WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- An event to honor the man who fought for and won the landmark WLBT case in 1964 -- a civil rights case that gave the public its own voice before the FCC -- is one of the few events that could attract the attention of 200 of Washington media's "heaviest hitters" during this tumultuous time. Among the 200 confirmed guests that will be on hand to honor 88-year-old Everett C. Parker are FCC commissioners, communications executives, lobbyists, journalists, elected and appointed officials, religious communicators, jurists, and civil rights and United Church of Christ leaders.
Two advocates for public rights in communications also will be honored with awards at the 19th Annual Everett C. Parker Ethics in Telecommunications Lecture on Sept. 25 at noon, at National City Christian Church, located at Five Thomas Circle in Washington, D.C.: Carole Simpson of ABC News and Mario Morino of the Morino Institute.
Scott Simon of National Public Radio -- host of Weekend Edition Saturday -- is this year's lecturer. He will share insights from current events. Other participants include: Dr. Dorothy Height of the National Council of Negro Women; Kathy Bushkin, Senior Vice President of AOL Time Warner; the Rev. Robert Edgar, former congressman and currently General Secretary of the National Council of Churches; and former FCC Commissioners, Richard Wiley and William E. Kennard.
Honoree Morino is the recipient of the Everett C. Parker Award. The Parker award is given to an individual whose work embodies the principles and values of the public interest in telecommunications. Honoree Simpson will receive the Donald H. McGannon Award, named in honor of the former CEO of Westinghouse Broadcasting, and given to an individual or organization in recognition of special contributions in advancing the role of women and people of color in the media.
The lecture also will present a special award to its namesake, the Rev. Everett C. Parker. The tribute will include a short video clip honoring his pioneering work in broadcast reform. Parker was also the founder and director emeritus of the Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ.
The Everett C. Parker Lecture is co-sponsored by the United Church of Christ and Telecommunications Research and Action Center (TRAC), a Washington-based defender of the public interest in communications.
Photos available for this release:
The Rev. Everett C. Parker, broadcast reform history-maker and pioneer. He gave the public its own voice before the FCC.
To view photos, go to www.enewsrelease.com/pressroom and enter release I.D. 29612
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