Iowa PBS honored with a national Public Media Award!
An image of a Public Media Awards trophy. The trophy is made of glass and is a pyramidal shape. Etched in the glass is the logo for the awards, reading "PMA Public Media Awards Presented by NETA."

Iowa PBS was honored at the 56th Annual Public Media Awards of the National Educational Telecommunications Association last night in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Iowa PBS won the award in the Community Engagement: Local Project category for localizing a national project with an equally compelling and engaging local project. 

Iconic Iowa, which helped to promote PBS’s nationally broadcast documentary Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David Rubenstein during Summer 2023, featured a comprehensive online and in-person campaign to provide local content and engagement around iconic landmarks and symbols of Iowa. This project featured a traveling photo competition and exhibit, a trivia night, local digital content and an online photography showcase where Iowans submitted photos of their local communities.

“Our relationship with viewers is an incredibly important role for our statewide network,” said Iowa PBS General Manager and Executive Director Andrew Batt. “A national honor for community engagement on the Iconic Iowa project is a direct reflection of the time, effort and expertise delivered by Iowa PBS staff in bringing these programs into our cities and small towns."

"The Iconic Iowa project has had a significant impact on local communities across the state, fostering deeper connections and providing a platform for Iowans to share their stories." said Engagement Manager Caryline Clark. "It's truly been an honor to see how these initiatives bring people together and celebrate Iowa's diverse spirit."

The Public Media Awards, presented by NETA, honor their members’ work in the highest caliber community engagement, content, education and marketing and communications. With the exception of the overall excellence categories, stations compete within their divisions based on their station size. Awards are judged by a group of expert panelists from within the public media system, as well as industry professionals working outside of public media.

“Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees and award winners,” said NETA President Eric Hyyppa. “The entries were exemplary, showcasing the best of the best from across the public media system.”

NETA is a professional association representing 302 member stations in 49 states, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. NETA provides leadership, general audience content, educational services, professional development, and trusted financial management services, including human resources and benefits administration, to individual public media licensees, their affinity groups, and public media as a whole.