She’s a household name in parts of the Upper Midwest and is a former NAB Television Board Chair. Now, the National Association of Broadcasters will honor her with the Chuck Sherman Television Leadership Award on Tuesday (3/4) in Washington, D.C.
Marci Burdick will receive the award, created 22 years ago to honor an individual demonstrating leadership, service and commitment to local television in medium and smaller markets, during the NAB State Leadership Conference.
Past recipients include Patsy Smullin, Carolyn Wilkins and Franklin Schurz.
NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt commented, “For decades Marci has been a leader in local television broadcasting, and throughout her storied career, she has left a lasting impact on every corner of the industry. We look forward to honoring her and celebrating all she has done for local television with broadcasters from across the country at this week’s NAB State Leadership Conference.”
Burdick began her 48-year career in broadcasting at age 14 when she started an after-school job at a radio station in her hometown of Rapid City, S.D. She then moved into television where she worked as a weathercaster and reporter, moving up to news director, general manager and eventually corporate officer. In 1988, Burdick joined Schurz Communications, where she held a variety of positions, including SVP of the division including radio, television and cable television.
Throughout her almost five decades-long careers, Burdick has been a strong leader and advocate in the industry, as well as a role model for women in broadcasting. She is the immediate past board chair of South Dakota News Watch, the first nonprofit news organization in the state. She is a former chair of the NBC Affiliates Association and has testified in front of three U.S. House and Senate committees on behalf of the broadcast industry.
“She remains a fierce advocate for broadcasting,” the NAB said.
