DONN JOHNSON

For the past thirty three years, I have been involved in many responsibilities at KPBS.   Presently those duties include:

Current Title:  Senior Television Director & Scheduling Executive

Senior Television Director for local, state, and national programs, specializing in live and taped multi-camera productions.

Scheduling supervisor for all aspects of KPBS television productions

Videographer/Director ‑ Remote locations

Direct fundraising events: pledge drives and other promotional activities, in-house and out-of-house clients – local and national events.
           
Direct local documentaries in conjunction with KPBS fundraisers.

Supervise and provide instruction to staff & student members in the use of production techniques and equipment.
           
Supervise technical phases of program productions.
           
Produce and Direct promotional spots for local and national programs.

Provide Directing and Technical Directing services for out‑of‑house clients.
           
Off‑Line Editor for major productions.

Part time instructor for beginning and advanced television production courses as needed for San Diego State University’s Professional Studies and Fine Arts, Theatre, Television and Film department.

AWARD ACHIEVEMENTS:

7 Local Emmy Awards:

2009 Pacific Southwest Regional Emmy Award for excellence in Audio Mixing for the Cox SD4 Christmas program taped at the University of San Diego.

2006 Pacific Southwest Regional Emmy Award for excellence in Directing the remote KPBS program:  “Envision – The San Diego Mayoral Debates“ at the Kroc Salvation Army Community Center.  This program was the live pool feed for approximately 5 local station feeds.

2005 Received the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Pacific Southwest chapter GOVERNORS’ AWARD for outstanding service to the chapter.  Most notably, directing the local Emmy Awards show each year.

Recognized in 2004 by the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Television Academy by being inducted in to the Silver Circle, indicating at least 25 years as a contributing member in the television field

Currently serving as National Trustee for the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Television Academy.

1990 San Diego Emmy Award for audio mixing the “Music of Japan” 

1989 San Diego Emmy Award for directing “Seniors Speak Out – Senior Playwrights”. 

1987 San Diego Emmy Award for Directing “New Image Teens On Peer Pressure.”  In addition to directing, I also edited the show.  This program received an OLLIE Award, American Children's Television Festival, and the BEST OF THE WEST Award, Pacific Mountain Network Informational Programming.

1987   San Diego Emmy Award for Directing, “New Image Teens On Peer Pressure.”   Distributed by PBS.  Recipient, OLLIE Award, American Children's Television Festival, and the BEST OF THE WEST Award, Pacific Mountain Network Informational Programming.

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San Diego Emmy nomination for Directing Other Than News, “The Lounge”.  Airing on KPBS.

San Diego Emmy nomination for Directing Other Than News, “Simply Maria or the American Dream.”  Airing on KPBS

San Diego Emmy nomination for Directing Other Than News for “Center Stage.”  Airing on KPBS

1985 San Diego Emmy nomination in Audio Excellence for REMEMBERING WAR:  A U.S. SOVIET SPACE BRIDGE, a live 2 hour, 2‑way satellite uplink between Moscow and San Diego, celebrating the 40th anniversary of VE Day.  Distributed on the PBS network. 

SELECTED PRODUCTION CREDITS:

Director of the NTA Pacific Southwest Emmy Awards event since 1994.  Coordination of all technical aspects and logistics for the awards show each year. 

Director, Editor, “Date Rape: No Isn’t Always Enough.”  Distributed by PBS September 1987.  Central Educational Network's Target Programming Award, 1988.
           
Audio Mixer, SPEAKING OF THE ARTS, nationally known artists, critics and patrons.  Fall 1987 distribution through Interregional Program Service to all PBS stations.

Technical Director, TWENTY‑FIVE YEARS OF THE PRESIDENCY, presidential Chiefs of Staff from             Eisenhower to Carter administrations chat with John Chancellor.  A two‑part series featured on PBS Network, June 1986.  Cine Golden Eagle Award, San Diego Press Club Journalism Award.  San Diego Emmy Award winner.

Technical Director, THREE GENERATIONS OF THE BLUES (Part II) Public TV distribution, Summer 1987. International distribution.  San Diego Area Emmy Award ‑ best entertainment program for 1986.

Technical Director, THE NAKED GERSHWIN, PBS Network, Fall 1985.  Winner of two San Diego Area Emmy Awards, 1984.

Producer/Director/Editor, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: 1983, segment, Program nominated for San Diego Emmy Award.  BEST OF THE WEST Award for Western Educational Society for Telecommunications.

Technical Director, THREE GENERATIONS OF THE BLUES, Winner, San Diego Emmy Award, 1984; Bronze Medal 1983 New York International Film and Video Festival.  PBS Network, fall 1984.  Distributed internationally.

Audio Mixer, CLUB DATE, 7 part series of Jazz programs featuring Milt Jackson, Cal Tjader, Gabor Szabo, Peanuts Huko, The Weirz, Almeta Speaks and Margie Adam. PBS distribution.  Some shows were done as a live simulcast on radio and recorded live to stereo.

Remote Director, THE NEWSHOUR for PBS, various CNBC, MSNBC, Court TV, and others.

Videographer, NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT, segments, PBS series.

Audio Mixer, Director, NEWSWEEK SAN DIEGO, 1980 Golden Mike Award by the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California for best news commentary and analysis. 

Audio Mixer, INCEST:  THE BROKEN SILENCE, San Diego Emmy Award, 1979 Media Award from the National Mental Health Association and was selected by the Pacific Mountain Network             receive its 1979 award for Excellence In Public Affairs Programming.

Audio Mixer, 20 FINGERS, student Emmy Award 1978.

Audio Mixer, PARENT EFFECTIVENESS TRAINING, 1976, PBS series.
 

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
 
1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles California - Los Angeles Olympic Organization Committee Assistant Coordinator of Television and Film Operations for the summer games.  Worked for the LAOOC, Coordinating the production plans for the official broadcaster, ABC, the official film production company, 20th Century Fox, and the numerous world broadcasting networks. Overseeing production activities of these three groups at twenty‑five sites in the Los Angeles vicinity.  Over six thousand broadcasters and technicians were involved.

1990 Good Will Games in Spokane and Seattle Washington – audio engineering
1996 Olympics in Athens and Atlanta Georgia – audio engineering
2000 Summer Olympics for NBC in Sydney Australia – audio engineering
2002 Winter Olympics for NBC in Salt Lake Utah – audio engineering

Freelance audio engineer for sports productions over 30 years

Audio Consultant for various clients

Directing various freelance teleconferences and events