WGTE Wins Two National Public Media Awards

Lake Effect Podcast and Sessions Digital Music Series Honored

WGTE Public Media was honored this weekend at the 59th Annual Public Media Awards, presented by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA). WGTE’s Lake Effect won in the podcast category, and Sessions won in the category for digital media.

Lake Effect, part of WGTE’s Voices Around Us® series, is a journey through all things Lake Erie, its tributaries and near-shore realms. Host James Proffitt speaks with scientists, anglers, charter captains, farmers, tourism officials, boat-restorers, historians and a host of others who have an affinity for the lake through either proximity, work or a simple love of the greatest Great Lake.

“Lake Effect has been an extremely rewarding project for our team,” said Lake Effect Producer Chris Peiffer. “It’s an opportunity to create a longer-form narrative that combines interviews, sound design and storytelling — and share the important role Lake Erie plays in our lives.”

Sessions is a contemporary music series celebrating the creativity and diversity of Northwest Ohio’s music scene. Each episode features a local artist or band performing five original songs, paired with a candid interview that explores their influences, stories and creative process.

“Receiving national recognition for this series is incredibly exciting,” said Shane Potgieter, Executive Producer for Sessions. “Not only are we showcasing our talented production team, but we are also spotlighting the diverse range of great music coming from this region. Another season of Sessions will be coming soon, and we look forward to building upon the program’s success.”

The Public Media Awards come just days after WGTE won five awards at the Press Club of Toledo’s Touchstone Awards ceremony. At that event, the following programs were honored:

• Telling It Our Way (Chris Peiffer, Becca Monteleone and Ally Day) — Podcast: Arts & Entertainment
• The Four Hundred and Nineteen (Shane Potgieter, Gretchen DeBacker, Matt Killam and Kevin Mullan) — Podcast: News & Opinion
• Women Got Game (Chris Peiffer and Sophia Fisher) — Podcast: Sports
• The Local Thread (Chris Peiffer) — Radio
• Beyond Sight: A Legacy of Empowerment (Nathan Hursh) — Digital/TV: Arts & Entertainment