'Beacon of Hope' Earns Carpenter Fifth Emmy
By Matt Jones
Lemke Ledger Staff
A film about the University of Arkansas brought the journalism department some national recognition.
Already with four wins under his belt, UA professor Dale Carpenter won his fifth Mid-America Emmy in November for his photography and editing work on “Beacon of Hope,” a 2008 documentary on the history of the school.
UA professors Larry Foley, left, and Dale Carpenter won emmys in
November
for their work on a documentary about the UA's history
. — Photo provided
“I was real happy to win it,” said Carpenter, who had come up empty in two previous nominations for editing. “It’s something I take a lot of pride and care in. To be recognized for that was pretty cool.”
In his 15th year at the school, Carpenter said the work on the documentary changed the way he looked at the campus.
“Even though I didn’t go to school here, I grew up in Arkansas,” Carpenter said. “The University of Arkansas has always been very important to me. I learned a lot of things I wasn’t aware of when shooting this piece.
“Instead of just walking across campus to work, I was shooting the beauty. It taught me to appreciate the campus more and look at things a little differently.”
Carpenter co-produced the documentary with fellow broadcast professor Larry Foley, whose WHAT was also nominated for an award at the ceremony in St. Louis. The pair, who have worked together for 30 years dating to their days at KATV in Little Rock, said the recognition was good for the department.
“With our success, we’ve been able to grow our documentary film teaching,” Foley said. “The work coming out of here isn’t just OK. It’s among the best there is.”
Carpenter said the duo’s Emmy wins – which now total seven since 1994 – have brought the department recognition beyond its walls.
“Our work always wins awards pretty consistently,” Carpenter said. “I think among the people that know – our peers – our department is pretty well-respected.
“When one of us wins an award it draws attention to the fact our professors are doing good work.”