Birmingham producer/director Jonathan Barbee receives four Telly awards
Birmingham-based producer/director Jonathan Barbee announced that he and the Barbee Media Group had been awarded two silver Telly awards and two bronze Telly awards for their work on behalf of two Republican political campaigns during the 2022 elections in Alabama. Barbee received these awards for political commercials and a biography he produced during the 2022 election cycle for State Auditor candidate Andrew Sorell and Gubernatorial candidate Lindy Blanchard. The categories were: Best Craft – Directing, Best Craft – Cinematography, Best Biography, and Best regional commercial. “The Telly Awards are a symbol of excellence in production, and I am deeply honored to have received these awards,” said Barbee. “I want to thank my parents, friends, and my wife, Joanne, for their support and encouragement throughout the years. I also have a great team at Barbee Media Group and couldn’t do great things without them.” Barbee posted on Facebook, “4 Telly Awards! I’m so thankful and blessed. I have wonderful parents, family, friends, and amazing support from my loving wife, Joanne. 💕God is Good!” Barbee made his comments Thursday evening at a reception at The Club in Birmingham. Barbee is the CEO of Barbee Media Group. He has 25 years of experience in the film, television, and marketing industries. The Sorrell ads helped Sorrell, who had served just one term as a state representative representing the northwest, to win the highly competitive Republican primary and then steamroll his Libertarian opponent in the 2022 general election. Blanchard was a complete political newcomer in 2022, but her ads helped vault her into statewide name recognition and a second-place finish despite a crowded field. Blanchard ultimately fell short to incumbent Governor Kay Ivey, but no incumbent Alabama governor has lost their party’s primary since 1970 when then Governor Albert Brewer narrowly was defeated in the Democratic primary by former Governor George Wallace. “We currently have a national TV show in production, a statewide weekly show, various video projects, Livestream productions, and videography for the Miss Alabama program,” said Barbee. “Our clients believe in us, and we deliver amazing results for them. The proof is in the Telly, so to speak.” Barbee is a former elected Jefferson County Constable and a former Republican candidate for the Alabama Public Service Commission. Since 1979 the Telly Awards have recognized excellence in video and television across all screens. They are judged by esteemed leaders from renowned organizations such as Adobe, BBC World Service, Netflix, and National Geographic Society. With a record-breaking number of entries—nearly 13,000—from around the globe, the 44th Annual Telly Awards was highly competitive, featuring submissions from top content producers such as Disney, Netflix, and Paramount. The Tellys are judged by the Telly Awards Judging Council, an esteemed panel of over 200 leading experts representing advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks. The competition celebrates the diverse and dynamic nature of the multiscreen industry. This year’s winners include some of the most prominent global brands and companies alongside smaller and independent production houses, including Cut+Run, Netflix, Disney Parks, Media.Monks, Paramount, National Geographic Society, and the dynastic NBA team, the Golden State Warriors. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Former Jefferson County Constable Jonathan Barbee indicted on ethics and tax charges
On Tuesday, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the indictment and arrest of former Jefferson County Constable Jonathan Barbee, age 43, of Trussville, on two ethics charges and three tax charges. Barbee was elected as the Constable of Jefferson County’s 48th District in 2016. The Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division obtained an indictment of Barbee after conducting a joint investigation with the Alabama Department of Revenue. The first two counts of the indictment charge Barbee with using his position or office to pay his wife and his father for traffic control, or cause them to be paid for traffic control, through the Constable Office bank account. The remaining three counts charge that Jonathan Barbee willfully attempted to evade or defeat state income taxes. Each tax evasion count covers a separate year from 2018 to 2020. If convicted, Barbee faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment and a $30,000 fine for each of the two ethics charges. He faces a maximum penalty of up to 5 years imprisonment and a $100,000 fine for each of the three tax charges. Barbee is a former member of the Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee. He was a 2014 candidate for the Republican nomination for Public Service Commissioner and a 2020 GOP candidate for Jefferson County Tax Assessor. He is the producer of the Voice of Alabama syndicated political news television show. He has worked as a producer and videographer for a number of high-profile clients, including the Alabama Republican Party and the Donald Trump campaign. According to his blog, Barbee is a native of Birmingham and the President & CEO of Media Works Communications, a TV and Film production company located in Birmingham, Los Angeles, and Nashville. He has worked with a variety of celebrities. Barbee was instrumental in the passage of the 2009 Alabama Entertainment Bill (HB 69), which provides incentives to Alabama filmmakers. An indictment is merely an accusation. Barbee is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty by a jury of his peers. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
