WASHINGTON—For the second consecutive year, the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation has agreed to serve as the official presenting sponsor of the 2026 Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Career Fair and Graduate Student Showcase, held in conjunction with the NAB Show in Las Vegas.

Scheduled for Monday, April 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the LABF Career Fair and Graduate Student Showcase will connect top students, industry professionals, and recruiters in a dynamic environment designed to foster talent discovery, mentorship, and meaningful career connections. The event highlights the next generation of broadcasters and media leaders while providing valuable access to opportunities across the evolving media landscape.

The NAB Show runs from April 18-22 in Las Vegas.

“The LABF is absolutely thrilled to partner with the Broadcast Education Association for the second consecutive year on the Career Fair in Las Vegas,” said Mary Collins, Executive Director of the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation. “This continued collaboration reflects our shared commitment to fostering the next generation of broadcasting and media professionals while preserving and celebrating the rich history of our industry to inspire future leaders.”

“We are incredibly excited to partner with the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation for the 2026 LABF Career Fair and Graduate Student Showcase,” said Heather Birks, Executive Director of the Broadcast Education Association. “LABF’s continued dedication to preserving broadcasting’s legacy while championing its future aligns perfectly with BEA’s mission to support the academic and professional development of students entering the broadcast and media industries.”

The LABF Career Fair will bring together students, graduate candidates, young professionals, and recruiters from across the country. Student participants include award recipients from BEA’s Festival of Media Arts, scholarship winners, RAB Student Scholars, members of BEA Collegiate Media Chapters, and honorees of the Alpha Epsilon Rho (AERho) honors society. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with leading companies, organizations, and professionals shaping the future of media.

For more information about the LABF Career Fair, including registration details, visit https://www.beaweb.org/conv/career-fair-graduate-school-showcase/.

WASHINGTON—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) has named Mary Collins as its executive director, effective Jan. 1. She has served as the foundation’s treasurer for the past several years.

In her new role, she will work closely with the board and the LAB Collection Team at the University of Maryland to oversee the organization’s year-round initiatives, including its preservation grants, educational programming and the annual Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts awards luncheon gala.

Now running her own advisory business, MMC Solutions, Collins previously was president and CEO of the Media Financial Management Association (MFM) and its subsidiary, the Broadcast Cable Credit Association (BCCA), from January 2003 through September 2021.

Prior to MFM, Collins held sales, marketing and business development roles at such major cable programmers as Television Food Network (now Food Network) and Rainbow Media Holdings-owned channels SportsChannel Chicago, Bravo and AMC. She also managed client relationships for cable tech firms High Speed Access and Diva Systems.

She is a member and Gracie Awards judge for the Alliance of Women in Media and a past executive member of Women in Cable Telecommunications, where she helped develop the group’s turnkey mentoring program.

During her career, Collins has earned industry such accolades as being named one of “Cablefax: The Magazine’s” Most Powerful Women in 2018 and inclusion in its Top 100 lists in 2005 and 2006.

Collins earned her MBA in marketing and policy studies from the University of Chicago and her bachelor’s degree from William Smith College in Geneva, N.Y.

More information is available on the foundation’s website.

NEW YORK—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) recognized an incredible lineup of trailblazing industry leaders for lifetime achievements during the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony. The annual event took place Nov. 14th at Gotham Hall in New York City.

Returning this year as the official event emcee was 2018 Giant Honoree and 60 Minutes and CBS News Correspondent, Bill Whitaker.

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.

The 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts honorees include:

• David Muir
  Anchor and Managing Editor
  ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, Co-Anchor of ABC’s 2020
• Lynn Beall
  Visionary Strategist and Innovator, Retired Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of Media Operations
  Tegna Inc.
• Rick Dees
  Legendary Radio Icon, Entertainer and Entrepreneur
• John Feore Jr.
  Esteemed Communications Attorney and Trusted Advisor
• Dick Fergunson
  Distinguished Radio Executive and Retired EVP, Cox Radio Group
• NBC
  Celebrating 100 years in Broadcasting – award accepted by Chief White House Correspondent and co-anchor of “Weekend Today,” Peter Alexander
• Gary Sandy
  Acclaimed Stage, Screen and Television Icon
  Beloved for his role as “Andy Travis” on WKRP in Cincinnati
• Lesley Visser
  Trailblazing Hall of Fame Sportscaster
  First Woman Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

2025 LABF Excellence in Preservation Award
In addition to the Giants honorees, Steven Portnoy, ABC News Radio White House Correspondent and Immediate Past President of the White House Correspondents’ Association, was recognized with the 3rd Annual LABF Excellence in Preservation Award.

This award honors individuals who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to safeguarding the history and heritage of broadcasting. Portnoy’s leadership and dedication to documenting the work of White House correspondents, as well as his efforts to ensure the preservation of journalistic integrity and historical records, exemplify the very spirit of the award.

“The Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts Awards are a true celebration of the visionaries and innovators whose work continues to shape the future of our industry,” said Beasley Media Group Chief Communications Officer Heidi Raphael and longtime D.C.- based communications attorney Jack Goodman, Co-Chairs of the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation. “This year’s honorees embody excellence, creativity, and perseverance. Their achievements stand as an enduring reminder of the power of broadcasting to inform, entertain, and inspire generations.”

The event was made possible through the Diamond level sponsorship commitments of ABC News and Tegna.

NEW YORK—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation has announced that NBC’s centennial milestone will be honored at its Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon.

LABF’s annual tribute recognizing trailblazers and historic contributions to the broadcasting industry will take place on Friday, November 14, 2025, at Gotham Hall in New York.

In announcing the award, LABF noted that NBC has defined the U.S. television landscape for generations of viewers, becoming a trusted media source for fans to build lasting connections with cultural moments across entertainment, sports and news.

“Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker will accept the award on behalf of the network. “Meet the Press” is the longest-running television program in U.S. history.

“For 100 years, NBC has been a pillar of American broadcasting,” said LABF co-chairs Heidi Raphael, Beasley Media Group chief communications officer, and Jack Goodman, longtime D.C.- based communications attorney. “We are thrilled to recognize NBC’s 100th anniversary celebration during this year’s Giants of Broadcasting event."

In addition the NBC, the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting Honorees to be honored at the event include:

• David Muir, Anchor and Managing Editor, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, and Co-Anchor of ABC’s 20/20
• Lynn Beall, Visionary Strategist and Innovator, Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Media Operations, TEGNA, Inc.
• Rick Dees, Legendary Radio Icon, Entertainer, and Entrepreneur
• John Feore Jr., Esteemed Communications Attorney and Trusted Advisor
• Dick Ferguson, Distinguished Radio Executive and Retired Executive Vice President, Cox Radio Group
• Gary Sandy, Acclaimed Stage, Screen, and Television Icon, beloved for his role as Andy Travis on WKRP in Cincinnati
• Lesley Visser, Trailblazing Hall of Fame Sportscaster and First Woman Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Additionally, CBS News White House Correspondent and former RTDNA Chairman Steven Portnoy will receive the 2025 LABF Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award in recognition of his tireless efforts to safeguard and celebrate the history of broadcast journalism.

For complete details about the honorees, sponsorship opportunities, tables and individual tickets, please contact Debbie Beagan-Carcich, 2025 Giants of Broadcasting event Producer at debbie@giantsofbroadcasting.org or go to www.tvradiolibrary.org.

NEW YORK—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) has unveiled a lineup of trailblazing industry leaders that will be honored for their lifetime achievements during the 2025 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 Friday, November 14th at Gotham Hall in New York City.

Returning this year as the official event emcee is 2018 Giant Honoree and "60 Minutes" and CBS News correspondent, Bill Whitaker.

In addition, ABC News Radio national correspondent Steven Portnoy will also receive the 2025 LABF Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award for his outstanding dedication and commitment to promoting awareness to the importance of collection and preservation of broadcast history, the group said.

“This event honors the innovators and groundbreakers of the media industry,” said LABF co-chairs Heidi Raphael, Beasley Media Group chief communications officer and Jack Goodman, longtime DC-based communications attorney. “It is a privilege to recognize and celebrate these incredible individuals for their significant impact on broadcasting and American culture.”

The LABF listed and described the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts honorees as follows:

• KELSEY GRAMMER. Award-Winning Television, Stage, Screen, Actor and Producer
• DAVID MUIR. Anchor and Managing Editor of "ABC World News Tonight with David Muir", Co-Anchor of "20/20".
• LYNN BEALL. Visionary Strategist and Innovator, Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Media Operations
• TEGNA Inc.
• RICK DEES. Legendary Radio Icon, Entertainer and Entrepreneur
• JOHN R. FEORE, JR. Esteemed Communications Attorney and Trusted Advisor.
• DICK FERGUSON. Distinguished Radio Executive and Retired EVP, Cox Radio Group
• GARY SANDY. Acclaimed Stage, Screen and Television Icon. Beloved for his role as Andy Travis on "WKRP in Cincinnati".
• LESLEY VISSER. Hall of Fame Sportscaster and 50-year Trailblazer Boston Globe, CBS Sports, ABC and HBO

The LABF also extended "our sincere appreciation to Tegna and ABC News for their esteemed support as Diamond sponsors of this year’s event."

WASHINGTON—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation has announced that legendary syndicated radio personality Delilah will receive the fourth annual Insight Award from LABF during the NAB Show Welcome on April 7, in Las Vegas, Nev. The award recognizes Delilah’s trailblazing history of excellence in broadcasting and her profound impact on audiences nationwide.

LABF’s Insight Award recognizes an individual or organization for an outstanding artistic or journalistic work or body of work that enhances the public’s understanding of the role, operation, history or impact of media in our society. Past recipients have included actor, director and educator LeVar Burton, CBS News’ 60 Minutes and award-winning producer and journalist Soledad O’Brien.

Delilah who’s radio show is syndicated by Premiere Networks, is the most-listened-to woman on radio in the U.S. Her soothing voice, open heart and love of music have expanded her audience to more than eight million weekly listeners on approximately 160 radio stations nationwide.

Delilah, who celebrated 50 years of radio broadcasting in 2024, has been hosting her current program format since 1984. Known as “radio’s Oprah,” Delilah creates a sense of comfort and companionship for her audience, sharing inspiring stories, song dedications and heartfelt advice. Her authenticity, empathy and unwavering dedication to her listeners have made her a true icon in the industry.

For her success and contributions to the industry, Delilah has received radio’s highest accolades. She was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2016 and, in 2017, was honored with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Broadcast Hall of Fame induction, marking the first time in 35 years that a woman had received such a distinction. Additionally, NAB honored her with a prestigious Marconi Award for “Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year” in 2016. She is consistently recognized by Radio Ink as one of the “Most Influential Women in Radio” and took home the trophy for “Outstanding Host Entertainment/Information” at the Alliance of Women in Media’s 37th Annual Gracie Awards Gala in 2023.

Delilah will accept the award on stage at the NAB Show, joining a distinguished group of past honorees who have significantly contributed to the media industry.

"Delilah’s impact on broadcasting is undeniable, and her recognition with the Insight Award reflects the excellence and innovation celebrated at NAB Show,” said April Carty-Sipp, executive vice president, NAB Industry Affairs.

“Delilah’s extraordinary ability to connect with listeners, her passion for storytelling and her unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of others exemplify the essence of the Insight Award,” said LABF Co-Chairs Heidi Raphael, Beasley Media Group Chief Communications Officer, and Jack Goodman, longtime D.C.-based communications attorney. “We are thrilled to honor her remarkable contributions to broadcasting.”

Learn more at NABShow.com.

COLLEGE PARK, Md.—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) has announced the election of Sam Bush, Heather Cohen, Mike McVay and Ernesto Mourelo to its Board of Directors.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Sam, Heather, Mike and Ernesto to the LABF Board of Directors,” said co-chairs Heidi Raphael, Beasley Media Group chief communications officer, and Jack Goodman, a longtime Washington, D.C.-based communications attorney. “Their incredible leadership and vast experience are exactly what we need to continue our mission of preserving, protecting, and promoting radio and television broadcasting’s rich and incredible history.”

Executive Committee members elected to additional two-year terms include Gary Chapman, Mary Collins, Jack Goodman, David Kennedy, and Ginny Hubbard. Additionally, Dave “Chachi” Denes was elected to serve on the Executive Committee.

The following LABF Board members were elected to serve new three-year terms: Heather Birks, Mike Carter, Chandra Clark, Ginny Hubbard, Harry Jessell, Deborah Parenti, Walter Podrazik, Dan Spears, John Taylor, Joyce Tudryn, and Dennis Wharton.

Other current serving LABF board members include Pierre Bouvard, Sally Brown, April Carty-Sipp, Tony Coles, Mike Conway, John Dille, Erica Farber, Dr. Caroline Frick, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Jim Morley, Leo MacCourtney, Brian Phillips, Patsy Smullin, Jeff Smulyan and Julie Talbott.

Sam Bush is the executive vice president, treasurer, and chief financial officer of Saga Communications, a Nasdaq-listed media company dedicated to acquiring, developing and operating broadcast properties. Saga operates 114 stations across 28 U.S. communities with a growing focus on digital, e-commerce, and nontraditional revenue initiatives. Since joining Saga in 1997, Sam has held leadership roles, including vice president and treasurer, and was promoted to executive vice president last year. He also serves as vice chairman and head of the Human Resources Committee at Gleaners Community Food Bank and is a past chair of the Media Financial Management Association. He has degrees from the University of Indianapolis and Purdue University’s Krannert Graduate School of Management.

Heather Cohen is president of The Weiss Agency, a leading broadcast talent agency representing prominent local and syndicated personalities. Her illustrious career includes serving as vice president of programming at Greenstone Media, assistant program director at radio station WOR New York and executive producer of “The Joan Hamburg Show.” Cohen’s accolades include the Judy Jarvis Memorial Award from Talkers Magazine and being named one of Radio Ink’s Most Influential Women in Radio annually since 2014. She also co-chairs the Gracie Awards and serves on the Broadcasters Foundation of America’s board of directors. She holds a degree from Hofstra University, where she leads the executive board of its alumni organization.

Mike McVay is the president of McVay Media Consulting, a firm specializing in content creation, programming, syndication, podcasting, talent coaching and media training. With over four decades of experience, McVay has been executive vice president of content and programming for Cumulus Media and Westwood One and has launched numerous successful syndicated programs. A 2021 inductee into the West Virginia Broadcasters Hall of Fame, McVay serves on the boards of the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation and Country Radio Broadcasters and is a voting member of the Country Music Association and The Academy of Country Music. He was named to the LABF “Giants of Broadcasting” in 2024.

Ernesto Mourelo is vice president of digital news at Hearst Television, where he oversees digital content and distribution strategies across Hearst’s local stations. With a career that spans leadership roles in television and digital news, Mourelo manages Hearst’s national content production and video distribution across digital platforms, contributing significantly to the evolution of news delivery.

The LABF is the philanthropic arm of the Library of American Broadcasting, which houses the nation’s most extensive collection of broadcast history, policy, and tradition. The collection, preserved at the University of Maryland, includes historical documents, professional papers, oral and video histories, books, scripts, and photographs.

NEW YORK—Al Roker, meteorologist on NBC’s “Today,” ESPN’s ubiquitous sports opiner Stephen A. Smith, actress Christine Baranski and Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News & Stations & CBS Media Ventures, were among the big TV-industry names tapped as “Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts” by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at a Nov. 12 event at Gotham Hall here.

The rest of the 2024 class of Giants included Mike McVay, president of McVay Media Consulting; Patricia C. (Patsy) Smullin, president and owner, California Oregon Broadcasting; and Steve Jones, president and CEO, Skyview Networks.

Honorees were recognized for their lifetime achievements at a luncheon and awards ceremony hosted by Bill Whitaker, correspondent for CBS’s “60 Minutes” and himself a 2018 honoree. The ceremony also honored Hearst Television with the 2024 LABF Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award for its ongoing digitalization initiative.

“We are thrilled to celebrate these outstanding trailblazers in the radio and television industry and recognize Hearst Television for their outstanding commitment to preservation,” LABF co-chairs Heidi Raphael and Jack Goodman said in a statement. “It is a privilege to pay tribute to these incredible individuals and organization for their significant impact in broadcasting and on American culture.”

Some 300 broadcasting industry leaders have been honored as Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts since the event’s 2003 inception. The awards presentation celebrates remarkable creators, innovators, leaders, performers and journalists who have blazed trails in television and radio broadcasting, the foundation said.

The luncheon’s net proceeds support the preservation and expansion of the Library of American Broadcasting at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. The library’s collection is considered among the largest of its kind, the foundation said, adding that it plays a vital role in growing, preserving and providing access to archives that highlight broadcasting's profound influence on culture and history worldwide.

The foundation also supports the Broadcast Education Association by underwriting research and creative grants and producing academic publications focused on broadcast media, it said.

COLLEGE PARK, Md.—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation has announced that Hearst Television will be honored with the 2nd Annual Library of American Broadcasting Foundation’s (LABF) Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award in recognition of the company’s outstanding dedication and commitment to preserving broadcast history.

The presentation will take place during the Annual “Giants of Broadcasting” luncheon celebration on Tuesday, November 12th at noon at Gotham Hall in New York City.

The honor is awarded to an individual, organization, or company, who exemplifies the essence of preservation and collection within the broadcast industry.

“Hearst is leading the way in preservation among media companies across the country,” said LABF co-chairs Heidi Raphael and Jack Goodman. “Their commitment and dedication to preserving important moments in local and national broadcast history across the entire company for future generations to follow for years to come is truly exceptional. It is truly a privilege to be able to honor them for this outstanding work.”

Hearst Television is a national multimedia company with 35 owned or operated television stations, two radio stations, and digital properties in 27 markets. Reaching 24 million U.S. television households, Hearst Television delivers local and national news, weather, information, sports and entertainment programming via every available content-delivery platform. Hearst Television is a division of Hearst, one of the nation’s largest global, diversified information, services and media companies, whose diverse portfolio also includes ownership in cable television networks such as A&E, HISTORY, Lifetime and ESPN; 24 daily and 52 weekly newspapers; digital services businesses; and more than 200 magazines around the world.

For more information on purchasing tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Event Producer BJ Corriveau at bjcorriveau@giantsofbroadcasting.org.

At the upcoming NAB Show New York this month, broadcasting archivist David Gleason will be honored with the inaugural Library of American Broadcasting Foundation’s Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award.

Gleason will be presented with the award on Thursday, Oct. 26, immediately following the panel session “Your Content Is King: Preserve It!,” on which he will appear.

The LABF and NAB are co-hosting the panel to raise awareness of the importance of documenting and preserving broadcast history — an effort that Gleason has dedicated the past 20 years to.

During that time, Gleason has built a massive online archive of broadcasting and cable trade publications, books, music magazines, technical manuals, directories, yearbooks, company and station publications, programming guides and more. According to the LABF, the archive — www.worldradiohistory.com — now tops 9 million pages. Because it is online, the pages are readily available to the public and searchable.

“There is no stopping him,” said LABF Co-chairs Heidi Raphael and Jack Goodman in a press release. “What David has accomplished — virtually single-handedly — is extraordinary. He’s made an unparalleled contribution not only to the history of broadcasting, but to the story of the modern world as reflected and shaped by the media.”

Beginning as an intern at an AM-FM combo in Cleveland, Gleason has spent 64 years in ownership, management, sales, programming and engineering across 16 countries in Latin America and major U.S. markets. He owned a station group in Ecuador, worked in management positions and consulting in Puerto Rico for more than 25 years and has worked for or consulted to Univision, Emmis and Metromedia, among other owners in Latin America.

NEW YORK—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) has announced its 2023 honorees for 2023, and will recognize them for their lifetime achievements during the 2023 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony, Tuesday, Nov. 14 at Gotham Hall in New York City.

The ceremony, produced for LABF by the International Radio & Television Society Foundation (IRTS), was created by 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.

To date, LABF has honored more than 200 leaders in broadcasting since the event's inception back in 2003. 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 Library of American Broadcasting 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.

“This event celebrates the ‘best of the very best’,” said LABF Co-Chairs Heidi Raphael and Jack Goodman. “We are absolutely thrilled to pay tribute to and recognize these outstanding individuals for their many trailblazing contributions on behalf of the media industry and American culture.”

The 2023 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts honorees are:

• Caroline Beasley, CEO, Beasley Media Group
• Wolf Blitzer, Anchor, The Situation Room, CNN 
• Juju Chang, Co-Anchor, Nightline, ABC News 
• David E. Kennedy, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Aspire Ventures LLC
• Eric Shanks, CEO & Executive Producer, FOX Sports 
• Valari Dobson Staab, Chairman, NBCUniversal Local 
• Nina Totenberg, Correspondent, Legal Affairs NPR

Additional honorees will be announced in the very near future, LABF said.

The Nov. 14 luncheon will take place from 11:30 am to 2 pm.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will also support IRTS' student training and diversity initiatives. Sponsorship opportunities, tables and individual tickets may be purchased by contacting Joyce Tudryn at joyce@giantsofbroadcasting.com.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) have announced that they will host a webinar on the importance of documenting and preserving broadcast history for future generations. 

The webinar will air on August 23 at 2 p.m. from NAB’s state-of-the-art studio in Washington, D.C.

During the session, LABF co-chair Jack Goodman and NAB executive vice president of industry affairs April Carty-Sipp will encourage broadcasters to catalog their stations’ history, from historic news events to groundbreaking programming to thought-provoking interviews with local leaders. The webinar will also provide guidance for stations regarding what they should save, best practices for creating an inventory and where to store this data and information.

Experts from the University of Maryland’s Special Collections and University Archives will also be participating. They will explain potential repositories for broadcast collections and items, as well as offer guidance related to the digitization of materials. Laura Schnitker, Ph.D., C.A., curator, Mass Media & Culture, will share her expertise on media preservation during the presentation, followed by a Q-and-A with Mike Henry, reference specialist at the Library of American Broadcasting.

In addition to the webinar, LABF and NAB will host a session during NAB Show New York on October 26 at 9 a.m. titled “Your Content is King: Preserve It!” 

Steven Portnoy, national correspondent with ABC Audio, will moderate the panel focused on the “why” and “how” of station content preservation. The inaugural LABF Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award will also be presented to acclaimed broadcasting archivist David Gleason in recognition of his outstanding dedication and commitment to preserving broadcast history.

The webinar and conference session coincide with the year-long celebration of the centennial anniversary of NAB and NAB Show.

“As we celebrate broadcasting’s legacy of service to our nation and reflect on the incredible milestones from the past century, this is a timely reminder of the importance of documenting our history,” said Carty-Sipp. “We are excited to help local radio and television stations preserve and share touchstone moments, programs and reporting that have shaped our culture while we look ahead to the next century of broadcasting.”

“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with NAB to offer this important webinar highlighting the importance of preserving, protecting and repurposing our treasured broadcasting content for future generations,” said Library of American Broadcasting Foundation co-chair and Beasley Media Group chief communications officer Heidi Raphael.

COLLEGE PARK, Md.—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) has announced that former WSTB-TV general manager Sally Brown was elected to the LABF Board of Directors during a recent board meeting. 

The broadcasting executive most recently served as the development officer on behalf of the organization and is the newest member of the board. 

Brown has an extensive history in radio and television broadcasting. She began her career as an announcer at a South Bend, Indiana radio station while still in high school and went on to spend the next 30+ years in the radio industry, holding positions in sales, sales management, and station management. Many of those years were spent with South Bend based Schurz Communications, Inc., for whom she also served as general manager of WSBT-TV in South Bend. 

In addition, Brown, who currently serves as vice president of the Schurz Communications Foundation, has served on the board of the National Association of Broadcasters, the Arbitron/Nielsen Advisory Committee and is a past president of the Indiana Broadcasters Association. 

The LABF also announced the following board members were elected to serve new three-year terms: April Carty-Sipp, John Dille, Jack Goodman (Co-chair), Jim Morley, Patricia Smullin and Jeff Smulyan.

Executive Committee members elected to additional two-year terms include Gary Chapman, David Kennedy, and Jack Goodman (Co-chair).

Other current LABF board members include Heidi Raphael (Co-chair), Heather Birks, Chandra Clark, Mike Conway, Dave “Chachi” Denes, John Dille, Harry Jessell, Richard Leibner, Jim Morley, Ginny Morris, Larry Patrick, Deborah Parenti, Walter Podrazik, Brian Philips, Patricia Smullin, Dan Spears, Julie Talbott, John Taylor, Joyce Tudryn, Dennis Wharton, Erica Farber, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Mary Collins, Pierre Bouvard and LABF Legal Counsel Kathleen Kirby, the organization said. 

During the annual meeting, the board extended its sincere gratitude and appreciation to Erwin Krasnow, who has transitioned off the board following several decades of service and Marci Burdick, who completed her final term with the LABF. 

The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation serves the philanthropic arm of the Library of American Broadcasting, the nation’s most extensive collection of broadcast history, policy and tradition, including historical documents, professional papers, oral and video histories, books, scripts and photographs preserved at the University of Maryland.

For more information, please visit www.tvradiolibrary.org. 

NEW YORK—The 2022 Library of American Broadcasting Foundation’s (LABF) Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts event honored distinguished individuals in the industry, both in front of, and behind the camera. 

The annual event which took place Nov. 15 at Gotham Hall, was produced for the LABF by the International Radio & Television Society Foundation (IRTS) and hosted by ABC News' "Nightline" Co-anchor Juju Chang. The Foundation recognized the creators, innovators, journalists, leaders, performers, and producers, who, for the past century that have brought the electronic arts to prominence.

Net proceeds from the event will benefit the Library of American Broadcasting collection located at the University of Maryland and support LABF awards for students and scholarly works about the history of broadcasting and their impact on American society and culture.

“We are absolutely thrilled to honor these exceptional individuals who have made major contributions and blazed trails in broadcasting and beyond,” noted LABF Co-chairs Heidi Raphael (Beasley Media Group Chief Communications Officer) and Jack Goodman (Broadcast Attorney). “Their relentless dedication, passion and leadership serve as an inspiring benchmark for future leaders in our industry for many years to come.”

2022 Giant of Broadcasting Honorees:

Deborah A. McDermott, CEO, Standard Media Group
Sean McManus, Chairman, CBS Sports
S. Epatha Merkerson, Emmy, Golden Globe, NAACP and, SAG Award-Winning Actress, Chicago Med, Law & Order
Bob Pittman,  Chairman/CEO, iHeartMedia
Adam Symson, President/CEO, The E.W. Scripps Company
Bayard (Bud) Walters, President, Cromwell Media
Pete Williams, Justice Correspondent (Ret.), NBC News
Fareed Zakaria, CNN Anchor, Author, and Columnist, The Washington Post
Julia Child, TV Chef Extraordinaire (Posthumously)

More information on the Library of American Broadcasting, can be found at www.tvradiolibrary.org .

WASHINGTON—Actor, director and educator LeVar Burton will receive the first-ever Insight Award from the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to broadcasting, history and American culture. Burton will be honored during the NAB Show Welcome on Monday, April 25 in Las Vegas.

Reflective of LABF’s purpose, the Insight Award recognizes an individual or organization for an outstanding artistic or journalistic work or body of work that enhances the public’s understanding of the role, operation, history or impact of media in our society.

Burton’s best-known acting credits are as Kunta Kinte in the acclaimed television mini-series “Roots” and as Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” which aired in syndication from 1987 to 1994 and launched several feature films.

A lifelong children’s literacy advocate, Burton was host and executive producer of “Reading Rainbow,” one of the longest-running children’s television shows in history, during its 26-year run from 1983 to 2009. The show received more than 25 Emmy Awards, including 10 for Outstanding Children’s Series, and was honored with a prestigious George Foster Peabody Award in 1992.

Burton will host the televised semifinals and finals of the 94th Scripps National Spelling Bee in June 2022. His production company, LeVar Burton Entertainment (LBE), and Hasbro’s content studio Entertainment One (eOne) are developing Hasbro’s classic trivia game, Trivial Pursuit, into a gameshow format, which will feature Burton as host and an executive producer.

An award-winning author, Burton hosts his own podcast, “LeVar Burton Reads,” which has been downloaded over 25 million times and recently launched the “LeVar Burton Book Club.” He is the cofounder of the Skybrary App, a curated interactive library of eBooks and real-world video explorations designed to engage young readers and foster a love of reading.

Burton has been honored with 13 Emmy Awards, 3 NAACP Awards, a Grammy Award for Spoken Word Album, the Fred Rogers Award, the Inamori Prize for Ethics in Entertainment and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton as commissioner of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Sciences.

“Guided by a belief in the power of reading, for decades LeVar Burton has been a beloved champion of childhood literacy, a promoter of education through entertainment, and a champion of the importance of lifelong learning,” said LABF co-chairs Jack Goodman and Heidi Raphael. “The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation is thrilled to present the inaugural Insight Award to LeVar Burton, who not only embodies the spirit of this honor but sets a high standard for all future recipients.”

Nine individuals were named Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts on Nov. 9 by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation. On the list were Emily Barr, president and CEO, Graham Media Group; Frank Boyle, president and CEO, Frank Boyle & Co.; sports broadcaster Bob Costas; Russell Perry, founder and president, Perry Publishing & Broadcasting; Robin Roberts, co-anchor, Good Morning America, and president, Rock’n Robin Productions; Marion Ross, actress and Happy Days cast member; Neal Shapiro, president and CEO, The WNET Group; Gordon Smith, president and CEO, National Association of Broadcasters; and Jordan Wertlieb, senior VP, Hearst Communications, and president, Hearst Television.

Juju Chang, co-anchor on ABC News’s Nightline, hosted the virtual event. 

Roberts saluted her “long-time dear friend,” talent agent Richard Liebner, for his “passion and his compassion.”

Ross spoke of Happy Days shifting to a studio audience in its early days. “It occurred to us, it would be a lot more fun if there was an audience,” she said. “We would play to that audience. It was so much fun.”

Ross stressed that “the history of broadcasting is so important, and it’s so important for me to be part of your broadcasting museum, and your library.”

Neal Shapiro saluted the host, his wife Juju Chang, as being “the reason I’ve been able to hold a series of demanding jobs” while also enjoying family life. Shapiro mentioned the “creative process” of TV news, as researchers, photographers, reporters, executives and lawyers, “who keep us all out of jail,” work together to bring stories to life. “If I am a Giant it is because I stand on the shoulders of so many,” he added. 

Gordon Smith said he was “especially pleased to be recognized alongside my broadcast colleagues,” Wertlieb, Barr and Perry. He saluted broadcasters for “keeping our communities safe, informed and connected,” especially during the tumultuous past couple years. 

“These broadcasters are the bastions and defenders of our vital First Amendment rights,” said Smith, who shifts to an advisory/advocacy role at the NAB as the year ends. 

He added, “I’m proud to have advocated for an industry that takes seriously its role in serving the public.”

Wertlieb saluted the Hearst execs who shaped his career, his family and the journalists within Hearst, calling journalism “a profession with a purpose like few others.”

Like Smith, he said they’ve never been relied on more than in the past two years. 

“Our journalists have been and continue to be on the front line every day,” said Wertlieb, describing journalists as “the immune system of democracy.”

COLLEGE PARK, Md.—The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) has shared details on how to apply for its 2021-2022 Library of American Broadcasting Foundation Scholarship award for graduate students.

The LABF Scholarship, which is in collaboration with the Broadcast Education Association, will provide one graduate student with $3,000 in the fall to support the student’s continuing studies and dissertation in broadcast history. Upon completion of the dissertation, the award recipient will donate copies to the Library of American Broadcasting to retain as part of its collection.

BEA’s Scholarship Committee, which consists of academics and industry professionals, will conduct the selection process of the award.

“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to partner with BEA to underwrite this exciting opportunity that supports the LABF’s mission of preserving the past, reflecting the present and informing the future of American broadcasting industry,” said Ginny Morris, co-chair of the LABF and CEO of Hubbard Radio. “We look forward to supporting this outstanding initiative for years to come.”

For additional information, visit www.BEAweb.org.

NEW YORK—Jeff Zucker of CNN and Andrea Mitchell of NBC News are just two of the names being recognized by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation as Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts. The two will be added to the organization honor roll, along with the rest of this year’s Giants, during the Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts Luncheon on Sept. 27.

Joining Zucker and Mitchell in this year’s group of Giants will be Gary Chapman, Lin Television; Michael Fiorile, Dispatch Broadcast Group; Barbara Eden, “I Dream of Jeannie”; Bill Koenigsberg, Horizon Media; Jeff Fager, “60 Minutes”; and Joe and David Field, Entercom. These individuals are being recognized for their contributions to the broadcast industry. They join more than 200 previous honorees; a full list can be seen here.

The luncheon will be produced by the International Radio and Television Society Foundation at Gotham Hall in New York City. Bill Whitaker of “60 Minutes” is set to serve as emcee. Tables, tickets and congratulatory ads are available here.