From the Chairman

 I am feeling optimistic this spring as we are seeing many positive signs for our country and our industry.

We are still grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, but millions of people have been vaccinated, and restaurants, businesses and schools are gradually reopening. The especially encouraging news for television professionals is that production is steadily increasing. There is still a long way to go before we return to pre-pandemic levels, but we are headed in the right direction.

The 73rd Emmy Awards season is also picking up steam. The Academy’s viewing platform is stocked with offerings, and FYC events from a record number of submissions are well under way. To keep our members and media partners informed, we will continue to send regular email announcements about programming eligible for this year’s competition.

In addition, we have launched a terrific FYC calendar on the events page of Emmys.com, which provides details about every event, as well as a direct link for making your RSVP. We hope you will find these resources useful as you prepare for nominations-round voting, which opens June 17. And be sure to mark your calendars for Sunday, September 19, when the Emmys will air live on CBS.

While we move closer toward our pre-pandemic routines, we carry with us always our commitment to increasing diversity in the entertainment industry. As I reported in my previous column, the Academy in early March engaged ReadySet, one of the country’s leading consulting firms specializing in the creation of more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces and cultures.

ReadySet is working with the Academy to develop an action plan to address equity and inclusion throughout our organization, and the first step is a survey of our leadership, membership and staff that went out on March 30.

This online survey takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete and is totally anonymous — no names, member identification numbers or any other personal information is required. It includes questions related to the composition of our membership and perceptions about the Academy, as well as an optional section about your individual experiences with the entertainment business at large.

The survey was emailed to all Academy members. If you did not receive it, please contact [email protected] to request a link. It is vitally important that we hear from you as we work to increase visibility, equity, participation and leadership for those who continue to be underrepresented in our industry.

Please complete the survey by April 30. Your participation will help us create a better, more representative Television Academy.

Frank Scherma

Chairman and CEO, Television Academy