Tag: Andrea Billups

WVPB's John Nakashima Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

John Nakashima, a longtime senior television producer and director with West Virginia Public Broadcasting, has won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards ceremony at The Greenbrier Resort today. The WVPB news team also won seven first and two second place awards.

“I’m honored to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award, but I’m certainly not finished,” Nakashima said. “What an experience for my body of work to be recognized up to this point and for the wonderfully warm congratulations I received from the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters. I’m now looking forward to making as many documentaries as I can as long as I can.”

Nakashima has produced, directed, shot, written, and edited documentaries and music programs for public television in the Mountain State since 1977. His work explores West Virginia culture in the widest sense — including visual and performing arts, traditional and modern culture, historical documentaries, and contemporary issues. This Lifetime Achievement Award joins other awards for Nakashima, including multiple Regional Emmys, a Citizen of the Year distinction, and West Virginia Filmmaker of the Year 2013, to name a few.

Butch Antolini, WVPB’s interim director, said Nakashima has much to be proud of. “John Nakashima’s filmmaking legacy is impressive, and all of us at West Virginia Public Broadcasting are glad he’s been recognized by such a prestigious group as the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters,” Antolini said. “We’re also quite proud of the many awards brought home by the news team.”

Members of WVPB’s news team won awards in categories from Best Spot News to Best Investigative Reporting. Andrea Billups serves as news director for the statewide public media outlet.

“From features to in-depth reporting, and spot news to editorials, these awards showcase the depth of strong journalism that occurs at West Virginia Public Broadcasting,” Billups said. “We are incredibly proud of our work, proud to be journalists in this era, and proud to have support from our many listeners and followers across the state and region. We are all invested in doing the kind of work that elevates and shines a light on issues facing our state.”

WVPB winners in the Radio I Metro division include:

Best Spot News
First Place, Dave Mistich for “There’s an Endpoint: First Group in West Virginia Vaccinated for COVID-19”

Best Documentary or In-Depth
First Place, Roxy Todd, Mason Adams and Jessica Lilly for “Finding a Way Forward”
Second Place, Trey Kay and Kyle Vass for “Us & Them: Without a Home Can You Be a Good Neighbor?”

Best Light Feature
Second Place, Emily Allen for “Wrestlers and Fans Venture ‘Out of the Darkness’ With Drive-In Show”

Best Editorial or Editorial Series
First Place, Trey Kay for “Us & Them: Let Us Bind Up the Nation’s Wounds.”

Best Specialty Reporting
First Place, Caitlin Tan for “Folktales and Music Bring to Life the West Virginia/Welsh Connection.”

Best Investigative Reporting
First Place, Dave Mistich and Brittany Patterson for “Coal Operator Who Fought Against Black Lung Regulations Files for Black Lung Benefits.”

Best Radio News Anchor
First Place, Jessica Lilly for “Appalachian Strength in the Face of a Pandemic.”

Best Mountain State Heritage
First Place, Zack Harold for “A Family Cultivates Tradition With a Nearly-Forgotten Tomato.”

During the organization’s annual meeting, Eric Douglas, WVPB’s assistant news director, was elected to the board of directors and will serve alongside Jessica Lilly.

WVPB’s former intern from West Virginia University, Duncan Slade, won a $1,500 scholarship.

Andrea Billups Will Lead WVPB's News Team

Andrea Billups has joined the West Virginia Public Broadcasting team as news director, effective today.  

 

Billups, a native of Hurricane, W.Va., is a veteran national reporter, author, media consultant and educator. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Marshall University, where she was a 2018 inductee into the Marshall University Journalism Hall of Fame. She earned her master’s degree in mass communications from the University of Florida. 

 

Executive Director Chuck Roberts said the search to fill the critical role began in March 2020.

“The process was made possible by a thoughtful committee of seven West Virginia Public Broadcasting staffers from across a variety of departments, including the News Department,” Roberts said. “I am grateful for the unique perspective brought by everyone on the hiring committee. With her selection, Andrea brings  her experience, skills, journalistic integrity and leadership to our team. I’m also really pleased we could bring her back to her Mountain State roots.”

 

Billups’ work has been published in Time, US News, Reader’s Digest, Money, the Washington Post, The Washington Times and many other publications. She is a former staff correspondent for PEOPLE magazine and is a current contributor to the magazine and its digital counterpart, PEOPLE.com. Billups also taught journalism at five universities including Michigan State University, Grand Valley State University, the University of South Florida, the University of Florida and most recently, Western Kentucky University, where she served for two years as a professional-in-residence.

 

“I am thrilled to join West Virginia Public Broadcasting as news director,” Billups said. “While I have had a long national media career, it’s my desire to help my home state by using what I’ve learned to raise the bar on its news coverage. Now more than ever, we need a strong and thoughtful media presence. Our tenacious storytelling team seeks to lead the conversation about our challenges and shine a bright light on West Virginia’s unique and oft-unsung strengths.”

The news director position is housed at WVPB’s Charleston headquarters. Billups will oversee the direction of WVPB’s statewide news programming and lead its team of reporters and news producers. She also will serve on the organization’s Leadership Team.

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