News Releases

RTNDF Honors Tom Curley, Paula Madison, Bob Schieffer and Richard Wiley with First Amendment Awards

WASHINGTON- At a night celebrating the First Amendment and a free press, Bob Schieffer of CBS News told reporters not to be caught up in the new technologies but to "be proud of what you do. Be proud of journalism and never forget that democracy as we know it cannot exist without a free and robust press and reporters who are willing at any cost to find the story."  

Schieffer spoke to more than 500 attendees at the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation's First Amendment Awards Dinner on March 6 in Washington. He was one of four honorees, joining Tom Curley of the Associated Press, Paula Madison of NBC Universal and Richard Wiley, of Wiley Rein, LLP  in receiving awards for their work on behalf of press freedoms. RTNDA and RTNDF President Barbara Cochran said the four award winners "exemplify the best in journalism and the media industry."  

Jim Lehrer, executive editor and anchor of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, presented the Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award to Schieffer, chief Washington correspondent for CBS News and anchor of the Sunday public affairs program, Face the Nation. Schieffer is the 2003 recipient of RTNDA's Paul White Award.  

John Roberts, host of CNN's American Morning, served as master of ceremonies for the evening, which concluded with a special performance by Schieffer and his band, Honky Tonk Confidential.  

David Westin, president of ABC News, presented the First Amendment Leadership Award to Tom Curley, president and CEO of the Associated Press, who helped establish the Sunshine in Government Initiative, a coalition of journalism organizations that promotes accessible, accountable and open government.  

"At times when the country is threatened, the Bill of Rights and other constitutional safeguards get compromised," said Curley. "What has become clear in the aftermath of 9/11 is how much expediency trumps safeguards. Congress steps back from its constitutional role of executive oversight. Civilian oversight of the military wanes. . . . It's at moments like these when a free press matters most."  

Tom Brokaw, special correspondent for NBC News, presented the First Amendment Service Award to Paula Madison, executive vice president for diversity of NBC Universal. Brokaw said, "Paula has raised the standard of the entire company. She has raised our expectations, she raised the bar and most of all she has raised our consciousness."  

In her acceptance remarks, Madison said, “It is 40 years after the assassination of Dr. King. It is also 40 years after the Kerner Commission Report. And while we have made some progress in terms of diversity, we haven’t made enough ... We have a lot of work to do.” Madison has worked in stations in Houston, Tulsa and Dallas and became vice president and news director of WNBC-TV in New York. After serving as news manager at KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, she was named general manager of the station, becoming the first African American woman to hold that position at a network-owned station in a top five market. It was there that she became the executive vice president of diversity, in addition to her station responsibilities.  “This job that I have, being diversity leader for NBC Universal, is not only the most important job I’ve ever had,” said Madison. “It’s the most rewarding job I’ve ever had.”

Richard Wiley, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and founder of Wiley Rein, LLP, received a special RTNDF award for communications work over his career. John Sturm, president and CEO of the Newspaper Association of America, presented the award and called Wiley the father of high definition television for his work as chair of the FCC advisory committee that developed the U.S. standard for HD television. In his acceptance speech, Wiley pointed out, "In just 348 days, the reign of analog television will be largely over; and the bright promise of digital (and its highest form, HDTV) will be upon us."

But no technology - in computers or television - will change the focus of journalism said Bob Schieffer. The purpose of journalism, he said, is simply to find the truth. "Finding the truth still depends on the courage and integrity of individual journalists. . . . The product of journalism will always be more important than its tools."  

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