ACCESS SARASOTA 19
WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS

Sarasota - Access Sarasota 19 was honored with three prestigious awards by a national professional organization for two video presentations produced by City of Sarasota employees. The awards were announced recently in Dallas, Texas at the 18th annual conference for 3CMA -- City, County, Communications and Marketing Association.

Stadium Economic Impact, a six-minute video highlighting the impact of Ed Smith Stadium on the local economy, was honored with two awards. It took first place -- a coveted Savvy Award -- in the “Education/Training” category, and second place -- a Silver Circle Award -- in the category “Most Creative Activity With Least Dollars Spent”. The video was produced in-house for $1,500, plus staff time. It was created to educate state legislators about the economic impact of Major League spring training games, state baseball tournaments and fantasy baseball camps held at Ed Smith Stadium year round. The video was received so well in Tallahassee, it was shown at public meetings in Sarasota County and as part of “City Life”, a popular magazine television program, to explain the community benefit of building a new baseball stadium. The video was written, produced and voiced by Public Information Officer Jan Thornburg. It was edited by Government Access Program Coordinator Miles Larsen, who also videotaped the piece along with John Nopper, the City’s Government Access Production Specialist.

Traveling Vietnam Wall, a nine-minute human interest feature won second place -- a Silver Circle Award -- in the “News Programming” category. Traveling Vietnam Wall was a poignant story which showcased the investment and return of the City of Sarasota bringing the Traveling Vietnam Wall to the region. The feature was shown on “City Life”, which can be seen on Channel 19 on Comcast Cable throughout Sarasota County. The feature was written, produced and voiced by Thornburg, and videotaped and edited by Larsen.

Thornburg accepted the three awards on behalf of the City of Sarasota at the 3CMA Savvy Awards banquet in Dallas. More than 400 government communicators throughout the nation attended the conference and competed in 30 awards categories.