Launched in 1993, the PIXIs were awards given by each of 6 Washington communities to honor quality family programming on TV. To learn more about how these communities became involved and how the PIXIs evolved, see the section on PIXIs in our History of Accomplishments.
The PIXI takes its name from the pixel, the smallest component of the image appearing on the TV screen. The final “I” stands for imagination—or the magical link between the smallest part of the screen and the smallest member of the audience, the child.
The PIXI awards were developed as a vehicle for communicating to the TV networks and local affiliates what their communities would like to see in terms of programming for their families.
From 1993-2004 the PIXIs became a yearly event in each of 6 communities located throughout Washington. Each year the event had a slightly different theme. In its second year, for instance, the PIXIs were awarded to programs that offered “alternatives to violence.”
Nominations for awards were gathered from parents in a variety of ways including placing nomination forms in local newspapers and local libraries along with reaching out to a wide variety of local groups serving parents and their children. In each community, review panels of professionals serving local children and families as well as representatives of parent groups were given the task of determining award recipients.
Here are just a few examples of categories for awards in some of the first PIXIs:
- Promoting curiosity and learning
- Promoting Diversity and Cooperation
- Promoting Family Interaction and Discussion
The PIXI awards were always very festive events bringing together local community leaders,
professionals working with children, and parent groups with representatives from their local network affiliates. It was particularly exciting during some of these events to have among the guests a few of the creators and producers of the award-winning programs who had decided to attend in order to receive their awards in person.
