News Releases

RTDNF Receives Grant from 60 MINUTES to Send Scholarship Winners to RTDNA@NAB Convention

CONTACT:  Stacey Staniak, 202-467-5214 or staceys@rtdna.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 17, 2010

WASHINGTON— The National Press Foundation presented 60 MINUTES with its Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism Tuesday night at its annual awards dinner in Washington, D.C.  60 MINUTES Executive Producer Jeff Fager accepted the award, and announced that he will donate a $5,000 grant to the Ed Bradley Scholarship administered by the Radio Television Digital News Foundation. 

“RTDNF congratulates 60 MINUTES on the well-deserved Sol Taishoff Award and thanks them for giving back to the future of the industry with a gift that fosters journalism excellence in young people. Additionally, RTDNF applauds the good work and mission of The National Press Foundation,” said RTDNF Executive Director, Kathleen Graham.

Building on the long-time support of Ed Bradley and his family, the grant from CBS News will allow the RTDNF 2010 Scholarship and Fellowship winners to travel to the RTDNA@NAB annual convention in Las Vegas this April.

The RTDNA@NAB convention runs from April 11-14 and is a valuable opportunity for the scholarship winners to meet news directors and industry professionals who can direct them to their first jobs in radio, television or digital news.

Among the winners attending the convention through this grant will be the 2009 Ed Bradley Scholarship winner, John Ketchum of Central Michigan University. 

Ed Bradley, a former 60 MINUTES correspondent at CBS News, was once a teacher and made the switch to journalism. Bradley spoke of introducing deserving minority students to the communications career field and endowed a $10,000 annual award through RTDNF. 

The 2009 Scholarship and Fellowship Winners Attending RTDNA@NAB include:

Scholarship Winners:

•    Carlos Saucedo, University of Southern California: The Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship
•    Lina Washington, Arizona State University: Carole Simpson Scholarship
•    John Ketchum, Central Michigan University: Ed Bradley Scholarship
•    Xorje Olivares, University of Texas-Austin: George Foreman Tribute to Lyndon B. Johnson Scholarship
•    Will Wright, University of Minnesota: Ken Kashiwahara Scholarship
•    *Eric Hughey, Central Missouri University: Lou & Carole Prato Sports Reporting Scholarship (Eric’s travel to RTDNA@NAB is being sponsored by Learfield Communications).
•    Mandana Mofidi, City University London: The Pete Wilson Journalism Scholarship
•    Jennifer Rizzi, Bucknell University: President’s Scholarship
•    John Santucci, Hofstra University:  President’s Scholarship
 
Fellowship Winners:

•    Tina Martin, WFSB-TV: Jacque Minnotte Health Reporting Fellowship
•    Ana Allen, Soldiers Radio and Television: Vada and Col. Barney Oldfield National Security Reporting Fellowship

Established in 1970, RTDNF scholarships and fellowships have recognized talented college students and young professionals working toward careers in radio, television and online journalism. Nine scholarships and four fellowships are available annually. Past RTDNF scholarship winners have gone on to become network news anchors, news directors, university professors and reporters and producers at stations across the country. The RTDNF scholarship and fellowship program ensures diversity in electronic journalism by providing support to students of color while in college and graduate school and to young journalists as they establish careers in the industry.

RTDNF provides training programs, seminars, scholarship support and research in areas of critical concern to electronic news professionals and their audience. The foundation’s work is supported by contributions from foundations, corporations, members of RTDNA and other individuals.

###