"Roy Clem is an extraordinary leader and advocate for Alabama Public Television and the entire public broadcasting system," said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of APTS. "Roy has made friends for public television across the political spectrum in Alabama, both at the federal and state levels of government. His relentless passion for our public service missions of education, public safety and civic leadership is infectious, and his persuasive powers are simply awe-inspiring. But even more important is the work he and his colleagues do every day to serve the people of Alabama, and it is that work that is the foundation for all of Roy's remarkable success in advocating for our cause."
"It is my honor to receive this award for simply helping others understand the unique role that public television serves in the areas of education, public safety and civic leadership," Clem said. "I'm always proud to say that Alabama Public Television was the nation's very first educational television network and service to our citizens, our state and our nation is still the hallmark of what we do every day."
Roy Clem started his broadcast news career in 1973 at Denver's KDEN radio station working as a street reporter. In 1974, Clem joined the Denver Police Department (DPD) where he served as a patrol officer, academy supervisor and detective sergeant. He received numerous departmental and citizen commendations, handled executive security, created DPD's first public information office, produced the television series Crimestoppers with KMGH TV, and produced one of the nation's first training programs to teach first responders about treating injured victims suffering from AIDS.
In 1986, Clem returned to television broadcast journalism. Since then he has served as a Journalist, Anchor, News Director and General Manager. As a teacher, he served the University of Alabama as Director of Commercial Broadcasting and taught Broadcast Management, Journalism, and Visual Storytelling and Ethical Decision Making.
Clem co-founded Alabama's Amber Alert Plan and taught Amber Alert Techniques across the nation for the Department of Justice. Currently, Clem serves as follows: Organization of State Broadcasting Executives (OSBE) - Co-Chair; APTS Board - Professional Vice Chair; Vision Maker Media - secretary of the board; PBS Diversity Advisory Committee; PBS Development Advisory Council (DAC); PBS Communication Advisory Council (CAC); University of Alabama's College of Communication and Information Sciences - Board of Visitors, Chairman; and the State of Alabama Prison Education Advisory Board. He has also served on the national board of directors for the Radio Television News Directors Association representing NAJA; and served on numerous state and local boards for various charities, including co-chairing the United Way Campaign for the University of Alabama.
In 2012, Clem was selected to be the Executive Director for the statewide Alabama Public Television (APT) network. During his tenure, the APT team has received numerous prestigious Regional and National Awards for their commitment to education, public safety, civic leadership and public service, including two Alabama Legislature Joint Resolutions honoring APT's service to the state, the National Association of Broadcasters Educational Foundation's 2016 Service to Children Award for Television, and the 2016 Edward R. Murrow Award for Best News Documentary in a major market, for the APT production "Jeremiah," which chronicles Jeremiah Denton's service in the Vietnam War, experience as a POW and journey to becoming one of Alabama's U.S. Senators.
The National Advocacy Award was presented to Roy Clem during The APTS Public Media Summit on Wednesday, March 1, 2017.
About APTS
America's Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system that provides essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
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