Throughout our history, QPTV has been recognized as a leader and a top producer in public access television and community media.
QPTV Earns New York Emmy Nominations in 2020
For two years in row, Queens Public Television receives three New York Emmy nominations for our original programs.
Religion: Program Feature/Segment category
Around Queens: The Night Before Eid
Eid al-Fitr also called the “Festival of Breaking the Fast”, is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. This religious Eid (Muslim religious festival) is the first and only day in the month of Shawwal during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. Rajaa Singh was raised in an interfaith home and along with Diwali she and her family celebrates Eid.
Executive Producer: Daniel J. Leone
Supervising Producer: Luchia Dragosh
Producer: Noran Omar/Luchia Dragosh
Supervising Producer: Luchia Dragosh
Cinematography: Christo Bakalov, John Collins Jr., Luchia Dragosh, Noran Omar
Editor: Luchia Dragosh
Color Grading: Christo Bakalov
Production Assistant: Christina Gary
Sister Tesa Fitzgerald, the Executive Director of Hour Children, became a foster parent in 1986 to eight children of incarcerated mothers at the convent where she lived. That set the beginning of her work with families impacted by incarceration. In 1992, she founded Hour Children as a nonprofit organization to offer supportive services to other children of incarcerated mothers and the mothers themselves. Before that, she was responsible for New York State curriculum oversight for Catholic elementary schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn and both a school principal and teacher at various Catholic elementary schools. In addition to being an educator, she is a Certified Foster Care Trainer. Sister Tesa has been named a CNN Hero (2012), a White House Champion of Change (2013), the 2014 winner of the Opus Prize, and in 2015 was awarded the Cross Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice. In 2017, Sister Tesa named to the Irish American Hall-of-Fame.
Executive Producer: Daniel J. Leone
Producer/Director: Luchia Dragosh
Cinematography: Christo Bakalov, Daniel Cangelosi, John Collins Jr.
Editors: Luchia Dragosh, Steve Carbo
Color Grading: Christo Bakalov
Production Assistant: Christina Gary
A custom woodcarver sculptor, Deborah Mills specializes in hand-carved wood ornament and artwork for architectural and decorative elements: original sculptures, carved mantels, doors, entryways, newel posts, furniture of all styles and periods, heraldry, liturgical furnishings, paneling, friezes, nautical decoration.
She has been carving wood professionally since 1991. She studied wood sculpture with Lorrie Goulet at the Art Students League of New York and, while she lived in Norway, trained with master woodcarver Erik Fridstrom at the Viking Ships Museum of Oslo.
Deborah works with architects, designers, restoration experts, woodworkers, museums and collectors to create one-of-a-kind original designs or historically accurate reproductions.
Executive Producer: Daniel J. Leone
Producer/Director: Luchia Dragosh
Cinematographer: Daniel Cangelosi
Editor: Luchia Dragosh
Color Grading: Christo Bakalov
Production Assistant: Christina Gary
QPTV received six 2020 Hometown Media Awards from the Alliance for Community Media Foundation. The awards program was established to honor and promote community media and local cable programs that are distributed on Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) access cable television channels.
Sister Tesa Fitzgerald, the Executive Director of Hour Children, became a foster parent in 1986 to eight children of incarcerated mothers at the convent where she lived. That set the beginning of her work with families impacted by incarceration. In 1992, she founded Hour Children as a nonprofit organization to offer supportive services to other children of incarcerated mothers and the mothers themselves. Before that, she was responsible for New York State curriculum oversight for Catholic elementary schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn and both a school principal and teacher at various Catholic elementary schools. In addition to being an educator, she is a Certified Foster Care Trainer. Sister Tesa has been named a CNN Hero (2012), a White House Champion of Change (2013), the 2014 winner of the Opus Prize, and in 2015 was awarded the Cross Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice. In 2017, she was named to the Irish American Hall-of-Fame.
Eid al-Fitr also called the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. This religious Eid (Muslim religious festival) is the first and only day in the month of Shawwal during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. Rajaa Singh was raised in an interfaith home and along with Diwali she and her family celebrates Eid.
In this episode of the “Community Media Podcast,” host John Collins welcomes Michael Wassenaar, President of the Alliance for Community Media, the educational, advocacy and lobbying organization that represents over 1000 local media outlets across the US. The ACM works tirelessly to support and promote these public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable TV organizations and community media centers that strive to promote interest in local issues and events.
In the podcast, Mr. Wassenaar offers some thought provoking ideas about the value of these community media centers when it comes to their roles in promoting civic engagement and protecting and increasing freedom of expression. Wassenaar also speaks to the challenges PEG channels face today and going forward.
The show highlights Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, legislators, members of the community, and the businesses of Queens as they celebrate Queens Day in Albany 2019. This event is always a huge success! Participants enjoy a full day that includes: complimentary transportation, meet and greet the Queens Assembly and Senate delegations, tours of the majestic Capitol Building and Legislative Chambers, and a sampling from the finest food and drink purveyors in Queens. The trip gives Queens’ constituents an opportunity to come together at the State Capitol to have their voice heard and to showcase the culture, tourism, and economic development of our great borough at the State Capitol in Albany.
COMMUNITY EVENTS- PARADES/FESTIVALS WINNER
ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS- SINGLE EPISODE WINNER
The first and only festival in Queens is highlighting the exploding craft brewery scene in New York City and particularly Queens County. Over 2,000 attendees came out this year to meet, taste, and discover the local breweries and seasonal craft beers offered. The event also included activities and live music.
This event happens only in Queens, and it shares all the diversity Queens has to offer, and the community it brings together.
Each year, a panel of judges evaluates over a thousand entries based on several factors including subject, experience and budget. Awards are then presented to the most creative programs that address community needs, develop diverse community involvement, challenge conventional commercial television formats and move viewers to experience television in a different way. Proceeds from the awards program are used exclusively for facilitating, preserving and promoting education in community media.
“The Hometown Media Awards celebrate both the excellence of work and the diversity of media that appears on community channels being produced around the country. The ACM Foundation is proud of their achievement and of how they represent their communities in their work,” said Mike Wassenaar, president & CEO, Alliance for Community Media.
About the Alliance for Community Media (www.allcommunitymedia.org) Founded in 1979, the Alliance for Community Media is a national, non-profit membership organization committed to ensuring access to electronic media for all people. The Alliance for Community Media carries forth its mission by educating, advocating and acting as a resource for the more than 3,000 Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) cable channels nationwide.
2019 ACM-NE Nor’Easter Awards
Overall Excellence in Public Access Television
WINNER
2019 ACM-NE Nor’Easter Awards
Profile Talk Show Category Made in Queens: Marlene Tseng Yu: Rainforest Art Foundation
1st Place
2019 ACM-NE Nor’Easter Awards
Profile Talk Show Category Power Youth of Queens: Michelle Young
2nd Place Tie
2019 ACM-NE Nor’Easter Awards
About Access and Community Media Category QPTV Community Media Day-Promo: Al Harris
2nd Place
2019 ACM-NE Nor’Easter Awards
Music and Performance Category Global Mashups at Flushing Town Hall 2018
1st Place
2019 ACM-NE Nor’Easter Awards
Event Coverage-Multiple Cameras Category Around Queens with Luchia Dragosh: International Drone Day
1st Place
2019 ACM-NE Nor’Easter Awards
Instructional and Training Category Made in Queens: Hayk Oltaci For the Love of Rugs
1st Place
2019 ACM-NE Nor’Easter Awards
Instructional and Training Category Queens Stories: The Gift of Life The Expert
2nd Place
2019 ACM-NE Nor’Easter Awards
Diversity Empowerment Category Queens Stories: The War Against Human Trafficking
1st Place
2019 ACM-NE Nor’Easter Awards
Diversity Empowerment Category Queens Stories: The Story of Lorena Borjas The Transgender Latina Activist
2nd Place
2019 ACM-NE Nor’Easter Awards
Documentary Category Queens Stories: Receiving the Gift of Life Prasha Tuladhar
3rd Place
2019 ACM-NE Nor’Easter Awards
Sports Programming Category Power Women of Queens: Collette V. Smith
3rd Place
2019 Alliance for Community Media Hometown Media Awards
DOCUMENTARY BIOGRAPHY Access Center Professional division:
Queens Stories: The War Against Human Trafficking Shandra Woworuntu
WINNER
2019 New York Emmy Awards
Public/Current/Community Affairs: Series Category
QUEENS STORIES: THE WAR AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING SHANDRA WOWORUNTU
NOMINATED
2019 New York Emmy Awards
Lifestyle Program: Feature/Segment Category
HAYK OLTACI - FOR THE LOVE OF RUGS
NOMINATED
2019 New York Emmy Awards
Public/Current/Community Affairs: Series Category
QUEENS STORIES: THE STORY OF LORENA BORJAS: THE TRANSGENDER LATINA ACTIVIST
NOMINATED
2017 Alliance for Community Media Hometown Media Awards
Overall Excellence in Public Access
WINNER
2016 Alliance for Community Media Hometown Media Awards
Overall Excellence in Public Access
WINNER
2015 Alliance for Community Media Hometown Media Awards
Overall Excellence in Public Access
WINNER
2014 Alliance for Community Media Hometown Media Awards
Website for Access Centers
WINNER
2014 Alliance for Community Media Hometown Media Awards
News Category
Still Grieving
WINNER
2014 Alliance for Community Media Hometown Media Awards
Informational Talk Show Category
Understanding Mental Illness
WINNER
2013 Alliance for Community Media Hometown Media Awards
Overall Excellence in Public Access
WINNER
2013 ACM-NE Awards
Diversity Empowerment Category Understanding Mental Illness - What is Mental Illness?
1st Place
2013 ACM-NE Awards
Science, Health and Spirituality Category Understanding Mental Illness - Community Based Treatment
1st Place
2012 Alliance for Community Media Hometown Media Awards
Empowerment Category
QPTV Presents Queens Update: A Live Town Hall Meeting Bullying in America
Religion: Program Feature/Segment category
Public/Current/Community Affairs: Series category
EDITOR: PROGRAM category
