Governor Cuomo’s daily press conferences quickly became an integral part of most New Yorkers’ daily at-home life since March, especially when lockdown first began and when positive case numbers reached their apex.
And now, he has won an Emmy award for them. The Governor received the special “Founders Award” from the International Emmy Awards earlier today (Nov. 23), “in recognition of his leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic and his masterful use of television to inform and calm people around the world.”
Receiving the Founders Award at the 48th International Emmy Awards at approx. 11:20am ET.
Watch here:https://t.co/W6UsnNGvjC
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) November 23, 2020
The Founders Award is normally presented to someone who “crosses cultural boundaries to touch our common humanity,” and the Emmys felt that the NY State Governor did just that. He stands in the company of previous recipients like Vice President Al Gore, Oprah Winfrey, and Steven Spielberg.
The briefings became such a mainstay that it’s hard to believe that the first one was way back on March 11, and he held consecutive briefings for 111 days after. During them he would update the public on COVID-19 positive case numbers, regulations and safety measures, and answer questions from the press. He also often shared inspirational quotes and personal stories to keep New Yorkers hopeful and encourage them to support one another.
“The Governor’s 111 daily briefings worked so well because he effectively created television shows, with characters, plot lines, and stories of success and failure,” said International Academy President & CEO, Bruce L. Paisner. “People around the world tuned in to find out what was going on, and New York tough became a symbol of the determination to fight back.”
featured image source: NYC/Governor Cuomo