CCTV America wins Emmy for “When Can’t is a four-letter word”

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The 37th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards; 9/21/2016CCTV America staff members with Emmy (from left) Ira Lazernik, Monna Kashfi, Mei Yan, Sahar Sarshar and Mike Walter at The 37th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards; 9/21/2016 Photo/ Marc Bryan-Brown

CCTV America is proud to announce that its weekly Magazine/Talk show, Full Frame, has won the 2016 News and Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Feature Story in a News Magazine.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, NATAS, awarded the Emmy to Full Frame’s 18-minute segment, “Jen Bricker: When ‘Can’t’ is a Four-Letter Word.”

The story beat out entries from CBS’ 60 Minutes, Dateline NBC and ESPN’s E:60.

The story profiles Jen Bricker, a young woman who was born without legs.

Put up for adoption by Romanian parents, Jen was raised by Americans Gerald and Sharon Bricker in a small Illinois town.

Despite having no legs, Jen was taught to believe she was no different from the other kids. To everyone’s amazement, she was different, but in an unexpected way. She was better, way better, than the other kids in sports – winning championships in softball, basketball, volleyball and gymnastics.

A power tumbling champion at age 11, Jen said she “came out the womb a gymnast.” If she only knew. Jen idolized Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanu. Jen was Romanian, Dominique was Romanian. They were both gymnasts. They even looked alike. Then, when she was 16 years-old, Jen’s mother revealed the name of her biological parents, Moceanu. Jen was Dominique’s sister.

Now 27 years-old and living in Los Angeles, Bricker is an accomplished aerialist and acrobat. In 2009, she toured the world as an aerialist with Britney Spears. Bricker has also headlined shows at the Palazzo in Las Vegas, Lincoln Center in New York and the Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai.

Full Frame’s story is told in Jen Bricker’s own words, and her family’s words. There is no narrator.  

Jen Bricker’s story was produced by Sahar Sarshar, shot by photojournalist Don Stanke and edited by Full Frame editor Janne Syrjanen.

This is the second time Emmy nomination for CCTV America and its first win.

CCTV America team at the Emmy Awards

(R-L) Sahar Sarshar, Mei Yan, Mike Walter, Monna Kashfi, and Ira Lazernik.

Representing CCTV America at Wednesday night’s awards ceremony in New York City were:

Mei Yan – CCTV America Managing Editor
Monna Kashfi – Executive Producer for Full Frame
Sahar Sarshar – Segment Producer
Ira Lazernik – Head of Broadcast Operations
Mike Walter – Host of Full Frame

Congratulations to Full Frame for this wonderful story – and to the entire staff of CCTV-America for building a tradition of excellence.