OPB has received a record 32 nominations for the Northwest Regional Emmy® Awards, which recognizes exceptional accomplishments in storytelling in television and media arts. This year’s nominees – members of OPB’s reporting and production teams – were recognized in a variety of categories.
From science to history to news to the arts, the nominees shed light on important stories that impact the lives of people throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.
“These nominations are a real credit to the extraordinary work of our reporting and production teams, whose dedication, creativity and tenacity continue to foster stories that inform, engage and connect with audiences across Oregon and Southwest Washington, “ said Jason Potts, OPB chief content officer.
Added Rachel Smolkin, OPB president and CEO, “At a time when people seem further apart than ever, OPB is driven by a mission to connect. And this year’s OPB Northwest Regional Emmy-nominated stories do just that.
As an independent and entirely community-funded organization, OPB is incredibly grateful to all our members who support the freely accessible journalism and storytelling our staff produces every day.”
OPB received Northwest Emmy Nominations for the following programs and individuals:
Business/Consumer – Short Form or Long Form Content:
- How Oregon cheese became the best in the world (Crystal Ligori-Producer; Stephani Gordon – Photographer; Sara Marcus – Editor; Katy Osuna – Producer)
- Your freeze-dried meals likely came from Oregon (Meagan Cuthill – Producer)
Health/Medical – Short or Long Form Content:
- Transforming MRIs into artwork: How an Oregon artist is helping people cope with multiple sclerosis (Geneva Chin – Producer)
Environment/Science – Short Form Content:
- All Science. No Fiction.: Wave Energy (Jes Burns – Producer, Brandon Swanson – Photographer/Editor)
- Judy Li and the Caddisfly (Jule Gilfillan – Producer, Jeremy Monroe – Producer, David Herasimtschuk – Photographer)
Environment/Science – Long Form Content:
- Klamath: After the Dams (Cassandra Profita – Producer, Danika Sandoz – Editor, Brandon Swanson – Photographer, Lisa Suinn Kallem – Editor, Stephani Gordon – Photographer)
Politics/Government – Short Form or Long Form Content:
- Abandoned Boats (Noah Thomas – Producer)
Arts/Entertainment – Short Form Content:
- Oregon Art Beat: Artist Lillian Pitt discovers and shares her identity through art (Jacob Pander – Producer)
- A Portland artist is shaking up the world of fiber art — one funky tufted creation at a time (Geneva Chin – Producer)
Arts/Entertainment – Long Form Content:
- Black rodeo culture and Ivan McClellan’s gorgeous, gritty photography (Stephani Gordon – Producer)
Historical/Cultural – Short Form Content:
- Yat Sing Music Club | Oregon Experience (Winston Szeto – Producer, Summer Luu – Editor, Jeff Kastner – Photographer, Jessie Sears – Photographer)
Historical/Cultural – Long Form Content:
- Guardian of the Land | Oregon Experience (LaRonn Katchia – Producer, Cameron Nielsen – Photographer/Editor, Daniel Smith)
Diversity/Equity/Inclusion – Short Form Content:
- Fiesta y Resistencia | Oregon Experience (Alicia Avila – Producer, Christie Goshe – Photographer/Editor)
Diversity/Equity/Inclusion – Long Form Content:
- Esther Godoy wants you to know that ‘Butch is not a dirty word’ (Emily Hamilton – Producer, Jessie Sears – Photographer, Zack Carver-Gustin – Audio)
Sports Story – Short Form and Long Form Content
- Giant Pumpkin Paddle (Noah Thomas – Producer)
Documentary – Cultural/Historical:
- Uncovering Boarding Schools: Stories of Resistance and Resilience (Kami Horton – Producer, Bruce Barrow – Editor, LaRonn Katchia – Photographer, Jessie Sears – Photographer, Todd Sonflieth – Photographer)
Documentary – Topical
- First Descent: Kayaking the Klamath (Jessie Spears – Producer, Brandon Swanson – Photographer/Editor, Steven Vaughn Kray – Audio, Evan Rodriguez – Photographer, Aaron Scott – Executive Producer)
- Class of 2025: Growing Up in Oregon Schools (Rob Manning – Executive Producer, Dan Evans – Producer, Elizabeth Miller – Reporter/Writer, Sarah Nairalez – Editor, Andy Adkins- Graphic Designer)
- The Oregon Country Fair: Magic in the Woods (Eric Slade – Producer, Danika Sandoz – Editor, Kunu Bearchum – Producer, Jule Gilfillan – Producer, Lisa Suinn Kallem – Editor, Prakruti Bhatt-Photographer, Jeff Kastner – Photographer, Andy Adkins – Editor)
Public Affairs Program
- Sage Grouse vs. Lithium Mine (Cassandra Profita – Producer, Cameron Nielsen – Photographer Editor)
Entertainment:
- Glitterfox (Full Session) at Green Anchors | OPB Sessions (Prakruti Bhatt – Producer, Nalin Silva)
Human Interest – Short Form Content:
- Rail Speeder Toy Drive (Ian McCluskey – Producer)
- Helen Hong Nguyen, the Cake Batch (Steven Tonthat – Producer)
Informational/Instructional – Short Form Content:
- Now you see it, now you don’t: Wood carver Uli Kirchler’s telescoping castles (Geneva Chin – Producer)
Informational/Instructional – Long Form Content:
- How Oregon foods are adapting to a changing climate (Emily Hamilton – Producer, Alejandro Figueroa – Reporter, Stephani Gordon – Photographer)
Content Shorts
- All Science. No Fiction. Pacific Northwest Science Snapshots (Jes Burns – Producer)
Individual Award nominations:
- Director: LaRonn Katchia (Guardian of the Land| Oregon Experience)
- Writer-Long Form: Kami Horton (Uncovering Boarding Schools: Stories of Resistance and Resilience)
- Photographer – Short Form or Long Form Content: Cameron Nielsen (Guardian of the Land)
- Editor – Long Form: Danika Sandoz (Composite: Klamath: After the Dams & Oregon Country Fair: Magic in the Woods)
- Graphic Arts: Eden McCall (Graphic Animations for OPB)
- Audio: Steven Vaughn Kray (Composite of Audio Post Production)
The 2026 Northwest Regional Emmy Awards will be announced Saturday, May 30 at an event in Seattle.