RTNDF to honor three news leaders at 20th annual First Amendment Awards dinner
WASHINGTON (Sept. 15, 2009) – The Radio and Television News Directors Foundation will honor three news leaders for their commitment to the First Amendment and excellence in journalism at the 20th Annual First Amendment Awards Dinner on Thursday, March 4, 2010 in Washington. Honorees are:
Harvey Nagler, vice president, CBS Radio News, First Amendment Service Award
David Westin, president, ABC News, First Amendment Leadership Award
Brian Williams, anchor and managing editor, NBC Nightly News, Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award
"The RTNDF First Amendment Award honorees represent the best effort of individuals, companies and groups keeping alive one of our most basic American freedoms,” said RTNDF Chairman Ed Esposito. ”The First Amendment stands as a beacon of light to the world, where we continue to see the power of freedom of expression in shaping communities across the globe. It is our honor to recognize these electronic journalists for their personal and professional commitment, dedication and passion to the First Amendment."
Harvey Nagler will be honored with the First Amendment Service Award, which is presented to a person of distinction who works in an off-air, management capacity. Nagler was named Vice President, CBS News, Radio in January 1998. During his tenure the network won dozens of national and international awards. He was chosen Radio News Executive of the Year in 2006 and 2008 in a poll taken by Radio and Records magazine. Prior to joining CBS Radio News, Nagler was Director, News and Programming for WCBS-AM Newsradio 88, where he developed and implemented several practices that have been adopted or imitated by hundreds of stations across the country, including the slogan, “Traffic and Weather, Together on the ‘Eights.’” He joined WCBS-AM from the United Stations Radio Networks, where he had been Vice President, News and Sports (1985-87) and Director of News Operations (1979-84, then RKO Radio Networks). The network grew from a small group of stations to a news organization serving 500 affiliates.
David Westin will receive the First Amendment Leadership Award, presented to a business or government leader who has made a significant contribution to protecting Freedom of the Press. David Westin has led ABC News since 1997. In that time ABC News has received top honors for broadcast journalism including: 5 George Polk Awards, 10 George Foster Peabody Awards, 12 Alfred I. duPont Awards, more than 35 News and Documentary Emmys and more than 40 Edward R. Murrow Awards. During the 2004 Democratic convention in Boston, Westin launched ABC News NOW, a 24-hour news service available on cable, wireless and broadband. In 2007, he announced the largest single expansion of foreign news coverage in ABC News history by sending seven digital reporters to Mumbai, New Delhi, Jakarta, Nairobi, Seoul, Dubai and Rio de Janeiro to report for all ABC News outlets and broadcasts.
Brian Williams will receive the Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award, named for the late senior Washington correspondent for Broadcasting & Cable magazine. Williams joined NBC News in 1993 as a reporter and became NBC Chief White House correspondent. He was a News Anchor on MSNBC and CNBC before becoming Anchor and Managing Editor at NBC Nightly News in 2004. Williams has received the George Foster Peabody Award, the duPont-Columbia University Award, 6 Edward R. Murrow Awards and 7 Emmy Awards. Many of these honors were given to recognize his work covering Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath in New Orleans.
Kathleen Graham, RTNDF executive director said, “We are delighted that this year’s First Amendment Dinner will be a special evening to reflect on the past 20 years of distinguished honorees as well as an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding journalists receiving the First Amendment Awards this year.”
Previous First Amendment Awards Winners include Floyd Abrams, Roger Ailes, Christiane Amanpour, Ed Bradley, Walter Cronkite, Sam Donaldson, Katharine Graham, Don Hewitt, Gwen Ifill, Cokie Roberts, Diane Sawyer, Bob Schieffer, Carole Simpson and Mike Wallace. For a complete list of First Amendment Awards Winners, click here.
The awards will be presented and the honorees will speak at the 20th annual First Amendment Awards Dinner on March 4, 2010, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, DC. More than 500 people attend the black-tie dinner each year.
For information about attending the First Amendment Awards Dinner, click here, or contact Stacey Staniak at 202-467-5214.
Funds raised at the dinner help support RTNDF’s work to promote excellence in electronic journalism through research, education and training for news professionals and journalism students. The foundation’s work also is supported by contributions from foundations, corporations, members of the Radio-Television News Directors Association, and other individuals.