Pasadena Media’s local TV talk show, “Pasadena Monthly with Justin Chapman,” has been named a finalist in the Alliance for Community Media West’s WAVE (Western Access Video Excellence) Awards. The award ceremony is April 19.

Formerly known as “NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman,” the show continues this Friday at 5 p.m. PT on Pasadena Media’s cable TV channels, streaming apps and YouTube. The episode will feature a review of the month’s top stories in Pasadena, a history segment and a discussion with Jens Weiden, CEO and general manager of the Rose Bowl Stadium.

Weiden took over from long-time general manager Darryl Dunn in July 2022. Weiden previously served as the Rose Bowl Operating Company’s Chief Revenue Officer, starting in 2013. Prior to joining the RBOC staff, Weiden worked for the San Francisco Giants and was responsible for all non-baseball events at Oracle Park. He has also held positions at 24 Hour Fitness Corp. where he led marketing efforts and at the American Golf Corporation where he was a general manager.

“Pasadena Monthly” airs at 5 p.m. PT on the fourth Friday of every month on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel and streaming apps, available on channel 99 on AT&T U-verse, channel 32 on Charter Spectrum, YouTube, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku. The show is written, hosted and produced by Chapman, directed and edited by Jeffrey Stanfill, supervised by producer Jasiri Jenkins-Glenn, executive produced by Chris Miller and chief executive produced by George Falardeau, CEO and executive director of Pasadena Media.

“This is must-watch television each month for everyone who cares about this city,” Falardeau said.

Last year, Chapman won two 1st place journalism awards from the Los Angeles Press Club, as well as two 3rd place awards and two finalist positions. He has won a total of 10 awards from the LA Press Club in recent years, including three 1st place awards. In 2022, the previous iteration of the show, “NewsRap Local,” won a 2nd place award in News Programming at the Alliance for Community Media West’s WAVE video awards.

Guests on “Pasadena Monthly” and “NewsRap Local” have included Congress member Judy Chu; Congress member Adam Schiff; Assembly member Chris Holden; Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo; Pasadena city manager Miguel Márquez; LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger; JPL director Dr. Laurie Leshin; and many others.

Chapman was the youngest elected official in LA County when he served on the Altadena Town Council at age 19. He has served on a number of local boards and wrote hundreds of articles for two dozen print and digital publications, including KPCC/LAist, Alta Journal, Huffington Post, LA Weekly, Irish Post, Berkeley Political Review, Pasadena Weekly, Pasadena Star-News, Pasadena Now and many others. He was a professional child actor who starred in dozens of movies, TV shows, commercials, and plays. He previously served as Communications Officer for USC’s Pacific Council on International Policy and currently serves as the District 6 Council Liaison/Field Representative to Pasadena Vice Mayor Steve Madison.

Learn more at justindouglaschapman.com and pasadenamedia.org.