The 2012 Innovative Storytellers Award Goes To Veronica Heringer
marblemedia, a Canadian leader in content creation and Corus Entertainment Inc., one of Canada’s premier entertainment companies, today announced the winner of its 2012 Innovative Storytellers Award – Ryerson student Veronica Heringer.
Launched in 2008, in conjunction with Ryerson University’s Masters of Arts in Media Production program, the Innovative Storytellers Award is a $20,000 five-year initiative that honours the academic and creative work of a full-time graduate student who has developed a creative proposal that speaks to new audiences, technologies and the future of broadcasting. With the award, the winner receives the opportunity to be mentored by marblemedia’s Co-CEOs and Executive Producers Mark Bishopand Matt Hornburg along with an award-winning team of production executives from Corus Entertainment Inc.
Heringer’s project entitled My Name is Jessica Klein explores the connection between content, new technologies and audiences by using social media to tell the story of Jessica Klein, a twelfth grader who seeks to eliminate bullying at her school. Her goal is to raise awareness about bullying in Canadian high schools on an ever-growing platform. In addition, My Name is Jessica Klein aims to share the obstacles that Klein faces on her quest to eradicate bullying as well as provide a voyeuristic interpretation of her opinions and interests.
“My project exemplifies how social media can create opportunities to interact with consumers by enhancing the level of audience engagement with stories that evolve across different platforms,” said Veronica Heringer.
“As a leading content creator dedicated to the importance of online safety for kids, we couldn’t be more proud to champion My Name is Jessica Klein,” said Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg, Co-CEOs and Executive Producers, marblemedia – and Ryerson alumni. “In the content rich world we live in, marblemedia is continually looking for new opportunities to engage and entertain audiences in innovative and effective ways. We look forward to exploring these topics with Veronica Heringer during her mentorship.”
“Corus Entertainment is pleased to be associated with this award and congratulates Veroncia Heringer on her achievement,” said Jocelyn Hamilton, Vice President, Original Programming, Kids, Drama and Comedy. “Corus recognizes the importance of encouraging the next generation of talent to bring forward new creative approaches to storytelling and content creation that engage audiences and meet the needs of a constantly changing media landscape.”
"By offering graduate students such as Veronica Heringer the opportunity to work with industry experts, the Innovative Storytellers Award provides the kind of unique and experiential learning that Ryerson is recognized for,” commented Charles Falzon, Chair of the RTA School of Media. “At the same time, it creates a window for new and experienced minds to work together in exploring the challenges and opportunities facing the future of the Canadian media industry.”
A digital, interactive and mobile enthusiast, Heringer has worked with a variety of organizations including the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival, Tribal DDB Worldwide and Immigrant Services Society of BC.
marblemedia develops, produces and distributes engaging multiplatform entertainment experiences for audiences around the world. Named Transmedia Producer of the Year (2011) by Playback, marble has won two Gemini Awards, been nominated for an Emmy® Award and was identified as a Next Generation Content Producer (2009) by The Hollywood Reporter. The company owns a 50-acre production ranch and operates a Toronto-based studio, home to 50 staff. With nearly 200 hours of programming distributed in more than 200 territories, notable projects include the award-winning hit preschool series This is Daniel Cook and This is Emily Yeung; the award-winning series Taste Buds;Skatoony, North America’s first animated/live-action quiz show; the animated comedy Dating Guy; the teen competition series The Adrenaline Project; the physical game show Splatalot; What’s in a Name, a discovery of the history behind popular household names; and the first multiplatform series in American Sign Language, deafplanet.com. The company was co-founded by Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg in 2001. Experience marblemedia at www.marblemedia.com.
Corus Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's animation. The Company's multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, Nickelodeon (Canada), ABC Spark, W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada), CosmoTV, Sundance Channel (Canada), Movie Central, HBO Canada, Nelvana, Kids Can Press and radio stations including CKNW AM 980, 99.3 The FOX, Country 105, 630 CHED, Q107 and 102.1 the Edge. Corus creates engaging branded entertainment experiences for its audiences across multiple platforms. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (CJR.B). Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.
Ryerson University is Canada's leader in innovative, career-oriented education and a university clearly on the move. With a mission to serve societal need, and a long-standing commitment to engaging its community, Ryerson offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. Distinctly urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to more than 30,000 students, including 2,300 master's and PhD students, nearly 2,700 faculty and staff, and more than 140,000 alumni worldwide. The Master of Arts in Media Production is one of several graduate programs offered through the Faculty of Communication & Design and administered through the School of Graduate Studies. Designed by the Faculty’s RTA School of Media at www.ryersonrta.com, the program has been designed to launch Canada's next generation of media innovators. For more information, visit www.ryerson.ca/graduate/mediaproduction.
For more information, please contact:
Molly Ray | Manager of Communications | 416-646-2711 ext. 232 | molly@marblemedia.com