About Us

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES

CHICAGO / MIDWEST CHAPTER

Our Chapter was founded in 1958 after an expansion call by then National President, Ed Sullivan. We are one of the largest and most senior local chapters in the country, with a proud history of innovation and excellence in the field of broadcast television and beyond. The chapter produces the Chicago/Midwest Regional Emmy^® Awards. The Awards are presented annually for outstanding achievements in regional broadcasting.

Who We Are

The Chicago/Midwest Chapter is chartered by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), which is based in New York City.

The chapter’s Officers, Board of Governors, and committee chairs are industry professionals from our region who volunteer their time. There are several different committees that are always in need of talented and energetic people.

Chapter History

Volunteering

Interested in volunteering for a committee?
Please email rcowing@emmyonline.tv

Our Committees

Education

Responsible for judging high school entries and scholarship applicants. Work with Coordinator of TV Academy’s Student Coordinator to promote our programs to regional schools. Fundraise for the 501(c)3 NATAS Chicago Foundation.

Emmy^® Judging

Responsible for revising Chicago/Midwest Emmy^® rules and categories; setting up panels to judge other Chapters’ Emmy^® entries; processing; and certifying local entries.

Emmy^® Production

Responsible for planning, overseeing and producing the Chicago/Midwest Emmy^® Awards event under the guidance of the Board of Governors.

Film Club

Responsible for organizing free screenings or virtual of new films for TV Academy members.

Membership

Responsible for member services, recruitment, and development of member discounts and benefits.

Media

Responsible for publicity for TV Academy Chicago/Midwest events. Responsible for updating and authoring of Chapter website content and chapter social media.

Silver Circle Ceremony

Responsible for producing the Silver Circle Awards which honors individuals who have 25 or more years in Chicago and Wisconsin television (or spent their formative years here) and have made significant contributions to broadcasting.

Workshops/Special Events

Responsible for designing workshops that will be of interest to our current members while also attracting new members.

Board Members

Executive Committee

Board of Governors

Emeritus Board Members

Junior Board Members

Juliette Benjamin
Caroline Bennett
Stuart Blue
Mikey Boyd
Sam Brief
Darcy Buchaniec
Caroline Chen
Maram Elnagheeb

Jeannie Hansen
Miya Jefferson
Arden Kurhayez
Larry Larson
Haley Lloyd
Fredlyn Pierre Louis
Taylor Peterson
Payton Ramsey

Kinsley Reliford
Noah Sallen
Abbas Tayebali
Asia Thomas
Allison Vidales
Aidan Vogel
Jennie Weaver

Our Stations

Green Bay - Appleton

WACY (MyNetworkTV)
WBAY (ABC 2)
WFRV (CBS 5)
WGBA (NBC 26)
WCWF (CW 14)
WLUK (FOX 11)

Madison

WISC-TV (CBS 3)
Wisconsin Public TV
WKOW (ABC 27)
WMSN (FOX 47)
WMTV (NBC 15)

Milwaukee

WCGV
WDJT (CBS 58)
WISN (ABC 12)
WITI (FOX 6)
WMLW
WMVS (PBS Milwaukee)
WTMJ (TMJ 4 NBC)
WVCY

Wasau - Rhinelander

WFXS (FOX 55)
WAOW (ABC 9)
WJFW (NBC 12)
WSAW (CBS 7)

Chicago

TLN
WBBM (CBS 2)
WCPX (ION)
WCIU
WFLD (FOX 32)
WGBO (Univision)
WGN
WJYS
WLS (ABC 7)
WMAQ (NBC 5)
WSNS (Telemundo)
WTTW

Peoria - Bloomington

WAOE (MyNetworkTV)
WEEK/WHOI (NBC/ABC/CW+)
WMBD/WYZZ (CBS/Fox)
WTVP (Public Media for Central Illinois)

Rockford

WIFR (CBS 23)
WQRF (FOX 39)
WREX (NBC 13)
WTVO (ABC 17)

South Bend - Elkhart

WBND (ABC 57)
WNDU (NBC 15)
WNIT (Michiana PBS)
WSBT (CBS 22)
WYIN (Lakeshore Public Television)

The mission of NATAS Chicago Foundation is to provide scholarships to deserving high school and college students who are studying or intend to study journalism, broadcast television, television production and communications. The foundation is the charitable arm of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) - Chicago/Midwest Chapter, Inc. and is a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Chicago/Midwest Chapter’s scholarship program has distributed more than $680,000 in scholarships to students since the mid-1990s. We are one of the strongest NATAS chapters in the nation in regard to scholarship funds distributed.

Past Chicago/Midwest scholarship recipients include NBC’s Peter Alexander and Jesse Kirsch, WGN’s Michael Lowe, ABC7 Chicago’s Jessica D’Onoforio, WNDU’s Joshua Short, WDJT’s Drew Burgoyne, and NBC6 Miami’s Laura Rodriguez.

Donate by Mail

To make a scholarship fund donation by check, send to:

NATAS Chicago Foundation
c/o NATAS Chicago/Midwest Chapter
33 East Ida B. Wells Dr., Ste. 535
Chicago, IL 60605

Checks should be made out to: NATAS Chicago Foundation

Upon receipt, an acknowledgment letter of the donation will be mailed to the donor.
The Foundation accepts donations from individuals and/or corporations on an ongoing basis.

Donate via Paypal

You can use the PayPal Donate button:

Or scan the QR code with your phone

History

National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences was founded in 1955. It is dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy^® Award for News, Sports, Daytime, Public Service and Technology.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy^® Award for News & Documentary, Sports, Daytime Entertainment, Daytime Creative Arts & Entertainment, Public & Community Service, Technology & Engineering, and Business & Financial Reporting. Regional Emmy^® Awards are given in 19 regions across the United States. NATAS also presents the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Global Media Awards™ which recognizes excellence in the world-wide intersection of digital entertainment and technology. Emmy^® Awards given out for primetime programming are presented by our sister organization, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Beyond awards, NATAS has extensive educational programs including Regional Student Television Awards for outstanding journalistic work by high school students, as well as scholarships, publications, and major activities for both industry professionals and the viewing public.

Copyright and Trademark

EMMY^® NAME AND EMMY^® STATUETTE POLICIES

The Emmy^® name and the Emmy^® statuette are the trademarked property of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (“NATAS”) and The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (“ATAS”). Additionally, the Emmy^® name, logo and statuette are licensed to the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (“International Academy”) for International Emmys^®.

A. Use by Emmy^® honorees and nominees of Emmy^® name and Emmy^® statuette in advertising and publicity

Emmy^® honorees or those congratulating them may at any time refer in advertising and publicity to the fact that the honoree has received an Emmy^® award and may for one (1) year after an award is made, use a replica of the statuette in advertising and publicity which appears in print, by broadcast or over the Internet.
During each year Emmy^® nominees or those congratulating them may refer in advertising and publicity to the fact that the nominee has been nominated and, provided that such nominees are clearly identified as such, may during the period from the announcement of nominations until the following awards presentation use a replica of the statuette subject to the requirements set forth below.
Broadcasters, cable services and Internet sites may use the Emmy^® name and statuette in connection with promotional announcements for programs or broadcasters (or the like) which in fact have been awarded an Emmy^® as long as it is done within one (1) year after the awarded has been awarded and not thereafter.
Subject to obtaining specific authorization from the chief operating officer of the appropriate Academy (i.e. the NATAS for Daytime Emmy^®, Sports, News & Documentary, and Technology & Engineering Emmy^® presentations and other regional Emmy^® presentations and ATAS for Prime Time Emmy^® and Los Angeles Area Emmy^® presentations), sponsors of Emmy^® Awards presentation may use a copy of the Emmy^® statuette and the Emmy^® name in advertising provided that (i) the advertising occurs at or near the time of the presentation of the Awards show and (ii) advertising makes specific reference to such sponsorship of the show. No other commercial use of the Emmy^® name or statuette is permitted.
In the case of DVDs, videos and electronic productions, Emmy^® honorees and/or producers of Emmy^®-honored programs may reference the fact of their receiving an Emmy^®; however the statuette may not be used unless it is capable of being removed from all copies or transmissions within one year after the award is granted.
Whenever the statuette is used it should appear facing left and must be accompanied by ® at its base (denoting trademark protection). The word “Emmy” is also trademarked and whenever possible its use should appear as follows: “Emmy^®“. Any deviation from these instructions must be pre-approved. A copyright notice for the statuette is no longer mandatory, but when used should read “©ATAS/NATAS”.

B. Use of excerpts (i.e. clips) from Emmy^® awards presentations

The Academies have adopted the following rules concerning use of clips from their respective Emmy^® awards presentations:

Use of Excerpts from Emmy^® Award Presentations in News Programming and Similar Programming:
Audio and audiovisual excerpts from Emmy^® Award presentations may be used in news broadcasts (Including Internet transmissions) about these events which occur within two (2) days from the time the presentations are initially presented, except that excerpts may be used in week-end-type news shows during the weekend following the initial presentation. Exceptions to the two (2) day limit must be approved in writing by the chief operating officers of the applicable Academy. In the case of news reports in foreign countries, excerpts may be used during a reasonable period (to be approved by the chief operating officer of the Academy involved) following the presentation or the first broadcast of the event in the foreign territory, if later. In addition to uses described above, and, subject to clearance as outlined below, the policies governing use of excerpts for other news purposes are as follows:
- Excerpts may be used in current news stories which relate to a recipient of an award, e.g. a current news story regarding a recipient (such as a death or marriage);
- Excerpts may be used in retrospectives and similar programs and documentaries dealing with the career or history of recipients;
- Excerpts may be used in another awards show.
In all cases, the user of the excerpt must assume (and will be deemed to have assumed) all clearance obligations, i.e. clearance of individuals (other than uses in current news shows), union clearances and music clearances. In no event may the clip contain excerpts from another production (e.g. an excerpt from a program receiving an Emmy^®) unless the copyright owner of the other production consents on terms acceptable to such copyright owner. Each Academy reserves the rights to (i) limit the period of time during which an excerpt may be used and (ii) charge a fee for the uses of excerpts described in subclauses a. – c. above.
Use of Excerpts in Entertainment and Other Programming:
Excerpts of the presentation of an award may be used in a promotional announcement for a period of one (1) year following the granting of the award, provided that the primary purpose of the promotional announcement is to congratulate the program or individual so honored:
- Excerpts of Emmy^® Award presentations may be used in DVDs, videos and Internet uses of both pre-existing productions and of new productions provided that the primary purpose of the use is to honor the awardee (e.g. a DVD containing a year’s series of a show that received an Emmy^®). Additionally, with authorization from the appropriate Academy, excerpts may be shown at non-broadcast public events (e.g. a dinner) provided the primary purpose of use of the excerpt is to honor the individual or program honoree who/that is the subject of the excerpt.
- Excerpts may be made available to individual and program Emmy^® honorees for personal and Internet use. In the case of Internet use, excerpts may be furnished digitally, or when possible, from a hosted site whereby the excerpt may be embedded. In any case, the digital excerpts shall be non-broadcast and not capable of redistribution or download. Internet license is limited to one hosted source, embedding can be enabled, but all other forms of redistribution including downloading are not allowed.
- In all cases, the user of the excerpt must assume (and will be deemed to have assumed) all clearance obligations, i.e. clearance of individuals (other than uses in current news shows), union clearances and music clearances.
In no event may the clip contain excerpts from another production (e.g. an excerpt from a program receiving an Emmy^® unless the copyright owner of the other production consents on terms acceptable to such copyright owner.) Each Academy reserves the right to limit the period of time during which an excerpt may be used, except that in the case of DVDs and similar product this limitation shall apply to the period of manufacture, with recognition that items may be sold off subsequent to the end of the license. Each Academy reserves the right to charge a fee for the uses of excerpts described in this paragraph 2.
Use of Excerpts in Commercials.
Except as provided above for promotional announcements, excerpts from an Emmy^® awards presentation may not be used in commercial advertising.

C. Use of Emmy^® name and Emmy^® statuette in productions, publications, websites and the like

Although the Academies will permit certain uses of the Emmy^® name and statuette in other contexts, the unrestricted use of the same violates both the value and stature of the Emmy^® and may serve to dilute the marks. Therefore the following uses, although permitted under some circumstances, always require prior express written authorization from the chief operating officer of the Academy from which authorization is sought:

Use of Emmy^® Statuette or Certificate as a Prop in a Production. If authorized, the Emmy^® statuette or a replica of a nomination certificate may be used as a prop in a production provided that (i) the use is in no way derogatory to the Emmy^®, (ii) the use is incidental to the primary story of the production, and (iii) the script and other detail regarding the use has been submitted as a precondition to the Academy’s consideration of its authorization.
Use of Emmy^® Replicas; Re-Creations of Emmy^® Awards Presentations. Requests for use of replicas of the Emmy^® and requests to recreate or simulate an Emmy^® Awards presentation must be submitted to the Academy from whom authorization is sought; each request will be considered by the chief operating officer (in consultation with counsel); in cases where authorization is denied, the applicant may request re-consideration by the Executive Committee of the Academy from which authorization is sought.
Use of Emmy^® Name or Statuette in Published Works, Websites, and the Like.
- If approved, the Emmy^® name and/or statuette may be used in connection with printed works, websites and the like, provided that the work is of an educational or informational nature and the reference to the Emmy^® name or statuette is non-derogatory and is reasonably related to the purpose of the work.
- With prior approval, Emmy^® honorees may from time to time use pictures of themselves receiving the Emmy^® statuette or otherwise holding the Emmy^® statuette in personal resumes and the like. Pictures of Emmy^® winners receiving their Emmy</s statuettes or otherwise holding the Emmy statuette may also be used in printed materials and websites and the like featuring biographical material about such honorees, provided that the use is reasonably related to the biographical material.
- With prior approval, the Emmy^® name, logo and/or statuette may be used on DVDs or similar productions that include programs that have received a program category Emmy^® award, indicating that the program has been so honored. Except in unusual cases, as determined by the appropriate Academy, approval for such uses for programs for which individual achievements (but not program category awards) were given will not be allowed.
Uses on Stationery, Business Cards, and the like: Nothing shall preclude an individual or entity from stating the fact that such individual or entity is an Emmy^® honoree on their/its stationery or business card, provided that neither the Emmy^® logo nor the statuette is used in connection with such factual statement, it being understood that any such use of the logo or the statuette is specifically prohibited.
Use of Emmy^® Name or Statuette in Merchandising Prohibited: The Emmy^® name and/or statuette may not be used on commercial products or in connection with any merchandising items except with prior approval of the Boards of the Academies. This restriction does not apply to branded merchandising given away at an event with an Academy’s approval, e.g. an Emmy^® name or logo on a give-away gift.

D. Rules relating to corporate sponsor identification with Emmy^® and Emmy^® show activities

These provisions apply to NATAS; readers should contact each of the other Academies to determine their applicable rules as to sponsor identification and Emmy^® show activities

Consistent with the Trademark policy prohibiting use of the Emmy^® name and logo for advertising and merchandising, the following applies to corporate sponsorship partners of NATAS:
- Sponsorship partners may, clearly, identify themselves as associated with NATAS; however they may not use the Emmy^® name and logo on their products or in advertising material unless specified in the sponsorship contract with NATAS. NATAS’ marketing department or chief operating officer must approve all graphics.
- Sponsorship partners that get tickets for a show/dinner may use them for employees and clients, but may not offer to re-sell them. Use of tickets for contests must be specifically approved by NATAS.
- The same rule applies to broadcasters of the shows or their affiliates.