Bluefield College Alumnus Wins Emmy Award
Bluefield College alumnus Dwight Nixon is making his alma mater proud and making a name for himself in the television news industry.
A 2000 graduate of Bluefield College and current news and sports photojournalist with WTVR CBS-6 in Richmond, Virginia, Nixon recently won a 2018 Emmy Award for his coverage of the aftermath of the Charlottesville riots of 2017.
The Emmy Award is said to be one of the most prestigious awards in television, recognizing excellence in the television industry. It is administered by three sister organizations, which focus on various sectors of television programming, including the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which presents the award Nixon won for daytime television, sports and news.
The Charlottesville riots followed a white supremacist Unite the Right rally in August 2017. The rally occurred amidst the backdrop of controversy generated by the removal of Confederate monuments throughout the country. The event turned violent after protesters clashed with counter-protesters, leaving more than 30 injured
“Our station knew this day was going to be different when the white supremacists did their tiki torch march the night before,” said Nixon. “That was a message that they were looking for a fight.”
In fact, the next day before the rally even started, opposing protests broke out between white supremacists and members of the activist group Black Lives Matter. Tragedy struck when one protester died after being hit by a car driven into a crowd of activists and when a Virginia State Police helicopter monitoring the event crashed and killed two troopers.
“My role in the coverage started when the Virginia State Trooper helicopter crashed while providing backup to Troopers on the ground,” said Nixon. “My talented colleagues covered the actual day of riots while I was covering the aftermath of the crash. What I actually won the Emmy for were the days after the riots.”
Nixon said he wanted to find out what actually happened and, in some way, honor the first responders who died that day. He worked to capture all of the emotions running through the community and to give answers to the millions of viewers across the nation.
“I was there to show the world that despite the tragedy that happened in this small college town, there were smart, intelligent people who lived in this community that would not let a tragedy define their town,” said Nixon. “And it was an honor to share that with the world when all eyes were on upon it.”
Nixon has worked in television news for almost 20 years, serving not only as a photojournalist, but also a field producer and social and new media journalist. In addition to his Emmy Award, he has won more than a dozen Associated Press Awards, four Edward R. Murrow Awards, and a Humanitarian Award from the National Press Photographers Association.
“A news and sports photographer has more responsibilities than just shooting video with a camera,” said Nixon. “I am a journalist in charge of content, substance, and updating of social networks. Meeting deadlines and achieving the best quality story is the highest priority. Interpersonal skills not only with other staff but with the public are the keys to being the best in a competition-driven field.”
In addition to the Charlottesville riots, while working in the industry Nixon has covered other unfortunate news.
“I’ve seen the aftermaths of murders, car wrecks and any type of corruption that happens on a local or national level,” said Nixon. “I was in the midst of the DC Sniper coverage, and I was at the Pentagon the day of 9/11 and in New York shortly after. I believe this job is a calling. Only certain people can see the things I have and be able to go home and sleep at night, then get up and do it all over again. I have a single rule, work stays at work; nothing comes home with me.”
But not all days are negative news, said Nixon. While he’s often seen the worst in humanity, he said he’s also seen the best.
“I get to see really cool things,” said Nixon, “like covering (the National Football League’s Washington) Redskins, (Major League Baseball’s Washington) Nationals, and (the National Hockey League’s Washington) Capitals. I’ve interviewed two different presidents, met legendary historical figures like Coretta Scott King and Sandra Day O’Connor, and interviewed multiple Hall of Fame Athletes.”
Nixon majored in communications at Bluefield College and was an active member of Phi Mu Delta fraternity, a resident assistant, and a member of Bluefield Singers.
“I always enjoyed the fact that no matter where you were from, you were automatically family at BC,” said Nixon. “The friends I made at Bluefield have stayed lifelong friends.”
Nixon said he hopes to continue to grow and learn his trade, taking on additional responsibilities and contributing as much of value as he can. With additional experience, he said he also hopes to be a manager someday in news.