WBGU-TV staff wins Emmy for ALICE training video

Safety video used to train students, employees

Staff from WBGU-TV, Bowling Green’s PBS affiliate, won an Emmy Award June 15 for their ALICE training video, created for the Bowling Green State University Police Department, with the assistance of the BGSU Office of Marketing and Communications.

Zachary Mills produced the video, while Joe Goodman directed. Marketing and Communications Specialist Amber Stark assisted with scripting.

ALICE, which stands for alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evacuate, is an active-shooter civilian-response training used by BGSU and organizations across the country. The video was used for student, faculty and staff training.

“We are thrilled that our work has gotten recognized beyond our immediate audience,” said Tina Simon, WBGU-TV general manager. “I think it’s a good thing for the station as well as the University to be put on that scale. We are very proud of Joe and Zach and the students that helped them produce this informative and important piece.”

The ALICE video won in the Informational/Instructional – Program/Series or Special category.

“We strive to provide training and information that can reach all of our community in various ways,” said BGSU Police Chief Mike Campbell. “This video was created in an effort to provide the basic concepts of how to respond to a violent intruder incident. Knowing that not everyone has the ability to attend a full training session, and that some people only need reminders of what these concepts are, video provided a perfect platform. It was great to hear it was recognized with an Emmy.”

More than 500 broadcasting industry professionals gathered in Cleveland June 15 for the 50th annual Emmy Awards gala presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Lower Great Lakes Chapter. The Television Academy Emmy Awards process relies on a peer judging system; judges score entries on three criteria: creativity, content and execution. Votes are cast with a secret written ballot.

The BGSU Police Department offers an in-person ALICE training, which includes this video, on request.

WBGU staff members have won Emmys for “Made in America: Lima Locomotive Works” and “Ketchup: King of Condiments.” Staff members were also nominated for two Emmys in 2016, for the “Scenic Stops” segment called “Pappy’s Sassafras Tea” and for the yearlong series “Addiction: Heroin and Pills.”