Latino media stars honored

National Academy inducts eight new members into its Silver circle

The Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences induct eight new members – including two Latino media veterans – into its Silver Circle and Gold Circle societies on March 30. Those named to the Silver Circle, honoring 25 years of service in the industry, include KPHO-TV Channel 5’s investigative photojournalist Gilbert “Z” Zermeno. Zermeno has been in the television business for 25 years. During that time he has been involved in TV stories from Phoenix to Texas to the Middle East. He rose through the ranks and became an investigative producer for KPHO.  Other honorees include pioneer educational and promotional programming developer David Luna; the late Ron Bergamo, the KAZ-TV executive who was killed in an auto accident earlier this year; veteran KPNX-TV Channel 12 news anchor Lin Sue Cooney; KSAZ-TV Channel 10 retiree Richard McKee; and producer John Vasseur.   Inductees to the Academy’s Gold Circle, honoring 50 years of service, are Larry Martel from Peoria 11 and Jack Miller from Canyon Records. Media veteran Lucia Madrid was a member of the selection committee. Since the two societies were established in 1993, more than 100 recipients have been honored with membership. For more, www.rockymountainemmy.org.