WASHINGTON—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) will recognize a distinguished lineup of trailblazing industry leaders for lifetime achievements during the 2026 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony. The annual event will take place from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17th at Gotham Hall in New York City.

This year’s official event emcee is Juju Chang, a 2023 Giant Honoree and co-anchor of ABC News Nightline.

The ceremony is presented by the LABF, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the past, reflecting the present, and informing the future. The awards presentation celebrates the remarkable creators, innovators, leaders, performers, and journalists who have blazed trails in the radio and television broadcasting industry.

Here are the LABF's 2026 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts Honorees:

• DEBRA OCONNELL. Chairman, ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks, The Walt Disney Company
• DAVID DONOVAN. President and Executive Director, New York State Broadcasters Association, Inc.
• SKIP FINLEY. Broadcast Owner, Operator, Advisor, and Award-winning Author
• JAIME JARRIN
• National Baseball Hall of Fame and Legendary Spanish Language Voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers
• DEBORAH NORVILLE. Two-time Emmy© Award Winning Veteran Broadcaster and Host of The Perfect Line
• JANE PAULEY. Respected Broadcast Journalist and Anchor of CBS News Sunday Morning
• DAVID “Dave” SANTRELLA. Chief Executive Officer, Salem Media Group
• SUZYN WALDMAN. Trailblazing Sportscaster, Award-winning Journalist and Longtime Radio Broadcaster for the New York Yankees

The Museum of Broadcast and Communications will also be honored on stage with the 4th Annual LABF Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award for the organization’s outstanding commitment and dedication in promoting awareness to the importance of preservation and collection of broadcast history. Past recipients have included ABC News Radio National Correspondent Steven Portnoy, Hearst Television, and esteemed broadcast historian David Gleason.

“The Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts Awards recognize the individuals whose work has defined eras and shaped the evolution of our industry,” said LABF co-chairs Deborah Parenti and Dave “Chachi” Denes. “Their extraordinary contributions, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence have created a lasting legacy that continues to influence and inspire the broadcasting industry today.”

The Library of American Broadcasting has honored more than 270 leaders in broadcasting since the event's 2003 inception. Net proceeds from the luncheon will support the preservation and expansion of the Library of American Broadcasting collection, which is curated at the University of Maryland.

Considered among the largest of its kind, the collection plays a vital role in growing, preserving, and providing access to archives that highlight broadcasting's profound influence on culture and history throughout the world, the group said.

The organization also supports the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) through the underwriting of research, creative grants and academic publications focused on broadcast media.

To learn more about each of the honorees, please visit www.tvradiolibrary.org.

COLLEGE PARK, MD.—Heather Birks, Ruth Gaviria, Harry A. Jessell and Walter “Wally” Podrazik were all unanimously elected to be added to the Library of American Broadcasting Board of Directors through a Dec. 19 conference call.

Heather Birks

The Library of American Broadcasting’s mission is to preserve the rich history of broadcasting. The Library is located on the campus of University of Maryland in College Park, Md.

Birks has been the executive director of the Broadcast Education Association since 2006. Gaviria is the chief marketing officer at Entercom Communications. Jessell is editor and co-publisher for TVNewsCheck. Podrazik is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Illinois at Chicago and television curator at the Museum of Broadcast Communications.

All four of the new members have been elected to serve three-year terms.