A video showing how our scientists discovered a potential breakthrough for treating a toxic tire chemical that is killing coho salmon won the award for best short-form environment/science documentary at the 63rd Annual Northwest Regional Emmy Awards gala.
Multimedia Specialists Ken Christensen and Eric Keto used a toy truck and mason jars filled with organic ingredients to show how a high-performing soil mixture has proven effective in lab tests at treating a toxic chemical, known as 6PPDQ, that is killing coho salmon before they reach their spawning grounds.
After news organizations across the country — along with The Seattle Times — featured the video in their coverage, lead researcher Chelsea Mitchell was invited to brief congressional staff members, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other organizations interested in her team’s study results.
“The best communication teams not only increase public awareness and understanding of complex environmental science — they spark productive policy discussions that drive meaningful results,” said Josh Baldi, Director of our Water and Land Resources Division. “I’m grateful that our department has the ability to make our scientists’ groundbreaking research accessible to the people we serve.”
It marks the second consecutive Emmy award for Christensen, who won last year for a video profiling our Wastewater Treatment Division’s successful Operator-in-Training Program. Here is a clip of him accepting the award on stage:
National awards for news and social media success
The Emmy win occurred weeks after our public affairs team won awards in two categories at the National Association of Government Communicators‘ conference in Palm Springs.
The news release they produced to announce the plan to renew the King County Parks Levy took home third place, with judges noting the clear writing and strong visuals — photography, videography, and graphics — that made it convenient for news organizations to accurately cover the outdoor press event.
Digital Media Coordinator Marie Tweedy took home third place in nonpaid social media outreach for quickly transitioning to emergency response during the December flooding as soon as it became clear that it was an historic, life-threatening natural disaster.
Tweedy and members of our Water and Land Resources Division showed how our frontline employees — including members of our specially trained Flood Patrol — contributed to the 24/7 emergency response for nearly a month to keep people safe and protect homes.
Our public affairs team has won a combined 12 NAGC awards since 2023.
“The public can’t support our work if they don’t know about it or understand how it contributes to their quality of life, so effective communications is critical to our success,” said Mo McBroom, Interim Director for the Department of Natural Resources and Parks. “The multiple awards our public affairs team has won in recent years is the result of their unique ability to produce artistry that advances policy.”