The Gwinnett County Communications Department has won its first Emmy during the Southeast Regional Emmy Awards’ 50th anniversary. The award was given for the series “Upfront Gwinnett: Fighting Fentanyl,” which competed against productions from Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Georgia.
The series was hosted and executive produced by County spokeswoman Deborah Tuff, with producer Ryan J. Dennis, filmmaker and editor Brandon Davis, and editor Derek Davis also honored for their contributions.
“We are incredibly proud of the Communications Department for its outstanding work on this series,” said Gwinnett Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. “Winning an Emmy is a testament to their dedication and the importance of raising awareness about critical issues like fentanyl use in our community.”
The series began following an August 2022 meeting between Chairwoman Hendrickson, Newton County Chair Marcello Banes, and Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt. The discussions highlighted the rise in fentanyl use, prompting Tuff to develop a series addressing the issue with support from Hendrickson and the Board of Commissioners.
In addition to tackling fentanyl use, the program also addressed the speeding problem in Gwinnett County. The latest series, “Upfront Gwinnett: Suffering in Silence,” focuses on mental health awareness.
The Communications Department also received an Emmy nomination for the advertisement launching Ride Gwinnett’s new Microtransit program.
The Emmy-winning series and the team’s acceptance speech are available for viewing on the Gwinnett County YouTube channel.
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