2019 Special Award Announcements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
London Faust
 Bellevue Communications Group
 215-893-4289
lfaust@bellevuepr.com

NATAS MID-ATLANTIC ANNOUNCES BOARD OF GOVERNORS AWARD RECIPIENT AND SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTEES

FOR THE 37TH ANNUAL MID-ATLANTIC EMMY® AWARDS
David Newell of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and the Fred Rogers Company will receive the 2019 Board of Governors Award

PHILADELPHIA – The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced David Newell, an American television actor primarily known for his portrayal of Mr. McFeely, the delivery man on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, will receive the 2019 NATAS Mid-Atlantic Board of Governors Award. The prestigious award is bestowed by NATAS to recognize career longevity, lifetime achievements and significant contributions to the television industry and will be presented at the 37th Annual Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards on Saturday, September 28 in Pittsburgh.

“As we prepare to celebrate the work and talent of our more than 700 chapter members at our first awards ceremony in Pittsburgh, it is exciting to also honor David Newell – a Pittsburgh native that continues to reach generations of TV-watchers across the globe – for his work in the television industry,” said NATAS chapter president, Eric Heisler. “Through his work as an iconic character on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and his efforts behind the scenes of the Fred Rogers Company, Mr. Newell truly embodies the longevity and robust achievements we look for in a Board of Governors Award recipient.”

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Newell began his acting career in theater school at the Pittsburgh Playhouse where he made the connections through which he met Fred Rogers. He was originally hired onto Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood as a, production assistant, but was immediately cast into the role of Mr. McFeely the delivery man. Newell worked for the company in public relations, as well.  Speedy Delivery, a documentary about Newell, debuted on public television in 2008 and the character of Mr. McFeely appears in animated form on the new PBS series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Newell has spent decades touring the country as Mr. McFeely promoting Mister Roger’s Neighborhood and continues doing so today.

Past recipients of the NATAS Board of Governors’ Award include: Longtime WTAE news anchor Sally Wiggin, Former NBC News President Steve Capus; Pittsburgh broadcasting legend Patrice King Brown; former CBS3 investigative reporter Walt Hunter; news anchor Marciarose Shestack; sportscaster Al Meltzer; children’s television icon Fred Rogers; Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown; legendary anchor John Facenda; TV Guide founder and philanthropist Walter Annenberg; sports broadcasting innovators NFL Films; former WHYY president Frederick “Rick” Breitenfeld, Jr.; regional TV pioneer Lewis Klein; CBS3 veteran reporter Trudy Haynes; Phillies announcer and Baseball Hall of Famer Harry Kalas; local broadcasting legend Gene Crane; Joe DeNardo, the Dean of Pittsburgh Weather; veteran Philadelphia newsman Larry Kane; Pittsburgh Steelers’ broadcasting legend Myron Cope; WCAU news veteran Herb Clarke; WCAU trailblazing anchor/reporter Edie Huggins; and Pittsburgh’s TV woman of firsts, Eleanor Schano.

In addition to the Board of Governors Award, NATAS Mid-Atlantic will also induct eight individuals into the Silver Circle Society at the Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards ceremony in September.  The Silver Circle Society recognizes individuals who have outstanding service in broadcasting for a minimum of 25 years, with the majority of it being spent in the Mid-Atlantic Chapter.

This year’s slate of inductees includes Cesar Aldama, Operations Manager at WCAU NBC 10 and Telemundo 62 in Philadelphia; Dave Crawley, Feature Reporter at KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh; Bruce Gordon, Reporter at WXTF in Philadelphia; Lynne Hayes-Freeland, longtime KDKA-TV reporter, host and producer; Mark Johnston, retired Videographer at WPXI in Pittsburgh; Gregg Mace, Sports Director and Anchor at WHTM in Harrisburg; Grover Silcox, Producer at WLVT in Allentown; and Patty Satalia, Host and Producer at WPSU Penn State.

“In an ever-changing media landscape, commitment to a broadcast career for a quarter-century is an achievement that demonstrates dedication to one’s craft and deserves to be recognized,” Heisler said. “All of these broadcast professionals have exhibited outstanding qualities and we thank them for all of their years in the industry shaping television in the Mid-Atlantic region.”

Regional television professionals will gather to celebrate the 37th Annual Mid-Atlantic EMMY® Awards on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Pittsburgh. Festivities will include a cocktail hour, a sit-down dinner and the award presentations.

 

About NATAS Mid-Atlantic

NATAS Mid-Atlantic is a non-profit, professional association with more than 700 members in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware representing more than 32 television stations, numerous cable companies and programmers, as well as independent producers, production facilities and educational institutions. Please visit the website, www.natasmid-atlantic.org, for information about membership benefits and programs.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                              Contact: London Faust

August XX, 2019                                                                     Bellevue Communications Group

215-893-4289

lfaust@bellevuepr.com

 

 

 

 

NATAS MID-ATLANTIC ANNOUNCES BOARD OF GOVERNORS AWARD RECIPIENT AND SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTEES

FOR THE 37TH ANNUAL MID-ATLANTIC EMMY® AWARDS

David Newell of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and the Fred Rogers Company will receive the 2019 Board of Governors Award

 

PHILADELPHIA – The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced David Newell, an American television actor primarily known for his portrayal of Mr. McFeely, the delivery man on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, will receive the 2019 NATAS Mid-Atlantic Board of Governors Award. The prestigious award is bestowed by NATAS to recognize career longevity, lifetime achievements and significant contributions to the television industry and will be presented at the 37th Annual Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards on Saturday, September 28 in Pittsburgh.

“As we prepare to celebrate the work and talent of our more than 700 chapter members at our first awards ceremony in Pittsburgh, it is exciting to also honor David Newell – a Pittsburgh native that continues to reach generations of TV-watchers across the globe – for his work in the television industry,” said NATAS chapter president, Eric Heisler. “Through his work as an iconic character on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and his efforts behind the scenes of the Fred Rogers Company, Mr. Newell truly embodies the longevity and robust achievements we look for in a Board of Governors Award recipient.”

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Newell began his acting career in theater school at the Pittsburgh Playhouse where he made the connections through which he met Fred Rogers. He was originally hired onto Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood as a, production assistant, but was immediately cast into the role of Mr. McFeely the delivery man. Newell worked for the company in public relations, as well.  Speedy Delivery, a documentary about Newell, debuted on public television in 2008 and the character of Mr. McFeely appears in animated form on the new PBS series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Newell has spent decades touring the country as Mr. McFeely promoting Mister Roger’s Neighborhood and continues doing so today.

Past recipients of the NATAS Board of Governors’ Award include: Longtime WTAE news anchor Sally Wiggin, Former NBC News President Steve Capus; Pittsburgh broadcasting legend Patrice King Brown; former CBS3 investigative reporter Walt Hunter; news anchor Marciarose Shestack; sportscaster Al Meltzer; children’s television icon Fred Rogers; Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown; legendary anchor John Facenda; TV Guide founder and philanthropist Walter Annenberg; sports broadcasting innovators NFL Films; former WHYY president Frederick “Rick” Breitenfeld, Jr.; regional TV pioneer Lewis Klein; CBS3 veteran reporter Trudy Haynes; Phillies announcer and Baseball Hall of Famer Harry Kalas; local broadcasting legend Gene Crane; Joe DeNardo, the Dean of Pittsburgh Weather; veteran Philadelphia newsman Larry Kane; Pittsburgh Steelers’ broadcasting legend Myron Cope; WCAU news veteran Herb Clarke; WCAU trailblazing anchor/reporter Edie Huggins; and Pittsburgh’s TV woman of firsts, Eleanor Schano.

In addition to the Board of Governors Award, NATAS Mid-Atlantic will also induct eight individuals into the Silver Circle Society at the Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards ceremony in September.  The Silver Circle Society recognizes individuals who have outstanding service in broadcasting for a minimum of 25 years, with the majority of it being spent in the Mid-Atlantic Chapter.

This year’s slate of inductees includes Cesar Aldama, Operations Manager at WCAU NBC 10 and Telemundo 62 in Philadelphia; Dave Crawley, Feature Reporter at KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh; Bruce Gordon, Reporter at WXTF in Philadelphia; Lynne Hayes-Freeland, longtime KDKA-TV reporter, host and producer; Mark Johnston, retired Videographer at WPXI in Pittsburgh; Gregg Mace, Sports Director and Anchor at WHTM in Harrisburg; Grover Silcox, Producer at WLVT in Allentown; and Patty Satalia, Host and Producer at WPSU Penn State.

“In an ever-changing media landscape, commitment to a broadcast career for a quarter-century is an achievement that demonstrates dedication to one’s craft and deserves to be recognized,” Heisler said. “All of these broadcast professionals have exhibited outstanding qualities and we thank them for all of their years in the industry shaping television in the Mid-Atlantic region.”

Regional television professionals will gather to celebrate the 37th Annual Mid-Atlantic EMMY® Awards on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Pittsburgh. Festivities will include a cocktail hour, a sit-down dinner and the award presentations.

 

About NATAS Mid-Atlantic

NATAS Mid-Atlantic is a non-profit, professional association with more than 700 members in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware representing more than 32 television stations, numerous cable companies and programmers, as well as independent producers, production facilities and educational institutions. Please visit the website, www.natasmid-atlantic.org, for information about membership benefits and programs.

 

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