Molly of Denali takes home the win in the inaugural “Best Inclusivity” category;
Scribbles and Ink wins award for “Best Alternative Game”
BOSTON – (February 11, 2021) Boston public media producer GBH has been recognized with two 2021 Kidscreen Awards, honoring Molly of Denali in the inaugural “Best Inclusivity” category and Scribbles and Ink in the “Best Alternative Game” category.
“From its debut, Molly of Denali has struck a chord with viewers, showing kids of all backgrounds that they have a place in mainstream media. And Scribbles and Ink has shined in creating digital environments for child-led creativity to flourish,” said GBH President and CEO Jon Abbott. “We are honored that Kidscreen has recognized the inclusivity of Molly of Denali and the innovation of Scribbles and Ink.”
The first nationally distributed children’s series to feature a Native American lead character, Molly of Denali follows the adventures of curious and resourceful 10-year-old Molly Mabray, an Alaska Native girl who lives in the fictional village of Qyah, Alaska. Molly helps her mom and dad run the Denali Trading Post, a general store, bunkhouse, and transport hub. Informational text, the underlying literacy curriculum for Molly of Denali, is integrated into the series’ episodes, games, app, website and assets for educators, families and kids. From the outset, GBH developed Molly of Denali with a working group of Alaska Native collaborators, as well as Alaska Native voice talent, writers, producers and cultural and language advisors.
"Our production team was intentional in creating the characters of Qyah; they are Black, Alaska Native, Filipino, Japanese, and so many other peoples that reflect the real-life diversity of Alaskans,” said Princess Daazhraii Johnson, Creative Producer of the series. “The diversity of Alaska is one of our greatest strengths. We are so honored to be among the first recipients of Kidscreen's Best Inclusivity category."
Based on the popular books and characters by author/illustrator, Ethan Long, Scribbles and Ink is a character driven, digital interactive series that allows kids to discover the joy of using paint, brush, crayon and pencil to propel their way through an adventure. Scribbles and Ink is designed to let kids imagine and draw their own adventures. The open-ended nature of the art creation process means kids can play again and again as they creatively express themselves through art.
"In creating Scribbles and Ink, we wanted to honor kids’ innate creativity with digital art tools and stories that avoid cookie-cutter output, and instead, provide truly endless opportunities for self-expression," said Marisa Wolsky, Executive Producer at GBH. “We are proud that this work has been recognized by Kidscreen.”
“Today’s awards are a remarkable achievement, due to the intentionality of purpose the teams have poured into both productions,” said Terry Fitzpatrick, GBH Vice President for Children’s Media and Education. “Our guiding star is to deliver innovative and entertaining content that is both enriching and accessible to all. Molly of Denali and Scribbles and Ink have excelled and exceeded in that mission.”
The 2021 Kidscreen Awards, which received a record number of entries, celebrated the year’s best work in children’s television and digital media. The entries are assessed by two panels of highly respected industry judges. These two series are among a total of eight wins for PBS KIDS productions, including “Channel of the Year” and “Best Website.”
A pioneer in educational multi-media, GBH Children’s & Youth Media and Education produces media and delivers curriculum-based content and media resources that parents and teachers trust and that young audiences enjoy. GBH creates and distributes children’s television series, educational initiatives, digital productions, learning tools and resources for the home and the classroom. Leveraging the power of media across multiple platforms—television, online, mobile devices, classroom learning tools, and more. GBH supports innovative teaching and learning that expands knowledge, improves skills and enriches lives.
About GBH
GBH is the leading multiplatform creator for public media in America. As the largest producer of content for PBS and partner to NPR and PRX, GBH delivers compelling experiences, stories and information to audiences wherever they are. GBH produces digital and broadcast programming that engages, illuminates and inspires, through drama and science, history, arts, culture and journalism. It is the creator of such signature programs as MASTERPIECE, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, FRONTLINE, NOVA, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, Arthur and Molly of Denali and a catalog of streaming series, podcasts and on-demand video. GBH’s television channels include GBH 2, GBH 44, GBH Kids and national services WORLD and Create. With studios and a newsroom headquartered in Boston, GBH reaches across New England with GBH 89.7, Boston’s Local NPR; CRB Classical 99.5; and CAI, the Cape and Islands NPR station. Dedicated to making media accessible to and inclusive of our diverse culture, GBH is a pioneer in delivering media to those who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired. GBH creates curriculum-based digital content for educators nationwide with PBS LearningMedia and has been recognized with hundreds of the nation’s premier broadcast, digital and journalism awards. Find more information at gbh.org.
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