Jackson, Lewis recognized for their work
By Luke Frazier
The Island News
In our fractured world of broadcasting, with more streaming services than one can count and the ascendance of short and seemingly endless social media reels, places still exist to recognize quality long-form content.
One such place is created by the Southeast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), which gives out regional Emmy awards for television excellence. It recently announced its nominations for the 2026 awards and Beaufort’s public television station, ETV Lowcountry, snagged four nominations.
Not bad for a station with two full-time employees.
The dynamic duo consists of Holly Jackson, host and producer of the interview show “Books By the River” and Rob Lewis, photographer, editor and co-creator of the nature show “Coastal Kingdom.”
ETV Lowcountry is part of the South Carolina ETV and Public Radio (SCETV) network, which received a record-breaking 15 nominations, the most ever for the organization. Evidently the death of public broadcasting has been greatly exaggerated, at least here in the Southeast.
“Books By The River” received one nomination in the Interview/Discussion — Long Form Content category for its episode on author Jeffrey Lofton, and Coastal Kingdom received three nominations: Environment/Science — Long Form Content for its episode titled “On Becoming A Naturalist;” another in the category “Photographer — Long Form Content” for Lewis; and the third in the category “Program Host/Moderator/Correspondent” for Tony Mills, the Education Director for the Spring Island Trust and co-creator of Coastal Kingdom.
For her part, Jackson says “Books” is a great collaboration between the station and USC Beaufort students and faculty (Professor Carolyn Sawyer is one of the producers). Jackson, originally from tiny Bishopville, S.C., went to journalism school at the University of South Carolina and worked in television in Savannah and Tampa before moving to Beaufort in 2005.
Jackson says people often ask her to share her favorite interview.
“It always boils down to who did I connect with?” Jackson said. “Who did I basically forget that we were even doing a TV show during the interview and feel like we were having a true, heart-to-heart conversation?”
The episode featuring Jeffery Lofton fits that bill, according to Jackson, and she says that’s the goal “Books” has had throughout its eight year run.
“If you want to know the story behind the book of how the author got to the point of wanting to get those thoughts out on paper and share them with the world, then that’s where [our show] comes in,” she said.
Jackson is quick to praise her colleague Lewis, saying she couldn’t choose a better person to work with.
Lewis was born and raised in Charleston and went to college there at the College of Charleston. Because he was interested in TV production, he jointly attended Trident Technical College for a time and went to work in local television news afterward at WCIV.
Then Lewis moved to Beaufort in 2005 and soon started working at Beaufort County Television, covering the range of local government meetings. But he knew he wanted more.
“I was in a situation where I loved video production,” he said, “and that was what I was doing for my career. But what I really had a passion for was nature and the outdoors.”
Lewis connected with Mills around the shared idea of a “virtual field trip” where they could bring viewers directly to the plethora of wildlife and natural wonders in the Lowcountry, and sometimes beyond. That was 16 years ago, and they eventually brought the show over to ETV Lowcountry, where it has thrived.
This is Lewis’ first individual Emmy nomination, and he is rightfully proud.
“You know they say it’s a cliché to say, ‘it’s an honor to be nominated,’ but it really is just an honor to be nominated,” he said.
What is also nice is how that honor shines upon the Lowcountry in general as we’re tucked here in our little corner of the brave new world of broadcasting.
The award winners will be announced on Saturday, May 16 at the 2026 Southeast Regional Emmy Awards in Atlanta, Ga.
Luke Frazier is a writer and award winning media producer who moved to the Lowcountry in 2024. He runs NOW Communications and can be reached at nowandfuturecomms@gmail.com.
