordan
2nd Place: American Black Journal – Daphne Hughes, Stephen Henderson, Bill Allesee
News Special and Documentary
1st Place: Water’s True Cost – Rob Green, AJ Walker, Sandy McPhee, Anna Sysling
2nd Place: Beyond the Ballot Box: A One Detroit Election Special with the Detroit Free Press – Bill Kubota, Emily Lawler, Paul Egan, Clara Hendrickson, Zosette Guir
Racial Justice Reporting
2nd Place: The 30th Anniversary of Malice Green’s Murder – Daphne Hughes, Stephen Henderson, Christian Gibbons
Videography
1st Place: Ice Boating – Noah Mendez, Will Hughes
Digital
Collaborative Coverage
4th Place: Water’s True Cost – Great Lakes Now, Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Michigan Radio, Great Lakes News Collaborative
Racial Justice Reporting
2nd Place: Reparations: What is Owed to Black Americans? – Daphne Hughes, Stephen Henderson, Catherine Kelly, Zosette Guir
Social Media Strategy
3rd Place: Black Church in Detroit Watch Parties – Daphne Hughes, Colleen O’Donnell, Marty Fischoff, Orlando Bailey
Sojourner Truth Award in Topical Reporting
2nd Place: Vincent Chin’s Legacy – Bill Kubota, Zosette Guir, Chien-An Yuan
Michigan Association of Broadcasters Awards 2022
Detroit Public TV
Continuing Coverage
BEST: Future of Work | One Detroit
Cultural and Performing Arts
MERIT: The Doo Wop Project
Independent Producer
BEST: The Erie Situation | Great Lakes Now
News or Public Affairs Special
BEST: Great Lakes Now
News Special or Documentary
BEST: Reducing Gun Violence in Communities of Color | American Black Journal
MERIT: Detroit Home Repairs | American Black Journal
Sports, Outdoor, or Recreation
BEST: Great Lakes Now Recreation Coverage
Station Excellence
MERIT: Detroit Public TV
90.9 WRCJ
Special Interest and Cultural Programming
MERIT: Honoring Black Composers
Membership Appeal
MERIT: Bachtoberfest
Michigan Emmy Awards 2022
Public Affairs Program
Great Lakes Now: ‘The Great Lakes Agenda’
Rob Green
Jordan Wingrove
Environment/Science – News
‘Birds Vs Buildings’
Doug Clevenger
Laura Weber Davis
Rob Green
Greg King
Jordan Wingrove
Society of Professional Journalists Detroit – Excellence in Journalism Awards 2022
Broadcast
Community/Local News Reporting
1st Place Winner: “Birds vs Buildings” – Rob Green, Greg King, Doug Clevenger, Laura Weber Davis, Jordan Wingrove
2nd Place Winner: “Sustainable Shipping” – Amy Brown, Jordan Wingrove, Kari Lydersen, Doug Clevenger
3rd Place Winner: “Clawson, Michigan: One City Under A Pandemic | Part 3” – Chris Jordan, Bill Kubota
4th Place Winner: “How Expensive It Is To Be Broke” – Will Glover
Environment Reporting
1st Place Winner: “Best Supporting Fish” – Sandy McPhee, Nick Austin, Bill Allesee, Andrew Cutraro
2nd Place Winner: “Sturgeon Guarding” – Kathy Johnson, Rob Green, Nick Austin, Jordan Wingrove, Greg Lashbrook
3rd Place Winner: “Superior Blooms” – Dan Kraker, Bill Allesee, Derek Montgomery
Health Reporting
1st Place Winner: “The Covid Long Haulers” – Bill Kubota
4th Place Winner: “PFAS in the House” – Rob Green, Tom Perkins, Sandra Svoboda, Bill Kubota, Jordan Wingrove
News/Public Affairs
1st Place Winner: “American Black Journal” – Daphne Hughes, Stephen Henderson, Bill Allesee, Chris Avery
2nd Place Winner: “Great Lakes Now” at Detroit Public TV
4th Place Winner: “One Detroit” – Christy McDonald, Zosette Guir, Will Glover, Bill Kubota, Chris Jordan
Racial Justice Reporting
2nd Place Winner: “Exiled to Motown” – Bill Kubota
Sports Reporting
1st Place Winner: “A City of Champions” – Bill Kubota
Videography
2nd Place Winner: “Detroit Performs: Live from Marygrove” – Sarah Smith, Mariellen Chynoweth, Tina Brunn
Digital
Collaborative Coverage
1st Place Winner: “Climate change in the Great Lakes region” – Michigan Radio’s Lester Graham, Bridge Michigan’s Kelly House, Circle of Blue’s Brett Walton and Keith Schneider, and Detroit Public Television’s Natasha Blakely
Environment Reporting
1st Place Winner: “Lake Superior Summer: Blue-green algal blooms come to a lake once believed immune” – Sharon Oosthoek
3rd Place Winner: “Lake Superior Winter: Researchers belatedly turn their eyes to the impact of warming winters” – Sharon Oosthoek
Health Reporting
2nd Place Winner: “PFAS in the House: Are toxic “forever chemicals” a steady drip in this reporter’s home?” – Tom Perkins
Social Media Strategy
2nd Place Winner: “The Black Church in Detroit Watch Parties” – Colleen O’Donnell, Daphne Hughes, Orlando Bailey, Stephen Henderson, Kenita Harris
3rd Place Winner: “The Great Lakes Now First Friday Watch Party Series” – Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television
Michigan Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Excellence Awards 2021
Detroit Public TV
Winner: Station Excellence
Open a Book, Open the World: The Library of Congress National Book Festival
Winner: Cultural Programming
One Detroit
Winner: News or Public Affairs Special
American Black Journal
Merit: News of Public Affairs Special
Teachers Who Aren’t Teaching: Who Are They? And How Do We Get Them Back?
Winner: News Special or Documentary
Great Lakes Now: Wooden Boat Building
Winner: Sports – Outdoor and Recreation
American Black Journal: The Black Church in Detroit
Merit: Mini-Documentary or Series
Story Pirates (Michigan Learning Channel)
Winner: Independent Producer
Math Mights (Michigan Learning Channel)
Merit: Independent Producer
Read, Write, Roar (Michigan Learning Channel)
Merit: Special Interest Programming
Michigan Emmy Awards 2021
Environment/Science – News
Great Lakes Now: Chicago’s Floating Islands
Rob Green
Doug Clevenger
Laura Weber Davis
Documentary – Historical
Rockin’ Robin: A Tribute to Robin Seymour
Bill Kubota
Fred Nahhat
Interview/Discussion
American Black Journal -Black Lives Matter: Is the Media Getting It Right?
Stephen Henderson
Orlando Bailey
Daphne Hughes
Christopher Jordan
Catherine Kelly
Society of Professional Journalists Detroit Chapter Excellence in Journalism Awards 2021
Television
Community/Local News Reporting:
1st Place – One Detroit: Clawson, Michigan: One City Under a Pandemic
Detroit Public Television Foundation
Bill Kubota, Christopher Jordan
Education Reporting:
3rdPlace – One Detroit Education Specials
Education in the Time of COVID
School Daze
Christy McDonald, Bill Kubota, Will Glover, Chris Jordan, Zosette Guir
Environment Reporting:
2nd Place – Great Lakes Now: Lake Erie’s Harmful Algal Blooms
Detroit Public Television Foundation
David Ruck, Rob Green, Zach Passero, Laura Weber Davis, Ryan Busch
Feature Reporting:
1st Place – Detroit Jazz City
Detroit Public Television Foundation
Jim Toscano, Danny Gianino, Ed Moore, Zosette Guir
2nd Place – Great Lakes Now: In Isolation … At Aquariums
Detroit Public Television Foundation
Danielle Dabney, Nick Austin, Jim Toscano
Health Reporting:
3rd Place – Saving Lives: We Can’t Wait Any Longer
Marty Fischhoff, Wes Jones , Mariellen Chynoweth, Cynthia Canty, Al Hibbert
Racial Justice Reporting:
1st Place – American Black Journal: Do Black Lives Matter in America?
Stephen Henderson, Orlando Bailey, Daphne Hughes, Christopher Jordan, Catherine Kelly
Sports Reporting:
1st Place – Great Lakes Now: Island Basketball
Sandra Svoboda, Dan Tyrell, Nick Austin, Zach Irvin, Oliver Van Assche
Videography:
1st Place – Great Lakes Now: Chicago’s Floating Islands
Doug Clevenger, Sandy McPhee, Jordan Wingrove, Laura Weber Davis
Online
Collaborative Coverage:
1st place – From Rust to Resilience: What climate change means for Great Lakes cities
Sandra Svoboda, Rob Green, Natasha Blakely, INN partners
Social Media Strategy:
3rd place – Great Lakes Now: The Facebook Watch Parties
Colleen O’Donnell, Zach Allen, Sandra Svoboda
Michigan Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Excellence Awards 2020
American Black Journal: Do Black Lives Matter in America?
Merit: News & Public Affairs Special
Detroit Performs: Detroit Public Theater & Friends: Broadway to Obscurity
Winner: Cultural and Performing Arts
Great Lakes Now
Winner: Mini-Documentary or Series
Saving Lives: School Summit on Suicide
Winner: Special Interest
The Russian Five
Merit: Membership Appeals
Aretha Franklin Remembered
Winner: Membership Appeals
Great Lakes Now Watch Parties
Winner: Use of New Media
Great Lakes Now: Sand, Sinkholes and Science
Merit: Independent Producer
Michigan Emmy Awards 2020
Health/Science – Program/Special
Great Lakes Now: The Forever Chemicals
Ed Moore
Sandra Svoboda
Rob Green
Documentary/Historical
Mackinac – Our Famous Island
Oliver Thornton
Matthew Stinson
Tina Brunn
Chad Schwartzenberger
Bob Berg
Daniel Alpert
Ivory Tree Media, LLC/WTVS
Historical/Cultural – Program/Special
Orchestra Hall – A Centennial Celebration: “Silence And Sound”
Oliver Thornton
Matthew Stinson
Tina Brunn
Chad Schwartzenberger
Bob Berg
Daniel Alpert
Ivory Tree Media, LLC/WTVS
Society of Professional Journalists Detroit Chapter Excellence in Journalism Awards 2020
Television
Automotive Reporting:
1st Place – One Detroit: Rivian
One Detroit Team
Community/Local News Reporting:
1st Place – Great Lakes Now: Fatbergs
Rob Green, Matt Ilas, Bill Kubota, Will Glover
2nd Place – One Detroit: North Corktown
One Detroit Team
Environment Reporting:
1st Place – Great Lakes Now: PFAS and Ann Arbor
Sandra Svoboda, Rob Green, Paula Gardner, Bill Kubota
2nd Place – Great Lakes Now: Asian Carp
Paul Dzendzel, Rob Green, Marie Gould, Jordan Wingrove
Feature Reporting:
1st Place – Wrecks Within Reach
Sandra Svoboda, Rob Green, Zach Irving, Free Age Production
3rd Place – One Detroit: Almond Boneless Chicken
One Detroit Team
Health Reporting:
1st Place – Saving Lives: Preventing Youth Suicide
Mariellen Chynoweth
News Editing:
1st Place – One Detroit: Detroit Charter Commission
Jordan Wingrove
2nd Place – Great Lakes Now: PFAS and Zebrafish
Rob Green, Kevin Leeser, Bill Kubota, Jordan Wingrove
News Special and Documentary:
1st Place – Great Lakes Now: Finding Impact
Sandra Svoboda, Rob Green, Jordan Wingrove
2nd Place – Great Lakes Now: The Forever Chemicals
Sandra Svoboda, Rob Green, Jordan Wingrove
3rd Place – Are the Kids All Right? American Black Journal and One Detroit Roadshow
One Detroit Team
Racial Justice Reporting:
1st Place – American Black Journal 50th Anniversary
One Detroit Team
Online
Community/Local News Reporting:
1st place – Growing Pains
Lorraine Boissoneault
Digital-Media Presentation:
4th place – Landing Page for “The Forever Chemicals” documentary and related coverage
Sandra Svoboda, DigiComm Team
Michigan Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Excellence Awards 2019
One Detroit: Facebook Watch Party
Use of New Media – Public Television: Best in Category
One Detroit: Our Commitment to You
Marketing Materials & Promos: Best in Category
Great Lakes Now: The Forever Chemicals
Mini-Documentary or Series: Best in Category
Great Lakes Now: The Forever Chemicals
News Special or Documentary: Best in Category
One Detroit
Community Involvement: Best in Category
Great Lakes Now
News or Public Affairs Special: Best in Category
Mackinac: Our Famous Island
Special Interest: Merit
The American Cycling League Championship Games at the Lexus Velodrome
Sports- Outdoor or Recreation: Merit
2019 NETA Award For Excellence in Education
We are proud to announce that Detroit Public Television’s work in local neighborhoods has been recognized as the best in public television. Detroit PBS KIDS received the first-ever national NETA Award for Overall Excellence in Education. The award – considered the highest award in public broadcasting — opened the NETA 2020 Conference, held in conjunction with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Thought Leader Forum in Arlington, Virginia.
2019 Governor’s Service Award
Gretchen Whitmer announced Detroit Public TV (DPTV) as the winner of a 2019 Governor’s Service Award as an Education Service Leader for its work in early childhood education, providing parents, educators and other caregivers with the skills and resources they need to prepare children for school and life.
Gov. Whitmer and the Michigan Community Service Commission selected 43 service award winners this year, which included individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations selected for their commitment to volunteerism, service or philanthropy.
Michigan Emmy Awards 2019
Beneath the Surface: Line 5 Pipeline in the Great Lakes
Ed Moore
Mary Ellen Geist
Saving the Willow Run Bomber Plant
Matthew Stinson
Tina Brunn
Chad Schwartzenberger
Tapping the Great Lakes
Matthew Stinson
Chad Schwartzenberger
Mary Ellen Geist
Preschool Matters! – Community/Public Service (PSA) – Campaign
Oliver Thornton
Tina Brunn
Chad Schwartzenberger
Society of Professional Journalists Detroit Chapter Excellence in Journalism Awards 2019
FIRST PLACE
Youth Mentoring at Islandview’s Church of the Messiah
Will Glover for Local News Reporting
Moving Costs at Detroit’s Bethune-Fitzgerald School
Bill Kubota for Education Reporting
Beneath the Surface: The Line 5 Pipeline in the Great Lakes
Mary Ellen Geist and Ed Moore for Environment Reporting
Returning Citizens to Work
Bill Kubota for General News Reporting:
American Black Journal Roadshow – African Americans: Telling Our Story
Daphne Hughes and Stephen Henderson for Racial Justice Reporting
SECOND PLACE
Detroit Designs the World
Jim Toscano, Ed Moore, Zosette Guir, Bill Kubota and Danny Gianino for Feature Reporting
Rich Homberg, President and CEO of Detroit Public Television
Lifetime Achievement Award
Michigan Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Excellence Awards 2018
One Detroit
Best News or Public Affairs Special
Thursdays 7:30pm ET
Detroit Performs
Best Cultural & Performing Arts
Tuesdays 7:30pm ET
Making It: Latino Students’ Pathways to College
Best Special Interest
The American Cycling League Championship Games at the Lexus Velodrome
Best Sports, Outdoor or Recreation
Fridays 9:30pm ET
Beneath the Surface: The Line 5 Pipeline in the Great Lakes
News Special or Documentary – Merit
Detroit Public TV – WTVS
Station of the Year – Merit
The following programs air on DPTV and received recognition in the Independent Producer category:
Great Lakes Great Tastes 2018
Best in Category
Under The Radar Michigan
Merit
Thursdays 8:30pm ET
MAB Awards 2016 – 2017
WTVS-TV Detroit Public Television
Public Broadcasting Station of the Year
Digital Adventure
Community Involvement
Detroit Performs Series
Cultural Programming
Tuesday at 7:30pm ET
Beyond the Tap
News or Public Affairs Special
When I’m 65
News Special or Documentary
Learning in the Wild
Sports – Outdoor or Recreation
Il Volo: Una Notte Magica
Cultural & Performing Arts
One Detroit
Marketing Materials & Promos
Thursday at 7:30pm ET
American Black Journal
News or Public Affairs Series
Sunday at 9:30am ET / Wednesday at 7:30pm ET
Detroit Remember When: J.P. McCarthy, The Voice of Detroit
Special Interest Programming
MAB Awards 2015 – 2016
Detroit Performs
Cultural Programming
Tuesday at 7:30pm ET
Let’s Have Some Church Detroit Style
Independent Producer (Andrew Sacks)
Be School Smart
Community Involvement
Detroit Neighborhoods
Mini-Documentary or Series
MAB Awards 2014 – 2015
Detroit’s Anti-Blight Story
Best Public Television Mini-Documentary or Series
American Graduate: Community Town Hall
Best Public Television Special Interest Programming