(Marietta, Ga. – Sept. 26, 2014) Being in the same field for more than 25 years is something to celebrate. For Chattahoochee Technical College Instructor Ian Feinberg it certainly is now that his longevity and contribution to the television industry have earned him the honor of being named to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) – Southeast Division Silver Circle.
Feinberg, who is the lead instructor in the college’s award winning Television Production program at the Mountain View Campus, was one of 14 local area professionals recognized recently. The local division of NATAS honors those selected with more than 25 years of broadcast excellence and community commitment with induction into the Silver Circle, while those with more than 50 years are eligible for the Gold Circle.
“The impressive part of the induction was the other inductees,” said Feinberg. “There are 14 in all – many whom I worked with at WXIA and other very high level professionals in broadcasting. These include news directors at the top TV stations, weathercasters from the Weather Channel. I felt very honored and humbled to be included in that induction class.”
An interest in photography led Feinberg to his career. During his high school days a friend of his worked at a local television station. He began going there at night to self-train. The experience paid off when he was hired in the 10th grade.
“I loved every aspect of the work,” explained Feinberg. “In the two and a half years I worked at this station, I did everything – studio camera, building and lighting sets, audio, directing, film playback, shooting and editing film. It was more experience than most college students received in four years.”
Feinberg then attended the University of Georgia where he graduated from Film School. He was hired by WXIA in Atlanta where he worked for 20 years. His career has included many highlights, including travel, celebrities, shooting out of helicopters and planes, as well as several Emmy Award wins.
Now Feinberg has parlayed that same love for the industry into a career teaching at Chattahoochee Technical College. Through this role as the program’s lead instructor, he educates future industry leaders while he continues to direct and produce shows for television. Feinberg, along with other instructors in the program, routinely lead students through the process of filming award shows like the Shuler Hensley Awards and the Regional Emmy Awards presentations. Additionally, this semester his students are working under his direction as part of the crew on Play to Win – a weekly sports show broadcast each Saturday on Atlanta’s Fox 5. He has been with the college since 2001.
“When I graduated college,” said Feinberg, “my favorite professor told me to attach myself to the most talented person wherever I landed, which is what I did. I learned so much from some very talented people.”