Four Florida women and communications professionals including sexual abuse survivor Lauren Book today accepted prestigious Gracie Awards® from the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) Foundation in New York City. The awards honored two Florida programs, one about childhood sexual abuse and the other celebrating Florida’s 500-year history.
Michelle Ubben, partner and chief operating officer of Sachs Media Group, and Jessica Clark, project manager of campaigns and branding, along with Lauren Book, founder and CEO of the Lauren’s Kids foundation, were honored with a Gracie Award® for Outstanding Interview Program or Feature for Intimate Crimes: The Inside Story of Child Sexual Abuse.
The 30-minute program, which aired statewide in Florida last year on network affiliate television stations, featured an exclusive interview with an incarcerated pedophile, using his stories of coercion as a thread throughout the program to document how predators take advantage of families’ vulnerabilities and groom children and parents for abuse. The program also highlighted five heart-rending stories of men and women who had been abused as children, exploring the pressures that kept them silent and their daily struggles on the road to survival.
“To be honored for creating programming that is relevant and important to women as judged by an esteemed panel of women in media makes this award especially meaningful,” Ubben said. “It’s a great blessing to be able to create campaigns that have a positive impact on people’s lives.”
Chucha Barber was honored with a Gracie Award® for Outstanding Producer – Documentary/Reality for Viva Florida 500, created in cooperation with Sachs Media Group and the Florida Department of State to document Florida’s 500-year history since Juan Ponce de León’s arrival in Florida. Chucha Barber served as both the writer and producer for the project in collaboration with Ron Sachs and Lisa Garcia. Barber, formerly President of Chucha Barber Productions, is now Principal of Impact Visual Media.
The award ceremony was held today at the New York Hilton Midtown and featured Moll Anderson, Nancy Giles and Robin Roberts as hosts and special guests.
The Gracie Awards® recognize exemplary programming created for women, by women and about women in all facets of electronic media, as well as individuals who have made contributions to the industry. The awards program also encourages the realistic and multifaceted portrayal of women in entertainment, news, features and other programs. Each year, the Gracie Awards® attract the best and brightest in radio, television, cable and new media.
About the Gracie Awards®
The Gracie Awards® are presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AWM which supports educational programs, charitable activities, public service campaigns and scholarships to benefit the public and women in the media. The Gracie Awards®, established in 1975, honor programming and individuals of the highest caliber in all facets of radio, television, cable and web-based media, including news, drama, comedy, commercials, public service, documentary and sports. For more information, visit www.AllWomenInMedia.org.