SUNCOAST CHAPTER
Governors' Award
Governor's Award
The Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is pleased to announce the 2024 Governors’ Award recipient, Bert Medina. The Governors’ Award recognizes excellence in people, cable, media and/or television entities. It is not given every year. The candidate must receive a favorable vote of no less than 4/5th of the Board. It recognizes those persons, or entities who would not otherwise be eligible to win a Suncoast Regional EMMY® Award but are worthy of recognition for the quality of their contributions to the Suncoast region. This award will be given at the 2024 Suncoast Emmy® Awards on Saturday, December 7th at the Hyatt Regency Orlando.
Governor's Award Recipients
2024
2014
2013
Governors' Award Recipient
Bert Medina
After graduating from Florida International University with a degree in communications, Bert Medina launched a career in television that began at Sunbeam’s Miami station, WSVN, as a Research Analyst and later, Research Director, Director of Marketing, Research & Cable Relations and Director of Broadcast Operations.
He later moved on to become Senior Vice President and Operating Manager of the TeleFutura Television Network, a unit of Univision Communications, where he propelled the operation to the number two Spanish-language broadcast network.
In late 2013 Post-Newsweek Stations appointed him Vice President and General Manager of WPLG-TV and in July of 2018, Medina was named President and CEO of WPLG, Inc., a Berkshire-Hathaway company. Medina had served as the company’s president since July of 2014 and that same year became a member of the WPLG Board of Directors. He is also on the Board of Directors for Florida Association of Broadcasters, Kopenhaver Center for the Advancement of Women in Communication, the Marfan Foundation, where he serves as Chair, the National Association of Broadcasters, Emma Bowen Foundation Advisory Board and Seneca Park Association Board, where he is Secretary and Treasurer. Medina served on the Board of Governors for the ABC Television Affiliates Association from 2015 through 2020.
Previously, Medina has served on the boards of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, the Illinois State Broadcasters Association, and the Board of Trustees of Columbia College. He has also served on the boards of the South Florida Chapter of NATAS and the American Marketing Association.
Governors' Award Recipient
John A. Mays
The Governors’ Award was presented to John A. Mays at the 2014 Suncoast EMMY® Awards which were held at the Westin Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday, December 13, 2014.
John Mays has been involved with the Suncoast Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences since 1994 when he was elected to the Board of Governors. From 1998-2002 he was Chairman of the expansion committee, 1997 and 1998 he was on the outside judging committee, currently he is the Chairman of the EMMY® Awards Committee.
John is also one of the chapter’s representatives as a National Trustee and received the Silver Circle Award in 2010. He was the Co-producer of the Suncoast Emmy® Awards from 1994 to 2004 and has directed and produced the Suncoast EMMY® Awards every year since 2005.
John is currently the Production Manager for WFOR/CBS4 and MYTV33. He has held that position for ten years. He has been with CBS for 18 years, starting as a Director/Technical Director, moving to Assistant Production Manager prior to his current position.
While with WFOR CBS4, John has been a part of many high profiles projects; including Super Bowls, Miami Heat Championship parades, Hurricane coverage including hurricane Wilma.
Most recently John was the Production Manager for the infamous “FANGATE” debate between Florida Governor Rick Scott and his opponent Charlie Crist for Florida’s 2014 Governor’s race.
Along with his Production Manager responsibilities, he has been the Executive Producer for the Miami Dolphins preseason games for the past ten years, which has garnered 3 EMMY® nominations.
John was born in Roanoke, Virginia. His family moved to South Florida in time for him to attend Fort Lauderdale High School. His guidance counselor recommended a special off-campus course in broadcasting at Nova High School that sparked his interest in a career in television. After graduating from high school he attended Miami Lakes Technical Education Center which led to his first job at WBBH in Fort Myers in 1981. Prior to working in Miami, he was a Director/Technical Director at WPTV and WPEC in West Palm Beach.
Governors' Award Recipient
Steve Kroft
The Governors’ Award was presented to Steve Kroft at the 2013 Suncoast EMMY® Awards which were held at the Westin Beach Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida on Saturday, November 23, 2013.
Steve Kroft is a 60 MINUTES, CBS NEWS correspondent. He delivered his first report for the broadcast in September 1989; the 2013-2014 season is his 25th on 60 MINUTES.
During his years at 60 MINUTES he has interviewed many people and traveled to various locations to report on stories.
Steve has received many awards including 5 Peabody Awards, the Paul White Award by the Radio, Television and Digital News Association (RTDNA), the George Polk award, the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism award in 2008, the Sigma Delta Chi award, the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton, the Fred Friendly First Amendment Award from Quinnipiac University and an Emmy® Award.
Before joining 60 MINUTES, Kroft was a principal correspondent on the CBS News magazine “West 57th” after serving as foreign correspondent for CBS News based in the London bureau. Prior to his assignment in London, Steve was a correspondent in the CBS News Miami bureau (1983). He joined CBS News in January 1980 as a reporter in the Northeast bureau in New York. He was named a correspondent in May 1981 and worked out of the Dallas bureau from January 1981 – May 1983. Before joining CBS News Kroft was a reporter for WPLG-TV, Miami, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, and WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY.
He graduated from Syracuse University in 1967 with a bachelor of science degree. He was honored by his alma mater in 1992 with the George Arents Medal. Steve earned a master’s degree from Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Indiana University. He served with the US Army in Vietnam as a correspondent and photographer.
Steve is married to Journalist Jennet Conant and they have a son, John Conant Kroft.