Black Journalists Group To Honor NBC

WASHINGTON, -- The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) announced at its spring Board of Directors meeting that NBC News will receive the organization's annual Best Practices Award, and NBC Universal Executive Vice President Paula Madison will receive its Legacy Award. NBC News and Madison will be honored at the association's 35th Annual Convention and Career Fair in San Diego, the largest gathering of minority journalists in the country.

"NBC News and its owned and operated stations nationwide have done tremendous work promoting diversity in their management positions as well as in their coverage. NABJ has championed such issues in news for 35 years," said NABJ President Kathy Times.

'Best Practices' is the association's highest honor to a news organization - annually awarded for its exemplary work in covering issues of significance to the black community or for its efforts in increasing diversity among its newsroom staff and management.

"The numbers speak for themselves," said NABJ Vice President-Broadcast Bob Butler. "According to NABJ's annual survey of broadcast news management, NBC News contains the most African-American Vice Presidents, General Managers, News Directors, Senior and Executive Producers of any broadcast or cable network in the country."

"Diversity only happens when there is a true commitment from the top," said Times. "NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker's commitment is apparent in NBC's News operations and is a model many media companies should explore."

Madison, Executive Vice President of Diversity for NBC Universal & Company Officer with General Electric will receive NABJ's Legacy Award - awarded to a pioneering black print, broadcast or photojournalist of extraordinary accomplishment who has broken barriers and blazed trails. At NBC News, Madison has worked with the company's business executives who have developed programs that mirror the diversity of their customers, clients and audiences.

Madison began her career as a journalist in print media and then became a television news manager. She worked her way up the corporate ladder to become a news director and eventually the president and general manager of the NBC station in Los Angeles, the second largest broadcast market in the country. Madison was the first African-American woman to become a general manager of a top five network-owned television station. She was also the first person to hold the position of senior vice president of diversity at NBC. Throughout her career Madison has promoted the fair inclusion and representation of minorities in the media. She has built a reputation as a strong leader who is committed to quality journalism and community involvement.

"News organizations are encouraged to reflect the communities they serve. The management teams at NBC Universal's stations are the closest at meeting that standard among the major television groups," said NABJ Vice President of BroadcastBob Butler. "NBC Universal has made a commitment to diversity that is reflected in all of its business units."

This year Madison and NBC News will join other top honorees, CNN's Soledad O'Brien for Journalist of the Year, and NABJ Founder Paul Delaney for Lifetime Achievement.

NABJ's 35th Annual Convention and Career Fair will take place July 28- August 1 in San Diego, Calif.

SOURCE National Association of Black Journalists