Photos: CUNY
CUNY TV won seven New York Emmy Awards for its work over the past year, matching last year’s record of Emmys won by the 37-year-old station in a single year and bringing the station’s total count of Emmy Awards won to 35.
The station’s documentary series “I am a Dreamer,” a groundbreaking three-year-old show that profiles the experiences of DREAMers and undocumented immigrants in New York, led the way with four N.Y. Emmys and two of CUNY TV’s signature programs, “Nueva York” and “Urban U,” also brought home awards during the 65th annual gala, held in person after a two-year hiatus at the New York Marriott Marquis on Oct. 8. The station celebrates its successes as it welcomes a highly accomplished and experienced leader, Chiqui Cartagena, as interim executive director.
“We are truly excited to see CUNY TV’s programming spotlighted yet again by the New York Emmy Awards for their unmatched ability to find and creatively share the stories that make our University and our city so special,” said CUNY Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing Maite Junco. “As we congratulate CUNY TV on its hard-earned and well-deserved recognition, I am equally pleased to welcome Chiqui Cartagena as the station’s new interim executive director. I am confident that her extensive experience will lead the University’s independent television station to continued success and in exciting new directions.”
This was the first time “I am a Dreamer,” a spin off of a “Nueva York” segment launched in 2019, won an Emmy. In one winning segment, the show highlights the family of Borough of Manhattan Community College graduate Michael Vasquez, who developed public service announcements about COVID-19 for his community of Jackson Heights, Queens, while his family experienced and suffered from effects of the virus.
The award-winning episode of “Urban U” profiles impactful CUNY alumni including broadcast journalist Adeola Fayehun ’08, a Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism graduate and host of “Keeping it Real with Adeola,” a weekly satire show that seeks to raise awareness of African politics.
The seven wins follow the station’s record-breaking 19 nominations for this year’s awards and 28 total nominations for productions originated by the University. Other CUNY-affiliated nominees this year included Lehman College; the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute in collaboration with the electronic design and multimedia program at The City College of New York; and the Language and Literacy Programs unit of CUNY’s Office of Academic Affairs.
New Leadership
Chiqui Cartagena joined CUNY TV as interim executive director on Sept. 6. She comes to the University with over 35 years of experience in media and communications, having served in leadership roles at Univision, Telemundo and NY1 News.
“It is an honor to join CUNY TV as it celebrates seven more New York Emmy Awards, and I congratulate all those who helped bring this recognition to our station,” said Cartagena. “I look forward to seeing how we can further serve both the University and the broader New York City community with our programming in the future.”
Cartagena previously spent eight years at Univision network, rising to vice president of corporate marketing. She has held leadership roles at Meredith Corporation, Columbia House, TV Guide, Colors Magazine, People en Español and The Miami Herald, on top of more than 10 years of additional experience in broadcast television as executive producer of NY1, Univision 41 and Telemundo 47.
Cartagena currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Conservation Lands Foundation and has served on the boards of GLAAD; NewFest, New York’s LGBTQI+ film festival; and on the National Emmy Awards Committee for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS).
Cartagena succeeds Gail Yancosek, who retired last month after 14 years with CUNY TV, the last five as executive director. The station’s count of New York Emmy Awards more than doubled under Yancosek’s leadership.
Below is a complete list of the 2022 New York Emmy Awards earned by CUNY TV:
Diversity/Equity/Inclusion – Short Form Content (up to 10 minutes)
I am a Dreamer: “Karina”
Premiered: May 15, 2021
Winner: Erika Gregorio, segment producer/camera/editor
Education/Schools – Long Form Content (longer than 10 minutes)
Urban U: “CUNY Stories January 2021”
Premiered: Jan. 7, 2021
Winners: Susan Iger, director of production; Vianora Vinca, show producer; Sam Shakya, show editor; Abi Ishola, segment producer; Joseph Montalbano, segment producer; Ari Goldberg, segment producer; Konrad Aderer, segment editor
Health/Medical – Short Form Content (up to 10 minutes)
I am a Dreamer: “Una Familia vive con Covid-19 en epicentro del 2020”
Premiered: Jan. 13, 2021
Winners: Gisela Sanders-Alcántara, producer/editor; Michael Vasquez, associate producer/cinematographer; Janeth Ramirez, associate producer
Historical/Cultural – Short Form Content (up to 10 minutes)
I am a Dreamer: “¿Qué es ser un artista inmigrante?”
Premiered: Sept. 22, 2021
Winners: Gisela Sanders-Alcántara, producer/editor; Erika Gregorio, camera; Mario Rosales, camera
Human Interest – Short Form Content (up to 10 minutes)
Nueva York: “La Morada”
Premiered: Jan. 15, 2021
Winner: Carmen Vidal, producer/editor
Magazine Program (Single Program)
Nueva York: “Mayo”
Premiered: May 13, 2021
Winners: Susan Iger, director of production; Jerry W. Carlson, senior producer; Erika Gregorio, producer/editor; Wilson Reyes, producer/editor; Gisela Sanders-Alcántara, producer/editor; Diana Vargas, producer/editor; Carmen Vidal, producer/editor; Àlex Lora-Cercós, producer/show editor; Carmen Boullosa, producer
Public Affairs Program (Single Program)
I am a Dreamer: “Pueblos Originarios, Eva Santos y Juan Carlos Marín”
Premiered: Nov. 10, 2021
Winners: Susan Iger, director of production; Mario Rosales, show producer/camera/editor; Gisela Sanders-Alcántara, segment producer/camera/editor; Erika Gregorio, segment producer/camera/editor; Carlo Nicolau, music composer
