Pacific Southwest Area Emmy Awards

2009 San Diego InducteesS I L V E R C I R C L E L U N C H E O NSammie Jo SwiftSilver Circle InducteeSammie began her career in 1975at age 19 when KCST (now KNSD)began a scholarship program forminorities and women. Through thisprogram she attended San Diego CityCollege and worked as a part-time broadcast technicaltrainee. She trained in various technical positions andwas hired full time in 1978. Over the years her skills haveincluded studio camera, matte board (those cards usedfor lower third text before the age of electronic supers),film op (when we had one projector that had the videoand the other had the sound reel), floor director, audiooperator, video tape (3/4 inch) playback, master controloperator and technical director.Sammie was promoted to director in 1986. She wasone of the first women to direct news in the San Diegomarket. One of the new projects Sammie was assignedto direct when KNSD moved downtown in 2001 was“Streetside San Diego”, a live multi-camera show outsideon the plaza with a live band. “It was a true team effort.Everyone got involved in the planning and pulling it offeach week”.In 2003, Sammie was among those recognized atthe 24 th Annual YWCA TWIN (Women in Industry)Awards and promoted to Supervising Director. Threeyears later, Sammie was assigned another new projectwhen KNSD launched “Football Night in San Diego”. In2007, Sammie received her seventh Emmy for directing“Football Night” and was promoted to Senior Director.Sammie met her husband, Fred, a broadcast engineerat KNSD in 1980 and they were married in 1984. In1989 Sammie and Fred celebrated the birth of their son,Daniel. This year Sammie and her husband, Fred, willcelebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.“I can’t believe it’s been 34 years. Time flies by whenyou enjoy what you do. I have such great memories ofeveryone that I’ve had the privilege to know and workwith over the years. I can’t go without mentioning BobDale and how grateful I am to have had the opportunityto work him. As I think back on the past 34 years atKNSD I still laugh at the fact that a lot of us actually livedthrough the “Anchor Man”. I’m still having a blast doingwhat I do”.Michael S. TorresSilver Circle InducteeMichael S. Torres, betterknown as Mickey, has beendirecting for more than 28years. As a native San Diegan,he attended St. AugustineHigh School, San DiegoCity College and UCSD. Justout of high school he receivedhis 1st Phone FCC EngineeringLicense. Mickey began working as a Disc Jockey for1 year before being the last one drafted into the USArmy.After his term of service, Mickey returned to collegeand attended San Diego City College where hereceived an Associates Degree in Telecommunicationsand News. He liked being an anchor/reporterin college, but he always enjoyed his work behind thescenes.Mickey interned at Channel 10 as a writer beforebeing hired on at KCST in 1976 as a part time cameraoperator for the debut of their weekend news. Soonthere after he was promoted to several production positionsincluding Floor Director, Audio operator, TechnicalDirector and Associate Director.Mickey became a Director in 1981. By 1986 hewas the main director for the 5:00 & 11:00 PM newscastsat KNSD. He was later promoted to Senior Directorthat included all outside station projects andlogistics. Mickey is a multiple Emmy and Golden MicAward winner. He is particularly proud of his team’sflexibility and coverage during the 2003 & 2007 Firesin San Diego in which he received an Emmy Award inTeam Coverage.He has been married to Christine Torres for 32 ½years and has 5 children, Angela, Teresa, Jaclyn, Michael& Allissa along with his favorite & only grandchild,Naya.WWW.NATASPSW.ORG