TALKERS News Notes
RTDNA Names Emcees for Murrow Awards Ceremony. The Radio Television Digital News Association announces the emcees for the 2025 Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala will be Adriana Diaz of “CBS Mornings Plus,” José Díaz-Balart of “NBC Nightly News,” Steve Inskeep of NPR, Donie O’Sullivan of CNN, Deborah Roberts of ABC News, and Yasmin Vossoughian of NBC News. The Murrow Awards Gala will be held October13 at Gotham Hall in New York City. RTDNA president Dan Shelley says, “These outstanding journalists are perfect choices to bestow one of the most prestigious journalism awards on this year’s deserving national Edward R. Murrow Award winners. Each embodies Murrow’s admonition to serve the public by seeking to report the truth, something particularly necessary in our current times.”
Deadline for LAUNCH Mentorship is 9/29. Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc and the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation remind candidates there is one week left to apply for the 2025 LAUNCH Mentorship Program for emerging female talent in radio with a focus on engineering, audio production, and technical operations. The year-long mentorship pairs a rising professional with a seasoned industry leader for one-on-one coaching and deep exposure to the technical side of broadcasting. The deadline is September 29. You can apply here.
extraordinary contributions to sports broadcasting for over four decades, notably as one of the first women to cover Major League Baseball. Serving as host for the event will be ABC News senior national affairs correspondent and “20/20” co-anchor Deborah Roberts. AWMF president Becky Brooks comments, “We are honored to have Deborah Roberts, an exemplary journalist and storyteller, host this year’s Gracies Luncheon. Her illustrious career and dedication to impactful reporting epitomize the values we celebrate at the Gracie Awards. Additionally, we are honored to recognize Suzyn Waldman’s pioneering contributions to the industry with the Gracies Lifetime Achievement Award. This event promises to be a memorable celebration of talent and achievement in media.”
part of such an outstanding class of inductees. The only thing better would have been to have my late father, George, by my side, to accept this incredible honor together in person.” Other inductees included Deborah Roberts, ABC News national senior affairs correspondent, and contributing anchor of 20/20, and her husband Al Roker, weather and feature anchor and co-host of the third hour of NBC’s “Today Show,” Matt Bond, chairman, content distribution, NBCUniversal; Ray Cole, president and chief operating officer, Citadel Communications; Frank Comerford, CRO and president, local sales, NBCUniversal Advertising & Partnerships; Ray Hopkins, president, U.S. Networks Distribution, Paramount Global; Wonya Lucas, CEO, Hallmark Media; Soledad O’Brien, CEO of SO’B Productions and host/producer of “Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien”; and Rachael Ray, TV food personality and host of “The Rachael Ray Show.” In addition, Jim Nantz of CBS Sports received the Lifetime Achievement Award and AMC’s “The Walking Dead” was named the Iconic Series for 2023. Late past president of the Broadcasters Foundation of America, Jim Thompson, was posthumously honored with the Chairman’s Award for his career achievements and tireless dedication to helping broadcasters in need.