News Releases

RTNDA Congratulates Barbara Cochran on Giants of Broadcasting Award

Contact: Stacey Staniak, staceys@rtnda.org, 202-467-5214

For Immediate Release: September 30, 2009

Washington – Barbara Cochran, president emeritus of the Radio-Television News Directors Association will be honored on October 1 with the Giants of Broadcasting Award from the Library of American Broadcasting. The awards luncheon will be held at the Grand Hyatt New York where Cochran will make remarks on her distinguished career and on journalism today. In addition to Cochran, The Giants of Broadcasting class of 2009 includes documentarian Ken Burns; Katie Couric, anchor of the CBS Evening News; Westwood One founder Norman Pattiz; DTV pioneer Dr. Woo Paik; and Chris Rohrs, president of the Television Bureau of Advertising. Posthumous honors will go to actress Bea Arthur, and Ed McMahon.

Cochran retired as president of RTNDA in June, 2009, after leading the organization for twelve years. During her tenure at RTNDA she led the fight to end the Fairness Doctrine, to open courtrooms to cameras and microphones, and to protect press freedoms for electronic journalists.

“Barbara’s contributions to RTNDA and to journalism are legendary,” said RTNDA chairman Stacey Woelfel. “She guided our association into its place of prominence representing journalists across the country and around the world.  Her RTNDA colleagues are proud to see her work recognized with this distinguished award.”

Cochran worked as a journalist and news executive in Washington, in print and broadcasting. She was vice president and Washington bureau chief for CBS News, executive producer of NBC’s Meet the Press, vice president of news at National Public Radio, and managing editor at the Washington Star.

Cochran has been recognized for her efforts on behalf of electronic journalism with the Media Institute’s Freedom of Speech Award and the American Women in Radio and Television Award for Allied Services. In 2008 Cochran received the Distinguished Achievement Award in Broadcasting, given by the University of Georgia's DiGamma Kappa student society and the Edith Wortman First Amendment Award from The Matrix Foundation. During Cochran’s tenure, RTNDA received the University of Missouri’s Honor Award and the RTNDA Canada Award of Excellence.

Cochran has a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York and a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She and her husband, John Cochran, senior correspondent for ABC News, live in Washington.

The Library of American Broadcasting was founded in 1972 and is housed at the University of Maryland. Its collection includes papers, video and oral histories devoted exclusively to the history of broadcasting.

RTNDA is the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. RTNDA represents local and network news executives in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries.