Maryland Public Television’s (MPT) David A. Wainwright, audio supervisor, was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter’s (NATAS-NCCB) prestigious Silver Circle during ceremonies held on October 19 in Baltimore. Wainwright was one of eight television industry professionals who entered the NATAS-NCCB Silver Circle as part of the class of 2024. Media consultant and former MPT executive Donald Thoms was inducted into the Gold Circle the same evening.
The Silver Circle recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the broadcast or cable industry for at least 25 years, while the Gold Circle honors individuals who have made significant contributions for 50 years or more. The Gold and Silver Circles are often referred to as the Academy’s “Hall of Fame.” With the induction of the 2024 honorees, the Silver Circle totals 279 individuals and the Gold Circle totals 28.
Wainwright joined MPT in 1987 as an audio operator, handling the audio requirements of a variety of news and public affairs shows. Within two years, was serving as a live broadcast audio mixer for major live remote broadcasts ranging from Capitol Hill sessions to inaugurations to political debates.
He was soon promoted to work on national and international co-productions such as Wall $treet Week With Louis Rukeyser, Happy New Year U.S.A., and SeaPower: A Global Journey. By the mid-1990s, he was traveling the country as a location sound recordist for productions such as the National Geographic Bee, Wall $treet Week specials, and To The Contrary with Bonnie Erbé.
Over the past two decades, Wainwright’s responsibilities have largely centered on post-production audio for MPT series including Maryland State of Mind and Outdoors Maryland; the national series
MotorWeek; and award-winning specials including Maryland Vietnam War Stories and Chesapeake Bay By Air. He has worked with celebrity narrators such as actors Charles Dutton, Tim Reid, and Keith David as well as British actor Sam West, among others.
Earlier in his career, he held posts at Baltimore’s WCBM Radio and as manager of the speech television lab for Prince George’s County (MD) Community College.
When not on assignment for MPT, Wainwright has worked as an audio engineer for WUSA-TV in Washington, D.C. During the pandemic, he served as a crowd sound mixer for the National Football League for Baltimore Ravens games broadcast on CBS, NBC, and ESPN.
Wainwright has earned 11 regional Emmy® Awards. He is a member of the California-based Cinema Audio Society and an alumnus of Morgan State University.
About Maryland Public Television
Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. MPT creates and distributes local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards. MPT’s commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through instructional events and Thinkport.org. MPT’s year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources on a wide range of topics. For more information visit mpt.org.
