Texas Border Business
The Texas Association of Telecommunicators and Advisors (TATOA), a professional non-profit association dedicated to educating and training its membership in the development, regulation, and administration of cable television (Public. Education. Government. [P.E.G.]), announced the 2022 winners of its state-wide TATOA Government Programming Awards Competition during a ceremony at the annual conference held last week in Mcallen, Texas. The City of McAllen Office of Communications earned a total of 26 awards for various video production work. Nearly 300 entries, from 30 different municipalities in Texas, in two different budget categories, were submitted for the 38 categories in this year’s competition.
“Every single department of the City of McAllen strives to do its best every day to serve this community to the best of their ability,” said McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos. “The work is the reward, but when the quality of that work is recognized by industry organizations, it only solidifies what we at the City of McAllen already know: we have the best people who do the best work for the best city in Texas.”
The City of McAllen Office of Communications, or MCN 1300 (for McAllen Cable Network), won one First Place in the Magazine Format series category, for the production of the “McAllen’s Own” programming. Judges were impressed by the different camera work during the live production, as well as all of the pre-produced segments peppered throughout the presentation.
The department also earned First Place in the Interview/Talk Show category for “Meeting with the Mayor,” which featured an in-depth interview with then-recently elected Mayor Javier Villalobos; a First Place in the Special Audience category for “Operation Find Curby,” a satire emergency news break, featuring McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez in a quest to find the missing recycling mascot in time for Earth Day; and a First Place in the Ethnic Experience category for “El Chavo del 1300,” the MCN’s Halloween costume-homage of the beloved Mexican sitcom’s show open.
“I am so proud of the recognition received by the Office of Communications for the work they do in highlighting and publicizing the work of the entire City of McAllen,” said McAllen City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E. “To be awarded by one of the leading Texas industry organizations speaks to the quality of the work produced by the entire team.”
Additionally, the team won six Second Place awards in various categories including: Community Event Coverage: “McAllen Police Officers Memorial Ceremony;” Arts and Entertainment: “Commissioner J.J. Zamora talks Economic Development;” and Interview, Talk Show or Podcast: “Hello McAllen, Great American Cleanup.”
The Office of Communications also earned six Third Place awards in various categories including: the Diversity/Equity/Inclusion: “Commissioner Tania Ramirez talks Inclusion;” Public Affairs: “State of the City Address 2022;” and Interview, Talk Show, Podcast: “Hello McAllen: 15th Annual Fiesta de Palmas.”
The Office of Communications also earned 10 Honorable Mention certificates, also in multiple categories, including: Parks and Recreation: “Outdoors with Roy: Disc Golf in McAllen;” Military: “Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day;” Use of Humor for the “2021 McAllen Holiday Shoebox Parade” and for Overall Excellence in Programming.
The City of McAllen competes in the Budget category $250,000 and above and competes against the cities of Arlington, Austin, Dallas, Garland and San Antonio.
“The TATOA Awards allow our profession to honor the best work being done by programmers and producers around the state. This year, we had a record-setting number of entries from cities as small as a couple thousand residents, to as large as more than a million. The competition was stiff and everyone who placed should be incredibly proud,” said TATOA President David McElroy, manager of TVSA for the City of San Antonio. “Cities should celebrate their wins with their city councils and residents as a way to further highlight the critical work being produced by the various municipal P.E.G. channels.”
The conference focused on the latest developments in broadband networks; issues of governance and regulatory changes that effect all governmental entities, best practices and new concepts for media professionals, and of course, showcase the best programming created by some of the most talented production experts in Texas. This year’s conference was a record setting event in terms of attendees and sponsorship for the organization.
TATOA is open to government television programmers for municipal, county, school district or other governmental television station personnel responsible for operating PEG channels; regulators, who are government officers and staff who administer, implement and advise governing bodies regarding telecommunications policy and law; information technology professional who, as technology experts are responsible for implementing internal telecommunications and data networks for local government entities; and attorneys who serve as legal advisors who interpret telecommunications policy, laws and regulations; negotiate contracts and represent local governments before state and federal regulatory bodies.
Xochitl Mora, director of the City of McAllen Office of Communications, serves on the TATOA board of directors.
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