76th Los Angeles Area Emmys Emphasize Community and Connection

Every Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards ceremony bestows coveted golden statuettes for excellence in local programming. But at this year's 76th Los Angeles Area Emmys, the emphasis seemed less on winning and much more on human relationships and using media members' considerable skills to tell stories that make a difference in people’s lives.

Whether the topic was the fight against insurance companies' prior-authorization-review denials for crucial medical procedures; the inclusion of people with disabilities in media; or the celebration of living authentically via a community's LGBTQ+ Pride Parade, acceptance speeches reflected that sentiment.

"We're so grateful to the station [CBS2/KCAL9]," said producer-reporter Kristine Lazar in accepting the Business/Consumer News Story Emmy Award for the insurance company segment. "We've seen a lot of cuts in the media over the past couple of years, but they believed in consumer reporting and us going out there and helping people every day."

Held July 27 at the Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills and hosted by talk-show and podcast host Michaela Pereira, the ceremony recognized local programming in news, crime and social issues, the arts, culture and history, health and science, the environment, human interest, music and sports. For the eighth consecutive year, KCET led the way with 10 Emmys, followed by KVEA and Spectrum News 1 with four apiece.

Telemundo's KVEA, which last year scored a rare sweep of the three key news program categories, captured the award for Regularly Scheduled Daily Evening Newscast. Spectrum News 1 received the award for Regularly Scheduled Daily Morning Newscast, and KCBS2 won for Regularly Scheduled Daytime Newscast.

Relationships were on KVEA anchor Dunia Elvir's mind when she accepted the evening newscast statuette. "I honestly want to dedicate this to all of the families of each and every one of you," she told the audience, citing all the time spent apart because of work. "I think they're the real winners tonight."

Family figured poignantly in the presentation of the Governors Award, given posthumously to beloved KTLA5 entertainment anchor-reporter Sam Rubin, who died unexpectedly May 10 at age 64. Two of Rubin's four children, son Colby and daughter Darcy, accepted the honor, which followed Rubin’s winning an Emmy for Entertainment News Story for his coverage of last year's SAG-AFTRA strike.

"You get out of life what you put into it," Colby Rubin said. "My dad understood that perfectly. He spent time with his family every day. And he cherished every day. I've made it a personal goal to continuously express and encourage everyone to have … an appreciation for every moment. … Hug the people you love. Stop waiting. We can never predict when things might change, or people will leave us."

Noting that her father hoped never to retire, Darcy Rubin added, "He did not see his career as an obligation, but rather, a pleasure."

The winner for Sports Special, KTTV’s "Athletes Who Serve," on The Issue Is: with Elex Michaelson, was another entry that focused on the idea of aiding people, profiling athletes who use their platforms to help vulnerable children.

"I think there is a lesson [for] all of us, especially in the media, when we have the choice on what kind of stories we want to highlight," executive producer-writer-host Michaelson said in acceptance. "Do we want to highlight another crime story, or do we want to highlight the people that are doing good in our community, the people that are lifting people up … and inspiring others?"

The evening was not without levity. Accepting for Environment News Story for an ABC7 Eyewitness News report on the Lahaina, Maui, wildfire, coproducer-cameraman-editor Jeff MacIntyre recited a haiku poem he had written about his cowinner, producer-writer-reporter David Ono. "The Emmy Haiku Challenge is on," he then announced to his audience colleagues. "You're next."

Christie Lyn Lugo Leigh and Stephanie Hampton are the Television Academy’s Los Angeles Area peer group governors. Bob Bain was executive producer of the ceremony.

A complete list of winners and replay of the ceremony are available here.