by William Cortez on 2025-06-24

KVCR Public Media, the Inland Empire’s PBS Television Station (Channel 24) and NPR Radio Station (91.9 FM), is proud to announce that it has won two Emmy Awards, a remarkable recognition of the station’s commitment to telling meaningful, local stories that matter to our community. The first Emmy was awarded in the Documentary category for our original short series, The Warehouse Empire. Directed and hosted by San Bernardino-based filmmaker Sofia Figueroa, the powerful series examines the rapid growth of the warehouse and logistics industry across the Inland Empire. Through indepth reporting and firsthand community perspectives, The Warehouse Empire investigates the environmental, economic, and social impacts of this expanding sector, spotlighting issues often overlooked in mainstream media. “As the director of The Warehouse Empire, I'm deeply honored that our series received an Emmy award. Our goal was to spotlight the powerful stories of Inland Empire residents and bring attention to how the growing warehouse and logistics industry is affecting frontline communities. With the support of PBS stations like KVCR, we’re able to elevate local voices and bring greater visibility to the challenges and resilience within our community.” – Sofia Figueroa KVCR’s second Emmy was awarded in the Interview/Discussion – Short or Long Form Content category for an episode of its original series Inland Edition. The winning episode, Chris Burns: CEO, Boys Republic, features a heartfelt conversation with a leader making a profound impact on young lives in the region. Hosted by Joe Richardson, Inland Edition explores civic engagement through thoughtful interviews that give viewers insight into the people and issues shaping life in the Inland Empire. “As the showrunner, producer, and editor of Inland Edition, I was truly enlightened by the depth of insight shared by the civic leaders and public servants we featured. Receiving an Emmy is an incredible honor, but the real reward was learning firsthand how these individuals serve our communities every day. Our goal was to highlight the people behind the decisions that shape our lives—and I'm proud that Inland Edition resonated with viewers in such a meaningful way." – Brad Greenwell, Showrunner/Producer/Editor, Inland Edition. “We are truly honored to have won two Emmy Awards for producing local content that resonates deeply with our community,” said Connie Leyva, Executive Director of KVCR and Executive Producer for both projects. “Our mission as the PBS station serving the Inland Empire is to provide high-quality, informative, and engaging programming that keeps our viewers informed and connected. This recognition affirms our belief that local storytelling matters – and that the Inland Empire deserves a strong voice in public media.” These awards not only celebrate excellence in broadcasting but also reflect KVCR’s ongoing dedication to amplifying diverse voices and uncovering the real challenges and triumphs of the Inland Empire. Whether it's through investigative documentaries or engaging local discussions, KVCR continues to fulfill its public media mission: to educate, inform, and inspire.