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Building a dynasty - Alt.news 26:46 takes home seven Emmys, bringing total to 23

BY ADAM TESTA, THE SOUTHERN

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 8:29 AM CDT

CARBONDALE - The National Football League has the New England Patriots. Major League Baseball has the New York Yankees. The Mid-America Emmys has alt.news 26:46.

Alt.news, Southern Illinois University Carbondale's alternative television program, earned seven Emmys from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Mid-America Chapter on Saturday in St. Louis.

"I think I can say what we've been able to create is a dynasty," said Jan Thompson, associate professor of radio and television and the group's adviser. "We are not a flash in the pan, and we probably have the best program in the United States."

This year's awards bring the show's total to 23 professional Emmy Awards in nine years. While talking to an alt.news alumnus this weekend, executive producer Jay Carey was reminded that "it's easy to get on top but harder to stay there."

But with the continued success of the show, Carey believes the group has managed the difficult task, and he's looking forward to the future.

"Not only have we got to the top; we're staying there, and we're improving year to year," he said. "Every year we want to evolve the show and make it more solid. That's no different this year."

One of the award-winning pieces, a profile of the late voiceover legend Don LaFontaine by senior radio/TV and cinema and photography major Tim Wilkerson, also attracted national attention after LaFontaine died in September.

As media organization across the country tried to find video to use as a tribute to LaFontaine, whose voice was used in thousands of movie and television previews, most searches ended at Wilkerson, Thompson said.

"We're really proud of everybody and the hard work they put into the show and that we were able to make something of it," Carey said.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com / 351-5031

And the winners are �

The following alt.news 26:46 staff members won Emmy awards this weekend:

Wilkerson in the arts/entertainment category for 'Don LaFontaine'

James Milner and Jonathan Gravatt in the science environment category for 'Body Worlds'

Sean Brown in the human interest and director categories for 'Angola Prison Rodeo'

Scott Blair in the writer/spot length category for 'alt.news news promo' and in the on-camera talent/performer category

Wilkerson and Brown in the magazine program category for 'alt.news 26:46'