Blue Ridge PBS wins Emmy for 'Job Quest'

Blue Ridge PBS, the public television affiliate in Roanoke, has won a regional Emmy Award for “JobQuest,” a 15-month long employment advice and information series that helped put people back to work.

“JobQuest” was chosen as the winner in the community service category, and recognized during a June 5 ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Representatives from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS-NCCB) presented the Emmy statuette to Julie Newman, Blue Ridge PBS executive producer and host of “JobQuest.”

Sue Ann Staake-Wayne, president of NATAS-NCCB, said there were a record number of nominations this year, and the community service category award is one of the most admired. “It’s a special award, because it is judged by a blue ribbon panel, and given to a station as opposed to an individual,” she explained. CEO James Baum says “JobQuest” would not have been possible without the involvement of volunteers and community partners.

“‘JobQuest’ really was a collaborative, community project.” Baum says. “Our partners were particularly important. They did not simply lend their names and logos for publicity. All were enthusiastically and integrally involved in each live broadcast.”