by Matt Itelson
The Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts (BECA) Department received the Governors’ Award at the 48th annual Northern California Emmy Awards, held June 8 in San Francisco. The award is the highest honor a chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) can give.
The Northern California chapter of NATAS cited BECA as one of the leading broadcasting programs in the U.S., starting in 1946 with San Francisco State’s first radio course. Some of the top names in broadcast journalism and entertainment are BECA graduates. They include Frasier co-creator and Executive Producer Peter Casey, Saturday Night Live alum Dana Carvey, NBC News Correspondent Miguel Almaguer, Academy Award-nominated sound editor Chris Scarabosio, former HBO Director of Strategy and Planning Dottie Simmons, KCBS-AM Reporter Megan Goldsby and 95.7 FM The Game host Bonta Hill.
“BECA students are quick to apply the theories they learn in the classroom, to the practice of telling compelling stories in making our world a more interesting, diverse and just place to live,” BECA Chair Sami Reist said in her acceptance speech. “For decades BECA graduates have contributed at every level to this vibrant industry, and we eagerly look forward to seeing more dynamic work from them in the coming years.”
25 alumni win 33 awards
The Northern California Area Emmy Awards, presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences chapter, recognize excellence in television and online production. This year’s 275 winners in 109 categories were selected among 937 entries.
A total of 25 San Francisco State alumni combined to win 33 statuettes, led by Luis Godínez of San Francisco’s Univision affiliate, KDTV-14, with four awards.
The competition includes television and cable stations from the following areas: Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Fresno-Visalia, Honolulu, Reno, Monterey-Salinas, Chico-Redding and Eureka.