Contact: Madeline Myers, Public Relations and Communications Specialist
330-474-5032
Press release images available at pbswesternreserve.org/press/photos
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PBS Western Reserve Receives Six Regional Emmy Nominations
Kent, Ohio — April 29, 2026 — PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45 / WEAO 49) has received six regional Emmy nominations, a record in recent history, under the leadership of Chief Content Officer Ryan Donchess. The 2026 nominations were announced on Tuesday, April 28, by the Central Great Lakes Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
“As a small but mighty production team, we’ve prioritized quality over quantity in our programming strategy, and these nominations are a testament to that payoff and to the efforts of our producing staff and the independent producers we collaborate with,” said Donchess, adding a “sincere thank you to the Central Great Lakes Chapter of the Academy for their consideration of our work.”
The PBS Western Reserve nominees are:
- “Icon in the Sky: 100 Years of the Goodyear Blimp” in the category Documentary – Historical.
- “By Nature’s Design: Exploring Our Native Wildlife” in the category Documentary – Topical.
- “Western Reserve and the American Revolution” in the category Historical/Cultural – Short Form or Long Form.
- “Cleveland Treasures” and “Restoring Forgotten Films” in the categories Historical/Cultural – Short Form or Long Form and Writer – Short or Long Form Content.
- “Gathered in Darkness” in the category Special Event Coverage Live or Edited.
All nominated productions are available for free, on-demand streaming at PBS.org and the PBS App. Winners will be announced at the 2026 Central Great Lakes ceremony in Cleveland on Saturday, June 27.
Collectively, the Emmy-nominated productions demonstrate PBS Western Reserve’s mission of producing quality educational television that speaks directly to the needs and interests of the Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania regions.
As an independent, nonprofit organization, all PBS Western Reserve productions and acquisitions are community funded. Those interested in supporting the continued production of local, award-winning storytelling can visit PBSWesternReserve.org/support.
About PBS Western Reserve
PBS Western Reserve is a community organization that empowers Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania through the impact of accessible public media and educational services to foster connection and lifelong learning. PBS Western Reserve presents cultural, scientific and artistic programming for awareness and enjoyment; local storytelling and access to trusted regional, state and national public affairs; experiential opportunities and community outreach for people of all ages; and educational initiatives that support the healthy development of youth.
PBS Western Reserve is made up of two separately licensed public television stations (WNEO and WEAO) and an Educational Services division operating under one 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio Inc. (NETO). WNEO was established in 1971, is licensed to the city of Alliance and serves the Youngstown designated television market. WEAO went on the air in 1975, is licensed to the city of Akron and serves the Cleveland-Akron-Canton designated television market. All programming is simulcast on both stations.
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