Below you can read the full text of e-mails from WTAE news director Bob Longo to the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Mid-Atlantic chapter branch and the NATAS response.

Friday, Jan. 12, 2007

Dear Board Members,

It is with mixed emotions that I must tell you that I am unable to attend the NATAS retreat next weekend, and that I must step down from the board immediately.

I have given this a tremendous amount of thought over the past few months, and have decided that I can no longer be a part of this organization.

From my vantage point in Pittsburgh, the "regional" chapter appears to be nothing more than a Philadelphia TV social club. Events, funds, and awards are controlled by and centered on Philadelphia. Other markets within the region, including Pittsburgh, are given token attention and in my opinion, are ignored. The bias is palpable. When it comes time for awards, entries are encouraged openly, but once in, those awards, and the funds they generate are put to use running a Philadelphia chapter and annual party.

I am resigning, effective immediately. As News Director at WTAE, I am also ending station participation in this chapter. WTAE will no longer sponsor any awards entries, and I will encourage individuals to abstain as well.

If time and energy permits, I will petition the national organization to seriously look at establishing a truly regional NATAS chapter that more honestly represents Pittsburgh.

Bob Longo

News Director

WTAE TV/DT/thepittsburghchannel.com

January 14, 2007

The NATAS Board of Governors is disappointed that Mr. Longo, who joined our Board in July 2006 and has long been involved in our programs, did not share any of his thoughts with our leadership prior to sending this inflammatory email. He accepted the appointment to our board without ever expressing concern for the guiding principles or ongoing practices of this organization.

We are mystified by his inaccurate perceptions of how our Chapter works, and we would have appreciated the opportunity to have an honest and thoughtful dialogue with him, rather than respond in this public platform that he has chosen. We do intend to reach out to him in the near future, out of respect and consideration for his involvement in our Chapter and for the excellent work done at WTAE-TV.

In recent years, our entire Board (which before his resignation had representatives from three Pittsburgh TV outlets) has recognized the importance of bringing interesting events to Pittsburgh TV professionals and encouraging meaningful participation in our annual awards program honoring excellence in regional television.

With the support of Pittsburgh-area members, our staff has organized a Nominations Annoucement Party there for many years. In 2006, Mr. Longo welcomed Chapter officials to the WTAE newsroom as they visited there and other Pittsburgh stations to explain changes in Emmy entry categories and address questions; organized a successful event featuring Pittsburgh TV News Directors (in which Mr. Longo participated); and launched our Cinema Club program. This year, we look forward to hosting a "How to get your first job in television" forum for area college students.

Each year, we reach out to students across our chapter, including those in Pittsburgh area schools with news of NATAS scholarship and educational programs. In 2004, we introduced a Pittsburgh native at the Emmy award ceremony as the winner of our Young Producer's Award scholarship competition. In the past three years, two Pittsburgh broadcast veterans (both respected alumni of WTAE-TV, I might add) have been presented with the prestigious Board of Governors Award honoring lifetime achievement.

Mr. Longo's station, WTAE, has won 30 Emmys over the years - including two presented to Mr. Longo for Outstanding Newscast and Outstanding Morning Newscast in 2004. While it is correct that last year the station received nine nominations but no Emmy Awards, it is important to remind everyone that the work entered isn't judged by insiders in Philadelphia, but by panels of professionals working in markets like Chicago, New York, Boston or San Francisco.

Finally, I think it is safe to say that audience members from all over the region shared in the pride of WQED employees as they accepted our inaugural award for Overall Station Excellence at the 2006 Emmy Gala.

We should not frame this issue around just the numbers of awards, nominations or events. This organization's leadership and administrative staff have made a commitment to engage and include all of our members in Chapter initiatives, and to characterize this organization as a 'Philadelphia TV social club' insults all the volunteers who have given countless hours to supporting the Chapter. Our board members have traveled to every corner of this Chapter to help people understand the value of participating in NATAS. It is, in my view, wrong to simply dismiss or impute their efforts.

Of course we can always do more to make NATAS participation meaningful for those working in Pittsburgh, and for our members in Harrisburg, Trenton, Philadelphia and other markets in this Chapter. But I believe our best hope of continuing to engage all of our members and enhance our programming comes through the active involvement and leadership of those who care deeply about our craft and our Chapter.

Paul Gluck

President

NATAS, Mid-Atlantic Chapter