Linda Polach Accepts Silver Circle Award From NATAS

From WGBH News: WGBH News’ award-winning Executive Managing Editor, Linda Polach, was honored on Wednesday night with the prestigious Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Boston/New England Chapter. Since 1993, the Silver Circle Awards have recognized veteran television professionals who have made significant contributions to their community for 25 years or longer.

Polach began her career as a high school teacher at her alma mater in Chicago, but quickly realized that journalism and her appetite for politics were her true calling. She took a job at WCVB-TV (Channel 5) in Boston while still a journalism graduate student for what would be the start of a 29-year tenure at the station. During her time at WCVB, she served as a news producer, executive producer and director of special projects including the station’s annual live coverage of the Boston Marathon. Among numerous awards Polach garnered, were several Emmys including one for WCVB’s coverage of the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

Polach joined WGBH in 2007 as the executive producer of Greater Boston with Emily Rooney and Beat The Press, for which she won a national Bart Richards Award for Media Criticism in 2014. That same year, she became Executive Managing Editor for WGBH News, overseeing all of the newsroom’s programs across radio, television and digital. Since arriving at WGBH, Polach has produced many of the major local political debates, from gubernatorial to senate to mayoral. Most recently, she oversaw WGBH News’ coverage of the New Hampshire Primary, plus the two major party conventions. She has served as the station’s editorial liaison with the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and spearheaded the successful bid for and launch of the WGBH Studio at the Boston Public Library.

"Throughout nearly 40 years working in local news, Linda has established herself not just as a leader in our newsroom, but also in our community at large," said Phil Redo, WGBH General Manager for Radio. "Her commitment to local issues and voices allows us to enrich the lives of our audience on-air, online and now in person at our new WGBH Studio at the Boston Public Library, an effort which wouldn't have been possible without her."

Polach accepted her award at a gala ceremony on Wednesday, November 30 at the Seaport Boston Hotel.

Image Courtesy of WGBH News