The First National Ethnic Media Awards (2006)
November 14, 2006, Washington, D.C.
Senator Clinton Salutes New America Media Award Winners
Washington, D.C., Nov. 15 — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton opened the First National Ethnic Media Awards with a powerful tribute to ethnic media's role in American journalism.
"A fresh political wind is blowing in Washington," Clinton said. "Ethnic media represent the way the new Washington needs to connect to the new America," Clinton said.
Clinton headed a cast of Washington heavyweights who participated in the event, including Washington Post Executive Editor Len Downie, FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps, District of Columbia Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, two veteran Congresspeople from NAM's home base, Mike Honda and Barbara Lee of California, and Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club. NBC-WRC news anchor Pat Lawson Muse served as the evening's emcee.
"Ethnic media has come to Washington. Our challenge here is about making mainstream media more ethnic and ethnic media more mainstream," said Sandy Close, executive director of New America Media.
As close to a dozen runners-up took the stage for a bow, the Washington Post's Len Downie marveled at the youthfulness and diversity of the honorees. Ethnic media is a force in American journalism that will energize all of us, he remarked.
The awards banquet, which drew a sellout crowd of over 500 to the elegant Grand Ballroom of the Mayflower Hotel, gave out 23 first-place awards with cash prizes to ethnic media journalists from across the country.
"The Mayflower Hotel was the most appropriate venue for ethnic media's historic landing in Washington," Close said. "You come to a place, you meet people, you begin to participate -- and all of a sudden you feel you belong."
The award winners, their guests and dozens of ethnic media people attended the various all day workshops the next day, where topics ranged from covering issues of the elderly to the future of the ethnic vote.
Workshop presenters included noted pollster Sergio Bendixen, Simon Rosenberg of New Democratic Network, and Gloria Tristani of Benton Foundation as well as representatives of NAM sponsors including AARP, Freddie Mac, Hewitt, The California Endowment, the National Academy of Social Insurance, WETA-FM and the American Association of Advertising Agencies.
Participants raved about sessions. "The marketing workshop was the best I've attended in 20 years," said Anh Do, English-language editor of the Vietnamese daily, Nguoi Viet.
NAM's First National Ethic Media Awards
Washington, D.C., 2006
- First National NAM Awards
- Awards Winners Press Release
- First National Award Winners
- Awards Media Coverage
- Winners Photo Gallery
- VIP Photo Gallery
- First-Line Responders Photo Gallery
- Seminar Photo Gallery
- Professional Development Seminar
- NAM Press Room
About NAM's First National Ethic Media Awards
Washington, D.C., 2006
Hillary Rodham Clinton
I want to congratulate the honorees who are receiving the equivalent of the “Pulitzer Prize.” Every generation brings so many voices to the debate. Ethnic media represent the way the new Washington needs to connect to the new America.
Len Downie, Executive Editor, Washington Post
I was very pleased that I could be at the awards ceremony. New America Media is a very significant journalistic organization and you are doing important work.
Michael Jack, VP of Diversity, NBC Network
Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. It is not easy to do anything for the first time, but you managed to do just that. The well deserving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.
Brant Houston, Executive Director, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc.
Thanks for including us in this great project.
Lorena Hernandez, Bay Area Director of Communications, Comcast
Congratulations on the successful National Ethnic Media Events in DC!
Juliet K. Choi, National Partnership Development Senior Associate, American Red Cross
Congratulations on a beautiful inaugural Ethnic Media Awards – and kudos for getting Senator Clinton to show!
Julie H. Sun, Corporate Relations and Housing Outreach Manager, Freddie Mac
We were very happy to be engaged.
Pat Lawson Muse, Anchor, NBC4
Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. Many of the stories that generated awards were so moving. The well de- serving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.
Anna Lefer, U.S. Programs Program Officer, Open Society Institute
Congratulations on a hugely successful awards ceremony. After scanning the crowd of journalists and executives from ethnic and mainstream media, elected officials, international dignitaries and diplomats, and DC insiders, it is quite clear that NAM is a part of the political fabric down in DC.
Pam Larson, Executive Vice President, National Academy of Social Insurance
Being part of NAM’s gathering and associated events was a true honor and thrill for us! . . . You’ve got a real eye for the future -- and for making a better “present” for many people, too!
Ellen Hume, Senior Research Fellow, UMASS Boston
Congratulations to everyone. Our delegation just met here at UMASS Boston to recount how inspiring the NAM awards and work- shops were. Everyone is glowing.
Jon Funabiki, former deputy director of the Media, Arts and Culture with Ford Foundation
New America Media truly has changed the nation by bringing the power of ethnic news media into focus and making people take notice. NAM has changed the course of history.