Tennessees Wild Side Adds Pair of Emmy Awards

NASHVILLE — Tennessee’s Wild Side received a pair of Emmy Awards during the 22nd Annual Midsouth Emmy Awards held Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in downtown Nashville.

The program received first place awards for Magazine Program/Specials, “A Plan for Preservation,” and Photography/Progam Non-News, “Life of a Stream,” Ken Tucker, photographer.

Tennessee’s Wild Side is TWRA’s television show and is produced in conjunction with the Renaissance Center’s Multimedia Department, which is located in Dickson. The award-winning, half-hour, magazine format outdoors program airs on Public Broadcasting Service stations across the state. It features segments not only for the avid hunter or angler, but stories on many other types of outdoor activities. The popular series now has won a total of five Midsouth Emmy Awards since its inception.

“I’m elated that Tennessee’s Wild Side continues to be recognized by broadcast industry professionals with such prestigious awards,” said Don King, TWRA Information and Education Chief.  “The quality of the program is also appreciated by our loyal viewers who watch week after week. Wild Side is an integral part of our effort to entertain and inform all citizens of Tennessee and Kentucky regarding our agency’s vital role in conservation.”

A Plan for Preservation, a special episode of Tennessee’s Wild Side written and hosted by Alan Griggs, featured multiple reports on preservation efforts including the encroachment of urban sprawl on wildlife habitat, efforts to save the Royal snail from extinction, TWRA’s wildlife census, the importance of keeping bird feeders clean, and the return of the boulder darter to Shoal Creek.

Ken Tucker, production manager for the Multimedia Department, picked up the Photography/Program Emmy for his camera work on Life in a Stream, a segment for Tennessee’s Wild Side about life in and around a Tennessee stream. With more than a dozen Emmys during his career as an editor and producer, this marks Tucker’s first for his camera work.

Along with the program’s two award winners, Tennessee’s Wild Side was a finalist in four additional categories including Magazine Series, Feature Story, “Sam and Annie Tate,” Write/Program Non-News, Terry Bulger, and Photography/Program Non-News, Barry Cross.

In addition, Janet Ivey, co-host of Tennessee’s Wild Side won an Emmy for Informational/Instructional program, Janet’s Planet.

The Midsouth Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences includes television stations and production companies in Tennessee, North Carolina and the northern portion of Alabama. More than 700 entries were received in 70 categories and judging was by members of the Chicago/Midwest and Rocky Mountain Southwest chapters.

Tennessee’s Wild Side previously won two Emmys as Best Magazine Program and one for writing and was named the best outdoors program in North America by the Association for Conservation Information.