Television Academy Foundation

The saban media center houses the Television Academy Foundation offices as well as spaces for Foundation program events. Foundation events using the multipurpose conference facilities include the summer internship program professional development, media educators conference, the summit for college Television award nominees, and the awards ceremony for the college Television awards, and other Foundation programs. In 2022, the Foundation's "power of tv" public programming series included conversations about advancing aapi (asian american pacific islander) representation in media and women producing with purpose. The "power of tv" showcases the potential of Television to advance cultural conversations and create social change. Foundation events using the theater, lobby and exterior spaces include networking mixers for Foundation interns, media educators conference, discussions, and larger public programs. A small studio on the lower level has been used to record oral histories as part of the Foundation's interviews program, as well as conduct our virtual college Television summit, which provides professional development to 1,400 students across the nation. All of the programs listed above are ongoing programs of the Foundation and help to fulfill the Foundation's mission to support emerging Television creators and to preserve the history of the Television industry.

The internship program provides over 60 industry wide internships to college and graduate students from across the country and is a key part of fulfilling the Foundation's mission of educating and preparing the next generation of Television leaders. The competitive program gives selected students in-depth exposure to professional Television production during an eight week paid summer internship. We also provide 13-week paid part-time internships during the fall and spring semester. Outreach is conducted at multi-ethnic colleges, historically black colleges and universities, hispanic serving institutions, tribal colleges, and asian pacific islander serving institutions, while maintaining a strong presence in schools nationwide. In addition, the Foundation engaged over 300 volunteers from the Television Academy in the review of over 1,800 applications and other programmatic aspects. While participating in the internship program, students also attended professional development workshops and networking events to help prepare them for the next phase of their careers.

The interviews (formerly archive of american Television)- an oral history of Television creating long-form video oral history interviews with Television icons and making them available to the public, journalists, and scholars worldwide via a fully catalogued website. The interviews: an oral history of Television helps fulfill one of the Foundation's central goals - the preservation, celebration, and dissemination of Television history. Over 940 interviews now make up the archive. Oral history subject highlights for 2022 include soledad o'brien, donald a. morgan as well as the celebration of the interviews 25th anniversary.

The college Television awards is a renowned national competition recognizing excellence in college student produced content that helps to fulfill the Foundation's mission of educating and preparing those who will impact the future of Television. Students are invited to submit their best work and winners receive cash awards and industry recognition at an emmy awards style event. In 2022, the ceremony and professional development summit were held at the saban media center.