2022 HOMETOWN MEDIA AWARD WINNERS 


The 2022 Hometown Media Awards received almost 1,000 entries.  They all are submitted and evaluated on several factors, including budget, experience and subject.

We appreciate everyone’s time and energy put into creating their productions and submitting them into this awards program.  The ACM also thanks the volunteer judges for sharing their knowledge, expertise and time to evaluate the entries. Our judges review the submissions from their assigned category, score accordingly on a rubric and provide feedback to all entries which request commentary on their submissions.

The programs entered for the 2022 Hometown Media Awards had their first telecast on a local cable access channel or their initial stream/web distribution on or between January 1 - December 31, 2021.

The ACM is honored to announce the winners of 2022 Hometown Media Awards listed below. The 2022 winners are all invited to the 2022 Annual Conference’s Hometown Media Awards Celebration on Wednesday, June 29. This event will take place during our Annual Conference in Chicago, IL. Learn more and register here.

Thank you to our hometown media award sponsor, Cablecast community media   


Overall Excellence Category Winners

The Overall Excellence awards recognize access organizations for their overall operational activities and programming efforts. Access organizations are split into four budget-based divisions:

  1. >$1,000,00
  2.  $650,000 – $1,000,000
  3.  $300,000-$650,000
  4. < $300,000

Overall Excellence in Combined P. E. or G. Access Winners

Overall Excellence P.E. or G. Access $300,000 - $650,000: WACA Overall Excellence 2021 - WACA Production Team, WACA TV
Overall Excellence P.E. or G. Access $650,000 - 1,000,000: Overall Excellence in Combined PEG Access - Malden, MA, Urban Media Arts
Overall Excellence P.E. or G. Access >$1,000,000: Overall Excellence in Community Media $1,000,000+ - Robert Kelly, NewTV
Overall Excellence P.E. or G. Access <$300,000: Overall Excellence 2021 - Zack Gorman, Jenna Cabral, Dylan Carroll-Brown, Caleb Tobin, Holbrook Community Access & Media


Overall Excellence in Public Access Winners

Overall Excellence Public Access $300,000 - $650,000: MHTV - 2021 - Overall Excellence in Public Access Television - The Staff and Volunteers of MHTV, Marblehead Community Access & Media, Inc.
Overall Excellence Public Access $650,000 -1,000,000: NSTV's Year in Review 2021 - Robert Schaufeld, President; Erica Bradley, Producer; Rebecca Farina, Editor, North Shore TV
Overall Excellence Public Access <300,000: Celebration of Voices 2021 Annual Report - Team Hercules, WPAA TV and Community Media Center
Overall Excellence Public Access >$1,000,000: Overall Excellence - Roslyn Nieves, Madeline Johnson, Luchia Dragosh, John Leinung, Noran Omar,  Joseph Swift, Christina Gary, Henry Ramos, Kemuel Charles, Verity Rollins, Rodney Cummins, Christo Bakalov, Andrew Guidone, Queens Public Television


Overall Excellence in Educational Access Winner

Overall Excellence Educational Access <$300,000: Overall Excellence in Education ( GHS-TV Compilation) - GHS-TV, Germantown High School Television 


Overall Excellence in Governmental Access Winners

Overall Excellence Governmental Access $300,000 - 650,000: Takoma Park City TV - Alvaro C. Calabia, Bienvenido Marti¬nez, John H. Pitt, City of Takoma Park, Maryland
Overall Excellence Governmental Access $650,000 - 1,000,000: Shelby TV - Charter Township of Shelby, MI, Shelby Township Community Relations
Overall Excellence Governmental Access <$300,000: 2021 Overall Excellence - Abigail Stevenson, Jason Dallas Hensler Baldwin, Will Shannon, KPUtv
Overall Excellence Governmental Access >$1,000,000: Fairfax County Government Channel 16 - Donna Monacci, Executive Producer, Fairfax County Government Channel 16


Overall Excellence in Community Radio

Overall Excellence in Community Radio <$300,000: Overall Excellence in Community Radio - KP Whaley, General Manager, 103.3 Asheville FM - WSFM-LP
Overall Excellence in Community Radio >$1,000,000: Boston Neighborhood Network WBCA 102.9 FM - Brett Rodrigues, Boston Neighborhood Network


Standard Categories Winners

The Standard Categories awards recognize producers for their program efforts in a concentrated area/topic. Producers are split into three divisions based on their level of expertise:

  1. Access Center Professional – Programs created by employees of community media or access centers.
  2. Independent Producer – Programs created by producers independent of community media or access centers (no compensation).
  3. Student Division – Programs created by current students enrolled in primary, secondary or undergraduate schools. Non-students may supervise the production, but the overall direction, control of the production and all technical tasks (camera, directing, editing, sound, etc.) must be performed by the youth involved.

About Access & Empowerment Winners

About Access & Empowerment Access Center Professional: Paul in the Studio - Paul Snyder, Alan Cunningham, Roger Lindala, Katie Foster, Northwest Access TV
About Access & Empowerment Independent Producer: Speak Mpls - Jeff Strate, Bloomington Community Access Television, SWTV
About Access & Empowerment Student: When I Speak Freely by BennyFL- Team Hercules Youth, WPAA-TV


Access Program Promo

Access Program Promo Access Center Professional: Forks Over Fitchburg 
Access Program Promo Community Radio: Radio Access 102.5 FM Producer Liner - Roger Marks and Ben Smith, Radio Access 102.5 FM
Access Program Promo Independent Producer: IN THE KNOW WOMEN'S SHOW PROMO - Darleen Adkins, Executive Producer, Thurston Community Media
Access Program Promo Student: No Need To Knock- Team Hercules Youth, WPAA-TV


Audio Programming Winners

Audio Programming Access Center Professional: Shared Prosperity  Kalamazoo: Hope Thru Navigation - Kevin Ford, Melody Daacon, Public Media Network
Audio Programming Community Radio: Terror of the Seas - KKFI 90.1 FM, Kansas City Actors Radio Theatre
Audio Programming Independent Producer: The Making of Riverfest Billerica Podcast - Michelle Alimoradi,  Tara Splingaerd, BATV
Audio Programming Student: Pandemic of Misinformation, Timeout Radio - Rohan Baxi, KDRT 95.7 FM - Davis Media Access


Children’s Programs Winners

Children's Programs Access Center Professional: Santa's Bell - FTV's Home for the Holidays - Nick D. Alyssa B. Todd M. Erick S. Derek F., Fairhaven TV
Children's Programs Independent Producer: You're the Bee's Knees! (Season 2, Episode 3) - Val Thomas-Matson, Look, Listen and Learn TV


Community Events- Activism/Rallies Winners

Community Event Activism/Rallies Access Center Professional: 2021 Watertown Unity Breakfast - Dan Hogan, WCA-TV
Community Event Activism/Rallies Independent Producer: Shut Down Creech! No Drone Warfare - Liz Walber, Northampton Open Media
Community Event Activism/Rallies Student: The Transcript Special Report | Roe v. Wade - Madison Parr, Gavin Knight-Richard, Rory Mauer, NHS Technology & Northampton Open Media


Community Events- General Winners

Community Events General Access Center Professional: The GNCC Show - Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, Northampton Open Media
Community Events General Independent Producer: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Ceremony - Alan Ginsberg, Rebecca Farina Levine, North Hempstead TV
Community Events General Student: Crosstalk (2021  Germantown Horse Show ) - Chelbi Talley, Kristin Blake, Gabriel Eskridge, Allyssia Goowdin, Madysin Rix, Thomas Tarton, Germantown High School Television


Community Events- Parades/Festivals Winners

Community Events Parades/Festivals Access Center Professional: The 2021 Topsfield Fair - Haverhill Journal - Lindsay Paris, Haverhill Community Media
Community Events Parades/Festivals Independent Producer: Travel Today with Lea Julefest - Lea Welles, Santa Barbara Television SBTV
Community Events Parades/Festivals Student: Cheap Thrills | Florence Night Out - August Shar, Nate Kidd, Scout Greenwood, NHS Technology & Northampton Open Media


Community Impact Winners

Community Impact Access Center Professional: One Bullet, Many Lives - a Short Film - Christopher Bowden, Director/Producer, HC Media
Community Impact Community Radio: Community Voice PHL Talk Show - Jeffrey Jones & Jacquelyn Jordan, PhillyCAM
Community Impact Independent Producer: Alcohol Poisoning: When Drinking Turns Dangerous - Sandy Austin Goldstein and Scott Allo, Newington Community Television
Community Impact Student: BHS Students on Remote Learning - BHS Media, BevCam


Democracy in Action Winners

Democracy in Action Access Center Professional: The First Returns: Election Night 2021 - TCMedia Staff, Thurston Community Media
Democracy in Action Independent Producer: Republican Roundtable - Patty Piatz, Producer Max Rymer, Host Erik Lund, Tom Hendricks, Jennifer Zielinski, Steve Malone, Cameras/Crew, BCAT & SWTV
Democracy in Action Student: Takin' it to the Streets | Northampton Mayoral Elections - Nola Busansky, Levi Armstrong, NHS Technology & Northampton Open Media


Documentary BIOGRAPHY Winners

Documentary Biography Access Center Professional: 2021 Black History Month Celebration and Poindexter Awards Presentation - Alex Brown, Columbus Television CTV
Documentary Biography Community Radio: Kiyoshi Kuromaya: the wonderful fabulous life of a civil rights zelig - Keith Brand, Rowan University
Documentary Biography Independent Producer: Little Big Gym - Rigoberto Moran, CMAC Fresno/Clovis
Documentary Biography Student: Thank a Hero - Maurice Hilleman - Jasmine Martoglio, Aurelia Martoglio, Lora Batchelor Middle School B-TV


Documentary Winners

Documentary Access Center Professional: African Heritage Month - The Resiliency of our African Business Owners, County Cable Montgomery, Montgomery County, MD
Documentary Community Radio: Let's Talk About Race (LTAR) - LaNita Duke, Althea Billings, Mary Li, Nia Gray, Cecil Prescod, Dianne Johnson, Michelle Milton, Grassroot News, NW
Documentary Independent Producer: Squirrel Hill Falls - Hilary Brashear
Documentary Student: Youth Arts In Quarantine - Brain Wave Youth Program, Brookline Interactive Group


Educational Activities Winners

Educational Activities Access Center Professional: Shelby County School Report - Allison Long, Mallory Kenney , Leonid Mazor, Michael Wheeler, Germantown High School Television
Educational Activities independent Producer: Black History Moments - Reconstruction - Allan Kobernick, Producer, CCPTV - Community College of Philadelphia
Educational Activities Student: "South High Graduation at Hofstra, 2021" - Robert Zahn, GNPS/TV Director, GNPS/TV Crew


Educational Profile Winners

Educational Profile Access Center Professional: Shelby County School Report - Allison Long, Mallory Kenney, Leonid Mazor, Michael Wheeler, Germantown High School Television
Educational Profile Independent Producer: The Eastside Extra - Gil Gomez & Michael Gonzales, GOedtechGO
Educational Profile Student: "BOE Thank You Video, Elementary Schools during Covid" - Robert Zahn, GNPS/TV Director, GNPS/TV Crew


 Entertainment & Arts- Series Winners

Entertainment & Arts Series Access Center Professional: 2021 Wearable Art Show - Abigail Stevenson, Jacob Schwartz, Jason Dallas Hensler Baldwin, Tim Kistner, Will Shannon, Ketchikan Area Arts & Humanities Council, KPUtv
Entertainment & Arts- Series Community Radio: Kansas City: 1924 - KKFI 90.1 FM, Kansas City Actors Radio Theatre
Entertainment & Arts Series Independent Producer: Juno Singles - Produced by Angus Reid with Juno Orchestra & Nimble Arts, Brattleboro Community Television
Entertainment & Arts Series Student: Young Producers Network 2021 - Thurston Community Media Young Producers Network Summer Camps, Thurston County & Thurston Community Media


Entertainment & Arts- Single Episode Winners

Entertainment & Arts Single Episode Access Center Professional: Silver Linings- ʻŌlelo Community Media, ʻŌlelo Community Media
Entertainment & Arts- Single Episode Community Radio: Orchestral Maneuvers, 20th & 21st C. Classical Music - Don Howland, WSFM-LP 103.3 FM Asheville, NC
Entertainment & Arts Single Episode Independent Producer: Deanie's Corner - Adena Walker, Brookline Interactive Group
Entertainment & Arts Single Episode Student: Winter Film Club: Brothers - Khellmar "OJ" Daring, Burlington Technical Center Digital Media Lab & Media Factory


EVENT FUNDRAISING 
Event Fundraising Access Center Professional: Historical Society of Carroll County - Virtual Gala - Frank Batavick, Richard Turner, Sherry Taylor, Dwight Phillips, Community Media Center of Carroll County
Event Fundraising Student: Hot Chocolate Run - August Shar, Tyler Keel, NHS Technology & Northampton Open Media


Experimental Winners

Experimental Access Center Professional: Missed Information - PhillyCAM 2021 Collaborative Filmmaking Class, PhillyCAM
Experimental Community Radio: I Am Sitting In A Junk Yard - Jonathan Price, 103.3 Asheville FM
Experimental Independent Producer: Maine. - Jasper Fletcher, NHS Technology & Northampton Open Media
Experimental Student: Unmasked - Leah Katz, BevCam


FOR-Profit

For-Profit Access Center Professional: Made in Cottage Grove: MAPerformance - Alaina Myers - Producer, Brian Schmidt - Camera, Ann Schweisguth - Camera, Lonnie Garland – Camera, South Washington County Telecommunications Commission
For-Profit Independent Producer: Mayday Books - Jeff Strate, Bloomington Community Access Television, SWTV
For-Profit Student: Cheap Thrills | Florence Night Out - Nate Kidd, Scout Greenwood, NHS Technology & Northampton Open Media

Government Activities Winners

Government Activities Access Center Professional: Volunteer Appreciation Song Video - City Manager’s Office, City of Kirkland, WA
Government Activities Independent Producer: Sea Level Rise Flooding - Bill Lange, LTA Productions
Government Activities Student: Takin' it to the Streets | Northampton Mayoral Elections - Nola Busansky, Levi Armstrong, Madison Parr, Gavin Knight-Richards, NHS Technology & Northampton Open Media


Government Meeting Coverage Winners

Government Meeting Coverage Access Center Professional: Thrive Montgomery 2050 Listening Session - County Cable Montgomery, Montgomery County, MD


Government Profile Winners

Government Profile Access Center Professional: Shelburne Fire & Rescue - Ken French & Marcy Webster, Media Factory
Government Profile Community Radio: On Patrol With The PPD - Michael Wynn & Gary Traversa, WTBR-FM - Pittsfield Community Radio
Government Profile Independent Producer: Lindsay Sabadosa October 2021 Update - Justin Marsh, Northampton Open Media


Informational Talk Show- Single Episode Winners

Information Talk Show Single Episode Access Center Professional: James C. Brainard, Mayor - The OMNI Centre for Public Media and City of Carmel, IN
Information Talk Show Single Episode Student: ECTV - Andrea Carter Brown and 9/11 -ECTV - El Camino High School Television, at CAPS Media
Informational Talk Show- Single Episode Community Radio: Let's Talk About Race (LTAR): Another Racial Reckoning in America-STOP AAPI HATE - LaNita Duke, Althea Billings, Mary Li, Nia Gray, Cecil Prescod, Dianne Johnson, Michelle Milton, Grassroot News, NW


Informational Talk Show- Series Winners

Informational Talk Show Series Access Center Professional: Sustainable Landscape Series - Staff, Town of Vail and High Five Access Media
Informational Talk Show- Series Community Radio: Recovery Chronicles with Shannon - Shannon Huber, Radio Access 102.5 FM
Informational Talk Show Series Independent Producer: Healthcare Explained: Your Questions Answered - Yessenia Fuentes Ganga  and Deborah A Thomas, 
Informational Talk Show Series Student: Crosstalk (Compilation) - Madysin Rix, Chelbi Talley, Kaitlyn Poindexter, Ternyce Anderson, Maya Mitchell, Ronald Webster, Germantown High School Television


Instructional/Training Winners

Instructional/Training Access Center Professional: Jury Duty - Frances Guastadisegni, Producer, Fairfax County Government Channel 16
Instructional/Training Independent Producer: Science Museum of Long Island: Pollinators - Alan Ginsberg, Rebecca Farina Levine, Kimberly Corcoran-Galante, Stephanie Heaney, North Hempstead TV


Local Performances Winners

Local Performances Access Center Professional: Around Town: Celebration of Women's History - Steve Marx, Maureen McNamara, Laura Bean, Edward Slattery, Charles Hughley, Jerry MacDonald, Boston Neighborhood Network
Local Performances Independent Producer: NHS Band Concert - Allison Flynn, NHS Technology & Northampton Open Media
Local Performances Student: "North High Winter Concert, 2021" - Robert Zahn, GNPS/TV Director, GNPS/TV Crew


Magazine Shows Winners

Magazine Shows Access Center Professional: Shelby County School Report - Allison Long, Mallory Kenney , Leonid Mazor, Michael Wheeler, Germantown High School Television
Magazine Shows Community Radio: Sunday Evenings - Lisa Barnes, PhillyCAM
Magazine Shows Independent Producer: Democratic Visions - Jeff Strate, Carol Sundstrom, Chuck Kundschier, Bloomington Community Access Television, SWTV
Magazine Shows Student: GHS Insider - Kristin Blake,  Maya Mitchell, Tia Lyons, Brandon Sewell, Brooklynn White, Germantown High School Television


Mixed and Transmedia Winners

Mixed and Transmedia Access Center Professional: Unwrapping Haverhill's Favorite Christmas Presents - Matt Belfiore, HC Media
Mixed and Transmedia Independent Producer: O Brave Nose World - Gordon S Bernstein, Arlington Community Media Inc.
Mixed and Transmedia Student: Beasts In The Orange Clouds - Mario Landeros, El Diamante High School, CMAC Fresno/Clovis


News Winners

News (Independent Producer): Eye On Dracut - Brian Genest, Dracut Access Television
News Access Center Professional: ACMi News - Arlington Community Media Inc.
News Student: Appalachian Weekly News - Conor Davidson, Zachary Masters, Xanayra Marin-Lopez, Stephen Biddix, Grace Powers, Jim Newman, AppTV


Public Health Programming winners

Public Health Programming Access Center Professional: Halloween Safety: The Addams Family - Kevin McHale and Mark Serratore, Village of Romeoville
Public Health Programming Independent Producer: Vaccination Clinic for Children Ages 5 to 11 - Sgt. Ed Burman and Paul Beaudoin, WACA TV
Public Health Programming Student: Outreach from the Beverly Public Schools Office of Opportunity, Access, and Equity - BHS Media, BevCam


Public Service Announcements Winners

Public Service Announcements Access Center Professional: Afterschool STEM Transformative Opportunities for Girls - Emily Vidal, OregonASK, MetroEast Community Media
Public Service Announcements Independent Producer: PSA Daniel- We All Can Do Our Part in a Crisis - Lea Welles, Mark DiMassimo, LA 36 (LACTAC)
Public Service Announcements Student: Ashland High School Environmental Action Club PSA - Ashland High School Environmental Action Club and Alison Rose, WACA TV


Racial Justice and civil rights programming winners

Racial Justice and Civil Rights Programming Access Center Professional: Black History Month 2021- “Changemakers” - County Cable Montgomery, Montgomery County, MD
Racial Justice and Civil Rights Programming Community Radio: Let's Talk About Race (LTAR): Another Racial Reckoning in America-STOP AAPI HATE - LaNita Duke, Althea Billings, Mary Li, Nia Gray, Cecil Prescod, Dianne Johnson, Michelle Milton, Grassroot News, NW
Racial Justice and Civil Rights Programming Independent Producer: Contradictory Place: Cotton Mills Alongside Anti-Slavery Efforts in Lowell, Massachusetts - Wendy Blom, Robert Forrant, Martiza Grooms, Caroline Gallagher, Lowell Telemedia Center
Racial Justice and Civil Rights Programming Student: Stop Asian Hate - Stefan Johnson, NHS Technology & Northampton Open Media


Radio DJ of the Year winners

Radio DJ of the Year: CousinTL, Stank Free Radio, Radio DJ of the Year - TL Allen, 103.3 Asheville FM
Radio DJ of the Year Student: The Beatles with Brian - Brian Manning, Watertown Cable Access Corp

sports coverage leisure/ recreation winners

Sports Coverage Leisure/Recreation Access Center Professional: Marblehead Laser Fleet Sailing - James Maroney, MHTV
Sports Coverage Leisure/Recreation Independent Producer: The Body*Smith Workout - Larry Smith, MetroEast/Open Signal
Sports Coverage Leisure/Recreation Student: Hamped Up | Crew - Charlotte Ribe, NHS Technology & Northampton Open Media


Sports Coverage Live Winners

Sports Coverage Live Competition Access Center Professional: 2021 Soccer Wrap-up Show - Richard Turner, Bob Blubaugh, Pat Stoetzer, Sherry Taylor, Community Media Center of Carroll County
Sports Coverage Live Competition Independent Producer: Travel Today with Lea Air Show LA 2 - Lea Welles, CAPS Media Center
Sports Coverage Live Competition Student: Lady Spartan Basketball vs Centerville Bulldogs LIVE - Emily Tuttle, Nathan Shawl, Camden Schonfeld, Lucas Baron, Cooper Kinney, Sydnee Jobe, John Pause, TV3 Spartan Sports Network


Underserved Voices Winners

Underserved Voices Access Center Professional: Omar's World of Comics - Rick Dorrington, LexMedia
Underserved Voices Community Radio: Wheeling The Pathways of Life - Brian Fitzpatrick, WTBR-FM - Pittsfield Community Radio
Underserved Voices Independent Producer: Black History Moments - Reconstruction - Allan Kobernick, Producer, CCPTV - Community College of Philadelphia
Underserved Voices Student: Peacemakers - Marvinetta Woodley-Penn, Global Girls, Inc.


Virtual events Winners

Virtual Events Access Center Professional: 2021 Black History Month Celebration and Poindexter Awards Presentation - Alex Brown, Columbus Television CTV
Virtual Events Independent Producer: Mayoral Debate; Newsmakers with Jerry Roberts - Jerry Roberts, Hap Freund, Josh Molina, TVSB


VOTER EDUCATION WINNERS

Voter Education Access Center Professional: Critica NYC | The Lines of our NYC Comunidad - Carla Robles (Director) | Fredy Pinto (Producer) | Zenaida Mendez (Executive Producer) Tiffany Hill Rock (Editor) | Raquel Batista (Host) | Lucia Gomez (Co-Host), Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Voter Education Student: Takin' It to the Streets | Lowering the Voting Age - Nola Busansky, Levi Armstrong, NHS Technology & Northampton Open Media


Web Based Winners Winners