At nearly the halfway point of the year, I’m reminded of the phrase “Survive ’til ’25,” that mantra so many in the business repeated to one another last year as we weathered the industry storms and headwinds. It all feels so naive in hindsight, as the reality is that it is indeed harder than ever to get something made — and even when you do, to get it supported and renewed. It’s an ongoing topic of discussion throughout every workplace, mine included.
At the Television Academy, the industry-wide hardships add more urgency and significance to our work of preserving our present and strengthening our future. Our Foundation interns have already begun another summer of hands-on education at host studios, networks, agencies and other companies, across more than two dozen fields (including animation, art direction, casting, cinematography, commercials, costume design, directing, editing, PR, sound, special effects and writing). My company, Hyphenate Media Group, is proud to be hosting two interns this summer — one in scripted development and one in unscripted development.
June will be a packed month, with events that include the announcement of the Los Angeles Area Governors Award in advance of the L.A. Area Emmys ceremony on July 26. Meanwhile, across the country, another Tri-State mixer will further reinforce our dedication to our membership outside California, as will longtime Academy staff member Barbara Chase’s move to New York to serve as a liaison for East Coast members. And later in the month, we will see our third Inclusion Summit in as many years — the Academy, for one, is not backing down from its commitment to creating an industry that reflects the diversity of our audience. We know that this work will attract the boldest talent, create the most innovative content and ensure that the future of our medium is as bright and relevant as its extraordinary past.
As a reminder, voting for the Emmys’ nomination round opens June 12 and runs through June 23. I urge all members to take seriously the privilege to participate in what is shaping up to be an exciting telecast, hosted by Nate Bargatze, and ask you again to watch as much content as possible, so that your vote can reflect the variety of programs and the artists behind them. We are deep in planning with our broadcast partner CBS and returning executive producers Jesse Collins Entertainment, and we can’t wait to show you all what we have in store.
This chair letter originally appeared in emmy magazine, issue #8, 2025.
