It’s no fish story: Wisconsin Sea Grant brought home top honors for its Eat Wisconsin Fish video series at Sea Grant Week in Savannah, Georgia.
The nine-part series, which showcases Wisconsin’s fish farmers and commercial fishers along the Great Lakes and Mississippi River, received the 2024 Excellence in Communication Award during the closing ceremony on Aug. 22. The award honors high-quality, innovative communication products or projects that reach audiences in new ways. Wisconsin Sea Grant’s 50th anniversary campaign was also honored as a runner-up.
Marie Zhuikov (middle) accepts the communication award on behalf of Wisconsin Sea Grant, posing beside Leah Shore of USC Sea Grant (left) and Jill Jentes Banicki of Ohio Sea Grant (right). Photo: Georgia Sea Grant
Bonnie Willison, Wisconsin Sea Grant video and podcast producer who created the series, said the project exemplifies Sea Grant’s mission. “The profile videos educate the public about the sustainability of Wisconsin’s fish, our fishing heritage and career pathways in the industry. They promote Sea Grant’s brand, but also provide a service to the small-business owners: a professionally made video that they can use for their business,” said Willison.
Judges agreed, also praising the series as “multifaceted,” “captivating,” and “beautifully conceived.” One reviewer stated that the Eat Wisconsin Fish videos whet their appetite: “I wanted to meet all these people and buy their products after watching them!”
The project was a team effort. Willison made the videos under the direction of Sharon Moen, who runs the Eat Wisconsin Fish initiative. Marie Zhuikov, science communicator, created four “Fish Dish” podcast episodes out of the interview audio, and Moira Harrington, Emma Hauser and David Hart provided guidance and editorial support.
Said one reviewer, “An excellent team was assembled to create, implement and distribute the communications products.”
We couldn’t agree more.
