The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Division of University Relations won the school’s first Emmy® award for “Outstanding Sports-Feature Segment” at the 2018 Southeast Regional Emmy® Awards, held in Atlanta on June 16.
The entry, “More Than a Game,” showcased the lasting impact of UAB Football’s partnership with Children’s Harbor. The video and storytelling — captured, written, edited and told by Laura Thomas, Jeff Myers and Andrea Reiber — showcased the Oct. 7, 2017, UAB vs. Louisiana Tech football game at Legion Field, where Blazer players suited up in specially designed uniforms for the game. The jerseys all featured the name of a Children’s Harbor patient on the back instead of the names of UAB football players.
| “The videography, editing and story-telling by Jeff and Laura resulted in a beautifully illustrated video that demonstrates the spirit of determination and energy of this university, and it is just one example of the wonderful stories yet to be told.” |
“This award is a testament to the professionalism and hard work by the University Relations visual content team,” said Andrea Reiber, executive director of the group. “The videography, editing and story-telling by Jeff and Laura resulted in a beautifully illustrated video that demonstrates the spirit of determination and energy of this university, and it is just one example of the wonderful stories yet to be told.”
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences sets the standards for excellence in the television broadcasting industry, and the highly competitive Regional Southeast Emmy Chapter is one of 19 throughout the United States identifying and celebrating television excellence at the local and regional levels. The Southeast chapter represents television professionals from all disciplines of the industry and from markets in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Asheville, N.C.
“The work that our Visual Content team produces is of the highest quality, and it consistently features outstanding videography and storytelling that is, in my opinion, unmatched in the Southeast,” said Anne Buckley, UAB’s chief communications officer, who oversees University Relations. “UAB and all of those who love to see the best of our university and our city are fortunate to have a group of this caliber producing stories that so eloquently showcase our initiatives in education, research, innovation, economic development, community engagement and patient care.”
The group’s work is featured on the UAB YouTube channel.
UAB’s Visual Content team worked with patient families, UAB Football coach Bill Clark and several players on the award-winning story, starting weeks before kickoff until the postgame celebration — after UAB blocked a Louisiana Tech field goal attempt on the game’s final play to seal a dramatic 23-22 Homecoming victory.
“These amazing families’ being willing to share their stories and the access we were allowed by Coach Clark and his players to share this beautiful gift they wanted to provide for these patients and their families were deeply appreciated by our team,” Reiber said. “The strength of the families and the way UAB players honored those patients and brought joy into their lives made it an honor for us to have the opportunity to share it.”
UAB Visual Content produces, manages and distributes all visual content for University Relations, including videography and still photography. University Relations oversees public relations, digital strategy and marketing, editorial content, website development, visual content, executive communications, and social strategy for UAB.
To see the Emmy award-winning story in its entirety, visit www.uab.edu/news.