The Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced that 20 of Arizona Public Media's projects received Emmy® Award nominations across 16 categories, with AZPM staff earning 43 individual nominations. AZPM staff were recognized with more Emmy® Award nominations than any other television station or organization in Tucson, and more than any other public media organization in the region.
Notably, this year’s nominations include Overall Excellence and Technical Achievement, recognizing the breadth, quality, and innovation of AZPM’s work as it enters a new chapter in the Paul and Alice Baker Center for Public Media, its new state-of-the-art facility built to provide greater creative opportunities and community engagement.
“Being recognized for Overall Excellence is a meaningful reflection of the talent, creativity, and dedication of our entire team. These nominations celebrate not only the exceptional work we are doing today, but also the possibilities ahead,” said Jack Gibson, AZPM Chief Executive Officer. “We’re excited to carry that momentum into this next chapter and use the Baker Center to deepen our connection to the community and bring Southern Arizona’s stories to audiences near and far.”
This is the seventh program nomination for Arizona Illustrated since 2015 and the third overall station excellence nomination for AZPM, which it won in 2015. AZPM also received the prestigious Governor’s Award in 2016 for its feature documentary Passing On.
The 2026 AZPM Emmy® nominations are:
Overall Excellence
- Jack Gibson – Chief Executive Officer
Sports Story - Short Form Content
Adaptive Golf Team
- Laura Holánszky – Producer
- Diana Cadena – Photographer
- Dennis Fitzgerald – Producer
Magazine Program - Single Program
Arizona Illustrated
- Andrew Brown – Producer
- Shawn Teague – Director
- Emmanuel Joubeaud – Editor
- Jim Blackwood – Audio Mixer
- Tom McNamara – Host
Arts / Entertainment - Short Form Content
Rani Olson: Getting Free
- Özlem Ayşe Özgür – Producer / Videographer
- Robert Lindberg – Photographer
Discovering Boone
- John DeSoto – Producer
- Danny Sax – Editor
Ignacio Garcia - Murals for Tucson
- Laura Holánszky – Producer
- Nathan Huffman – Editor
Historical / Cultural - Short Form Content
Saving History: Potter USA
- Dennis Fitzgerald – Producer
Designing Tucson
- John DeSoto – Producer
Diversity / Equity / Inclusion Content
Para Swimming Team
- Laura Holánszky – Producer
- Nathan Huffman – Photographer
- Danny Sax – Editor
- Dennis Fitzgerald – Producer
Environment / Science - Short Form Content
Dark Energy
- Robert Lindberg – Photographer
- Bryan Nelson – Producer
Environment / Science - Long Form Content
The Water and the Wall
- Katya Mendoza – Producer
- Danyelle Khmara – Producer
Quantum Consciousness
- Danny Sax – Photographer
- Bryan Nelson – Producer
Health / Medical Content
Medicaid Cuts Cause Uncertainty
- Paola Rodriguez Alvarez – Producer
Human Interest - Short Form Content
Centro de Esperanza
- Danyelle Khmara – Producer
- Diana Cadena – Editor
- Nathan Huffman – Photographer
Lifestyle - Content
Backyard Bounty
- Tony Paniagua – Producer
- Robert Lindberg – Photographer
- Nathan Huffman – Editor
Societal Concerns Content
Redefining Religion
- Diana Cadena – Editor
- Hannah Cree – Producer
Editor - Short Form Content
The Sacred Fool
- Emmanuel Joubeaud – Editor
Photographer - Content
Danny Sax Photography Reel
- Danny Sax – Photographer
Solo Storyteller
Tucson Tours
- John DeSoto – Photographer / Editor / Writer
Technical Achievement
AZPM's New Production Facility
- Ian MacSpadden – Broadcast Engineer
- Jason Katterhenry – Broadcast Engineer
- Greg Gutierrez – Broadcast Engineer
- Shawn Teague – Audio Engineer
Student Emmy® nominations, announced last month ahead of the professional categories, included recognition for AZPM videographer Clinton Willis in the College Fiction category for his film Be Still Boone, starring University of Arizona alumnus Craig T. Nelson. The making of Be Still Boone was chronicled in the nominated Arizona Illustrated segment “ Discovering Boone,” offering a behind-the-scenes look at Willis’ inspiration, creative process, and production.
Since 2011, AZPM staff have won 245 individual Emmy® awards. This year’s winners will be announced at a ceremony on Saturday, November 7, 2026 in Phoenix. For a complete list of nominees in the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter, which includes Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and El Centro, California, please go to rockymountainemmy.org.
Earlier this week, AZPM received two Public Media Awards from the National Educational Telecommunications Association, recognizing excellence in marketing and communications for its Annual Report to the Community and visual arts for Rani Olsen – Getting Free.