With the 76th Emmy Awards telecast set for September 15 on. ABC and nominations-round voting just a month away, enthusiasm continues to build in anticipation of TV's biggest night. And while all of us at the Television Academy are eager to celebrate the extraordinary creative work of the past year, we are also acutely aware of the challenges impacting our industry and its workforce. Recent headlines such as "'The Industry Is Not Back': Bad News from Hollywood Crews" by The Hollywood Reporter's Katie Kilkenny and "Almost Everyone in Hollywood Wants to Get Back to Work. What's Taking So Long?" by the Los Angeles Times' Christi Carras and Marisa Gerber reflect the state of the town and its workers. With job loss and under-employment on the rise, our Academy's 24,000-plus members need career support now more than ever.
Though networking and professional-development opportunities have long been a hallmark of Academy membership, times like these require the Academy to enhance those investments and their accessibility. It is for this reason that I have asked our staff to evaluate all our offerings and ensure that they are reaching as many members as possible. For information about mixers, panels, seminars and other career-supporting events, I encourage you to visit the Academy website and keep an eye on our weekly newsletter. There, you will also find an array of resource pages and details about our Member Discount Program, which offers savings for hotels, restaurants and entertainment.
In addition to these ongoing benefits, the Academy has introduced a new program — the Peer Circle Program, made up of intimate professional groups designed to foster strong connections and community among our members. Launched as a pilot program last year and recently implemented more widely, this initiative creates a trusting environment where industry colleagues can provide encouragement and support, share advice, sharpen skills and more. The current program runs from May through November, with others to follow. For the first time this year, we will also introduce cross-Peer Circles covering a diverse range of topics.
Beyond our internal support structure, in the public space, the Academy also monitors government activity and prospective legislation in several key sectors and advocates for policies that support the television industry and its workforce. We are committed to continuing our advocacy work wherever it serves our members.
While I know our staff and our governors are invested in serving you, our members, I hope that you, too, will become a source of new ideas about how we can best support our industry. If you have questions or suggestions, please let us know by reaching out to our membership team or to your peer group leaders.
I have great confidence in the resilience and determination of our industry professionals. While the challenges before us are real, they are not insurmountable. And as we approach the 76th Emmys, I am reminded not only of the exceptional artistry and creativity of our colleagues but of their equally exceptional grit and perseverance.
